North Macedonia

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet country code

.mk

Internet users

100,000 (2001)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: NA

Telephones - main lines in use

408,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

12,362 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)

Agriculture - products

rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Budget

revenues: $1.13 billion expenditures: $1.02 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Currency

Macedonian denar (MKD)

Currency code

MKD

Debt - external

$1.3 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$150 million (2001 est.)

Economy - overview

At independence in November 1991, Macedonia was the least developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the center and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on Yugoslavia, one of its largest markets, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. However, the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, and regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in 2002 to 0.3%, then rose to 2.8% in 2003. Unemployment at one-third of the workforce remains the most critical economic problem. But even this issue is overshadowed by the fragile political situation.

Electricity - consumption

6.112 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

100 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

6.465 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

Macedonian denars per US dollar - 64.35 (2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9 (2000), 56.9 (1999), 54.46 (1998)

Exports

$1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel

Exports - partners

Germany 19.2%, Italy 9.2%, US 6.7%, Croatia 5.5%, Greece 4.6% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10.57 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 11% industry: 31% services: 58% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.7% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products

Imports - partners

Greece 19.4%, Germany 14.4%, Bulgaria 7.5%, Slovenia 6.9%, Italy 6.9%, Turkey 5.9%, Ukraine 5%, Austria 4.1% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

-5% (2002 est.)

Industries

coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco, food processing, buses

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2002 est.)

Labor force

1.1 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Oil - consumption

20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

24% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

37% (2002 est.)

Area

total: 25,333 sq km water: 477 sq km land: 24,856 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Vermont

Climate

warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Vardar River 50 m highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,753 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution from metallurgical plants

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

41 50 N, 22 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

Irrigated land

550 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 766 km border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km

Land use

arable land: 23.59% permanent crops: 1.85% other: 74.56% (1998 est.)

Location

Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

high seismic risks

Natural resources

chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land

Terrain

mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River

Administrative divisions

123 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aracinovo, Bac, Belcista, Berovo, Bistrica, Bitola, Blatec, Bogdanci, Bogomila, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Cair (Skopje), Capari, Caska, Cegrane, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Delcevo, Delogozdi, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dobrusevo, Dolna Banjica, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Skopje), Drugovo, Dzepciste, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Izvor, Jegunovce, Kamenjane, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda (Skopje), Klecevce, Kocani, Konce, Kondovo, Konopiste, Kosel, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kuklis, Kukurecani, Kumanovo, Labunista, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Lukovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovi Anovi, Meseista, Miravci, Mogila, Murtino, Negotino, Negotino-Polosko, Novaci, Novo Selo, Oblesevo, Ohrid, Orasac, Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Podares, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Rostusa, Samokov, Saraj, Sipkovica, Sopiste, Sopotnica, Srbinovo, Star Dojran, Staravina, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Topolcani, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Velesta, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vitoliste, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Vratnica, Vrutok, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zeleno, Zitose, Zletovo, Zrnovci note: the seven municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses collectively constitute "greater Skopje"

Capital

Skopje

Constitution

adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991 note: in November of 2001, the Macedonian Parliament approved a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights

Country name

conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: none local long form: Republika Makedonija abbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M. local short form: Makedonija

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence Edward BUTLER embassy: Bul. Ilinden bb, 91000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] 116-180 FAX: [389] 117-103

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3063

Executive branch

chief of state: President Boris TRAJKOVSKI (since 15 December 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 1 November 2002) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister elected by the Assembly; election last held 1 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006) election results: Boris TRAJKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Boris TRAJKOVSKI 52.4%, Tito PETKOVSKI 46.2%; Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected prime minister by Parliament with 72% of the vote cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the government coalition parties SDSM, LDP, and DUI (or BDI)

Flag description

a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

8 September 1991 referendum by registered voters endorsing independence (from Yugoslavia)

International organization participation

ACCT, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court - Parliament appoints the judges; Constitutional Court - Parliament appoints the judges; Republican Judicial Council - Parliament appoints the judges

Legal system

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - 85 members are elected by popular vote, 35 members come from lists of candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that a party gains from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Together for Macedonia coalition (SDSM and LDP) 60, VMRO-DPMNE 33, Democratic Union for Integration 16, Democratic Party of Albanians 7, Party for Democratic Prosperity 2, National Democratic Party 1, Socialist Party of Macedonia 1 elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)

National holiday

Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's Day and Ilinden

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic Union for Integration or DUI (also BDI) [Ali AHMETI]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH [Arben XHAFERI, president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI, president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-True Macedonian Reform Option or VMRO-VMRO [Boris ZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National Democratic Party or PDK [Kastriot HAXHIREXHA]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD [Abdurrahman HALITI]; Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]; Together for Macedonia coalition (including the SDSM and LDP) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Union of Romanies of Macedonia or SRM [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (F.Y.R.O.M.) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995, and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, despite continued disagreement over F.Y.R.O.M.'s use of "Macedonia." F.Y.R.O.M.'s large Albanian minority, an ethnic Albanian armed insurgency in F.Y.R.O.M. in 2001, and the status of neighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.

Military branches

Army (ARM), Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$200 million (FY01/02 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

6% (FY01/02 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 553,988 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 446,726 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

19 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 17,909 (2003 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.9% (male 235,102; female 217,574) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 700,929; female 691,552) 65 years and over: 10.6% (male 96,039; female 121,926) (2003 est.)

Birth rate

13.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate

7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups

Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.8%, Roma 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.3% (1994)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.14 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 13.08 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.49 years male: 72.23 years female: 76.94 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Median age

total: 32.5 years male: 31.4 years female: 33.6 years (2002)

Nationality

noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian

Net migration rate

-1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

2,063,122 note: a census was taken 1-15 November 2002, but results are not yet available (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

0.4% (2003 est.)

Religions

Macedonian Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international

the Albanian government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians in F.Y.R.O.M. while continuing to seek regional cooperation; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo continue to protest 2000 F.Y.R.O.M.-Serbia and Montenegro boundary treaty, which transfers small tracts of land to F.Y.R.O.M.; dispute with Greece over country's name persists

Illicit drugs

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; while money laundering is a problem on a local level due to organized crime activities, the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

Airports

18 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (2002)

Highways

total: 8,684 km paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines

gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2003)

Ports and harbors

none

Railways

total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2002)

Waterways

note: lake transport only, on the Greek and Albanian borders