Country Comments

Since the mid 1990s North Macedonia has experienced total fertility rates at or below replacement. The past six years have seen the fertility rate averaging 1.5 children per woman. Thanks to a low fertility the population growth rate has stabilized and may begin declining in the next decade. This is a welcome sign toward heading down a path to sustainability with a country whose population is double than what its renewable resources can support.

Environment South East Europe reports major polluters of surface and ground waters are households’ and industrial sewage systems. About 50% of the state territory is agricultural land with livestock waste from farms and farming industries (milk and meat industry, slaughterhouses, etc.) directly discharging wastes without any treatment. Zinc, lead and cadmium are recorded in Vardar River, downstream from smelter facilities. Cadmium was found in several other rivers, to concentrations above the norm, as well as phosphorus and nitrates. The chemical industry, leather production, food production and metallurgic industry are all severe polluters of the water, among them most dangerous being copper mines and metal resurfacing factories. (1)

An assessment conducted in 2013, with help from WHO and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) determined the need for increased social and health care for women and the need to invest more in the education of girls in rural communities. (2)

(1) https://www.esiasee.eu/environmental-issues-in-north-macedonia/

(2) https://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/events/events/2019/04/world-health-day-2019/news/news/2019/04/primary-health-care-helps-extend-sexual-and-reproductive-health-services-in-north-macedonia