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Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Background: International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) 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. FYROM's large Albanian minority and the de facto independence of neighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.
Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E Map references: Europe Area:
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Vermont Land boundaries:
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns and 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:
Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land Land use:
Irrigated land: 830 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: high seismic risks Environment - current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
Population: 2,041,467 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: 0.04% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 13.73 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.69 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -5.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66.6%, Albanian 22.7%, Turkish 4%, Roma 2.2%, Serb 2.1%, other 2.4% (1994) Religions: Macedonian Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3% Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3% Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: MK Government type: emerging democracy Capital: Skopje Administrative divisions:
34 counties (opstini, singular - opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica
Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia) National holiday: 8 September Independence Day Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch:
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats - 85 members are elected by popular vote; 35 members come from lists of candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that parties gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected by the Judicial Council Political parties and leaders: Alliance of Romas [leader NA]; Alliance of Communists [leader NA]; Civic Liberal Party [leader NA]; Communist Party [leader NA]; Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic Party for Albanians or DPA [Arben XHAFERI, president]; Democratic Party of Macedonia or DPM [Tomislav STOJANOVSK-BOMBAJ]; Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM [Dragisa MILETIC]; Democratic Party of Turks or DPTM [Erdogan SARAC]; Democratic Progressive Party of Romas [leader NA]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljubcho GEORGIEVSKI, president]; Labor Party or LP [Krste JANKOVSKI]; League of Democracy [leader NA]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Movement for All Macedonian Action or MAAK [Straso ANGELOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Action-True Path [leader NA]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PDP [Abdurahman HALITI, president]; Party for the Complete Emancipation of Romas or PCER [Bajram BERAT]; Party of Pensioners of Macedonia [leader NA]; Republican Party for National Unity [leader NA]; Social Christian Party of Macedonia [leader NA]; Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM (former Communist Party) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president]; Social Democratic Party of Macedonia or SDPM [leader NA]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president] International organization participation: BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US:
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Flag description: a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the red field
Economy - overview: The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 deprived Macedonia, then its poorest republic, of key protected markets and large transfer payments from the center. Worker remittances and foreign aid have softened the subsequent volatile recovery period. Continued recovery depends on Macedonia's ability to attract investment, to redevelop trade ties with Greece and Serbia and Montenegro, and to maintain its commitment to economic liberalization. The economy can meet its basic food needs but depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and most of its modern machinery and parts. Growth in 1999 was held down by the severe regional economic dislocations caused by the Kosovo conflict. GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.6 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1999 est.) Labor force: 673,000 (1995 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: 35% (1999 est.) Budget:
Industries: coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco Industrial production growth rate: -2% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 6.664 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 6.198 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel Exports - partners: Germany 21%, Serbia and Montenegro 18%, US 13%, Greece 7%, Italy 6% (1998) Imports: $1.56 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products Imports - partners: Germany 13%, Serbia and Montenegro 13%, Slovenia 8%, Ukraine 6%, Italy 6% (1998) Debt - external: $1.7 billion (1998 est.) Economic aid - recipient: Taiwan $10.5 million; EU $100 million to be split with Albania (1999) Currency: 1 Macedonian denar (MKD) = 100 deni Exchange rates: denars per US$1 - 59.773 (January 2000), 56.902 (1999), 54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996), 37.882 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use: 407,000 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system:
Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 410,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 136 (1997) Televisions: 510,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (1999)
Railways:
Highways:
Waterways: none, lake transport only Pipelines: 10 km Ports and harbors: none Airports: 16 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability:
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $77 million (FY99) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY99)
Disputes - international: dispute with Greece over its name; the border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border has made no progress so far; Albanians in F.Y.R.O.M. claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government Illicit drugs: increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe Please click here for a guide to the country profiles Click here for all other countries
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