At a Glance

Official Name: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Continent: Europe

Area: 9,928 square miles (25,333 sq km)

Population: 2,046,209

Capital City: Skopje

Largest City: Skopje (444,229)

Unit of Money: Macedonian denar

Major Languages: Macedonian (official), Albanian

Literacy: 89%

Land Use: 24% arable, 2% permanent crops, 25% permanent pastures, 39% forests, 10% other

Natural Resources: Chrome, lead, zinc

Government: emerging democracy

Defense: 34 million

The Place

Macedonia is a landlocked, mountainous country in southeastern Europe. Many of its mountains rise to more than 8,000 feet (2,500 meters). Mount Korabit is the country's highest peak at 9,026 feet (2,751 meters).

Beech, oak, and pine forests cover 39% of the land. About 25% of the land is used for farming. The country's main crops are corn, cotton, tobacco, and wheat.

Macedonia's three largest lakes are Ohrid, Prespa, and Doiran. Its longest river—Vardar—bisects the country.

Summers in Macedonia are hot in the mountain valleys and cool in higher elevations. Winters are cold and snowy. The average temperature in the summer is 75° F (24 C°), and 34° F (1° C) in the winter. Skopje, the capital, averages about 21 inches (55 centimeters) of rainfall a year.

The People

Macedonia has two major ethnic groups. Macedonian Slavs make up about 65% of the population. They speak Macedonian and are Orthodox Christians. About 22% of the population is ethnic Albanian. They speak Albanian and are Muslim. Life expectancy is 73 for all groups.

Macedonia has a population density of 202 people per square mile (78 people per sq km). Population growth is low at 0.6%. About 61% of the country's people live in urban areas in apartments and high-rise buildings. The rest of the people live in stone or brick houses in rural villages.

About 40% of Macedonians work in industry, and less than 10% in agriculture. Other Macedonians work in service industries, such as government, health care, and trade.

Macedonia has a diverse cultural life. Folk music draws on Byzantine, Muslim, and Middle Eastern traditions.