Macedonians
Created | Updated Dec 1, 2004
"People who originate from one and the same race, speak the same language, live together in harmony, and have the same customs, songs and mentality, constitute a nation, and the place where they live is their homeland.
In this way, the Macedonians are a nation and their homeland is Macedonia."
Gjorgji Pulevski, 1875
The population of the Republic of is 1,936,877 inhabitants according to the 1994 census: 976,051 (50.4 percent) men and 960,826 (49.6 percent) women. The capital of the Republic of Macedonia is Skopje with 448,229 inhabitants, while other significant towns include Bitola (84,002), Prilep (70,152), Kumanovo (69,231), Tetovo (51.472), Titov Veles (47,326). Shtip (42,826), Ohrid (42,908), Gostivar (40,012), Kavadarci (32,429), and Strumica (34,396).
Compared to the 1981 census (1,909,136 inhabitants), the population of Macedonia has increased by slightly more than one percent. It is worth noting, however, that in 1900 only 908,904 people lived on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, while according to the 1948 census Macedonia possessed 1,152,986 inhabitants. In the Republic of Macedonia, there are 505,852 households, dominated by four-member families (174,918). While there are more families with more or fewer members, four-member families make up the largest single category.
According to the 1994 census and supplementary estimates, the population of the Republic of Macedonia includes 1,288,300 Macedonians, 442,914 Albanians, 77,252 Turks, 43,732 Roma, 39,260 registered Serbs, 8,467 registered Vlachs and 87,089 members of other peoples including Jews, Moslems, Egyptians, Croats, Montenegrins, English, French and Russians. A small minority of the population did not declare any nationality. The 1994 census, in comparison with that of 1981, proved that migration from villages to cities in the Republic of Macedonia continues: currently, 1,179,111, or roughly 57 percent of the total population, live in urban areas, and 757,766 or 43 percent live in rural settlements. Ten years ago, the urban population was 53.9 percent and the rural population 46.1 percent, so it is clear that urbanisation continues apace in Macedonia. The average life expectancy in the Republic of Macedonia is 70.1 years for men and 74.4 years for women, while the average age is 32.7 years for men and 33.9 years for women.
For those who favour statistical data, in the Republic of Macedonia there are 646,713 male Macedonians and 641,617 female Macedonians; 224,862 male Albanians and 218,052 female Albanians; 39,390 male Turks and 37,862 female Turks; and 19,847 male Serbs and 19,413 female Serbs.
Of the overall population of the Republic of Macedonia, 66.5 percent is comprised by Macedonians, 22.9 percent by Albanians, 4.79 by Turks, 2.73 by Roma, 2.17 by Serbs, 0.40 by Vlachs and 4.28 percent by the remaining nationalities.
Nearly 90 percent of the people in the Republic over the age of 10 can read and write. Approximately 70 percent of the population also complete secondary or higher education. The University of Skopje (founded in 1949) and the Bitola University (1979) are the Republic's two main universities. The new Islamic University in Skopje began its work in September 1997.
In this way, the Macedonians are a nation and their homeland is Macedonia."
Gjorgji Pulevski, 1875
The population of the Republic of is 1,936,877 inhabitants according to the 1994 census: 976,051 (50.4 percent) men and 960,826 (49.6 percent) women. The capital of the Republic of Macedonia is Skopje with 448,229 inhabitants, while other significant towns include Bitola (84,002), Prilep (70,152), Kumanovo (69,231), Tetovo (51.472), Titov Veles (47,326). Shtip (42,826), Ohrid (42,908), Gostivar (40,012), Kavadarci (32,429), and Strumica (34,396).
Compared to the 1981 census (1,909,136 inhabitants), the population of Macedonia has increased by slightly more than one percent. It is worth noting, however, that in 1900 only 908,904 people lived on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, while according to the 1948 census Macedonia possessed 1,152,986 inhabitants. In the Republic of Macedonia, there are 505,852 households, dominated by four-member families (174,918). While there are more families with more or fewer members, four-member families make up the largest single category.
According to the 1994 census and supplementary estimates, the population of the Republic of Macedonia includes 1,288,300 Macedonians, 442,914 Albanians, 77,252 Turks, 43,732 Roma, 39,260 registered Serbs, 8,467 registered Vlachs and 87,089 members of other peoples including Jews, Moslems, Egyptians, Croats, Montenegrins, English, French and Russians. A small minority of the population did not declare any nationality. The 1994 census, in comparison with that of 1981, proved that migration from villages to cities in the Republic of Macedonia continues: currently, 1,179,111, or roughly 57 percent of the total population, live in urban areas, and 757,766 or 43 percent live in rural settlements. Ten years ago, the urban population was 53.9 percent and the rural population 46.1 percent, so it is clear that urbanisation continues apace in Macedonia. The average life expectancy in the Republic of Macedonia is 70.1 years for men and 74.4 years for women, while the average age is 32.7 years for men and 33.9 years for women.
For those who favour statistical data, in the Republic of Macedonia there are 646,713 male Macedonians and 641,617 female Macedonians; 224,862 male Albanians and 218,052 female Albanians; 39,390 male Turks and 37,862 female Turks; and 19,847 male Serbs and 19,413 female Serbs.
Of the overall population of the Republic of Macedonia, 66.5 percent is comprised by Macedonians, 22.9 percent by Albanians, 4.79 by Turks, 2.73 by Roma, 2.17 by Serbs, 0.40 by Vlachs and 4.28 percent by the remaining nationalities.
Nearly 90 percent of the people in the Republic over the age of 10 can read and write. Approximately 70 percent of the population also complete secondary or higher education. The University of Skopje (founded in 1949) and the Bitola University (1979) are the Republic's two main universities. The new Islamic University in Skopje began its work in September 1997.
