The political storm surrounding a proposed tax on single citizens in North Macedonia quickly subsided after Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski clarified that his government had no plans to implement such a measure. But the country’s deepening demographic crisis shows no sign of fading.
According to a Deutsche Welle (DW) report, North Macedonia continues to face a dual demographic blow – one of the lowest birth rates in Europe combined with a steady exodus of young people. The result: a country hurtling toward a future of population decline and accelerated ageing.
The issue is hardly exclusive to North Macedonia. Much of the Western Balkans has earned the grim title of “Europe’s demographic black hole.” Even developed nations in Europe are struggling to manage demographic imbalances, with some only offsetting population loss through migration from southern to northern Europe.
“It’s Not a One-Term Problem”
“Demography cannot be solved with family-values campaigns, but with stable and well-paid jobs, accessible and quality healthcare, and secure social protection,” the opposition SDSM said, according to DW.
“Young people are not fleeing because they don’t want to start families, but because they can’t afford to,” the party said, blaming the current government for what it described as classic right-wing policy failures. “Living standards are down 20%, and only the elite around Mickoski are benefitting from government policies. If he truly wanted more children to be born in Macedonia, he would first ensure that parents can see their future here.”
But the problem predates Mickoski’s government, which recently marked one year in office. It is rooted in a decades-long failure to implement sustained policies that could mitigate the demographic decline.
According to Eurostat, North Macedonia is among the six European countries with the steepest population drops between 2012 and 2022 – down 11%. The country lost about 227,000 residents in that period. Serbia lost 554,000 people (-7.68%), Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.74%, and Romania about 1 million (-5%). Even EU members like Bulgaria and Croatia recorded significant losses of 9.07% and 9.66% respectively.
An Aging Population and Economic Strain
These demographic shifts reflect a broader trend of declining birth rates and rising life expectancy. In North Macedonia, a child born in 2019 can expect to live 77 years, compared to 71 years in 1989. Similar trends are seen across Southeast Europe. But with fewer births, economic pressures mount – especially on pension systems, healthcare services, and the labor market.
Work-Life Imbalance a Key Factor
DW interviews with citizens reveal that beyond employment and housing costs, many blame the lack of work-life balance. One mother said her 33-year-old son has a stable job, owns a home, and earns a high salary, yet has no plans to marry.
“He says having a family and children is a huge responsibility, and he just doesn’t have time for it because work consumes him,” she told DW. “His job doesn’t end when office hours do – and he’s not alone in this. Many of his peers feel the same. That’s why some countries are experimenting with shorter work weeks – to give people time for their personal lives.”
Incentives and New Models
Some suggest targeted investments in depopulated rural areas. “Young people might move from crowded cities to abandoned villages if there were good roads, healthcare, and subsidies to renovate old homes,” one Skopje resident said.
Though not a new idea, implementation remains a challenge – and questions persist over whether such incentives would spark genuine interest.
In Croatia, there is growing talk of planned immigration programs, including higher wages for those willing to move to population-depleted areas, favorable housing conditions, and family support packages – strategies aimed at producing long-term demographic turnaround.