International North Macedonia relations

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 33 relations tracked

North Macedonia is a country located in the Balkan region of Europe. It gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and is a member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

Population

2.1M#147 of 203

Land area

25.4K km²#145 of 203

GDP

$19.1B#137 of 197

Military expenditure

$353.7M#117 of 167

Global influence

#97Low

Map legend

Closest relations Strained relations North Macedonia No data

The country has a parliamentary democracy with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The capital of North Macedonia is Skopje. The official language is Macedonian, and the currency is the Macedonian denar.

North Macedonia has a diverse population, with Albanians, Turks, Roma, and Serbs being among the largest minority groups. The country has a mix of Orthodox Christian, Muslim, and Catholic communities, and the majority of the population is Slavic.

North Macedonia's economy is relatively small and is largely dependent on trade, agriculture, and manufacturing. The country has made efforts to attract foreign investment and has a free trade agreement with the European Union.

North Macedonia's foreign policy is oriented towards integration into the European Union and NATO, and the country has made significant progress in this regard in recent years. The country has also sought to improve relations with its neighbors, including Kosovo and Albania.

Geography & terrain

A mountainous, landlocked country cut through by river valleys, including the Vardar, with the Šar Mountains along its northwestern border. Continental climate with hot summers and cold winters, moderated somewhat by Mediterranean influences in valleys. Landlocked, no coastline. The mountainous terrain has historically made large-scale conquest difficult, while the river valleys have served as the main corridors for movement and trade.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, North Macedonia Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Skopje (544.1K people, 26.1% of total population)
Population	2.1M (#147 of 203 countries)
Land area	25.4K km² (#145 of 203 countries)
Main religion	Christianity, Islam
Life expectancy	75 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data (2025)
Currency	Macedonian Denar
Main language(s)	Macedonian
Government type	Parliamentary republic
Time zone	UTC+1.0
GDP	$19.1B (#137 of 197 countries)
GDP per capita	$10.5K (#86 of 198 countries)
International calling code	+389
Driving side	Right
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	2
Military expenditure	$353.7M
Land military expenditure (estimation)	$229.9M
Air military expenditure (estimation)	$123.8M
Naval military expenditure (estimation)	n/a
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	2.1%
Military expenditure per capita	$170
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	NATO member

Shares a land border with 5 countries — here is how those relations stand

North Macedonia's relations with its neighbors

Most similar countries, by language, currency, GDP per capita, borders & international groups

Rank #97 Low International Influence

North Macedonia's actions have a very limited effect on the world or on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of North Macedonia by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.