    
MACEDONIA
Land area: 9,928 sq mi (25,173 sq km); total area: 9,781 sq mi (25,333 sq km)
Population (2009 est.): 2,066,718 (growth rate: 0.2%); birth rate: 12.0/1000; infant mortality rate: 9.0/1000; life expectancy: 74.6; density per sq km: 82
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Skopje, 587,300 (metro. area), 452,500 (city proper)
Other large cities: Bitola, 84,400; Kumanovo, 78,900; Prilep, 56,900
Monetary unit: Denar
Macedonia is a landlocked state in the heart of the Balkans. It is a mountainous country with small basins of agricultural land. The Vardar is the largest and most important river.
Languages: Macedonian 67%, Albanian 25% (both official); Turkish 4%, Roma 2%, Serbian 1% (2002)
Ethnicity/race: Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.8%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002)
Religions: Macedonian Orthodox 32%, Islam 17% (2002)
National Holiday: Ilinden Uprising Day, August 2
Literacy rate: 96% (2002 est.)
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gay and religion together at last
