41 50 N, 22 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

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

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries:

total: 766 km border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

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

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Vardar River 50 m highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m

Natural resources:

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

Land use:

arable land: 22.01% permanent crops: 1.79% other: 76.2% (2005)

Irrigated land:

550 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

6.4 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 2.27 per capita: 1,118 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

high seismic risks

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from metallurgical plants

Environment - international agreements:

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

Geography - note:

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

People
Macedonia

Population:

2,061,315 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.5% (male 207,954/female 193,428) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 719,708/female 708,033) 65 years and over: 11.3% (male 101,036/female 131,156) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.8 years male: 33.8 years female: 35.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.262% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.81 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.45 years male: 71.95 years female: 77.13 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups:

Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%,
Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)

Religions:

Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)

Languages:

Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.1% male: 98.2% female: 94.1% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

3.5% of GDP (2002)

Government
Macedonia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: Macedonia local long form: Republika Makedonija local short form: Makedonija note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

name: Skopje geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

84 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje),
Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica,
Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa,
Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, 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 Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid,
Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,
Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (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
note: the 10 municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses
collectively constitute the larger Skopje Municipality

Independence:

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

National holiday:

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

Constitution:

adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights and in 2005 with amendments related to the judiciary

Legal system:

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006) 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 VMRO/DPMNE, NSDP, PDSh/DPA, and several small parties elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); two-round election last held 14 April and 28 April 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); prime minister elected by the Assembly following legislative elections election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%, Sasko KEDEV 37.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats; members elected by popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; serve four-year terms) elections: last held 1 June 2008 (next to be held by July 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - For a Better Macedonia 48.80%, Sun-Coalition for Europe 23.65%, Democratic Union for Integration 12.77%, Democratic Party of Albanians 8.48%, Party for European Future 1.47%, other 4.83%; seats by party - For a Better Macedonia 63, Sun-Coalition for Europe 27, Democratic Union for Integration 18, Democratic Party of Albanians 11, Party for European Future 1

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic League of Bosniaks
[Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh
THACI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic
Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia
[Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Albanians or BDSh [BardYL
MAHMUTI]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [Mitko KOSTOV];
Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; For a
Better Macedonia coalition [Nikola GRUEVSKI] (includes VMRO-DPMNE,
SP, Democratic Union, Democratic Renewal of Macedonia, Democratic
Party of Turks, Democratic Party of Serbs, SR, and smaller parties);
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for
Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal
Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna
[Gjorgji TRENDAFILOV]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC];
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Jovan MANSIEVSKI]; Liberal Party
[Stojan ANDOV]; National Alternative [Harun ALIU]; National
Democratic Union or BDK [Hysni SHAQIR]; New Social Democratic Party
or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP
[Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Party for European Future or PEI [Fijat
CANOSKI]; Party of Free Democrats or PSD [Ljubco JORDANOVSKI];
Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Zoran ZAEV (until
May 2009)]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav
IVANOV-ZINGO]; Sun-Coalition for Europe [Radmila SKERINSKA]
(includes SDSM, NSDP, LDP, Liberal Party and smaller parties); Union
of Romas or SR [Shaban SALIU]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE
[Nezdet MUSTAFA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of
Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Education, Science
and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]; World Macedonian Congress [Todor
PETROV]

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 667-0501 FAX: (202) 667-2131 consulate(s) general: New York, Southfield (Michigan); note - consulate general in Chicago is due to open in 2008

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Philip T. REEKER embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: 2 311-6180 FAX: 2 311-7103

Flag description:

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

Economy
Macedonia

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 central government and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized Yugoslavia, 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. In 2001, during a civil conflict, 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 averaged 4% per year during 2003-07, expanding to 5.1% in 2007. Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and creating jobs, despite making extensive fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment remains high at nearly 35%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP, that is not captured by official statistics.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$17.35 billion note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.497 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,400 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.9% industry: 28.2% services: 59.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

890,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 19.6% industry: 30.4% services: 50% (September 2007)

Unemployment rate:

34.9% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

29.8% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.508 billion expenditures: $2.487 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

30.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.23% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.173 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$3.127 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$2.924 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

1.7% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.051 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - consumption:

8.651 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

2.6 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - production by source:

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

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - consumption:

19,590 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

6,768 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

26,470 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

100 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

102.8 million cu m (2007)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

-$249 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$3.35 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

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

Exports - partners:

Serbia and Montenegro 19.2%, Germany 14.5%, Greece 10.4%, Italy 10.1%, Bulgaria 9.8%, Croatia 5.6%, Belgium 5%, Spain 5% (2007)

Imports:

$4.977 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products

Imports - partners:

Germany 13.2%, Greece 12.9%, Bulgaria 9.6%, Serbia and Montenegro 7.7%, Turkey 6.6%, Italy 6.3%, Slovenia 5% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$230.3 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.265 billion (31 December 2007)

Debt - external:

$3.967 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$2.405 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: