Republic of Macedonia Country Report
The Republic of North Macedonia is an emerging landlocked democracy in southeastern Europe that was formed after it broke away from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. This country is in the center of the Balkan Peninsula, bordering Kosovo from the northwest, and Serbia and Bulgaria from the north. Greece in the east, Albania in the west. Although the political situation has stabilized considerably since the clashes between the government and ethnic Albanians in 2001, the tension between the two could lead to widespread unrest. The country has made significant progress in economic and defense development, moved closer to NATO, and started high-level accession talks with the European Union. Economic and political corruption is widespread in Macedonia and disrupts the investment climate. The main threats to foreign tourists are petty crime, road accidents, and unexploded ordnance, especially in the North West. Macedonia’s infrastructure is generally underdeveloped, creating barriers to foreign investment and economic growth. Macedonia officially changed its name to the Republic of North Macedonia on February 13, 2019, after a long conflict with Greece.
Last updated: April 12, 2022
Security
Tensions between rival communities create potential risks of civil conflict. Due to the presence of people and organizations related to terrorist groups inside the country, the potential threat of terrorism cannot be ignored. Violent crimes against tourists are relatively rare, but the level of petty crime is alarming. Social and economic issues and political tensions regularly cause social unrest.
Last updated: May 9, 2022
Infrastructure
There are no serious risks associated with air travel in Macedonia.
Hazardous driving habits by some local road users and poor road conditions in rural areas can make overland travel dangerous.
There are no seaports in North Macedonia.
Utilities are considered good.
The country is considered an attractive target for cyberattacks. Its defenses against such an attack are thought to be weak.
Last update: March 8, 2023
Environment
Macedonia is located in a seismic zone and is prone to earthquakes. The country also experiences occasional wildfires during the summer months, from June to September. Heavy rains can also cause flooding. The northwest has unexploded ordnance (UXO) and residual mine contamination dating back to 2001.
Last updated: March 2, 2022
Health and Medical
Although medical care is adequate for everyday problems, specialized care may not be available. Health systems throughout Macedonia suffer from shortages of medicine and other equipment. Evacuation may be required in complex medical cases.
Last updated: September 16, 2022
Political
North Macedonia is a democratic republic with parliamentary representation. After the 2020 parliamentary elections, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) came to power. On January 17, 2022, Dimitar Kvačevski succeeded Zoran Zaev as the Prime Minister of North Macedonia.
The government has adopted an agenda aimed at fighting organized crime, reforming the electoral and judicial systems, and tackling nepotism and nepotism. These recently implemented structural reform efforts may lead to increased political stability. A range of political tensions regularly lead to instability.
Last updated: March 8, 2023
