Nordmazedoniens

Nordmazedoniens are the people of North Macedonia, a landlocked country in the central Balkans. The country borders Kosovo and Serbia to the north, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, and Greece to the south, with Skopje as its capital and largest city. The terrain includes mountains, valleys, and lakes, notably Lake Ohrid.

Demographics and language: The population is composed mainly of ethnic Macedonians, with a significant Albanian minority and smaller communities of Turks, Roma, Serbs, and Bosniaks. The official language is Macedonian, written in the Cyrillic script; Albanian is co-official in municipalities with substantial Albanian populations, and several minority languages are recognized locally.

History and politics: The modern state emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia and declared independence in 1991. A long-running naming dispute with Greece was resolved by the 2018 Prespa Agreement, leading to the country’s official name change to North Macedonia in 2019. North Macedonia joined NATO in 2020 and began European Union accession negotiations in the subsequent years. The country operates as a parliamentary republic, with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government, and a unicameral legislature of 120 members.

Economy and culture: North Macedonia maintains a transitioning market economy with services, manufacturing, and agriculture as key sectors; tourism is important in Ohrid and other historic and natural sites. The culture reflects Slavic, Balkan, and Ottoman influences, with Orthodox Christianity being predominant among ethnic Macedonians and Islam significant among Albanians and other groups. Notable cultural heritage includes UNESCO-listed sites in the Ohrid region and a rich tradition of music, crafts, and cuisine.