| 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, despite continued disagreement over FYROM's use
of "Macedonia." 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 |
| Area: |
total:
25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly larger
than Vermont |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
748 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148
km, Greece 228 km, Yugoslavia 221 km |
| 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: |
lowest point:
Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit)
2,753 m |
| Natural
resources: |
chromium, lead,
zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore,
asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
24%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 10% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
830 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
high seismic
risks |
| Environment
- current issues: |
air pollution
from metallurgical plants |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
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: |
landlocked; major
transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to
Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe |
| Population: |
2,046,209 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
22.92% (male 243,715; female 225,349)
15-64 years: 66.94% (male 688,484; female
681,225)
65 years and over: 10.14% (male 92,043; female
115,393) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
0.43% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
13.5 births/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
7.7 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-1.54 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
12.95
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 74.02 years
male: 71.79 years
female: 76.43 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
1.79 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
less than 0.01%
(1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 100
(1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
less than 100
(1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian |
| 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: |
definition:
NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA% |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
abbreviation: FYROM |
| Government
type: |
emerging
democracy |
| Administrative
divisions: |
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-Poloska, Novaci, Novo Selo, Oblesevo, Ohrid, Orasac,
Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnia, Podares,
Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman,
Rostusa, Samokov, Saraj, Sipkovica, Sopiste, Sopotnika,
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, Zileno,
Zitose, Zletovo, Zrnovci
note: the seven municipalities followed by
Skopje in parentheses collectively constitute "greater
Skopje" |
| Independence: |
17 September 1991
(from Yugoslavia) |
| National
holiday: |
Uprising Day, 2
August (1903) |
| Constitution: |
adopted 17
November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
note: Democratic Party for Albanians (DPA),
which is now a member party of the government, is calling
for a rewrite of the constitution to declare ethnic
Albanians a constituent national group and allow for greater
regional autonomy |
| Legal
system: |
based on civil
law system; judicial review of legislative acts |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: President Boris TRAJKOVSKI (since 15
December 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Ljubco
GEORGIEVSKI (since 30 November 1998)
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, LDP, and DPA
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
parliament; election last held NA November 1998 (next to be
held NA 2002)
election results: Boris TRAJKOVSKI elected
president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Boris
TRAJKOVSKI 52.4%, Tito PETKOVSKI 46.2% |
| 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)
elections: last held 18 October and 1 November
1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE 43, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13,
DPA 11, VMRO-VMRO 6, LDP 4, SP 1, Roma Party 1 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Constitutional
Court; Judicial Court of the Republic; judges for both
courts are elected by the Judicial Council |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Democratic
Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic
Party for Albanians or DPA [Arben XHAFERI, president];
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic
Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljubcho
GEORGIEVSKI, president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-True Macedonian Reform Option or VMRO-VMRO
[Boris STOJMANOV]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto
GUSTERVO]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PDP [Imeri
IMERI, president]; Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia
or SDSM (former Communist Party) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI,
president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav
IVANOV, president]; Union of Romanies of Macedonia or SRM
[leader NA] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
ACCT (associate),
BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO (observer) |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA
chancery: 3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210,
Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 337 3063
FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093
consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Michael M. EINIK
embassy: Bul. Ilinden bb, 91000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] (91) 116-180
FAX: [389] (91) 117-103 |
| Flag
description: |
a rising yellow
sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the red field |
| Economy
- overview: |
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 its largest
market Yugoslavia, and a Greek economic embargo hindered
economic growth until 1996. GDP has subsequently increased
each year, rising by 5% in 2000. Successful privatization in
2000 boosted the country's reserves to over $700 million.
Also, the leadership demonstrated a continuing commitment to
economic reform, free trade, and regional integration.
Inflation jumped to 11% in 2000, largely due to higher oil
prices. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $9 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
5% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $4,400 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
12%
industry: 25%
services: 63% (2000) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
25% (2000 est.) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
11% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
1 million (1999
est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture NA%,
industry NA%, services NA% |
| Unemployment
rate: |
32% (2000) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$1.06 billion
expenditures: $1 billion, including capital
expenditures of $107 million (1996 est.) |
| Industries: |
coal, metallic
chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products,
tobacco |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
3% (2000) |
| Electricity
- production: |
6.395 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
82.25%
hydro: 17.75%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
5.992 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
30 million kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
75 million kWh
(1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
rice, tobacco,
wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves,
citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton |
| Exports: |
$1.4 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
food, beverages,
tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel |
| Exports
- partners: |
Germany 22%,
Yugoslavia 22%, US 12%, Greece 7%, Italy 6% (2000) |
| Imports: |
$2 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and
equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products |
| Imports
- partners: |
Germany 13%,
Ukraine 13%, Russia 10%, Yugoslavia 8%, Greece 8% (2000) |
| Debt
- external: |
$1.4 billion
(2000) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$100 million from
the EU (2000) |
| Currency: |
Macedonian denar
(MKD) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Macedonian denars
per US dollar - 64.757 (January 2001), 65.904 (2000), 56.902
(1999), 54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
408,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
12,362 (1997) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 29, FM 20,
shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
31 (plus 166
repeaters) (1995) |
| Televisions: |
510,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.mk |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
6 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
30,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total:
699 km
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km
electrified)
note: a 56-km extension of the
Kumanovo-Beljakovci line to the Bulgarian border at
Gyveshevo is under construction (2001) |
| Highways: |
total:
8,684 km
paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 3,144 km (1997) |
| Waterways: |
note:
lake transport only, on the Greek and Albanian borders |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army (includes
Air and Air Defense Forces), Police Force |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
19 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 548,183 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 442,053 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
17,905 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$76.3 million
(FY00/01) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
2.17% (FY00/01) |
| Disputes
- international: |
dispute with
Greece over its name; February 2001 agreement with
Yugoslavia settled alignment of boundary, stipulating
implementation within two years |
| Illicit
drugs: |
increasing
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for
Europe |
|
