North Macedonia

North Macedonia faces significant economic challenges characterized by high inflation (9.362%) coupled with modest GDP growth (2.555%). This combination suggests potential stagflationary pressures, eroding purchasing power despite economic expansion, which is a common issue in post-pandemic Southeast European economies.

The extremely low fertility rate of 1.50 is significantly below the replacement level (2.1), indicating a long-term population decline. Combined with the small current population, this suggests a high risk of demographic aging and potential brain drain, as younger generations seek opportunities abroad.

A high percentage of the population (62.252%) resides in urban areas, which is typical of developed European nations but notable for a country with a relatively small total population base. This concentration suggests that resources and economic activity are heavily centralized, likely around the capital, Skopje.

North Macedonia reports an exceptionally low infant mortality rate of 2.800 per 1,000 live births. This figure is competitive with many high-income EU countries and suggests a robust, well-functioning maternal and child healthcare system, standing out as a significant achievement in public health.