{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>North Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991 under the name of \"Macedonia.\" Greek objection to the new country’s name, insisting it implied territorial pretensions to the northern Greek province of Macedonia, and democratic backsliding for several years stalled the country’s movement toward Euro-Atlantic integration. Immediately after Macedonia declared independence, Greece sought to block Macedonian efforts to gain UN membership if the name \"Macedonia\" was used. The country was eventually admitted to the UN in 1993 as \"The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,\" and at the same time it agreed to UN-sponsored negotiations on the name dispute. In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution continued. Over time, the US and over 130 other nations recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into a conflict in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. In January 2018, the government adopted a new law on languages, which elevated the Albanian language to an official language at the national level, with the Macedonian language remaining the sole official language in international relations. Relations between ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians remain complicated, however.</p> <p>North Macedonia's pro-Western government has used its time in office since 2017 to sign a historic deal with Greece in June 2018 to end the name dispute and revive Skopje's NATO and EU membership prospects. This followed a nearly three-year political crisis that engulfed the country but ended in June 2017 following a six-month-long government formation period after a closely contested election in December 2016. The crisis began after the 2014 legislative and presidential election, and escalated in 2015 when the opposition party began releasing wiretapped material that revealed alleged widespread government corruption and abuse. Although an EU candidate since 2005, North Macedonia has yet to open EU accession negotiations. The country still faces challenges, including fully implementing reforms to overcome years of democratic backsliding and stimulating economic growth and development. In June 2018, Macedonia and Greece signed the Prespa Accord whereby the Republic of Macedonia agreed to change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia. Following ratification by both countries, the agreement went in to force on 12 February 2019. North Macedonia signed an accession protocol to become a NATO member state in February 2019.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southeastern Europe, north of Greece"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "41 50 N, 22 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Europe"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "25,713 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "25,433 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "280 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly larger than Vermont; almost four times the size of Delaware"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "838 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Albania 181 km; Bulgaria 162 km; Greece 234 km; Kosovo 160 km; Serbia 101 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "0 km (landlocked)"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "text": "none (landlocked)"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mountainous with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Vardar River 50 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "741 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "44.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 16.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 26.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "39.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "15.9% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "1,280 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: <em>(Black Sea)</em> Danube (795,656 sq km)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "high seismic risks"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "2,128,262 (July 2021 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Macedonian(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Macedonian"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Romani 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> North Macedonia has not conducted a census since 2002; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 6.5–13% of North Macedonia’s population"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "Macedonian (official) 66.5%, Albanian (official) 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Romani 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other (includes Aromanian (Vlach) and Bosnian) 1.8% (2002 est.); note - minority languages are co-official with Macedonian in municipalities where they are spoken by at least 20% of the population; Albanian is co-official in Tetovo, Brvenica, Vrapciste, and other municipalities; Turkish is co-official in Centar Zupa and Plasnica; Romani is co-official in Suto Orizari; Aromanian is co-official in Krusevo; Serbian is co-official in Cucer Sandevo"
      },
      "major-language sample(s)": {
        "text": "<br>Книга на Светски Факти, неопходен извор на основни информации. (Macedonian)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      }
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Macedonian Orthodox 64.8%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.4%, other and unspecified 1.5% (2002 est.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "16.16% (male 177,553/female 165,992)"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "12.65% (male 139,250/female 129,770)"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "44.47% (male 480,191/female 465,145)"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "12.55% (male 131,380/female 135,407)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "14.17% (male 131,674/female 169,609) (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "44.5"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "23.6"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "20.9"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "4.8 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "39 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "38 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "40 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.13% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "10.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "9.61 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "59.1% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "606,000 SKOPJE (capital) (2022)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "1.03 male(s)/female"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "0.97 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.78 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "27 years (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "7.49 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "8.46 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "6.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "76.59 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "74.47 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "78.84 years (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.51 children born/woman (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "59.9% (2018/19)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 99.7% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 99% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 99.4% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current Health Expenditure": {
      "text": "7.3% (2019)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "2.87 physicians/1,000 population (2015)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "4.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 98% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 99.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0.8% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "<.1% (2018 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "<500 (2018 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "300 (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "22.4% (2016)"
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "0.9% (2018/19)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "98.4%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "99.1%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "97.6% (2020)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "14 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "14 years (2018)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "37%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "35.2%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "40% (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "air pollution from metallurgical plants; Skopje has severe air pollution problems every winter as a result of industrial emissions, smoke from wood-buring stoves, and exhaust fumes from old cars"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "28.34 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "7.05 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "2.28 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "44.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 16.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 26.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "39.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "15.9% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "59.1% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "forest revenues": {
        "text": "0.15% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "coal revenues": {
        "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "796,585 tons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "1,434 tons (2013 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "0.2% (2013 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: <em>(Black Sea)</em> Danube (795,656 sq km)"
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "277.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "225,809,581.6 cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "329,217,707.7 cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "6.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of North Macedonia"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "North Macedonia"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Republika Severna Makedonija"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Severna Makedonija"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Democratic Federal Macedonia, People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Macedonia"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the country name derives from the ancient kingdom of Macedon (7th to 2nd centuries B.C.)"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Skopje"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "42 00 N, 21 26 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "daylight saving time": {
        "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "Skopje derives from its ancient name Scupi, the Latin designation of a classical era Greco-Roman frontier fortress town; the name may go back even further to a pre-Greek, Illyrian name"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "70 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina) and 1 city* (grad); Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Caska, Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Skopje*, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 8 September (1991), also known as National Day"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "several previous; latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by at least 30 members of the Assembly, or by petition of at least 150,000 citizens; final approval requires a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2019"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of North Macedonia"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "8 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Stevo PENDAROVSKI (since 12 May 2019)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Dimitar KOVACEVSKI (since 16 January 2022)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Council of Ministers elected by the Assembly by simple majority vote"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected using a modified 2-round system; a candidate can only be elected in the first round with an absolute majority from all registered voters; in the second round, voter turnout must be at least 40% for the result to be deemed valid; president elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 April and 5 May 2019 (next to be held in 2024); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Assembly; Zoran ZAEV reelected prime minister by the Assembly on 31 August 2020; Assembly vote - 62 for, 51 against"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Stevo PENDAROVSKI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 44.8%, Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (VMRO-DPMNE) 44.2%, Blenim REKA (independent) 11.1%; percent of vote in second round - Stevo PENDAROVSKI 53.6%, Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA 46.4%"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral Assembly -&nbsp;Sobraine in Macedonian, Kuvend in Albanian (between 120 and 140 seats, currently 120; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; possibility of 3 directly elected in diaspora constituencies by simple majority vote provided there is sufficient voter turnout; members serve 4-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last election was to be held on 12 April 2020 but was postponed until 15 July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (next to be held in 2024)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party/coalition - We Can 35.9%, Renewal 34.6%, BDI 11.5%, AfA-Alternative 9%, The Left 4.1%, PDSh 1.5%, other 3.4%; seats by party/coalition - We Can 46, Renewal 44, BDI 15, AfA-Alternative 12, The Left 2, PDSh 1"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest courts": {
        "text": "Supreme Court (consists of 22 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Council, a 7-member body of legal professionals, and appointed by the Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Assembly for nonrenewable, 9-year terms"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "Alliance for Albanians or AfA [Ziadin SELA]<br>Alternative (Alternativa) [Afrim GASHI]<br>Besa Movement [Bilal KASAMI]<br>Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh [Menduh THACI]<br>Democratic Union for Integration or BDI [Ali AHMETI]<br>Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Hristijan MICKOSKI]<br>Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP [Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI]<br>Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Goran MILEVSKI]<br>Renewal (VMRO-DPMNE coalition)<br>Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Dimitar KOVACHEVSKI]<br>The Left (Levica) [Dimitar APASIEV]<br>Turkish Democratic Party of DPT [Beycan ILYAS]<br>We Can (coalition includes SDSM/Besa/VMRO-NP, DPT, LDP)"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO,&nbsp;OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Vilma PETKOVSKA, Minister Counselor (since 16 March 2020)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 667-0501"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 667-2131"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>washington@mfa.gov.mk"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "Chicago, Detroit, New York"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Kate Marie BYRNES (since 12 July 2019)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Str. Samoilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[389] (2) 310-2000"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[389] (2) 310-2499"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>SkopjeACS@state.gov<br><br>https://mk.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "eight-rayed sun; national colors: red, yellow"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Denes nad Makedonija\" (Today Over Macedonia)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> written in 1943 and adopted in 1991, the song previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia while part of Yugoslavia"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "2 (both natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region, Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "<p>Since its independence in 1991, Macedonia has made progress in liberalizing its economy and improving its business environment. Its low tax rates and free economic zones have helped to attract foreign investment, which is still low relative to the rest of Europe. Corruption and weak rule of law remain significant problems. Some businesses complain of opaque regulations and unequal enforcement of the law.</p> <p> </p> <p>Macedonia’s economy is closely linked to Europe as a customer for exports and source of investment, and has suffered as a result of prolonged weakness in the euro zone. Unemployment has remained consistently high at about 23% but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be between 20% and 45% of GDP, which is not captured by official statistics.</p> <p> </p> <p>Macedonia is working to build a country-wide natural gas pipeline and distribution network. Currently, Macedonia receives its small natural gas supplies from Russia via Bulgaria. In 2016, Macedonia signed a memorandum of understanding with Greece to build an interconnector that could connect to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline that will traverse the region once complete, or to an LNG import terminal in Greece.</p> <p> </p> <p>Macedonia maintained macroeconomic stability through the global financial crisis by conducting prudent monetary policy, which keeps the domestic currency pegged to the euro, and inflation at a low level. However, in the last two years, the internal political crisis has hampered economic performance, with GDP growth slowing in 2016 and 2017, and both domestic private and public investments declining. Fiscal policies were lax, with unproductive public expenditures, including subsidies and pension increases, and rising guarantees for the debt of state owned enterprises, and fiscal targets were consistently missed. In 2017, public debt stabilized at about 47% of GDP, still relatively low compared to its Western Balkan neighbors and the rest of Europe.</p>"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$33.02 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$34.59 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": {
        "text": "$33.52 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>data are in 2017 dollars; Macedonia has a large informal sector that may not be reflected in these data"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2017": {
        "text": "0% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2016": {
        "text": "2.9% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2015": {
        "text": "3.9% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$15,800 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$16,600 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2018": {
        "text": "$16,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$12.696 billion (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "0.7% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": {
