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Europe :: Macedonia

- ## Introduction :: MACEDONIA

- Background:
  Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution are ongoing. Since 2004, the US and over 130 other nations have recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an insurgency in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. Although Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005, the country still faces challenges, including fully implementing the Framework Agreement, resolving the outstanding name dispute with Greece, improving relations with Bulgaria, halting democratic backsliding, bolstering independence of the judiciary and media freedom, and stimulating economic growth and development. Macedonia's membership in NATO was blocked by Greece at the Alliance's Summit of Bucharest in 2008.

- ## Geography :: MACEDONIA

- Location:
  Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
  Geographic coordinates:
  41 50 N, 22 00 E
  Map references:
  Europe
  Area:
  total: 25,713 sq km
  land: 25,433 sq km
  water: 280 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Vermont
  Land boundaries:
  total: 838 km
  border countries (5): Albania 181 km, Bulgaria 162 km, Greece 234 km, Kosovo 160 km, Serbia 101 km
  Coastline:
  0 km (landlocked)
  Maritime claims:
  none (landlocked)
  Climate:
  warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
  Terrain:
  mountainous 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) 2,764 m
  Natural resources:
  low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 44.3%
  arable land 16.4%; permanent crops 1.4%; permanent pasture 26.5%
  forest: 39.8%
  other: 15.9% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  1,278 sq km (2004)
  Total renewable water resources:
  6.4 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 1.03 cu km/yr (21%/67%/12%)
  per capita: 502 cu m/yr (2007)
  Natural hazards:
  high seismic risks
  Environment - current issues:
  air pollution from metallurgical plants
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, 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 and Society :: MACEDONIA

- Nationality:
  noun: Macedonian(s)
  adjective: Macedonian
  Ethnic groups:
  Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 est.)
  Languages:
  Macedonian (official) 66.5%, Albanian (official) 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 est.)
  Religions:
  Macedonian Orthodox 64.8%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.4%, other and unspecified 1.5% (2002 est.)
  Population:
  2,096,015 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17.48% (male 189,719/female 176,751)
  15-24 years: 13.88% (male 150,048/female 140,834)
  25-54 years: 43.69% (male 464,811/female 450,914)
  55-64 years: 12.21% (male 125,327/female 130,617)
  65 years and over: 12.74% (male 114,357/female 152,637) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 41.4%
  youth dependency ratio: 24%
  elderly dependency ratio: 17.4%
  potential support ratio: 5.7% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 37.2 years
  male: 36.1 years
  female: 38.3 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.2% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Birth rate:
  11.55 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Death rate:
  9.08 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Net migration rate:
  -0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 57.1% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  SKOPJE (capital) 503,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 7.96 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 7.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 76.02 years
  male: 73.44 years
  female: 78.79 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Total fertility rate:
  1.6 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  40.2% (2011)
  Health expenditures:
  6.4% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Physicians density:
  2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
  Hospital bed density:
  4.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 99.8% of population
  rural: 98.9% of population
  total: 99.4% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0.2% of population
  rural: 1.1% of population
  total: 0.6% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 97.2% of population
  rural: 82.6% of population
  total: 90.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.8% of population
  rural: 17.4% of population
  total: 9.1% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.01% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  200 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  fewer than 100 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  20.8% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  1.3% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97.8%
  male: 98.8%
  female: 96.8% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 13 years
  male: 13 years
  female: 14 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 16,782
  percentage: 6% (2005 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 53.9%
  male: 55.2%
  female: 51.7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4

