North Macedonia

<p>North Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991 under the name of "Macedonia." Greece objected to the new country’s name, insisting it implied territorial pretensions to the northern Greek province of Macedonia, and democratic backsliding for several years stalled North Macedonia's movement toward Euro-Atlantic integration. Immediately after Macedonia declared independence, Greece sought to block its efforts to gain UN membership if the name "Macedonia" was used. The country was eventually admitted to the UN in 1993 as "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," and at the same time it agreed to UN-sponsored negotiations on the name dispute. In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved amid ongoing negotiations. As an interim measure, the US and over 130 other nations recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. <br><br>Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an armed conflict in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. In 2018, the government adopted a new law on languages, which elevated the Albanian language to an official language at the national level and kept the Macedonian language as the sole official language in international relations, but ties between ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians remain complicated.</p> <p>In 2018, Macedonia and Greece signed the Prespa Agreement whereby Macedonia agreed to change its name to North Macedonia, and the agreement went in to force on 12 February 2019. North Macedonia joined NATO in 2020 after amending its constitution as agreed and opened EU accession talks in 2022 after a two-year veto by Bulgaria over identity, language, and historical disputes. The 2014 legislative and presidential election triggered a political crisis that lasted almost three years and escalated in 2015 when the opposition party began releasing wiretapped material revealing alleged widespread government corruption and abuse. The country still faces challenges, including fully implementing reforms to overcome years of democratic backsliding, stimulating economic growth and development, and fighting organized crime and corruption. </p>

Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

41 50 N, 22 00 E

Europe

slightly larger than Vermont; almost four times the size of Delaware

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

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

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

low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land

844 sq km (2016)

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

high seismic risks

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

Macedonian 58.4%, Albanian 24.3%, Turkish 3.9%, Romani 2.5%, Serb 1.3%, other 2.3%, no ethnic affiliation data available 7.2% (2021 est.)

Orthodox 46.1%, Islam 32.2%, Christian 13.2%, Other 7.2%; less than 1%: atheist, Catholic, other religions, not specified, Protestant (2021 est.)

0.08% (2025 est.)

10.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

9.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

611,000 SKOPJE (capital) (2023)

26.9 years (2020 est.)

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

1.53 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.74 (2025 est.)

2.94 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

4.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

22.4% (2016)

0.9% (2019 est.)

66.1% (2021 est.)

air pollution from metallurgical plants, smoke from wood-burning stoves, and vehicle emissions

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

28.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

6.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

parliamentary republic

80 municipalities (<em>opstini</em>, singular - <em>opstina</em>) and 1 city* (<em>grad</em>); Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Caska, Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostuse, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Skopje*, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci<br><br>*the Greater Skopje area is composed of 10 municipalities: Aerodrom, Butel, Centar, Chair, Gazi Baba, Gjorce Petrov, Karposh, Kisela Voda, Saraj, and Shuto Orizari

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

Alliance for Albanians or AfA or ASH<br>Alternative (Alternativa) or AAA<br>Besa Movement or BESA<br>Citizen Option for Macedonia or GROM <br>Democratic Alliance or DS<br>Democratic Movement or LD <br>Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH<br>Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM<br>Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM<br>Democratic Union for Integration or BDI<br>European Democratic Party or PDE <br>Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE<br>Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP<br>Liberal Democratic Party or LDP<br>New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP<br>Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM<br>Socialist Party of Macedonia or SPM<br>Srpska Stranka in Macedonia or SSM<br>The Left (Levica) <br>The People Movement or LP<br>Turkish Democratic Party or TDP <br>Turkish Movement Party or THP <br>We Can! (coalition includes SDSM/BESA/VMRO-NP, DPT, LDP)

BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

8 September 1991 (referendum endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)

Independence Day, 8 September (1991), also known as National Day

<strong>description:</strong> a red field with a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) in the center, with eight broadening rays extending to the edges<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia

eight-rayed sun

red, yellow

<p>upper-middle-income European economy; GDP growth driven by private consumption, public infrastructure investments, and wage growth; stalled progress on EU accession; public debt rising due to high pensions, wages, and interest payments; structural challenges of emigration, low productivity growth, and governance</p>

$16.685 billion (2024 est.)

chillies/peppers, milk, wheat, potatoes, grapes, barley, cabbages, maize, watermelons, tomatoes (2023)

food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts

1.8% (2024 est.)

779,200 (2024 est.)

21.8% (2019 est.)

17.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Germany 39%, Serbia 8%, Bulgaria 6%, Greece 5%, Czechia 3% (2023)

reaction and catalytic products, insulated wire, electricity, garments, seats (2023)

UK 12%, Germany 10%, Greece 9%, China 9%, Serbia 8% (2023)

platinum, refined petroleum, laboratory ceramic ware, cars, natural gas (2023)

public TV broadcaster Macedonian Radio and Television operates 5 national terrestrial TV channels and 2 satellite TV channels; 11 regional TV stations broadcast nationally; 29 regional and local broadcasters; a large number of cable operators offer domestic and international programming; the public radio broadcaster operates 3 stations; 4 privately owned national radio stations and 60 regional and local operators (2023)

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Z3

13 (2025)

13 (2025)

Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM or ARNM): joint force with air, ground, reserve, special operations, and support forces (2025)

approximately 6,000 active military personnel (2025)

the military's inventory is a mix of Russian/Soviet-era armaments and growing quantities of more modern equipment from countries such as T&uuml;rkiye, the UK, and the US (2025)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2007 (2025)

the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM) is responsible for the defense of the country&rsquo;s territory and independence, fulfilling North Macedonia&rsquo;s commitments to NATO and European security, and contributing to EU, NATO, and UN peace and security missions; the ARSM has participated in multinational missions and operations in Afghanistan (NATO), Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU), Eastern Europe (NATO), Iraq (NATO), Kosovo (NATO), and Lebanon (UN); a key area of focus over the past decade has been improving capabilities and bringing the largely Soviet-era-equipped ARSM up to NATO standards; it has increased its participation in NATO training exercises since becoming the 30th member of the Alliance in 2020 and currently has small numbers of combat troops deployed to Bulgaria and Romania as part of NATO&rsquo;s Enhance Forward Presence mission implemented because of Russian military aggression against Ukraine (2025)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)