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  Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of  
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  Geography
  People
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  Economy
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In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


Map of Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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.
   Geography    Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 25,333 sq km
water: 477 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,753 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 23.59%
permanent crops: 1.85%
other: 74.56% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
550 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
   People    Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,063,122
note: a census was taken 1-15 November 2002, but results are not yet available (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 32.5 years
male: 31.4 years
female: 33.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.4% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 74.49 years
male: 72.23 years
female: 76.94 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.75 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.8%, Roma 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.3% (1994)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Macedonian Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
   Government    Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Skopje
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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"
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
8 September 1991 referendum by registered voters endorsing independence (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's Day and Ilinden
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
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
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court - Parliament appoints the judges; Constitutional Court - Parliament appoints the judges; Republican Judicial Council - Parliament appoints the judges
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
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
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field
   Economy    Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $10.57 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 11%
industry: 31%
services: 58% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
24% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.1 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
37% (2002 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $1.13 billion
expenditures: $1.02 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco, food processing, buses
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.465 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 83.7%
hydro: 16.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.112 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
100 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 19.2%, Italy 9.2%, US 6.7%, Croatia 5.5%, Greece 4.6% (2002)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Greece 19.4%, Germany 14.4%, Bulgaria 7.5%, Slovenia 6.9%, Italy 6.9%, Turkey 5.9%, Ukraine 5%, Austria 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.3 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$150 million (2001 est.)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Macedonian denar (MKD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
MKD
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Macedonian denars per US dollar - 64.35 (2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9 (2000), 56.9 (1999), 54.46 (1998)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
408,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12,362 (1997)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.mk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
6 (2000)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
100,000 (2001)
   Transportation    Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 699 km
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 8,684 km
paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
note: lake transport only, on the Greek and Albanian borders
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
18 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
   Military    Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army (ARM), Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force
Military manpower - military age:
Definition Field Listing
19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 553,988 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 446,726 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males: 17,909 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$200 million (FY01/02 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6% (FY01/02 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


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