Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of

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Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E

Map references: Europe

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, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)

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 (Majae Korabit) 2,753 m

Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber

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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
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

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Population: 2,022,604 (July 1999 est.)
note: the Macedonian Government census of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 243,190; female 228,491)
15-64 years: 67% (male 680,692; female 673,923)
65 years and over: 10% (male 88,116; female 108,192) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.64% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 15.21 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 8.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 18.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.05 years
male: 70.93 years
female: 75.34 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66%, Albanian 23%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, Gypsies 3%, other 2%

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%

Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%

Literacy: NA

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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

Data code: MK

Government type: emerging democracy

Capital: Skopje

Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, 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
note: in September 1996, the Macedonian Assembly passed legislation changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123 new municipalities are not yet available

Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday: 8 September

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:
chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991)
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—cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DA, and DPA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999)
election results: Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent of vote—Kiro GLIGOROV 78.4%

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 49, SDSM 27, PDP 14, DA 13, DPA 11, LDP 4, Socialists 1, Roma Party 1

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: Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM (former Communist Party) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PDP [Abdurahman ALITI, president]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Petar GOSEV]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubislav IVANOV-ZINGO, president]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization—Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljubcho GEORGIEVSKI, president]; Democratic Party for Albanians or DPA [Arben XHAFERI, president]; Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Movement for All Macedonian Action or MAAK [Straso ANGELOVSKI]; Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM [leader NA]; Democratic Party of Turks [leader NA]; Party for Democratic Action [Slavic MUSLIM]; Party for the Complete Emancipation of Romas or PCER [Bajram BORNT]; Democratic Party of Macedonia or DPM [Tomislav STOJANOVSKI]; Democratic Progressive Party of Romas [leader NA]; Civic Liberal Party [leader NA]; Worker Party [leader NA]; Movement for Renewal in Macedonia or VMRO [leader NA]; Alliance of Communists [leader NA]; Communist Party [leader NA]; Alliance of Romas [leader NA]; Republican Party for National Unity [leader NA]; Party for Democratic Action-True Path [leader NA]; Social Democratic Party of Macedonia or SDPM [leader NA]; League of Democracy [leader NA]; Social Christian Party of Macedonia [leader NA]; Party of Pensioners of Macedonia [leader NA]

International organization participation: BIS (pending member), 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:
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 Christopher Robert HILL
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska 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

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Economy—overview: The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 deprived Macedonia, 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.

GDP: purchasing power parity—$2.1 billion (1998 est.)

GDP—real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)

GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$1,050 (1998 est.)

GDP—composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.4%
industry: 38.6%
services: 41% (1995 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 591,773 (June 1994)

Labor force—by occupation: manufacturing and mining 40% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.); note—many employed workers are, in fact, furloughees

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: 3.4% (1997 est.)

Electricity—production: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity—production by source:
fossil fuel: 80.2%
hydro: 19.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity—consumption: 6.06 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)

Agriculture—products: rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports—commodities: food, beverages, tobacco 17.0%, machinery and transport equipment 13.3%, other manufactured goods 58%

Exports—partners: Bulgaria, other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Italy

Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 19%, chemicals 14%, fuels 12%

Imports—partners: other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, Austria

Debt—external: $1.06 billion (June 1997)

Economic aid—recipient: ODA, $100 million (1996 est.)

Currency: 1 Macedonian denar (MKD) = 100 deni

Exchange rates: denars per US$1—52.156 (January 1999), 54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997), 39.981 (1996), 37.882 (1995), 43.263 (1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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Telephones: 125,000

Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: 350,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 136 (of which 22 are main stations and 114 are low-power stations) (1997)

Televisions: 327,011 (1992 est.)

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Railways:
total: 922 km
standard gauge: 922 km 1.435-m gauge (232 km electrified) (1997)

Highways:
total: 10,591 km
paved: 5,500 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,091 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: none, lake transport only

Pipelines: 0 km

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 16 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)

Airports—with unpaved runways:
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

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Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force

Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower—availability:
males age 15-49: 539,329 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 434,468 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 17,291 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures—dollar figure: $71 million (1998)

Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)

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Disputes—international: dispute with Greece over name; in September 1995, Skopje and Athens signed an interim accord resolving their dispute over symbols and certain constitutional provisions; Athens also lifted its economic embargo on The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; 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 Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs and representation in government; Party for Democratic Action (DPA), which is now a member party of the government, calls for a rewrite of the constitution to declare ethnic Albanians a national group and allow for regional autonomy

Illicit drugs: increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe