The Republic of North Macedonia, often referred to simply as North Macedonia, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Europe. It shares its borders with Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west. The country, which constitutes roughly the northern third of the larger geographical region of Macedonia, has Skopje as its capital and largest city, home to about a quarter of its 1.83 million people.
Geography
North Macedonia encompasses a total area of 25,713 km² (9,928 sq mi) and is positioned between latitudes 40° and 43° N, and mostly between longitudes 20° and 23° E. The country shares a total of 748 km (465 mi) of its boundaries with neighboring countries: Serbia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania.
Geographically, North Macedonia is defined by the Vardar river’s central valley and framed by mountain ranges along its borders. The terrain is predominantly rugged, situated between the Šar Mountains and Osogovo, which encircle the Vardar river’s valley. The country is noted for its three large lakes—Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa, and Dojran Lake—positioned on the southern borders, along with Albania and Greece. North Macedonia is also known for its seismic activity, with Skopje experiencing a devastating earthquake in 1963.
The landscape of North Macedonia includes the scenic Šar Mountains and the West Vardar/Pelagonia group of mountains, as well as the Osogovo–Belasica mountain chain. Mount Korab, on the Albanian border and part of the Šar Mountains, stands as the tallest peak at 2,764 m (9,068 ft). The country’s river systems flow into three different basins: the Aegean, the Adriatic, and the Black Sea.
Demographics
As of the 2021 census, North Macedonia has a population of 1,836,713. The largest ethnic group are the Macedonians, followed by a significant minority of Albanians, who are predominant in the northwestern part of the country. Turks form the third-largest ethnic group. There are also considerable populations of Roma, Serbs, Bosniaks, Aromanians, and Megleno-Romanians.
The demographic profile of North Macedonia illustrates a diverse ethnic landscape, with a majority of ethnic Macedonians and a substantial number of Albanians, alongside other ethnic groups contributing to the nation’s cultural richness.