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. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue. Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led to the internationally-brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of minorities.
Fully implementing the Framework Agreement and stimulating economic growth and development continue to be challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both fronts over the past several years.
Macedonia is located in Southeast Europe, North of Greece for a total of
25,713 sq km, slightly larger than Vermont. The bordering countries
Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Kosovo 159 km, Serbia 62 km.
The climate is warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
.
The terraine is mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large
lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar
River
.
Natural Resources are low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel,
tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land.
The population of Macedonia is 2,077,328 (July 2011 est.).
Major city is SKOPJE (capital) 480,000 (2009).
The
sex ratio for Macedonia at birth:
1.077 male(s)/female & total population:
1 male(s)/female (2011 est.) To give you an idea of how Macedonia relates to the rest of the world is check out this map. Macedonia is green.
Map indicating the
human sex ratio by country.
Countries with more females than males.
Countries with the same number of males and females.
Countries with more males than females.
No data
Life expectancy is 75.14 years.
Ethnic Groups: Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
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
Independence Day: September 8, 1991, also known as National Day. The constitution was
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001, 2005 and in 2009
note:
amended
November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments
strengthening minority rights, in 2005 with amendments related to the
judiciary, and in 2009 with amendments related to the threshold required
to elect the president
Legal System: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Economy:
Having a small, open economy makes Macedonia vulnerable to economic
developments in Europe and dependent on regional integration and
progress toward EU membership for continued economic growth. 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 central government and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a
de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on
the downsized Yugoslavia, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute
about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic
growth until 1996.
Since then, Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic
stability with low inflation, but it has so far lagged the region in
attracting foreign investment and creating jobs, despite making
extensive fiscal and business sector reforms. Official unemployment
remains high at 31.7%, but may be overstated based on the existence of
an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20% of GDP, that is
not captured by official statistics. In the wake of the global economic
downturn, Macedonia has experienced decreased foreign direct investment,
lowered credit, and a large trade deficit.
However, as a result of
conservative fiscal policies and a sound financial system, in 2010 the
country received slightly improved credit ratings. Macroeconomic
stability also was maintained by a prudent monetary policy, which kept
the domestic currency at the pegged level against the euro, while
interest rates were falling. As a result, GDP growth was modest, but
positive, in 2010.
Exchange Rate:
Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar -
46.434 (2010)
44.1 (2009)
41.414 (2008)
44.732 (2007)
48.978 (2006)
re profoundly than Alexander the Great, the young man who. through war, diplomacy, and arguably Machiavellian means, expanded his empire to include most of the Western world and beyond-all before he died at age thirty-three. A remarkable individual whose path crossed with some of the most influential people, places, and events of all time, Alexander began his combat training at age seven, studied philosophy with Aristotle at age thirteen, kept a copy of Homer's Iliad under his pillow until his death, and introduced Greek and oriental cultural influenced throughout his vast empire. 
, and definitely food. It's not uncommon for people here to just stop by for a cup of coffee or just to say hi and it's not discouraged for you to do the same. When walking in the streets, it's customary to say hello, good afternoon, or good evening, whether they know you or not. 