        "text": "1.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": {
        "text": "1.3% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "BB+ (2019)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "BB- (2013)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "10.9% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "26.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "62.5% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "65.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "15.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "13.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "20.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "54% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-69% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "milk, grapes, wheat, potatoes, green chillies/peppers, cabbages, tomatoes, maize, barley, watermelons"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "-7.8% (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "793,000 (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "16.2%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "29.2%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "54.5% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "17.29% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2018": {
        "text": "20.7% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "37%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "35.2%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "40% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "21.6% (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017": {
        "text": "34.2 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2014": {
        "text": "35.2 (2014)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "1.7%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "25% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "3.295 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "3.605 billion (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "39.3% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "39.5% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> official data from Ministry of Finance; data cover central government debt; this data excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; includes treasury debt held by foreign entitites; excludes debt issued by sub-national entities; there are no debt instruments sold for social funds"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "29% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2017": {
        "text": "-$151 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2016": {
        "text": "-$293 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$7.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$7.78 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2018": {
        "text": "$7.61 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Germany 45%, Serbia 8%, Bulgaria 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "support catalysts, centrifuges, insulated wiring, vehicle parts, buses, seats (2019)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$8.76 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$9.6 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2018": {
        "text": "$9.23 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "United Kingdom 14%, Germany 14%, Greece 8%, Serbia 8% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "platinum, refined petroleum, laboratory ceramics, cars, insulated wiring (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$2.802 billion (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$2.755 billion (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2019": {
        "text": "$9.065 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 2018": {
        "text": "$9.398 billion (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "currency": {
        "text": "Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "55.8 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2016": {
        "text": "55.733 (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2015": {
        "text": "55.733 (2015 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2014": {
        "text": "55.537 (2014 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2013": {
        "text": "46.437 (2013 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "5.396 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "6.42 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "58.5 million kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "2.191 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "1.828 million kW (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "60% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "37% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "142 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "21,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "3,065 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "23,560 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "198.2 million cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "198.2 million cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 cu m (31 December 2016 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "400,454"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "19.22 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "1,921,013"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "92.2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "EU pre-accession process has led to stronger tele-density with a closer regulatory framework and independent regulators; administrative ties with the EU have led to progress; broadband services are widely available; more customers moving to fiber networks; operators investing in LTE; importer of broadcasting equipment from Vietnam and China; MOU for 5G with US (2020)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line roughly 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular 92 per 100 subscriptions (2019)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 389"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments"
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "public service TV broadcaster Macedonian Radio and Television operates 3 national terrestrial TV channels and 2 satellite TV channels; additionally, there are 10 regional TV stations that broadcast nationally using terrestrial transmitters, 54 TV channels with concession for cable TV, 9 regional TV stations with concessions for cable TV; 4 satellite TV channels broadcasting on a national level, 21 local commercial TV channels, and a large number of cable operators that offer domestic and international programming; the public radio broadcaster operates over 3 stations; there are 4 privately owned radio stations that broadcast nationally; 17 regional radio stations, and 49 local commercial radio stations (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".mk"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1.71 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "81.41% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "454,300"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "21.41 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "Z3"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "8"
      },
      "2,438 to 3,047 m": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "6 (2017)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "914 to 1,523 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "1 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "262 km gas, 120 km oil (2017)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "925 km (2017)"
      },
      "standard gauge": {
        "text": "925 km 1.435-m gauge (313 km electrified) (2017)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "14,182 km (includes 290 km of expressways) (2017)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "9,633 km (2017)"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "4,549 km (2017)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM; includes a General Staff and subordinate Operations Command, Logistic Support Command, Training and Doctrine Command, Center for Electronic Reconnaissance, Aviation Brigade, and Honor Guard Battalion) (2021)",
      "note": "note - the Operations Command includes air, ground, special operations, support, and reserve forces"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "1.61% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "1.25% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "1.16% of GDP (2019)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "0.94% of GDP (2018)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2017": {
        "text": "0.89% of GDP (2017)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM) has approximately 7,500 active duty personnel (2021)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the inventory of North Macedonia's Army consists mostly of Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, it has received small amounts of equipment from Ireland and Turkey (2021)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2007 (2021)",
      "note": "note - as of 2019, women made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "North Macedonia officially became the 30th member of NATO in 2020"
    }
  },
  "Terrorism": {
    "Terrorist group(s)": {
      "text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>Kosovo and North Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008</p>"
    },
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "553 (mid-year 2021)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 529,056 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-February 2022)"
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement"
    }
  }
}