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Population Census

The first headcounts on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia were carried out in the 15th century, when Turkish authorities enumerated only taxpayers and the male population. There are Russian, French, Greek and other sources of data on population censuses in the 19th century.

The first modern census on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia was conducted in 1921.

After the Second World War, nine population censuses were carried out in the Republic of North Macedonia: in 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 1994, 2002 and 2021.

The 1991 Census coverage was incomplete and, therefore, another census in the same decade was conducted in 1994.

The 1994 Census was the first census conducted in the Republic of North Macedonia after the proclamation of independence.

The 2002 Census was the last census carried out in the Republic of North Macedonia using the traditional method.

The 2021 Census was conducted by applying a new, so-called combined census method and new technological approach with entry of census data on handheld computers, laptops, and using data from the created pre-census database.   

The Census of Population, Households and Dwellings is defined as a statistical operation which at regular intervals (usually ten years) officially counts the population of the country, from its smallest geographical territorial units to the country level, along with the defined demographic, social and economic characteristics of the total population.

Censuses are typically conducted every 10 years, in years that end in zero or one.

?he main objective of the Census is to determine the number of the population and its territorial distribution, to obtain data on vital, educational, economic, ethnic, migration and other characteristics of the population. The Census is the basis for estimating the number and movement of the population in the intercensal period, as well as for long-term projections of the population in the future.

According to its significance, the Census is ranked as an activity of high national interest, and its implementation is always regulated by a special Law on Census which is adopted by the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia.

The aggregated statistical results obtained from data collected with the Census, besides for statistical purposes, are also used for macroeconomic planning, creating development policies, scientific analysis and other research.


 
 




Key Indicators
 
  Total Population  ( 2021) : 1 836 713  

  Total number of Households  ( 2021) : 598 632  

  Total number of Dwellings  ( 2021) : 839 174  

Time Series



Terms and explanations

The total population is consisted of:

- Persons who have place of usual residence in the Republic of Macedonia, regardless of whether at the time of the Census they are present at their place of usual residence or elsewhere in the Republic of Macedonia;

- Foreigners who have a residence permit for the Republic of Macedonia and they are temporarily present in the Republic of Macedonia at least 12 months (one year), but who have a place of usual residence outside of the Republic of Macedonia;

- Persons who have place of usual residence in the Republic of Macedonia, who at the time of the Census, and for a maximum of 12 months (one year) prior to its conduction, are working abroad, as well as the members of their households;

- Persons who have place of usual residence in the Republic of Macedonia, and during the time of the Census are working abroad at the diplomatic and consular representative offices of the Republic of Macedonia, the United Nations and its organizations, representative offices or being representatives of the Chamber of Commerce abroad, business offices abroad, military representatives of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia abroad, and citizens engaged on the bases of international, technical and other kinds of co-operation, education, as well as the members of their households who are staying abroad with the aforesaid persons;

- Persons who have place of usual residence in the Republic of Macedonia, but are not in possession of the documents pursuant to Article 39, item 1 from the Census Law, if they present the documents stated with Article 39 item 3 from the Census Law.

Households

A household is considered to be a family or some other community of persons who declare themselves to be living together and spending their incomes collectively for their basic living needs (housing, food and other), regardless of whether all household members are present at the place where the household is settled, or if some of them are staying for a certain period of time at some other settlement, respectively foreign country for the purpose of work, education or for other reasons.

A household is also considered to be any person who lives alone (”single person household”), and who has no other household elsewhere.

A household is also considered the so-called collective (institutional) household, i.e. a household consisting of persons who live in institutions for permanent care of children and adults, in monasteries-convents and hospitals for incurable persons.

The Census covers all households (according to definition of households) of the persons - Census units.

The data in the table concerns the total number of the households in which are included the individual and the collective households. The data of the individual households concerns the individual households with one person (single person households) and individual households with more persons.

Living quarters

The data in the table concern the all living quarters.

A living quarter means dwellings for habitation and other inhabited premises or objects that are not intended for habitation, but however in the time of the Census are used for habitation.

A dwelling is a connected construction unit intended for habitation, regardless weather at the time of the Census the dwelling is used: for habitation only; for habitation and performing economic activities; only for performing economic activities; for vacation and recreation, or it is uninhabited, but is constructively functional dwelling.

The other living quarters, means other inhabited premise that is not intended for habitation, inhabited business premise, improvized living quarter and collective living quarter.


 


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