Map

Geography

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

Land Boundaries:
Total: 766 km
Border Countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Serbia 221 km.

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) 2,764 m.

Natural Resources:
Low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land.
Land use:

Arable Land: 22.01%
Permanent Crops: 1.79%
Other: 76.2% (2005)
Irrigated Land: 550 sq km (2003)

 

Cities

Ohrid The resort town of Ohrid has a population ofapproximately 55,000.  In 1979, UNESCO decided to inscribe the Ohrid Lake onto the World Heritage List. The following year, the designation was extended to include the cultural and historical treasures found in the city of Ohrid. Catering to the limitless tourism opportunities in Ohrid it is home the country’s second largest international airport.	Bitola Historically known asthe City of Consuls and Tradesmen, Bitola is located in the Pelagonija region, and has a population of approximately 96,000. Key economic sectors include: coal production; textiles; metal processing; agriculture and; agribusiness.
Skopje The greater Skopje area has a population of approximately 650,000. It is the capital city of the Republic of Macedonia. Industries in this city include iron and steel works, electrical machinery, chemicals, textiles, carpets, and foodstuffs. Skopje is the trading center for the cotton, tobacco, grains, and livestock that is produced in the surrounding regions. The International airport in Skopje has daily flights from major European centers. At the city limits you will find the Bunardzik Economic Free Zone.	Tetovo With a population of approximately 65,000, Tetovo  is rich in the well-known textile and clothing industry. Other important contributors to the local economy include a major plant for the production of chromium and Ferro-silicon and factories that contribute to infrastructure development, most notably roadways. The city is also home to the South Eastern European University, and the ever-popular ski resort, Popova Shapka, is only a few kilometres north of the city.
Gevgelija Located in southern Macedonia, Gevgelija has a population of approximately 23,000. The area is known for its production of fresh fruits and vegetables, with about 70% of production marked for export. Other economic drivers include vineyards, textiles, fruit and vegetable processing and plastics. The city is only 100km from the international port of Salonika, in Greece.	Prilep With a population of approximately 74,000, the main economic stimulant is the production of tobacco. Only a small portion is retained and processed locally; the majority of the tobacco production is exported to foreign markets. In addition to agriculture, marble, textiles and the beverage bottling center play a significant role in the local economy.
Stip The leading economic driver in Stip is their textile industry.  Additionally, located in a heavily forested area of Macedonia, lumber and wood production is a considerable contributor to the local economy. The approximate 50,000 inhabitants of Stip are also involved in food processing, leathers and metal processing. The nearby mines are rich with ironstone, copper and quartz.	Kumanovo This town is an important economic, trading and cultural center in the northern part of Macedonia. The town's prosperity rests upon the metal-processing, tobacco, footwear and textile industries, as well as agriculture.
Kavardarci The town is by far most famous for its vineyards and production of quality wines. It is Macedonia's main wine producing center. Besides wine, Kavadarci is also known for its timber and tobacco production.

 

People

Population: 2,050,554 (July 2006 est.)

Age Structure:
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 213,486/female 199,127)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 711,853/female 701,042)
65 years and over: 11% (male 98,618/female 126,428) (2006 est.)

Median Age:
Total: 34.1 years
Male: 33.2 years
Female: 35.1 years (2006 est.)

Sex Ratio:
At Birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
Under 15 Years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 Years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 Years and Over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Total Population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Life Expectancy At Birth:           
Total Population: 73.97 years
Male: 71.51 years
Female: 76.62 years (2006 est.)

Nationality:
Noun: Macedonian(s)
Adjective: Macedonian

Languages:
Official Language: Macedonian
Other Common Languages Spoken: Albanian, English, Turkish, German, Roma, Serbian.

Literacy:
Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write
Total Population: 96.1%
Male: 98.2%
Female: 94.1% (2002 est.)

 

Government                

Constitutional Name: Republic Of Macedonia
Conventional Long Form: Republic Of Macedonia
Conventional Short Form: Macedonia
Local Long Form: Republika Makedonija
Local Short Form: Makedonija

Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy

Membership In: United Nations, Council of Europe, Organization For Security and Cooperation in Europe, World Trade Organization, La Francophonie.

Candidate Country: European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Capital:
Name: Skopje
Geographic Coordinates: 41 59 N, 21 26 E
Time Zone: GMT +1
           
Independence: 8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsing independence from Yugoslavia)

National Holiday: Ilinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903)
           
Legal System:  Based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

 

Economy

GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $16.91 billion
GDP: $5.649 Billion
GDP (Real Growth Rate): 4% (2006 est.)
GDP - Per Capita (PPP): $8,200 (2006 est.)

Exports: $2.341 billion F.O.B. (2006 est.)
Main Export Markets for 2005: Serbia (23%), Germany (18%), Greece (15%), Italy (8%), Croatia (4%), Bulgaria (4%)

Main Export Sectors in 2005: Manufactured Goods Classified Mainly By Material (45.91%), Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles (12.30%), Food Products (11.25%), Mineral Fuels, Lubricants And Related Materials (11.00%), Machinery And Transport Equipment (7.39%), Chemical Products (6.10%), Crude Materials, Except Fuels (4.56%), Beverages And Tobacco (1.50%).

Currency (Code): Macedonian Denar (MKD)
Exchange Rates: Pegged to the Euro 1€ = 61.3 MKD

 

Communications

Telephones – Land Lines: 533,200 (2005)
Telephones - Mobile Cellular: 1.261 million (2005)

International Country Code: 389

Wireless Broadband Coverage: 100% (Country Wide)

Internet Country Code: .mk

Internet Hosts: 3,716 (2006)

Internet Users: 392,671 (2005)
              

Transportation

Airports: 2 International.
Skopje: Alexander The Great International Airport (SKP)
Ohrid: St Paul International Airport (OHD)