Largest Cities in Macedonia

Facts about Macedonia

Official languages: Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish, Serbian
Capital: Skopje
Area: 25,333 km²
Population: 2.1 million residents
Population density: 81.36 residents per km²
Currency: MKD
Internet TLD: .mk
ISO codes: MK , MKD, 807
The prefix for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is +389

Flag of North Macedonia

The flag of Macedonia was selected through a public competition in 1995. The flag consists of a red leaf and a yellow sun motif with six axisymmetric rays extending towards the edges of the flag. Originally, a flag with the motif of the virgin sun was chosen, which was used in the years 1992 – 1995, but the Greeks did not agree with it, as they consider this symbol to be purely Hellenic, and in addition, its province of Macedonia also had it in its coat of arms. Opinions on this matter differ – some claim that the symbol appeared much earlier in the Persian Empire and other ancient empires, but the Greeks still won this dispute, and so the Macedonians eventually settled on the current form of the flag.

North Macedonia (Macedonian Северна Македонија Severna Makedonija ; officially the Republic of North Macedonia, Macedonian Република Северна Македонија Republika e Severna Makedonija, Albanian Republika e Severna Makedonija, Albanisch Republika e Macedonija, Albanisch Republika e- Makedonija, Albanisch Republika e- Makedonija, Albanisch Republika e- Makedonija. It covers the northern part of the historical region of Macedonia.

The state was founded in the resistance in 1944 as the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, was officially the southernmost republic of socialist Yugoslavia from 1946 and declared its independence as the Republic of Macedonia in 1991. Due to the name dispute with its southern neighbor Greece, the state was often referred to internationally as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM; English former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, abbreviated FYROM) in order to avoid an official name. The name was changed to North Macedonia on February 12, 2019.

Since December 2005, the country has had the status of a candidate country of the European Union (EU). North Macedonia has one of the weakest economies in Europe and is in a process of transformation, both economically and politically. The country is struggling with high unemployment rates and weak infrastructure, as well as a lack of investment.

In addition to Macedonians, who make up around 64% of the total population, there is a large minority of Albanians (25%). Smaller minorities of Turks (3.85%), Roma (2.66%), Serbs (1.78%), Bosniaks (0.84%) and Aromanians / Megleno-Romanians (0.48%) as well as other ethnic groups (1st, 04%) are available. As a result of this situation, there have been and continue to be ethnically motivated conflicts, especially between Macedonians and Albanians. After the civil war-like situation in 2001 and the subsequent peace treaty, the overall situation in the country has improved significantly. However, social equality of all ethnicities has still not been achieved.

North Macedonia has made considerable efforts in the transformation process since independence in 1991. Even in anticipation of a later EU accession, the country must undertake tariff reductions within the framework of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU and face increased competition.

The main goal of the government is to encourage foreign investment and increase economic growth. On the part of potential international investors, however, a consolidation of constitutional structures and an increase in efficiency and transparency in public administration and in the implementation of public tenders are called for. While tenders are still only partially transparent, the Macedonian government has significantly expanded public administration in recent years, but without any noticeable improvement in efficiency or service. Corruption remains a major problem.

In 2017 the economy grew by 1.7%. The unemployment rate has been very high in recent years, but has fallen slightly to 22%. Youth unemployment is estimated to be 50%.

According to official figures, the average net salary of a working person is 380 euros per month, which is around 35% of the EU average. According to World Bank estimates, more than 20% of the population live in poverty.

Biggest Cities of Macedonia by Population

Macedonia is home to a number of large cities, including its capital Skopje. Skopje is Macedonia’s largest city and the most populous in the country. It is located on the Vardar River and is known for its rich history and culture. The city has a number of historic sites and monuments, including the Kale Fortress, Stone Bridge, Mother Teresa Memorial House, and many other attractions. The city also has a vibrant nightlife with numerous bars and restaurants.

Another major city in Macedonia is Bitola. Located in the south-western part of the country, it is known for its Ottoman-era architecture such as the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Clock Tower, Old Bazaar, and Heraclea Lyncestis archaeological site. Bitola also has some excellent museums such as the Museum of Bitola History and Archaeology Museum.

Ohrid is another important city in Macedonia that is situated on Lake Ohrid. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 due to its rich cultural heritage that includes numerous ancient churches such as St John at Kaneo Church, Ohrid Cathedral, St Sofia Church, and many more. The city also features some interesting museums such as Bay of Bones Museum and National Gallery of Macedonia.

Finally, Kumanovo is another major Macedonian city located near the border with Serbia and Kosovo. It features a variety of attractions such as Kale Fortress, Kumanovo Castle Ruins Park, St George Church (Crkva Sv Georgi), National Library of Macedonia (Narodna Biblioteka na Makedonija), etc., making it an attractive destination for visitors from around the world to explore!

North Macedonia: Skopje

The capital of North Macedonia is called Skopje and is located in the east of the country. It is also the largest and most populous city in North Macedonia. About 530,000 people live there. The special thing about Skopje is the history of the city, because it is several thousand years old.

Those who used to travel between East and West in Europe usually passed Skopje. This place has seen many disputes and natural disasters. Even if parts of the city were repeatedly destroyed in the course of history, some traces of old cultures and events have remained.

Countries neighboring North Macedonia

• Albania
• Bulgaria
• Greece
• Serbia
• Kosovo