Mecedonia

MecedoniaPOPULATION: 2,066,718BackgroundMacedonia gained its independence pcefully from Yugoslavia in 1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue. Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic inequities, launched an insurcy in 2001 that eventually won the support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led to the internationally-brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of minorities. Fully implementing the Framework Agreement and stimulating economic growth and development continue to be challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both fronts over the past several yrs.
Terms of UseGeographyLandlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegn S and Southern Europe to Western EuropeLoion:Southstern Europe, north of GreeceGeographic coordinates:41 50 N, 22 00 r:total: 25,713 sq km land: 25,433 sq km water: 280 sq km

Size comparison:slightly larger than VermontLand Boundaries:total: 766 km border countries: Albania 151 km, Buaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none (landlocked)Climate:warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with hvy snowfallTerrain:mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, ch divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar RiverElevation extremes:lowest point: Vardar River 50 m highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 mNatural resources:low-grade iron ore, copper, ld, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable landLand use:arable land: 22.01% permanent crops: 1.79% other: 76.2% (2005)Irrigated land:550 sq km (2003)Natural hazards:high seismic risksCurrent Environment Issues:air pollution from metallurgical plantsInternational Environment Agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertifiion, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the S, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
PeoplePopulation:2,066,718 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144Age structure:0-14 yrs: 19.2% (male 206,054/female 191,354) 15-64 yrs: 69.4% (male 722,823/female 710,830) 65 yrs and over: 11.4% (male 102,231/female 133,426) (2009 est.)Median age:total: 35.1 yrs male: 34.1 yrs female: 36.2 yrs (2009 est.)Population growth rate:0.262% (2009 est.)Birth rate:11.97 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)Dth rate:8.83 dths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)Net migration rate:-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 yrs: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 yrs: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 yrs and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 9.01 dths/1,000 live births male: 9.21 dths/1,000 live births female: 8.8 dths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.68 yrs male: 72.18 yrs female: 77.38 yrs (2009 est.)Total fertility rate:1.58 children born/woman (2009 est.)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2007 est.)HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:fewer than 200 (2007 est.)HIV/AIDS - dths:fewer than 100 (2003 est.)Nationality:noun: Macedonian(s) adjective: MacedonianEthnic groups:Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)Religions:Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)Languages:Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can rd and write total population: 96.1% male: 98.2% female: 94.1% (2002 census)
GovernmentCountry name:conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: Macedonia local long form: Republika Makedonija local short form: Makedonija note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM) former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of MacedoniaGovernment type:parliamentary democracyCapital:name: Skopje geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahd of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in OctoberAdministrative divisions:84 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje), Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Gjorce Petrov) (Skopje), Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda (Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Trce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci note: the 10 municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses collectively constitute the larger Skopje MunicipalityIndependence:8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)National holiday:Ilinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's DayConstitution:adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001 and in 2005 note: amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights and in 2005 with amendments related to the judiciaryLegal system:based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state: President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009) hd of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006) 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, BDI/DUI, and several small parties elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-yr term (eligible for a second term); two-round election: first round held 22 March 2009, second round held 5 April 2009 (next to be held in March 2014); prime minister elected by the Assembly following legislative elections election results: Gjorge IVANOV elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV 63.14%, Ljubomir FRCKOSKI 36.86%Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 sts; members elected by popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall vote the parties gain in ch of six electoral districts; members serve four-yr terms) elections: last held 1 June and 15 June 2008 (next to be held by July 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 49%, SDSM-led block 24%, BDI/DUI 13%, PDSh/DPA 8%, other 6%; sts by party - VMRO-DPMNE-led block 63, SDSM-led block 27, BDI/DUI 18, PDSh/DPA 11, PEI 1Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Republican Judicial Council note: the Assembly appoints the judgesPolitical parties and lders:Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Lgue of Bosniaks [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSh/DPA [Menduh THACI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Renewal of Macedonia [Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Albanians or BDSh [Bardyl MAHMUTI]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [Mitko KOSTOV]; Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; For a Better Macedonia coalition [Nikola GRUEVSKI] (includes VMRO-DPMNE, SP, Democratic Union, Democratic Renewal of Macedonia, Democratic Party of Turks, Democratic Party of Serbs, SR, and smaller parties); Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Lgue for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Jovan MANSIEVSKI]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National Alternative [Harun ALIU]; National Democratic Union or BDK [Hysni SHAQIR]; New Democracy of DR/ND [Imer SELMANI]; New Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Sefedin HARUNI]; Party for Europn Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Party of Free Democrats or PSD [Ljubco JORDANOVSKI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Branko CRVENKOVSKI]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO]; Union of Romas or SR [Shaban SALIU]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]Political pressure groups and lders:Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Eduion, Science and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]; World Macedonian Congress [Todor PETROV]International organization participation:BIS, CE, CEI, PC, EBRD, FAO, IA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131 consulate(s) eral: Southfield (Michigan)Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Philip T. REEKER embassy: Str. Samolilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch) telephone: [389] 2 311-6180 FAX: [389] 2 311-7103
