Skopje, 15 December 2023 - The 2022-2070 Population Projections prepared by the State Statistics Office, with the support of UNFPA North Macedonia, were announced today in Skopje, in the presence of the President of the State, representatives of the Government, MPs, the international community, the academy and the media.

The Population Projections until 2070 are the second since the country's independence and are made after 25 years. They are a roadmap for the creation of state policies and strategies with a focus on demographic developments in the past, the current situation, and possible scenarios for the future.

"In a large number of countries, especially from Central and Eastern Europe, the trend of population reduction has been present for decades, primarily due to low fertility rates, high mortality, and high outmigration of young people of reproductive age," said Afrodita Shalja, head of UNFPA North Macedonia, in the opening address to the audience

She pointed out that these conditions should encourage us to look for creative solutions to overcome the main causes of such demographic changes and take advantage of the opportunities they offer.