World Facts

conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
Capital:
Type of Government: parliamentary democracy-
Administrative Divisions: 85 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje), Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debartsa, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda (Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rastusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Skopje, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 20.5% (male 217,057/female 202,465)
Agriculture: wheat, grapes, rice, tobacco, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Airports: 17 (2004 est.)-
With Paved Runways:
With Unpaved Runways:
Area: total: 25,333 sq km. slightly larger than Vermont
Background: Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the temporary moniker of the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, although differences over Macedonia's name remain. The undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement - which ended the 2001 ethnic Albanian armed insurgency - and a weak economy continue to be challenges for Macedonia.
Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.169 billion-
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)-
Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Communications:
Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights
Currency: Macedonian denar (MKD)
Current account balance: $-303 million (2005 est.)
Death rate: 8.73 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external: $2.207 billion (2005 est.)-
Dependency status: -
Dependent areas:
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV
Disputes - international: ethnic Albanians in Kosovo object to demarcation of the boundary with Macedonia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia and Montenegro delimitation agreement; Greece continues to reject the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia-
Distribution of family income: -
Economic aid - donor: -
Economic aid - recipient:
Economy - overview: At independence in September 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 the down-sized 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 0.9%, then rose by 3.4% in 2003, 2.9% in 2004, and about 4% in 2005. Macedonia has lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and job growth has been anemic. Macedonia has an extensive grey market, estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP, that falls outside official statistics.-
Electricity - consumption:
Electricity - exports:
Electricity - imports:
Electricity - production:
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
Environment - current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants-
Environment - International Agreements:
Ethnic groups: Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
Exchange rates: Macedonian denars per US dollar - 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003), 64.35 (2002), 68.037 (2001)
Executive branch: chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004)
Exports: $2.047 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - partners: Serbia and Montenegro 31.4%, Germany 19.9%, Greece 9%, Croatia 6.9%, US 4.9% (2004)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Flag description: a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field
GDP (official exchange rate): $5.397 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity): $15.55 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.7%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2005 est.)
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-
Government - note:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 200 (2003 est.)-
Heliports:
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%-
Illicit drugs:
Imports: $3.196 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - partners: Greece 15.5%, Germany 13.1%, Serbia and Montenegro 10.4%, Slovenia 8.6%, Bulgaria 8.1%, Turkey 6%, Romania 4.7% (2004)
Independence: 8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsing independence from Yugoslavia)
Industrial production growth rate: 5.5% (2005 est.)
Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco, food processing, buses, steel
Infant mortality rate: total: 10.09 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2005 est.)
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet country code: .mk
Internet hosts: 3,738 (2004)
Internet users: 100,000 (2002)
Investment (gross fixed): 18% of GDP (2005 est.)
Irrigated land: 550 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Constitutional Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican Judicial Council - the Assembly appoints the judges-
Labor force:
Labor force - by occupation:
Land boundaries: total: 766 km
Land use: arable land: 22.26%
Languages: Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Legislative branch:
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.73 years
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece-
Major infectious diseases: -
Manpower available for military service: -
Manpower fit for military service: -
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Map references: Europe
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Median age: total: 32.8 years-
Merchant marine: -
Military - note: -
Military branches:
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $200 million (FY01/02 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 6% (FY01/02 est.)
Military service age and obligation: conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of conscript duty is 6 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (January 2005)
National holiday: Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's Day and Ilinden
Nationality: noun: Macedonian(s)-
Natural gas - consumption: -
Natural gas - exports: -
Natural gas - imports:
Natural gas - production: -
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Natural hazards: high seismic risks
Natural resources: low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Net migration rate: -0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)-
Oil - consumption:
Oil - exports: NA (2003)-
Oil - imports: -
Oil - production: -
Oil - proved reserves: -
People - note: -
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic League of the Bosniaks [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH/DPA [Arben XHAFERI, president]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia [Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Republican Union of Macedonia or DRUM [Goran RAFAJLOVSKI]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [leader NA]; Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Agrarian Party or VMRO-Agrarian Party [Marjan GJORCEV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-True Macedonian Option or VMRO-Vistinska [Boris ZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna [Vesna JANEVSKA]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National Alliance [Harun ALIU]; National Democratic Party or PDK [Basri HALITI]; National Farmers' Party [Vejljo TANTAROV]; New Democratic Forces [Hysni SHAQIRI]; New Social Democratic Party [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Vlado BUCKOVSKI, president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]; Together for Macedonia coalition (including the SDSM and LDP) [Vlado BUCKOVSI]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Civic Movement of Macedonia [Gordana SILJANOVSKA]; World Macedonian Congress [Todor PETROV]
Population: 2,045,262 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: 30.2% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.26% (2005 est.)-
Ports and terminals: -
Public debt:
Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)-
Railways:
Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 2,678 (ethnic conflict in 2001; most IDPs have returned) (2004)
Religions: Macedonian Orthodox 32.4%, other Christian 0.2%, Muslim 16.9%, other and unspecified 50.5% (2002 census)-
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: -
Roadways:
Sex ratio:
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
Telephones - main lines in use: 560,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 830,000 (2005)
Television broadcast stations: 31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain: mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
Total fertility rate: 1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.)-
Transportation - note:
Unemployment rate: 38% (2005 est.)-
Waterways: