Discover Fascinating North Macedonia Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about North Macedonia.
North Macedonia
Background
π North Macedonia is a country with a rich history! It peacefully gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and initially called itself Macedonia. Fast forward to 2018, North Macedonia took a big step by signing the Prespa Accord with Greece, which led to a name change. π The new name, Republic of North Macedonia, officially took effect on 12 February 2019. This change marked an important moment in the country's journey towards greater recognition and cooperation!
Year of Independence
1991
Year of Prespa Accord signed
2018
Official name change date
12 February 2019
Exports - commodities
North Macedonia is bustling with various exports! π In 2022, the country exported a variety of products, which play a key role in its economy. Hereβs a fun look at what theyβre sending out: they export reaction and catalytic products, insulated wire, electricity, garments, and vehicle parts/accessories. Each of these commodities contributes to the country's trade, helping to connect them with the rest of the world! π
Variety of Exports
5 distinct commodities
Exports - partners
In 2022, North Macedonia's exports were influenced heavily by a few key partners! π The leading partner was Germany, taking a whopping 42% of the exports! Meanwhile, neighboring Serbia and Greece contributed 8% and 7%, respectively. Other countries like Bulgaria and Italy made smaller contributions, with 5% and 3% of total exports. This shows how important these countries are for North Macedonia's trade relationships! βοΈπ¦
Percentage of exports to Germany
42%
Percentage of exports to Serbia
8%
Percentage of exports to Greece
7%
Percentage of exports to Bulgaria
5%
Percentage of exports to Italy
3%
Exports Partners of North Macedonia (2022)
Capital
The capital city of North Macedonia is Skopje! ποΈ It's not just the political center of the country, but also a hub for culture and history. Skopje is known for its fascinating architecture, blending old and new styles. The city's vibe is energetic, with plenty of cafes and parks for relaxation. βπ³ Anyone interested in learning about North Macedonia will undoubtedly want to start their journey in this vibrant capital!
Imports - commodities
In 2022, North Macedonia had a variety of commodities that were crucial for its imports. π Here are some important ones:
- Platinum
- Refined Petroleum π’οΈ
- Electricity β‘
- Precious Metal Compounds π
- Natural Gas π¬οΈ
These imports play a vital role in the country's economy, providing essential resources for industries and consumers alike.
Climate
North Macedonia has a warm and dry climate during the summers and autumns π, making it perfect for outdoor activities! However, when winter arrives, it brings relatively cold temperatures βοΈ along with heavy snowfall, creating a winter wonderland. This variety in climate means people get to enjoy both sun and snow throughout the year!
Executive branch
In North Macedonia, the executive branch is led by President Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA who holds both the title of chief of state and head of government. She has been in office since 12 May 2024. π Having a single person in both these important roles is significant as it means there is a clear leader guiding the country! πβ¨
Chief of State
Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA
Head of Government
Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA
In Office Since
12 May 2024
Legislative branch
In North Macedonia, the legislative branch is unique because it is a unicameral Assembly! π It has between 120 to 140 seats where laws and policies are discussed and passed. This means that all the important decisions are made in one place, unlike some countries that have two houses. ππ€
Total seats in Assembly
120-140
Natural resources
North Macedonia is rich in a variety of natural resources! π Here are some of the important minerals and materials that can be found in this beautiful country:
- Low-grade iron ore: A significant input for steel production.
- Copper: An essential metal used in electrical wiring and plumbing.
- Lead: Used in batteries and radiation shielding.
- Zinc: Important for galvanizing and alloy production.
- Chromite: The main source of chromium, used in stainless steel.
- Manganese: Essential for steel production and aluminum alloys.
- Nickel: Valuable for making stainless steel and other alloys.
- Tungsten: Known for its hardness, used in heavy metals.
- Gold: A precious metal, sought after for jewelry and investments.
- Silver: Another precious metal, used in jewelry and electronics.
- Asbestos: Known for its fire-resistant properties but used less due to health concerns.
- Gypsum: Used in plaster and wallboard.
- Timber: Essential for construction and furniture production.
- Arable land: Vital for agriculture and food production. πΎ
With such diverse natural resources, North Macedonia has the potential to support a robust economy! πͺ
Types of natural resources
14
Economic overview
North Macedonia is a lively and vibrant upper-middle-income European economy π. It is currently bouncing back from energy-driven inflation π, thanks in part to macroeconomic support from the IMF and EU lending facilities. However, the country faces some bumps on the road, like stalled progress on joining the EU. Additionally, it struggles with deficit spending on public works projects, which makes it tough to balance the budget. Challenges like emigration, low productivity growth, and governance issues also make things a bit tricky for the economy. Let's dive deeper into some key stats!
Income Level
Upper-middle-income
Current Economic Status
Recovering from energy-driven inflation
Support Received
IMF and EU lending facilities
EU Accession Status
Stalled progress
Contributing Factors to Fiscal Challenges
Deficit spending on public works
Economic Challenges
Emigration, low productivity growth, governance
Government type
ποΈ North Macedonia is a parliamentary republic! This means that the country has a government system where the parliament holds significant power and plays a crucial role in decision-making. The President is also part of the government but works alongside the parliament to help keep the wheels of democracy turning. πβ¨
Ethnic groups
In North Macedonia, the ethnic landscape is quite diverse! π Let's break down the major ethnic groups by percentage:
- Macedonian: 58.4% - The largest group!
- Albanian: 24.3% - A significant portion of the population!
