North Macedonia: Country in southeastern Europe

Republic of North Macedonia Република Северна Македонија  (Macedonian)
Flag National emblem
Anthem: Денес над Македонија  (Macedonian) (English: "Today over Macedonia")
Location of  North Macedonia  (green) on the European continent  (dark grey)  —  [Legend]
Capital and largest city	Skopje 42°0′N 21°26′E / 42.000°N 21.433°E / 42.000; 21.433
Official languages	Macedonian Albanian
Official regional languages	Turkish Romani Serbian Bosnian Aromanian
Ethnic groups (2002)	64.2% Macedonians 25.2% Albanians 3.9% Turks 2.7% Romani 1.8% Serbs 0.8% Bosniaks 0.5% Aromanians (including Megleno-Romanians) 0.9% Torbesh
Religion (2011)	70.7% Christianity —69.6% Eastern Orthodoxy —0.4% Roman Catholicism —0.7% Other Christian 28.6% Islam 0.5% No religion 0.2% Other
Demonym(s)	Macedonian
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
• President	Stevo Pendarovski
• Prime Minister	Talat Xhaferi
• Chairman of the Assembly	Jovan Mitreski
Legislature	Assembly
Independence  from Yugoslavia
• Independence referendum	8 September 1991
Area
• Total	25,713 km2 (9,928 sq mi) (145th)
• Water (%)	1.9
Population
• 2021 census	1,832,696 (preliminary results)
• Density	80.1/km2 (207.5/sq mi) (122nd)
GDP (PPP)	2019 estimate
• Total	$33.822 billion
• Per capita	$16,253
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	$12.383 billion
• Per capita	$6,143
Gini (2019)	30.7 medium
HDI (2019)	0.774 high · 82nd
Currency	Macedonian denar (MKD)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Date format	dd.mm.yyyy (AD)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+389
ISO 3166 code	MKD
Internet TLD	.mk .мкд

It was part of Yugoslavia. North Macedonia is bordered by Serbia, Albania, Greece and Bulgaria. The capital and largest city is Skopje, with more than 500,000 residents. It has many smaller cities. Some important ones are Bitola, Prilep, Tetovo, Kumanovo, Ohrid, Veles, Stip, Strumica, Debar and Kavadarci.

North Macedonia is a member of the United Nations and World Trade Organization (WTO). It joined NATO on 30 March 2020. Since December 2005, it is a candidate for joining the European Union.

The language spoken by the majority of the population is Macedonian. Albanian is also spoken by ethnic Albanians. The country's currency is the Macedonian denar (MKD).

In past centuries the territory which today is the Republic of North Macedonia was ruled by many different states such as Bulgaria and many other empires.

Earliest residents

People have been living in Macedonia for thousands of years. Neolithic people lived in Macedonia from 7000 to 3500 BCE. The Iliad mentions the Kingdom of Paeonia in Macedonia. From 1000 to 1 BCE, Dacians, Thracians,Illyrians, Celts, and Greeks lived in Northern Macedonia.

Roman rule

Towards the end of the 3rd century BCE, the Romans invaded the Balkan peninsula. Illyria was taken over in 9 CE. The North and East of Macedonia were taken over by the Roman Empire in the year 29 CE. They became the Roman province of Moesia. Starting in the 3rd century CE, the borders of Macedonia were being attacked by the Goths, Huns, Bulgars, Avars, and others. In 395 AD, the Roman Empire split in two. They were the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire).

Byzantine rule

Although, Macedonia was part of the Byzantine Empire, there was little Byzantine influence. In the mid-6th century, Slavic tribes started to settle in Macedonia. From the 7th century to the 13th century, Byzantine Macedonia was governed by local princes and kings, allied with the Byzantine Empire. In the 9th century, the Byzantine Empire brought Christianity to Macedonia. The people who brought Christianity to Macedonia were saints Cyril and Methodius. Their goal was to bring Christianity and the Cyrillic alphabet to Slavs in Europe.

Ottoman rule

The Ottoman Empire was originally a small city-state in Turkey. The city-state grew, and it invaded Adrianople in 1354. From there, it expanded and took over Turkey. Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, did not get invaded by the Ottomans until 1453. After the Battle of the Maritsa River, the Ottomans conquered southern Serbia and Macedonia. North Macedonia was under Ottoman Rule until 1913.

Yugoslav rule and modern history

After the Ottoman Empire dissolved, North Macedonia became a part of the newly formed country Yugoslavia. From 1914 to 1941, Yugoslavia was a monarchy. During WW2, the Axis powers took over Yugoslavia. Macedonia was taken over by Bulgaria. The Axis powers left Yugoslavia after WW2. After WW2, Yugoslavia became a communist state. Josip Broz Tito was the leader of Yugoslavia from 1944 to 1980. On 8 September 1991, Macedonia became an independent state.

During the Yugoslav Wars, Macedonia was mostly peaceful. However, in 2001, fighting broke out between ethnic Albanians and Macedonians. The fighting ended with the Ohrid Agreement.

North Macedonia is in the Balkan region, which is in Southeast Europe. It is bordered by Serbia to the north, Greece to the south, Albania to the west and Bulgaria to the east.

Macedonia is often called a land of lakes and mountains. Three large lakes are on the borders of Albania and Greece, and there are many smaller ones. Sixteen mountains are higher than 2000 meters above sea level.

 

The country is a parliamentary system and republic. North Macedonia is run by a parliament, in which there is 120 seats (members). The public elect for the political party they want to rule the country. The leader of the party with the most seats in parliament becomes the prime minister. The prime minister is responsible for leading the government.

The head of state is the president. The president's role is to act as a figurehead and represent the country. The president is elected by the people every four years and is also the head of the military. North Macedonia is divided into 80 municipalities (areas for local government).

Greece and the Republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia) were arguing over the name "Macedonia". This is because the country of North Macedonia does not cover the entire region of Macedonia (which covers a region of Greece and parts of several other countries). The United Nations called the Republic of North Macedonia, "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM). 'FYROM' was also used by NATO and many other international organisations.

On 17 June 2018, North Macedonia and Greece agreed to the Prespa agreement by which the country would change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia. The government completed the necessary constitutional change on 12 February 2019.

• List of rivers of North Macedonia
• Macedonia
• North Macedonia at the Olympics
• North Macedonia national football team