Northern Macedonia, state of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe; 25,713 km2, 2.1 million residents (2019).Northern Macedonia borders Serbia in the north, Albania in the west, Greece in the south and Bulgaria in the east. The capital is Skopje (500 400 residents, 2015). The country was recognized in 1993 by the UN under the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and on 12 February 2019 changed its formal name from Macedonia to Northern Macedonia.
Country facts
- Republika Severna Makedonija / Northern Macedonia
- Country abbreviation: MK
- Area: 25 713 km2
- Population (2019): 2.1 million residents
- Capital: Skopje
- Main languages: Macedonian, Albanian
- State: Republic
- Head of State: Stevo Pendarovski (President)
- Head of Government: Zoran Zaev
- Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 6,084
- GNI per capita (2018): US $ 5,450
- Currency unit: 1 new Macedonian denar = 100 deni
- Currency code: MKD
- Country number (telephony): 389
- Internet domain name: mk
- Time difference compared to Sweden: 0
- National Day: August 2 (Celebration of the 1903 Uprising)
- Independence Day: September 8, 1993
Nature
- Land use: forest (39%), agricultural land (26%), other (35%)
- Highest mountain: Titov (2,747 m above sea level)
Population
- Population density (2019): 82 residents per km2
- Natural population growth (2019): 0%; birth rate 10 ‰, death rate 10 ‰
- Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (16%), 15-64 (70%), 65- (14%)
- Average life expectancy (2019): men 74 years, women 78 years
- Infant mortality (2019): 6 per 1,000 live births
- Population forecast 2050: 2 million residents
- HDI (2017): 0.757 (place 80 of 189)
- Urbanization rate (2019): 58%
- Most populous cities (2015): Skopje (500 400 residents), Kumanovo (73 100)
Business
- Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (11%), industry (27%), service (62%)
- Exports (2017): US $ 4,601 million
- Main export products: food, tobacco, textiles
- Main exporting countries: Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia
- Imports (2017): US $ 6,630 million
- Main import products: machines, cars, chemicals
- Main importing countries: Germany, United Kingdom, Greece
- Railway network (2017): 925 km
The middle part of northern Macedonia consists of a lowland, which is flooded by the river Vardar with its tributaries. Both east and west of this, the landscape is dominated by mountain areas. Northern Macedonia has a continental-style climate with precipitation distributed over most of the year, during the winter in the form of abundant snow.
The country’s parliament, whose members are elected for four years, exercises legislative power. The President of the Republic is elected in direct elections for five years. The executive is exercised by the government. The country became independent in 1991.
Northern Macedonia, whose economy is heavily dependent on surrounding countries, has been hit hard by the region’s many conflicts. Products from the engineering industry, raw materials and food are the most important export goods, while the import side is dominated by fuel and machinery. Agricultural production consists largely of livestock management and mainly production of dairy products. The capital Skopje is the country’s industrial center with, among other things, significant food, textile and leather industries.