- Turkish: 3.9%
- Romani: 2.5%
- Serb: 1.3%
- Other: 2.3%
- No ethnic affiliation data available: 7.2%
This mixture of ethnicities contributes to the rich culture and vibrant history of North Macedonia! π
Percentage of Macedonians
58.4%
Percentage of Albanians
24.3%
Percentage of Turks
3.9%
Percentage of Romani
2.5%
Percentage of Serbs
1.3%
Percentage of Others
2.3%
Percentage with no ethnic affiliation data
7.2%
Ethnic Composition of North Macedonia
Religions
In North Macedonia, the tapestry of beliefs is colorful and diverse! π¨ Here's a peek into the percentages of major religions as of 2021:
- Macedonian Orthodox: 46.1% π
- Muslim: 32.2% βͺοΈ
- Other Christian: 13.8% βͺ
- Other and Non-believers: 0.5% β
- Unspecified: 7.4% β
These numbers help us understand the religious landscape of the country, showcasing a mix of traditions and faiths that define the cultural identity of North Macedonia.
Total Percentage of Major Religions
99.9%
Religious Distribution in North Macedonia (2021)
Languages
In North Macedonia, the diverse linguistic landscape showcases a variety of languages spoken by its citizens. Here's a closer look at the percentages of each language: π
- Macedonian is the official language, spoken by 61.4% of the population! π²π°
- Albanian, also an official language, is used by 24.3% of the people. π¦π±
- A smaller percentage speaks Turkish at 3.4%. πΉπ·
- The Romani language is spoken by 1.7%. π
- Other languages (including Aromanian (Vlach) and Bosnian) make up 2%. π£οΈ
- There is also 7.2% of the population that speaks unspecified languages. π
This vibrant mix of languages highlights the cultural diversity of North Macedonia! π
Total Percentage of Official Languages
85.7%
Population Speaking Other Languages
9.9%
Language Distribution in North Macedonia
Imports - partners
Letβs dive into North Macedoniaβs trading partners! π In 2022, the country had some interesting import relationships. Hereβs how the numbers break down:
- United Kingdom: 16% π¬π§
- Greece: 13% π¬π·
- Germany: 9% π©πͺ
- Serbia: 8% π·πΈ
- China: 6% π¨π³
Can you see how important the UK is as a trading partner? It holds the largest share! π Let's visualize these percentages to get a clearer picture of North Macedonia's import sources.
Total number of import partners listed
5
North Macedonia's Import Partners (2022)
Population
π North Macedonia has a total population of 2,135,622 people! That's a lot of friendly faces and diverse cultures packed into one amazing country! π€
Total Population
2,135,622
Area
π Let's explore the area of North Macedonia! This beautiful country covers a total area of 25,713 sq km. Out of that, a whopping 25,433 sq km is land, while just 280 sq km is water. That's a lot of land for all the amazing adventures and discoveries waiting to be made! ποΈ
Total Area
25713 sq km
Land Area
25433 sq km
Water Area
280 sq km
Area Composition of North Macedonia
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
North Macedonia's Real GDP π
North Macedonia's economy has shown some interesting trends over the past few years! Let's look at the Real GDP (purchasing power parity), which is a great way to measure how the economy is doing.
- 2021: $41.099 billion
- 2022: $42.012 billion
- 2023: $42.444 billion
As we can see, the GDP has been steadily increasing each year. This growth is a sign of a healthy and improving economy! π
Growth Overview
From 2021 to 2023, the country's economy grew by:
- $0.913 billion from 2021 to 2022
- $0.432 billion from 2022 to 2023
Isn't it exciting to see how North Macedonia is advancing? π
GDP in 2023
$42.444 billion
GDP in 2022
$42.012 billion
GDP in 2021
$41.099 billion
North Macedonia Real GDP Over Time
Real GDP per capita
π Let's take a look at the Real GDP per capita for North Macedonia over the past few years! This number shows how much money each person in the country would have if all the country's money were divided equally. Hereβs how it's changed:
- 2021: $22,400
- 2022: $22,900
- 2023: $23,400
This shows that the economy is growing! π Isn't it amazing to see numbers getting bigger every year?
Real GDP per capita in 2021
22,400
Real GDP per capita in 2022
22,900
Real GDP per capita in 2023
23,400
Real GDP per Capita in North Macedonia (2021 - 2023)
Imports
π Imports in North Macedonia are crucial for the country's economy! Here's a peek at the recent import values over the last few years:
- 2021: $11.362 billion
- 2022: $13.008 billion
- 2023: $12.745 billion
As you can see, the imports jumped in 2022 but saw a slight dip in 2023. π Let's take a closer look at these numbers!
Total Imports in 2023
$12.745 billion
Total Imports in 2022
$13.008 billion
Total Imports in 2021
$11.362 billion
North Macedonia Imports Over Time
Exports
π Let's explore the exports of North Macedonia! In 2023, the total exports reached a whopping $10.748 billion, showing a consistent growth over the years. π Just look at how the numbers have changed:
- 2021: $9.208 billion
- 2022: $10.126 billion
- 2023: $10.748 billion
This upward trend is exciting because it reflects the strength and dynamism of North Macedonia's economy!
Exports in 2023
$10.748 billion
Exports in 2022
$10.126 billion
Exports in 2021
$9.208 billion
North Macedonia Exports Over Years
Population growth rate
π In North Macedonia, the population is expected to grow by 0.1% in 2024! This small growth rate shows that the population is increasing very slowly. Learning about population trends helps us understand how communities change over time. π
Estimated Population Growth Rate for 2024
0.1%