- ## Government :: MACEDONIA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
  conventional short form: Macedonia
  local long form: Republika Makedonija
  local short form: Makedonija
  note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM)
  former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy
  Capital:
  name: Skopje
  geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 E
  time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
  Administrative divisions:
  70 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina) and 1 city* (grad); Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Caska, Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Skopje*, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
  Independence:
  8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 8 September (1991); also known as National Day
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended several times, last in 2011 (2011)
  Legal system:
  civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Gjorge IVANOV (since 12 May 2009)
  head of government: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August 2006)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Assembly by simple majority vote; note - current cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DUI, and several small parties
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 13 and 27 April 2014 (next to be held in 2019); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the Assembly
  election results: Gjorge IVANOV reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Gjorge IVANOV (independent) 55.3%, Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 41.1%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (123 seats; 120 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 3 directly elected in diaspora constituencies worldwide by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 27 April 2014 (next to be held on 24 April 2016); note - election has been moved up because of political unrest
  election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE 43.0%, SDSM 25.3%, DUI 13.7%, DPA 5.9%, GROM 2.8%, NDR 1.6%, other 4.3%, invalid 3.4%; seats by party - VMRO-DPMNE 61, SDSM 34, DUI 19, DPA 7, GROM 1, NDR 1
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court (consist of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Council, a 7-member body of legal professionals, and appointed by the Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the legislature for nonrenewable, 9-year terms
  subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Citizens Option for Macedonia or GROM [Stevco JAKIMOVSKI]
  Democratic Party of Albanians or DPA [Menduh THACI]
  Democratic Union for Integration or DUI [Ali AHMETI]
  Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]
  National Democratic Revival or NDR [Vesel MEMEDI]
  Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM [Zoran ZAEV]
  note: during the 2014 parliamentary elections VMRO-DPMNE, SDSM, and GROM each led coalitions
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Federation of Free Trade Unions [Mirjana ANDREVSKA]
  Federation of Trade Unions [Zivko MITREVSKI]
  Trade Union of Education, Science and Culture or SONK [Jakim NEDELKOV]
  Student Plenum
  Eco Guerilla [Arianit XHAFERI]
  International organization participation:
  BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Vasko NAUMOVSKI (since 18 November 2014)
  chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501
  FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Detroit, New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jess L. BAILY (since 12 February 2015)
  embassy: Str. Samolilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje
  mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
  telephone: [389] (2) 310-2000
  FAX: [389] (2) 310-2499
  Flag description:
  a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia
  National symbol(s):
  eight-rayed sun; national colors: red, yellow
  National anthem:
  name: "Denes nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia)
  lyrics/music: Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI
  note: adopted 1991; written in 1943, the song previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia while part of Yugoslavia

- ## Economy :: MACEDONIA

- Economy - overview:
  Since its independence in 1991, Macedonia has made progress in liberalizing its economy and improving its business environment, but has lagged the Balkan region in attracting foreign investment. Corruption and weak rule of law remain significant problems. Some businesses complain of opaque regulations and unequal enforcement of the law. Unemployment has remained consistently high at more than 30% since 2008, but may be overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market, estimated to be between 20% and 45% of GDP, which is not captured by official statistics. Macedonia’s economy is closely linked to Europe as a customer for exports and source of investment, and has suffered as a result of prolonged weakness in the euro zone. Macedonia maintained macroeconomic stability through the global financial crisis by conducting prudent monetary policy, which keeps the domestic currency pegged against the euro, and by limiting fiscal deficits. The government has been loosening fiscal policy, however, and the budget deficit was 4.2% of GDP in both 2013 and 2014. Public debt at the end of 2014 was 45.8%, which although low by regional comparison, is significant for a small economy.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $27.62 billion (2014 est.)
  $26.62 billion (2013 est.)
  $25.93 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars; Macedonia has a large informal sector that may not be reflected in these data
  country comparison to the world: 130
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $11.34 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.8% (2014 est.)
  2.7% (2013 est.)
  -0.5% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $13,300 (2014 est.)
  $12,900 (2013 est.)
  $12,500 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Gross national saving:
  29.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  26.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
  26% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 69.8%
  government consumption: 16.8%
  investment in fixed capital: 29%
  investment in inventories: 1.6%
  exports of goods and services: 47.9%
  imports of goods and services: -65.1%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 8.8%
  industry: 21.3%
  services: 69.9% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  grapes, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs
  Industries:
  food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts
  Industrial production growth rate:
  4.8% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Labor force:
  961,400 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 18.3%
  industry: 29.1%
  services: 52.6% (2014 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  28.5% (2014 est.)
  29% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Population below poverty line:
  30.4% (2011 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.2%
  highest 10%: 34.5% (2009 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  43.6 (2013)
  39.2 (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Budget:
  revenues: $2.89 billion
  expenditures: $3.328 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  26.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Public debt:
  45.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  40.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
  note: official data from Ministry of Finance; data cover central government debt; this data excludes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; includes treasury debt held by foreign entitites; excludes debt issued by sub-national entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; there are no debt instruments sold for social funds
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -0.1% (2014 est.)
  2.8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Central bank discount rate:
  3.25% (31 December 2014)
  3.25% (31 December 2013)
  note: series discontinued in January 2010; the discount rate has been replaced by a referent rate for calculating the penalty rate
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  5.2% (31 December 2014 est.)
  5.4% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Stock of narrow money:
  $1.692 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.569 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Stock of broad money:
  $6.129 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $6.282 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $5.055 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.208 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $2.084 billion (31 December 2014)
  $2.302 billion (31 December 2013)
  $2.423 billion (31 December 2012)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Current account balance:
  -$151 million (2014 est.)
  -$194.1 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Exports:
  $4.934 billion (2014 est.)
  $4.267 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Exports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron, steel; automotive parts
  Exports - partners:
  Germany 41.4%, Bulgaria 6.6%, Italy 6.1%, Serbia 5.2%, Kosovo 4.7%, Greece 4.6% (2014 est.)
  Imports:
  $7.277 billion (2014 est.)
  $6.6 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products
  Imports - partners:
  UK 12.3%, Germany 11.1%, Greece 9.2%, Serbia 8.2%, Italy 6.2%, China 5.9%, Bulgaria 5.3%, Turkey 5.1% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $2.958 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.747 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Debt - external:
  $7.241 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $7.194 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $5.063 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $4.714 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $758 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $744 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Exchange rates:
  Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar -
  50.56 (2014 est.)
  44.63 (2013 est.)
  47.89 (2012 est.)
  44.23 (2011 est.)
  46.49 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: MACEDONIA

