Facts About Macedonia
Background: International recognition of The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was
delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered
a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in
1995, and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, despite
continued disagreement over FYROM's use of "Macedonia." FYROM's
large Albanian minority and the de facto independence of neighboring
Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Skopje
Currency: 1 Macedonian denar (MKD) = 100 deni
Geography of Macedonia
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: 748 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km, Serbia and
Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy
snowfall
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) 2,753 m
Natural resources: chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade
iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 39%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 830 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: high seismic risks
Environment - current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and
Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
People of Macedonia
Population: 2,045,262 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.92%
15-64 years: 66.94%
65 years and over: 10.14%
Population growth rate: 0.43%
Birth rate: 13.5 births/1,000 population
Death rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: -1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: 12.95 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.02 years
male: 71.79 years
female: 76.43 years
Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66.6%, Albanian 22.7%, Turkish 4%, Roma 2.2%, Serb
2.1%, other 2.4% (1994)
Religions: Macedonian Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%
Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
SOURCE: The World Factbook |