The Republic of North Macedonia is a land-locked country in Europe, bordered by Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania. It declared its independence from Yugoslavia on 8th September 1991.
Until February 2019, the country was known as Macedonia, but this led to tensions with Greece, which also has a region called Macedonia. Historically, Macedonia referred to a larger region in south eastern Europe incorporating what is now the Republic of North Macedonia and parts of Albania, Greece, Serbia and Kosovo. The name change to North Macedonia helped resolve the long-standing dispute and improved diplomatic relations.
The official language is Macedonian, spoken by around 2 million people. The national currency is the Macedonian denar. Though North Macedonia is not in the European Union, EU membership remains a national goal, made more attainable following the resolution of the naming issue.
The Ohrid Region, surrounding the town of Ohrid and Lake Ohrid, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for both its cultural and natural significance. It features one of Europe's oldest human settlements and some of the oldest Slavic monasteries, with archaeological remains dating back to prehistoric times.
Football is the nation's most widely followed sport, with the national team gaining significant attention after qualifying for Euro 2020 - their first major international tournament. They were, however, knocked out of the tournament in their group stage. Other popular sports include handball and basketball, with both enjoying strong domestic support and international representation.
Mother Teresa was born in what is now North Macedonia's capital city, Skopje, on 26th August 1910. Back then, Skopje was part of the Ottoman Empire and known as Üsküb. Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. It would have been a bit weird calling her Mother Teresa at birth.
Skopje, North Macedonia’s capital city, has a population of just under 600,000 people - about one-third of the national total. The country’s population peaked at over 2 million in 2002 but has since declined to around 1.84 million due to emigration, especially among young people
Television Skopje began broadcasting in 1964. It is now Macedonian Radio Television (MRT), offering national and international channels. Radio began in 1941.
The MRT Center, headquarters of Macedonian Radio Television, was the tallest building in the country until 2015 at 70 metres (230 feet). It was overtaken by the Cevahir Sky City towers in Skopje, which stand at 142 metres (466 feet). However, the tallest man-made structure overall is the Vodno telecommunications tower, which reaches over 165 metres (541 feet) but is not classified as a building.
The original flag of Macedonia (1992-1995) featured a symbol discovered in Vergina, a town in Greek Macedonia. Greece opposed its use, leading to trade blockades and pressure from the UN. In 1995, North Macedonia adopted a new flag to resolve the conflict. The new flag is the one currently in use.