- Electricity - production:
  4.569 billion kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Electricity - consumption:
  6.96 billion kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Electricity - exports:
  112.9 million kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Electricity - imports:
  3.073 billion kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  2.011 million kW (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  64.5% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  33% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  2.6% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Crude oil - imports:
  146 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  1 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  15,070 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  2,616 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  17,950 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Natural gas - consumption:
  134.7 million cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Natural gas - imports:
  134.7 million cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  8.084 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111

- ## Communications :: MACEDONIA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 390,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 2.3 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: competition from the mobile-cellular segment of the telecommunications market has led to a drop in fixed-line telephone subscriptions
  domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership about 130 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 389 (2012)
  Broadcast media:
  public TV broadcaster operates 3 national channels and a satellite network; 5 privately owned TV channels broadcast nationally using terrestrial transmitters and about 15 broadcast on national level via satellite; roughly 75 local commercial TV stations; large number of cable operators offering domestic and international programming; public radio broadcaster operates over multiple stations; 3 privately owned radio stations broadcast nationally; about 70 local commercial radio stations (2012)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 68, shortwave 0 (2009)
  Television broadcast stations:
  76 (2009)
  Internet country code:
  .mk
  Internet users:
  1.1 million
  51.1% (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 121

- ## Transportation :: MACEDONIA

- Airports:
  10 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 8
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  under 914 m: 6 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m:
  1 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 699 km
  standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (223 km electrified) (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Roadways:
  total: 14,182 km (includes 242 km of expressways)
  paved: 9,633 km
  unpaved: 4,549 km (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 124

- ## Military :: MACEDONIA

- Military branches:
  Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM; includes General Staff and subordinate Joint Operational Command, Training and Doctrine Command, Special Operations Regiment) (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2008 (2013)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 532,196
  females age 16-49: 511,964 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 443,843
  females age 16-49: 426,251 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 16,144
  female: 14,920 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.08% of GDP (2015)
  1.17% of GDP (2014)
  1.14% of GDP (2013)
  1.2% of GDP (2012)
  1.3% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 92

- ## Transnational Issues :: MACEDONIA

- Disputes - international:
  Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in September 2008; Greece continues to reject the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  stateless persons: 741 (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement

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