EconomyHaving a small, open economy makes Macedonia vulnerable to economic developments in Europe and dependent on regional integration and progress toward EU membership for continued economic growth. At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the lst 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 central government and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade ar. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized Yugoslavia, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose ch yr through 2000. In 2001, during a civil conflict, the economy shrank 4.5% because of decrsed trade, intermittent border closures, incrsed deficit spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth averaged 4% per yr during 2003-06 and more than 5% per yr during 2007-08. Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and crting jobs, despite making extensive fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment remains high at 35%, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20% of GDP, that is not captured by official statistics. In the wake of the global economic downturn, Macedonia has experienced decrsed foreign direct investment, lowered credit, and a slowdown of export growth. GDP fell in 2009 as a result.GDP (purchasing power parity):GDP (purchasing power parity): $18.59 billion (2009 est.) $19.05 billion (2008 est.) $18.09 billion (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars Macedonia has a large informal sectorGDP (official exchange rate):GDP (official exchange rate): $8.825 billion (2009 est.)GDP - rl growth rate:-2.4% (2009 est.) 5.3% (2008 est.) 5.9% (2007 est.)GDP - per capita (PPP):GDP - per capita (PPP): $9,000 (2009 est.) $9,200 (2008 est.) $8,800 (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollarsGDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 11.9% industry: 29.9% services: 58.2% (2009 est.)Labor force:915,000 (2009 est.)Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 19.6% industry: 30.4% services: 50% (September 2007)Unemployment rate:35% (2009 est.) 33.8% (2008 est.)Population below poverty line:29.8% (2006)Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)Distribution of family income - Gini index:39 (2003)Inflation rate (consumer prices):Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (2009 est.) 8.3% (2008 est.)Investment (gross fixed):Investment (gross fixed): 22.7% of GDP (2009 est.)Budget:revenues: $3 billion expenditures: $3.236 billion (2009 est.)Public debt:24.5% of GDP (2009 est.) 20.8% of GDP (2008 est.)Agriculture - products:grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggsIndustries:food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticalsIndustrial production growth rate:-0.8% (2009 est.)Electricity - production:6.376 billion kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - consumption:7.358 billion kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2008 est.)Electricity - imports:2.491 billion kWh (2007 est.)Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2008 est.)Oil - consumption:21,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)Oil - exports:7,410 bbl/day (2007 est.)Oil - imports:26,730 bbl/day (2007 est.)Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2008 est.)Natural gas - consumption:70 million cu m (2008 est.)Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2008 est.)Natural gas - imports:70 million cu m (2008 est.)Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)Current account balance:$-798 million (2009 est.) $-1.21 billion (2008 est.)Exports:$3.035 billion (2009 est.) $3.971 billion (2008 est.)Exports - commodities:food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steelExports - partners:Serbia and Montenegro 20.4%, Germany 15.4%, Greece 12.4%, Buaria 10.1%, Italy 8.8%, Croatia 6.5% (2008)Imports:$4.942 billion (2009 est.) $6.523 billion (2008 est.)Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food productsImports - partners:Germany 13.3%, Greece 12.4%, Buaria 9.9%, Serbia and Montenegro 6.9%, Italy 6.3%, Tur 5.6%, Slovenia 5.3%, Poland 4.4% (2008)Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.621 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $2.109 billion (31 December 2008 est.)Debt - external:$4.656 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $4.667 billion (31 December 2008 est.)Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:$NA (31 December 2009 est.) $2.405 billion (2007 est.)Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:$NAMarket value of publicly traded shares:$NA (31 December 2008) $2.715 billion (31 December 2007) $1.098 billion (31 December 2006)Exchange rates:Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 45.129 (2009), 41.414 (2008), 44.732 (2007), 48.978 (2006), 48.92 (2005)
CommuniionsTele in use:457,100 (2008) country comparison to the world: 101Cellular in use:2.502 million (2008)Telephone system:eral assessment: competition from the mobile-cellular segment of the telecommuniions market has led to a drop in fixed-line telephone subscriptions domestic: combined fixed line and mobile telephone subscribership approaching 150 per 100 persons international: country - 389 (2008)Radio broadcast stations:AM 29, FM 32, shortwave 0 (2008)Television broadcast stations:52 (2007)Internet country :.mkInternet hosts:57,763 (2009)Internet users:847,900 (2008)
TransportationAirports:14 (2009) country comparison to the world: 150Airports (paved runways):total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2009)Airports (unpaved runways):total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2009)Pipelines:gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2008)Railways:total: 699 km standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (223 km electrified) (2008)Roadways:total: 13,182 km (includes 208 km of expressways) (2002)
MilitaryMilitary branches:Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovso, MVV), Special Operations Regiment (2009)Military service age and obligation:18 yrs of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2007)Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 532,856 females age 16-49: 513,684 (2008 est.)Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 444,247 females age 16-49: 427,556 (2009 est.)