Skopje, June 5, 2025 — A newly released national report, supported by the UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, has revealed alarming levels of peer violence among school-aged children in North Macedonia, with one in ten students reporting regular bullying at school and one in six experiencing cyberbullying.

The findings, presented today in Skopje, stem from the 2021/22 Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study — an international research initiative conducted every four years. In North Macedonia, the study is led by the Center for Psycho-Social and Crisis Action – Malinska, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science, the Bureau for Development of Education, and the UNFPA.

The report focuses on peer violence among students aged 11, 13, and 15 in the Republic of North Macedonia providing critical insights into the challenges faced by adolescents.

Urgent Need for Safe School Environments

According to the report, 10% of children aged 11 to 15 say they are bullied at school at least two to three times a month. The most common forms of bullying include spreading lies and gossip (24%), name-calling (22%) and social exclusion (15%).

“From September last year to May this year, 48 reports were received via the Ministry of Education and Science’s email address for reporting violence – of which 28 have already been resolved,” said Elena Ivanovska, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Science. She added that last year, more than 120 cases of peer violence were reported.

The statistics highlight an urgent need for schools to become safer, more inclusive environments for all children.

Cyberbullying on the Rise with Post-COVID Surge in Violence

The report also exposes the growing prevalence of cyberbullying. About one in six students reported being cyberbullied in the past few months. Notably, boys (15%) were more likely than girls (10%) to admit to cyberbullying others.

With the increased digital activity following the COVID-19 pandemic, the data points to a troubling spike in online harassment among young people.

Compared to the pre-pandemic period, researchers observed a significant rise in all forms of peer violence after COVID-19. Boys continue to dominate as perpetrators of both physical and cyber aggression, including more frequent participation in school fights.

Interestingly, as students grow older, girls increasingly become targets of cyberbullying, while 11-year-old boys are also among the most vulnerable victims of peer violence.

Understanding the Cycle of Violence

A unique aspect of the report is its focus on students who perpetrate bullying. Many of these adolescents have themselves experienced violence, either at home or in their communities — pointing to a cycle of violence that extends beyond the classroom.

The study draws on a nationally representative sample from schools teaching in both Macedonian and Albanian, and its insights are intended to guide policies and interventions at the national, regional, and international levels.

A Call for Action

This report is the first in a series that will examine youth health behaviors from the 2021/22 study. It shines a spotlight on the impact of gender, social inequality, and post-pandemic changes on bullying and adolescent wellbeing.

Stakeholders from government institutions, civil society, the EU, international organizations, and media were present at the launch — united in the need to create informed policies that improve the quality of life for young people.