North Macedonia

Republic of North Macedonia Република Северна Македонија Republika e Maqedonisë së Veriut
Capital and largest city	Skopje
Official languages	Macedonian Albanian
Demonym	Macedonian
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
Legislature	Assembly of North Macedonia
Establishment
• Independence referendum	8 September 1991
• Current name adopted	12 February 2019
Area
• Total	25,713 km2 (9,928 sq mi)
Population
• 2021 census	1,836,713
Currency	Macedonian denar (MKD)
Calling code	+389
ISO 3166 code	MK

North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in southeastern Europe. It occupies part of the southern Balkans. Its capital and largest city is Skopje.

North Macedonia covers 25,713 square kilometres. The 2021 census recorded a resident population of 1,836,713.

Geography

North Macedonia occupies an inland position in the central Balkan Peninsula. Serbia and Kosovo lie to its north and northwest. Albania is situated to the west, Greece to the south and Bulgaria to the east.

Much of the country is mountainous. Lower land is concentrated in the Skopje basin and the Pelagonia plain. The Vardar River crosses the central part of the country before continuing through Greece to the Aegean Sea. Its valley forms the main transport corridor between Skopje and the Greek border.

Lake Ohrid lies on the western border with Albania. The Prespa lakes occupy the southwestern border area shared with Albania and Greece. The Šar Mountains extend across the northwest near Kosovo, while Mount Korab stands on the Albanian border and is the highest point in the country.

The climate varies between continental conditions in the interior and warmer conditions in the southern valleys. Summers are generally hot and dry. Winters are colder in the northern basins and mountain districts.

Skopje is the main administrative and economic centre. Bitola is the principal city of the southwest. Tetovo and Kumanovo are major urban centres in the north.

History

The territory of present-day North Macedonia was inhabited by ancient Paeonian communities and later came under the influence of the kingdom of Macedon. Roman rule expanded into the region during the second century BC. The area later formed part of the eastern Roman and Byzantine state systems.

During the medieval period, control passed between Bulgarian and Serbian rulers. Ottoman authority expanded across the region during the late 14th century. The territory remained under Ottoman administration until the Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913.

Most of the region was incorporated into Serbia after the Balkan Wars. Following the First World War, it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which was later renamed Yugoslavia. The area was administered as part of the Vardar Banovina before the Second World War.

The Socialist Republic of Macedonia was established as a constituent republic of Yugoslavia in 1944. Its institutions were based in Skopje, and the Macedonian language received official recognition within the republic.

A referendum on independence was held on 8 September 1991. The republic declared independence from Yugoslavia later that year and adopted a new constitution on 17 November 1991.

An armed conflict began in January 2001 between state security forces and ethnic Albanian insurgents. The Ohrid Framework Agreement was signed on 13 August 2001. It ended the conflict and expanded provisions for local government, language use and community representation.

The country initially used the constitutional name Republic of Macedonia. A dispute with Greece over the name continued after independence. The Prespa Agreement was signed on 17 June 2018 and entered into force on 12 February 2019. The constitutional name was then changed to the Republic of North Macedonia.

Government and administration

North Macedonia is a unitary parliamentary republic. The president serves as head of state. Executive authority is exercised by the government, which is led by the prime minister. Legislative authority is held by the unicameral Assembly of North Macedonia.

Local government is organized through 80 municipalities. Skopje has a separate city administration formed from several urban municipalities.

Macedonian, written in the Cyrillic alphabet, is the official language throughout the country. Albanian also has official use under constitutional and legal provisions applying to languages spoken by at least 20 percent of the population.

Economy and transport

The economy is based mainly on services and manufacturing. Agriculture remains important in rural districts, particularly in vineyard and tobacco-growing areas. Industrial activity includes food processing and metal production. Skopje contains the largest concentration of government offices, financial institutions and industrial employment.

The main north–south road and railway corridor follows the Vardar valley between Serbia and Greece. Western roads connect Skopje and Tetovo with Kosovo and Albania. Routes through southern Kosovo provide access between North Macedonia and the area around Prizren. Eastern routes cross the border with Bulgaria.

Skopje International Airport is the country's main airport. A smaller international airport serves the Lake Ohrid region.

Demographics and culture

Macedonians form the majority of the population. Albanians are the largest minority and are concentrated mainly in the northwest. Smaller communities live throughout the country.

Orthodox Christianity and Islam are the two largest religious traditions. The Macedonian Orthodox Church is the main Orthodox institution, while Muslim communities include many ethnic Albanians.

Macedonian and Albanian traditions shape the country's public life. Byzantine and Ottoman heritage remains visible in religious buildings and historic urban districts. Ohrid is an important religious and cultural centre known for its old churches and lakeside setting.

See also

• Southern Europe
• Balkans
• Greece
• Kosovo
• Prizren