MigrantoMacedonian Diaspora
534.6K Macedonians live abroad — the #103 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 56% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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 destination region
Europe is the leading destination region at 82%
440K
48.7K
35.6K
10.2K
80
2
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from North Macedonia.
Germany is the fastest-growing major destination
Emigration to Germany has increased by 77% since 2015, rising from 83.3K to 147.2K in 9 years.
The share of emigrants going to Europe has grown since 1990
The share of emigrants going to Europe has shifted from 49.6% to 82.3% since 1990.
Top emigration destinations have shifted significantly since 1990
6 new countries have entered the top 20 destinations: Germany, Denmark, Norway — Germany rose from outside the top 20 to rank #1.
A significant share of the population lives abroad
1 in 3 residents of North Macedonia has emigrated — 534.6K out of 1.8M, representing 29.3% of the population.
Germany is the primary destination for emigrants
Germany attracts 28% of all emigrants from North Macedonia, while the second-largest destination receives just 16%.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 36% to 28%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 398374 |
| 1995 | 411470 |
| 2000 | 424184 |
| 2005 | 428969 |
| 2010 | 430535 |
| 2015 | 437223 |
| 2020 | 485263 |
| 2024 | 534616 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| 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 destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
North Macedonia as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from North Macedonia
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Macedonians move to?
Most Macedonians have moved to Germany, Switzerland and Italy — these three countries account for about 56% of all Macedonians living abroad.
How many Macedonians live abroad?
Around 534.6K Macedonians live abroad, making it the #103-largest emigrant population in the world.
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.
How has emigration from North Macedonia changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from North Macedonia has grown from 437.2K to 534.6K people, a growth of about 22%.
Where to live?
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Living in North Macedonia
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