North Macedonia

Summary

Official Name: Republic of North Macedonia
Population: 2,073,000
General Remarks: Admitted to the United Nations in 1993 under the provisional reference of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as a result of a conflict with Greece over the name Macedonia, the northernmost region of Greece. In 2018, this conflict was resolved with the agreement to name the country North Macedonia
Principal Languages: Gheg Albanian, Macedonian
Literacy Rate: 99% (2015 World Factbook)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Browne et al 1997, Comrie 1987
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for North Macedonia is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 6 are indigenous and 6 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 5 are institutional, 2 are developing, 3 are vigorous, and 2 are in trouble. Also listed are 2 unestablished languages.

Languages

Albanian, Gheg aln: Debar, Gostivar, Kicevo, Kumanovo, Ohrid, Resen, Skopje, Struga, and Tetovo municipalities. Users: 532,000 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 534,000 (2018). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (2019, Official Gazette). Alternate Names: Geg, Gegnisht, Shqip, Shqyp Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Gheg
Albanian, Tosk als: Users: 3,700 in North Macedonia (Leclerc 2018b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk
Aromanian rup: Bitola, Ohrid, Prilep, Resen, and Struga municipalities: Gevgelija, Kocani-Vinica, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Skopje, Stip, and Sveti Nikole; north of Ohrid and Presba lakes. Users: 18,200 in North Macedonia (Leclerc 2018b). Total users in all countries: 210,000. Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Armina, Armini, Aromunian, Arumanian, Arumenian, Macedo Romanian, Macedo-Rumanian, Vlach, Vlav Autonym: Armani Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Balkan Gagauz Turkish bgx: Bitola and Kumanovo municipalities. Kumanovo area (Gagauz dialect); Bitola area (Yuruk dialect). Users: 4,000 in North Macedonia (Leclerc 2018b). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Balkan Turkic Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Bosnian bos: Petrovec, Skopje, Veles and Zelenikovo municipalities. Users: 8,560 in North Macedonia (2002 census). Ethnic population: 17,000 (2002 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Croatian hrv: Users: 2,700 in North Macedonia (Leclerc 2018b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
French fra: Users: 42,700 in North Macedonia (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Macedonian mkd: Widespread. Users: 1,410,000 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 1,360,000 (2018). Total users in all countries: 1,729,740. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 7(1)). Alternate Names: Macedonian Slavic Autonym: македонски‎ (Makedonski), македонски јазик‎ (makedonski jazik) Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Macedonian Sign Language ysl: Scattered. Users: 2,000 in North Macedonia (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated assuming 0.1% of total population. Around 6,000 deaf people (Koceski and Koceska 2015). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2009, Law on Use of Sign Language, Article 2). Alternate Names: YSL, Yugoslav Sign Language, Yugoslavian Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Romani, Balkan rmn: Scattered. Users: 40,300 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 57,200 (2018). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Romani ćhib Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Balkan
Romani, Vlax rmy: Bitola, Dolneni, Ohrid, Prilep, and Resen municipalities. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax
Romanian, Megleno ruq: Gevgelija municipality. Users: 2,100 in North Macedonia (Leclerc 2018b). Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Serbian srp: Kriva Palanka, Kumanovo, and Skopje municipalities. Users: 25,400 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 38,100 (2018). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Serbo-Croatian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Turkish tur: Berovo, Bitola, Centar Zupa, Debar, Gostivar, Plasnica, Radovis, Struga, Strumica, and Valandovo municipalities. Users: 74,200 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 82,600 (2018). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Osmanli, Türkçe Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Albanian, Gheg

[aln] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (2019, Official Gazette). 532,000 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 534,000 (2018).

Macedonian

[mkd] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1991, Constitution, Article 7(1)). 1,410,000 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 1,360,000 (2018). Total users in all countries: 1,729,740.

4 (Educational)

Aromanian

[rup] 4 (Educational). 18,200 in North Macedonia (Leclerc 2018b). Total users in all countries: 210,000.

Serbian

[srp] 4 (Educational). 25,400 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 38,100 (2018).

Turkish

[tur] 4 (Educational). 74,200 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 82,600 (2018).

5 (Dispersed)

Bosnian

[bos] 5* (Dispersed). 8,560 in North Macedonia (2002 census). Ethnic population: 17,000 (2002 census).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 42,700 in North Macedonia (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

6a (Vigorous)

Macedonian Sign Language

[ysl] 6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2009, Law on Use of Sign Language, Article 2). 2,000 in North Macedonia (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated assuming 0.1% of total population. Around 6,000 deaf people (Koceski and Koceska 2015).

Romani, Balkan

[rmn] 6a* (Vigorous). 40,300 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 57,200 (2018).

Romani, Vlax

[rmy] 6a* (Vigorous).

6b (Threatened)

Romanian, Megleno

[ruq] 6b (Threatened). 2,100 in North Macedonia (Leclerc 2018b).

7 (Shifting)

Balkan Gagauz Turkish

[bgx] 7 (Shifting). 4,000 in North Macedonia (Leclerc 2018b).

Unestablished

Albanian, Tosk

[als] Unestablished. 3,700 in North Macedonia (Leclerc 2018b).

Croatian

[hrv] Unestablished. 2,700 in North Macedonia (Leclerc 2018b).

Maps

Albania and Montenegro
Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro
North Macedonia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in North Macedonia with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for North Macedonia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in North Macedonia with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for North Macedonia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for North Macedonia in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of North Macedonia ($149.95, 22 page PDF)

North Macedonia

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Albania and Montenegro

Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro

North Macedonia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action