Macedonia

MACEDONIA

A. THE COUNTRY

The Republic of Macedonia is a landlocked state located in the central
Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe.  The government is a multiparty
democracy.  Greece resents the use of the name “Republic of Macedonia”
due to possible territorial aspirations for a Greater Macedonia which
would encompass part of Greece as well as parts of several other
countries. Therefore, Greece uses its veto power to block Macedonia from
joining the EU and NATO.  Macedonia is mostly reliant on agriculture and
an increasingly obsolete industrial sector.  Economic difficulties cause
significant emigration and urban pull; many of the 2,000 villages are
dwindling or disappearing altogether.

B. THE PEOPLE

The population is ~2,044,000 and official language Macedonian.
Ethnic populations are a politicized issue, and despite census data, are
difficult to enumerate accurately.
~64.9% are Slavic, ~25.2% Albanian, ~9.9% Other (Romani, Turk, Other).
Many of the young and talented are living in other European countries,
North America and even New Zealand.

C. RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIANITY/PENTECOSTALISM

~65.5% claim to be Christian, ~31% Muslim, ~3.49% Non-religious, ~0.01%
Jewish.  In the Christian category:
~64.1% are Orthodox, ~0.98% Catholic, ~0.26% Protestant,~0.11% are
considered ‘marginal’, ~0.04% Independent, ~0.01% Anglican.
Evangelicals represent ~0.2% of the population and are one of the
fastest growing in Europe.
Charismatics represent ~0.1% and almost all are Pentecostals.