(CBS)
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991, but 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 Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of minorities.
The undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement, and a weak economy continue to be challenges for Macedonia.
Source: CIA World Fact Book 
(AP)
2,055,915 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.8% (male 210,418/female 195,884) 15-64 years: 69.1% (male 715,997/female 704,739) 65 years and over: 11.1% (male 99,892/female 128,985) (2007 est.)
Median age: total: 34.4 years male: 33.5 years female: 35.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.263% (2007 est.)
Birth rate: 12.02 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate: 8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.074 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.016 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.774 male(s)/female total population: 0.997 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 9.53 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.21 years male: 71.73 years female: 76.88 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.57 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2003 est.)
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 census)
Religions: Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)
Languages: Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.1% male: 98.2% female: 94.1% (2002 census)
(AP)
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. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. However, the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, and regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in 2002 to 0.9%, then averaged 4% per year during 2003-06. Macedonia has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it has lagged the region in attracting foreign investment, and job growth has been anemic. Macedonia has an extensive gray market, estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP, that falls outside official statistics.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $16.94 billion note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $6.225 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): $8,300 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 29% services: 62% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 899,000 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.7% industry: 32.6% services: 45.7% (September 2006)
Unemployment rate: 36% (September 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line: 30% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 28.2 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): 9.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.234 billion expenditures: $2.284 billion; including capital expenditures of $24 million (2006 est.)
Public debt: 41.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products: grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables; milk, eggs
Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production: 5.935 billion kWh (2006)
Electricity - consumption: 8.929 billion kWh (2006)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2006)
Electricity - imports: 2.994 billion kWh (2006)
Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption: 23,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 100 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 100 million cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance: -$167 million (2006 est.) Exports: $2.341 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities: food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel
Exports - partners: Serbia and Montenegro 23.2%, Germany 15.6%, Greece 15.1%, Italy 9.9%, Bulgaria 5.4%, Croatia 5.2% (2006)
Imports: $3.631 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products
Imports - partners: Russia 15.1%, Germany 9.8%, Greece 8.5%, Serbia and Montenegro 7.5%, Bulgaria 6.7%, Italy 6% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.867 billion (November 2006)
Debt - external: $2.285 billion (November 2006)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency (code): Macedonian denar (MKD)
Exchange rates: Macedonian denars per US dollar - 48.978 (2006), 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003), 64.35 (2002)
Fiscal year: calendar year
europe headlines
Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch DiesSerbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Pavle Has Died At Age 95
Serbian Orthodox Church Says Its Head Patriarch Pavle Has DiedSerbian Orthodox Church Says Its Head Patriarch Pavle Has Died
Britain To Apologize To Former Child MigrantsBritain To Apologize For Mistreatment Of Child Migrants Sent To 'better Life' Overseas
Czechs Celebrate 20 Years Since Velvet RevolutionHavel Opens 20th Anniversary Celebrations Of Velvet Revolution With Celebrities, Live Music
world headlines
Honduras, Already Poor, Sinks Further After CoupPoverty Deepens In Honduras As Crisis Drags On, Slamming Already Fragile Economy
Cuba Cracks Down On Unlicensed Home ImprovementsAmid Housing Crunch, Cuba Cracks Downs On Illegal Home Remodels, Streamlines Building Permits
Havel: Czech Leader Is Damaging The CountryVaclav Havel: Czech President Is Damaging The Country By Not Signing The EU Reform Treaty
New Security Council Members ElectedBosnia, Lebanon, Gabon, Nigeria And Brazil Win Security Council Seats
Twitter Launches Japanese Mobile SiteTwitter Launches Japanese Mobile Site In Major Push To Crack Finicky Market
Harrods Adds Gold Bars To Its Luxurious ImageHarrods Department Store Goes Further Upmarket, Selling Pricey Gold Bars To Its Shoppers
Little-known Egyptian Is Key Al-Qaida FigureLittle-known Egyptian-born Militant Is Key Al-Qaida Figure In Afghanistan
US Man Accused Of Grabbing Own Kids Freed In JapanUS Man Accused Of Snatching Kids From Ex-wife In Japan Released Pending Investigation
US Condemns Vietnam's Treatment Of ActivistsUS Condemns Vietnam's Treatment Of Democracy Activists, Monks
Chinese Leader's Comments Dash Iran Sanction HopesChinese Leader Says Country Will Strengthen Cooperation With Iran, Dashing Sanctions Hopes
Interactive
The Last Days Of SloboSee Slobodan Milosevic's dramatic fall from power, learn about the U.N. war crimes tribunal and follow the history of political and social strife in the Balkans.
Interactive
The Kosovo WarIn-depth coverage of the NATO bombing campaign to oust Serb forces from the Kosovo province.
More In-depth
The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
