Republic of Macedonia, like other countries in the region is faced
with three critical but interrelated demographic challenges. Firstly, there
is an increasing number of Macedonians who are delaying marriage
and/or decide to have fewer children. Secondly, it is stark ageing of the
population, and thirdly, the great intensity of international migration.
As to the first, available data illustrate that the number of marriages
are declining. For example, the crude marriage rate was 6.8 marriages
per thousand population in 2015, thus lower than in 2008 (7.2
marriages per thousand population) and 1994 (8.1 marriages per thousand
population). Further, the age of entering into marital union has
also been increasing. Also, Macedonia has experienced a substantive
decline in fertility since the onset of the socioeconomic transition. In
slightly more than one decade, the total fertility rate declined from 2.2
in 1994 to 1.59 in 2002, averaging 1.47 children per woman in 2008.
It slightly increased by 1.49 in 2015. These numbers highlight that Macedonia is posited in the group of countries where fertility is below
replacement (Dragovic, 2011: 14–35).
Simultaneously, Macedonian population is becoming older.
Throughout the period 2005–2015, the participation of young population
(0–14 years) decreased from 19.4% to 16.7%, while the share of
old age one (65 and more) increased from 11.1% to 13.0% (ДЗС, 2016:
12). Also, age dependency ratio decreased from 50.1 in 1994 to 46.3 in
2002 and 42.0 in 2015 (UNDP, 2004; SSO, 2016: 15).