Country Profile: North Macedonia

North Macedonia is a landlocked country located in Southeastern Europe, bordered by Greece to the south. With a population of approximately 2.1 million, the nation has a diverse demographic, comprising mainly ethnic Macedonians and Albanians. North Macedonia's economy is classified as upper-middle-income, driven by private consumption and public infrastructure investments, although it faces challenges such as emigration and governance issues. The country operates as a parliamentary republic and has made strides towards Euro-Atlantic integration, joining NATO in 2020 and proceeding with EU accession talks in 2022.

Geography

North Macedonia is situated in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, characterized by its mountainous terrain and several deep basins. The country covers an area of 25,713 square kilometers and is landlocked, having no coastline. It features a diverse climate, with warm, dry summers and cold winters, and is bisected by the Vardar River. The natural resources include low-grade iron ore, copper, and arable land, with significant agricultural land use.

• 25,713 sq km - Total area
• 49.6% of land is agricultural
• 0 km - Coastline (landlocked)
• 2,764 m - Highest point (Golem Korab)
• 28.7 micrograms/m³ - Particulate matter emissions (2019)

People and Society

North Macedonia has a population of approximately 2.1 million, with a fairly balanced gender distribution. The majority are ethnic Macedonians (58.4%), followed by Albanians (24.3%), and other minorities. The country has a relatively high literacy rate, with overall urbanization reaching nearly 60%. While it enjoys a moderate life expectancy of 77.3 years, it also grapples with issues like youth unemployment and an aging population.

• 2,135,622 - Total population (2024 est.)
• 59.5% of the population lives in urban areas (2023)
• 46.1% identify as Macedonian Orthodox
• 30.3% - Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (2024 est.)
• 77.3 years - Life expectancy at birth (2024 est.)

Economy

North Macedonia's economy is marked by growth, primarily driven by private consumption and infrastructure investments. The GDP (PPP) is projected to reach $43.844 billion in 2024, with a growth rate of 2.8%. It faces challenges such as low productivity and rising public debt. The labor market shows a notably high unemployment rate, while foreign remittances contribute significantly to the economy.

• $43.844 billion - Real GDP (PPP) (2024 est.)
• 13.5% - Unemployment rate (2024 est.)
• $10.445 billion - Exports (2024 est.)
• $12.644 billion - Imports (2024 est.)
• 21.8% - Population below the poverty line (2019 est.)

Government

North Macedonia is a parliamentary republic with a unicameral legislature composed of 123 members. The government is led by a president and a prime minister, with Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova currently serving as president following the elections in 2024. The nation's legal system is based on civil law, and the country has been navigating its path toward EU integration while addressing past governance challenges.

• 123 - Total seats in the Assembly
• 18 years - Voting age
• 2.4% - Percentage of women in the legislature (2024)
• 0 - Dual citizenship recognized
• 2% of GDP - Military expenditures projected for 2025

Military and Security

North Macedonia maintains a small but capable military force, with approximately 6,000 active personnel as of 2025. Following its NATO accession, the army has been focused on modernizing its equipment and capabilities. The country is committed to fulfilling its NATO obligations and participating in international peacekeeping missions.

• 6,000 - Active military personnel (2025)
• 2% of GDP - Military expenditures projected for 2025
• 100% - Electricity access (2022 est.)
• Voluntary military service - Minimum age is 18 years
• NATO membership - Joined in 2020

Energy

North Macedonia's energy sector relies heavily on fossil fuels, with approximately 68.2% of electricity generation capacity derived from this source. The country is working towards increasing renewable energy contributions, which currently include hydroelectric and solar power. Electricity consumption is on the rise, along with imports to meet demand.

• 2.467 million kW - Installed generating capacity (2023 est.)
• 7.081 billion kWh - Electricity exports (2023 est.)
• 348.078 million cubic meters - Natural gas consumption (2023 est.)
• 100% - Electrification rate (2022 est.)
• 5.896 billion kWh - Total electricity consumption (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental challenges include air pollution from industrial activities and vehicle emissions. North Macedonia has taken steps to engage in various international environmental agreements to mitigate these issues. The country faces high seismic risks and must manage its resources carefully to balance economic growth with environmental preservation.

• 627,000 tons - Municipal solid waste generated annually (2024 est.)
• 4.9% - % of municipal solid waste recycled (2022 est.)
• 6.4 billion cubic meters - Total renewable water resources (2022 est.)
• 28.7 micrograms/m³ - Particulate matter emissions (2019 est.)
• 100% - Access to improved sanitation in urban areas (2022 est.)

Transportation

North Macedonia has a developing transportation infrastructure, including 13 airports and a railway system extending over 699 kilometers. The country is working to enhance its connectivity, contributing to its status as a transportation corridor between Western Europe and the Aegean Sea.

• 699 km - Total railway length (2020)
• 13 - Number of airports (2025)
• 13 - Number of heliports (2025)
• Z3 - Civil aircraft registration code
• Route of Vardar River - Major transportation corridor

Communications

The communications infrastructure in North Macedonia is well-established, with high mobile cellular penetration and a growing number of internet users. The public broadcasting system includes national and regional outlets, promoting media access across the country.

• 1.92 million - Mobile cellular subscriptions (2023 est.)
• 87% - Internet user penetration (2023 est.)
• 439,000 - Fixed-line subscriptions (2022 est.)
• 515,000 - Fixed broadband subscriptions (2022 est.)
• 24 - Fixed-line subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2022 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Total Population	2,135,622	(2024 est.)
Area	25,713 sq km
Real GDP (PPP)	$43.844 billion	(2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	13.5%	(2024 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth	77.3 years	(2024 est.)
Youth Unemployment Rate	30.3%	(2024 est.)
Total Energy Consumption per Capita	56.104 million Btu/person	(2023 est.)
Electricity Access	100%	(2022 est.)
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Annually	627,000 tons	(2024 est.)
Fixed-line Subscriptions	439,000	(2022 est.)