North Macedonia Issues - 2024

Disputes - international

North Macedonia-Albania: none identified

North Macedonia-Bulgaria: Bulgaria vetoed North Macedonia's EU accession and disputes the legitimacy of Macedonian identity and language

North Macedonia-Greece: none identified

North Macedonia-Kosovo: North Macedonia and Kosovo completed demarcation of their boundary in October 2009

North Macedonia-Serbia: none identified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 18,915 (Ukraine) (as of 22 February 2024)

stateless persons: 521 (2022)

note: 577,980 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-February 2024)

Illicit drugs

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement