World Factbook
North Macedonia
Republika Severna Makedonija
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: a red field with a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) in the center, with eight broadening rays extending to the edges meaning: the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia
Capital
name
Skopje
etymology
the name is of Illyrian or Macedonian origin, and the meaning is unclear; derives from Scupi, its name during the Roman era
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
geographic coordinates
42 00 N, 21 26 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of North Macedonia
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
8 years
Constitution
history
several previous (since 1944); latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by at least 30 members of the Assembly, or by petition of at least 150,000 citizens; final approval requires a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly
Country name
former
Democratic Federal Macedonia, People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Macedonia
etymology
the name derives from the ancient kingdom of Macedon (7th to 2nd centuries B.C.), whose name origin is unclear; it may derive from the mythological Macedon, the son of the Greek god Zeus; alternatively, it may come from the Greek word makednos , meaning "tail," or the Illyrian word maketia , meaning "cattle"
local long form
Republika Severna Makedonija
local short form
Severna Makedonija
conventional long form
Republic of North Macedonia
conventional short form
North Macedonia
Independence
8 September 1991 (referendum endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of 22 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts
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 Assembly for nonrenewable, 9-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers elected by the Assembly by simple majority vote
chief of state
President Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (since 12 May 2024)
election results
2024: Hristijan MICKOSKI elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 77 for, 22 against 2024: Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote - Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (VMRO-DPMNE) 69%, Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 31% 2024: Talat XHAFERI elected caretaker prime minister; Assembly vote - 65 for (opposition boycott) 2022: Dimitar KOVACEVSKI elected prime minister; Assembly vote - NA
head of government
Prime Minister Hristijan MICKOSKI (since 23 June 2024)
most recent election date
24 April and 8 May 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected using a modified 2-round system; a candidate can only be elected in the first round with an absolute majority from all registered voters; in the second round, voter turnout must be at least 40% for the result to be valid; president elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the Assembly usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 8 September (1991), also known as National Day
National color(s)
red, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (both natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region; Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians
Political parties
Alliance for Albanians or AfA or ASH Alternative (Alternativa) or AAA Besa Movement or BESA Citizen Option for Macedonia or GROM Democratic Alliance or DS Democratic Movement or LD Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM Democratic Union for Integration or BDI European Democratic Party or PDE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP Liberal Democratic Party or LDP New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM Socialist Party of Macedonia or SPM Srpska Stranka in Macedonia or SSM The Left (Levica) The People Movement or LP Turkish Democratic Party or TDP Turkish Movement Party or THP We Can! (coalition includes SDSM/BESA/VMRO-NP, DPT, LDP)
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
123 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
legislature name
Assembly of the Republic (Sobranie)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
5/8/2024
expected date of next election
May 2028
percentage of women in chamber
39.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Coalition "Your Macedonia" (led by VMRO-DPMNE) (58); Coalition "European Front" (led by the Democratic Union for Integration – DUI) (18); Coalition "For a European Future" (led by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia – SDSM) (18); Coalition VLEN (14); ZNAM (Movement "I know": For our Macedonia) (6); The Left (Levica) (6)
National anthem(s)
title
"Denes nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia)
history
written in 1943 and adopted in 1991, the song previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, when it was part of Yugoslavia
lyrics/music
Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI
National symbol(s)
eight-rayed sun
Administrative divisions
80 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 Rostuse, 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 *the Greater Skopje area is composed of 10 municipalities: Aerodrom, Butel, Centar, Chair, Gazi Baba, Gjorce Petrov, Karposh, Kisela Voda, Saraj, and Shuto Orizari
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 667-2104
chancery
2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 667-0501
chief of mission
Ambassador Zoran POPOV (since 16 September 2022)
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Detroit, New York
email address and website
washington@mfa.gov.mk United States (mfa.gov.mk)
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[389] (2) 310-2499
embassy
Str. Samoilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje
telephone
[389] (2) 310-2000
mailing address
7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120
chief of mission
Ambassador Angela AGGELER (since 8 November 2022)
email address and website
SkopjeACS@state.gov https://mk.usembassy.gov/
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, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
note: North Macedonia is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction