MACEDONIA

Government Type

Parliamentary democracy

Capital

Skopje

Flag Description

A yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field

Area

total: 25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km

Boundaries

total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km

Administrative Divisions

85 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, Debartsa, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), 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 Rastusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Skopje, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
note: the ten municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses collectively constitute "greater Skopje"

Major Language

Macedonian

Major Religion

Macedonian Orthodox

Population

2,055,915 (July 2007 est.)

Ethnic groups

Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)

Population Growth Rate

0.263% (2007 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 years: 19.8% (male 210,418/female 195,884)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 715,997/female 704,739)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 99,892/female 128,985) (2007 est.)

Unemployment Rate

36% ( Sept 2006 est.)

Inflation Rate

3% (2006 est.)

GDP Per Capita

$8,300 (2006 est.)

Main Exports

Clothing, iron and steel

Monetary Unit

Macedonian denar (MKD)

1 denar = 100 deni

UN exchange rate: 1 USD = 45.22

Press

·  Nova Makedonija - state-subsidised daily

·  Utrinski Vesnik - daily, run by Social Democratic Alliance supporters

·  Dnevnik - private, daily

·  Vreme - private, daily

·  Vecer - state-subsidised daily

·  Makedonija Denes - private, daily

·  Vest - private, daily

·  Fakti - Albanian-language

·  Forum - weekly

·  Aktuel - private, news weekly

·  Focus - private, weekly

·  Start - political weekly

Current Weather

Skopje