Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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International recognition of Macedonia's 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, although differences over Macedonia's name remain. The undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement - which ended the 2001 ethnic Albanian armed insurgency - and a weak economy continue to be challenges for Macedonia.
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Location:
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Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
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Geographic coordinates:
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41 50 N, 22 00 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Vermont
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Land boundaries:
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total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
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Terrain:
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mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m
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Natural resources:
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low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
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Land use:
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arable land: 22.26%
permanent crops: 1.81%
other: 75.93% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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550 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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high seismic risks
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Environment - current issues:
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air pollution from metallurgical plants
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
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Population:
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2,045,262 (July 2005 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 20.5% (male 217,057/female 202,465)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 707,489/female 697,150)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 97,117/female 123,984) (2005 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 32.8 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 33.9 years (2005 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.26% (2005 est.)
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Birth rate:
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12 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Death rate:
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8.73 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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 (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 10.09 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 73.73 years
male: 71.28 years
female: 76.37 years (2005 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 200 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (2003 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian
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Ethnic groups:
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Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
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Religions:
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Macedonian Orthodox 32.4%, other Christian 0.2%, Muslim 16.9%, other and unspecified 50.5% (2002 census)
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Languages:
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Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 98.2%
female: 94.1% (2002 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: Macedonia; note - the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy
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Capital:
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Skopje
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Administrative divisions:
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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"
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Independence:
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8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsing independence from Yugoslavia)
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National holiday:
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Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's Day and Ilinden
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Constitution:
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adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Vlado BUCKOVSKI (since 17 December 2004)
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 SDSM, LDP, and BDI
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; two-round election last held 14 April and 28 April 2004 (next to be held April 2009); prime minister elected by the Assembly; election last held 1 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%, Sasko KEDEV 37.3%; Vlado BUCKOVSKI elected prime minister by the Assembly
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - members elected by popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; all serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Together for Macedonia coalition 60 (SDSM 43, LDP 12, others 5), VMRO-DPMNE 33 (VMRO 28 and LDT 5), Democratic Union for Integration 16, Democratic Party of Albanians 7, Party for Democratic Prosperity 2, National Democratic Party 1, Socialist Party of Macedonia 1
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Constitutional Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican Judicial Council - the Assembly appoints the judges
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic League of the Bosniaks [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH/DPA [Arben XHAFERI, president]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Republican Union of Macedonia or DRUM [Dosta DIMOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [leader NA]; Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Agrarian Party or VMRO-Agrarian Party [Marjan GJORCEV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE (including VMRO and LDT) [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-True Macedonian Option or VMRO-Vistinska [Boris ZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna [Vesna JANEVSKA]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National Democratic Party or PDK [Basri HALITI]; National Farmers' Party [Vejljo TANTAROV]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Vlado BUCKOVSKI, president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]; Together for Macedonia coalition (including the SDSM and LDP) [Vlado BUCKOVSI]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Civic Movement of Macedonia [Gordana SILJANOVSKA]; Movement for Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic Integration [Dosta DIMOVSKA]
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV
chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3063
FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093
consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Edward BUTLER
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 2 311-6180
FAX: [389] 2 311-7103
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Flag description:
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a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field
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Economy - overview:
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At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least 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 center and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the down-sized Yugoslavia, one of its largest markets, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. However, the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, and regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in 2002 to 0.9%, then rose by a moderate 3.4% in 2003, and is estimated at 1.3% in 2004. Unemployment at one-third of the workforce remains a critical economic problem. Much of the extensive grey market activity falls outside official statistics.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$14.4 billion (2004 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.3% (2004 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $7,100 (2004 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 26%
services: 62.8% (2004 est.)
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Labor force:
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855,000 (2004 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
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Unemployment rate:
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37.7% (3rd quarter, 2004 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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30.2% (2003 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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0.4% (2004 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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17.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.198 billion
expenditures: $1.245 billion, including capital expenditures of $114 million (2004 est.)
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Public debt:
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20% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, grapes, rice, tobacco, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton
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Industries:
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coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco, food processing, buses, steel
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Industrial production growth rate:
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0% (2004 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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6.273 billion kWh (2003)
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Electricity - consumption:
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7.216 billion kWh (2003)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2003)
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Electricity - imports:
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953 million kWh (2003)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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22,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA
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Oil - imports:
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NA
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Current account balance:
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$-311 million (2004 est.)
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Exports:
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$1.629 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
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Exports - partners:
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Serbia and Montenegro 31.4%, Germany 19.9%, Greece 8.9%, Croatia 6.9%, US 4.9% (2004)
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Imports:
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$2.677 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products, automobiles
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Imports - partners:
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Greece 15.4%, Germany 13.1%, Serbia and Montenegro 10.4%, Slovenia 8.6%, Bulgaria 8.1%, Turkey 6%, Romania 4.7% (2004)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$928 million (2004 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$1.863 billion (2004 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$250 million (2003 est.)
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Currency (code):
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Macedonian denar (MKD)
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Exchange rates:
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Macedonian denars per US dollar - 49.41 (2004), 54.32 (2003), 64.35 (2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9 (2000)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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