male: 75.34 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups: Macedonian 66%, Albanian 23%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%,
Gypsies 3%, other 2%

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%

Languages: Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%,
Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%

Literacy: NA

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
abbreviation: FYROM

Data code: MK

Government type: emerging democracy

Capital: Skopje

Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas,
singular--opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija,
Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka,
Krusevo, Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip,
Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos,
Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti
Nikole, Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica
note: in September 1996, the Macedonian Assembly passed legislation
changing the territorial division of the country; names of the 123
new municipalities are not yet available

Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday: 8 September

Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30
November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all
the deputies in the Assembly; note--cabinet formed by the government
coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DA, and DPA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999)
election results: Kiro GLIGOROV elected president; percent of
vote--Kiro GLIGOROV 78.4%

Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly or Sobranje (120 seats--85
members are elected by popular vote; 35 members come from lists of
candidates submitted by parties based on the percentage that parties
gain from the overall vote; all serve four-year terms)
elections: