MigrantoMacedonian Diaspora
534.6K Macedonians live abroad — 29% of the population of North Macedonia
Macedonian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 56% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Germany | 147204 |
| Switzerland | 85065 |
| Italy | 67492 |
| Australia | 48723 |
| Turkey | 35535 |
| Serbia | 34921 |
| Austria | 31837 |
| Slovenia | 21691 |
| Sweden | 11796 |
| Canada | 10214 |
| Croatia | 9014 |
| Bulgaria | 6345 |
| Denmark | 4426 |
| Montenegro | 3302 |
| Norway | 3260 |
| Bosnia | 2722 |
| Belgium | 2492 |
| Greece | 2348 |
| Czech Republic | 2311 |
| Slovakia | 960 |
| Luxembourg | 699 |
| Albania | 474 |
| Hungary | 355 |
| Portugal | 349 |
| Poland | 308 |
| Finland | 250 |
| Malta | 151 |
| Iceland | 127 |
| Liechtenstein | 102 |
| Costa Rica | 37 |
| Dominican Republic | 28 |
| Cyprus | 19 |
| Estonia | 19 |
| Latvia | 16 |
| Bolivia | 15 |
| Lithuania | 7 |
| Mongolia | 2 |
| Romania | 0 |
By region
82% of the diaspora lives in Europe
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat, with real migration data
Key facts
The Macedonian diaspora in numbers
The community in Germany is growing fastest
The number of Macedonians living in Germany has grown 77% since 2015, from 83.3K to 147.2K.
The share of the diaspora living in Europe has grown since 1990
49.6% of the diaspora lived in Europe in 1990, compared with 82.3% today.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
6 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Germany, Denmark, Norway. Germany climbed from outside the top 20 to #1.
1 in 3 people born in North Macedonia lives abroad
534.6K people born in North Macedonia now live in other countries — 29.3% of a population of 1.8M.
Most Macedonians abroad live in Germany
28% of the diaspora lives in Germany, while the next country accounts for just 16%.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 36% to 28%.
Macedonian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 398374 |
| 1995 | 411470 |
| 2000 | 424184 |
| 2005 | 428969 |
| 2010 | 430535 |
| 2015 | 437223 |
| 2020 | 485263 |
| 2024 | 534616 |
Largest communities over time
Macedonians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Germany | Switzerland | Italy | Australia | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 23132 | 22704 | 49301 | 143937 |
| 1995 | 26720 | 27720 | 30034 | 49600 | 143937 |
| 2000 | 46355 | 33396 | 38195 | 49652 | 143937 |
| 2005 | 56407 | 41903 | 52401 | 51348 | 110994 |
| 2010 | 58887 | 50587 | 67610 | 51425 | 75904 |
| 2015 | 83304 | 60283 | 69018 | 49963 | 43868 |
| 2020 | 108175 | 73595 | 72197 | 51159 | 38728 |
| 2024 | 147204 | 85065 | 67492 | 48723 | 35535 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Macedonians in each country has changed since the selected year
Macedonians among immigrants in other countries
Where Macedonians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Macedonians live outside North Macedonia?
Around 534.6K Macedonians live abroad, the world's #103 largest diaspora.
Where do most Macedonians abroad live?
Most Macedonians live in Germany, Switzerland and Italy — these three countries account for about 56% of all Macedonians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Macedonian population outside North Macedonia?
Germany is home to the largest Macedonian community abroad — 147.2K people, about 28% of all Macedonians living abroad.
What share of the population of North Macedonia lives abroad?
About 29% of the population of North Macedonia lives abroad — that's 534.6K out of a total population of 1.8M.
Is the Macedonian diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Macedonians living abroad has grown from 437.2K to 534.6K, about 22%.
Where does the data on the Macedonian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in North Macedonia who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
Score countries, regions and cities by what matters to you
Living in North Macedonia
See the full country overview