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Contents
In brief
The country
- 3
1.8 million people, fewer each year, a growing economy
- 4
Deaths outnumber births, and the population ages
Where the market is now
- 5
Approvals more than doubled since 2019
- 6
Above most neighbours, close to the quota's limit
- 7
Bangladesh now leads, ahead of Türkiye and Nepal
- 8
Bangladesh overtook Türkiye in 2026
- 9
A quota of 10,000, 153,000 fewer people aged 15 to 64
The outlook
- 10
About 9,720 approvals in 2026, between 6,010 and 14,700
- 11
The drivers, and fewer first EU residence permits for citizens
- 11
What could change this
Method and sources
- 12
How to read this report
- 12
Sources, photographs and flags
Cover: The Stone Bridge over the Vardar in Skopje at night. Photograph by Riste Spiroski, Pexels.
North Macedonia is a small market growing fast inside a yearly quota. In 2025 its Employment Agency gave 8,806 approvals: positive opinions for a temporary residence permit for employment, and work permits. The Ministry of the Interior issued 6,128 temporary residence permits for employment. The quota is 10,000 in 2025 and 2026. Bangladesh leads in 2026 with 1,837 positive opinions to 19 August, ahead of Türkiye, Nepal and India. EU countries issued 26,051 first residence permits to citizens of North Macedonia in 2025. We expect about 9,720 approvals in 2026, between 6,010 and 14,700; the quota and the work permits outside it (788 in 2025) allow about 10,800, so the top of that range is out of reach under the quota in force. For 2027 the range is too wide for a yearly number, and the direction is rising. By 2031 the two lines on stated assumptions run from 8,800 to 10,700 a year, close to the quota.
Employment Agency approvals in 2025, up 13.0 percent on 2024
Approvals in 2026, between 6,010 and 14,700; the quota allows about 10,800
Approvals a year in 2031, the central line; held flat 8,800
Fewer people aged 15 to 64 in 2041 than in 2026
1.8 million people, fewer each year, a growing economy
North Macedonia has 1.82 million people, 250,098 fewer than in 2015. Most of the fall shows in 2022, the first count after the 2021 census. Since 2022 deaths have outnumbered births by 3,450 to 4,437 a year, and since 2024 slightly more people arrive than leave. Output per head is 22 percent of the EU average, and the World Bank projects 13.0 percent fewer people aged 15 to 64 by 2041.
People living in North Macedonia on 1 January 2026
12.1 percent fewer than in 2015. People aged 65 and over were 18.6 percent of the population in 2025.
GDP in 2025, billion euro at current prices
At current prices and exchange rates.
GDP per head in 2025
22 percent of the EU average of 41,700 euro in 2025. Counting lower prices at home, 43 percent, up from 39 percent in 2015.
Real growth in 2025
Against 1.4 percent across the EU. Over 2021 to 2025 the economy grew 17.5 percent in all, the EU 13.7 percent (our estimate from the yearly rates).
People aged 20 to 64 in work, 2025
Against 76.1 percent across the EU.
Changes to the law on work of foreigners
Sources: Eurostat, demo_gind (population, updated 21 July 2026), nama_10_gdp and nama_10_pc (GDP, updated 21 September 2026), tec00114 (price adjusted GDP per head), tec00115 (growth), lfsi_emp_a (employment), demo_pjanbroad (age). All retrieved 27 September 2026. Figures for 2025 GDP, GDP per head and growth are provisional. Key dates: Official Gazette of North Macedonia 163 of 16 July 2021 and 86 of 28 April 2025, gazette text, retrieved 27 September 2026.
Bangladesh
Türkiye
Nepal
India
PakistanWhat this report answers
How many approvals has the Employment Agency of North Macedonia given each year since 2019?
8,806 approvals in 2025, 13.0% more than the 7,791 of 2024 and more than twice the 3,410 of 2019: positive opinions for a temporary residence permit for employment and personal work permits, renewals included. The Ministry of the Interior issued 6,128 temporary residence permits for employment in 2025.
Which countries do the new hires come from, and which are growing?
Türkiye received 2,815 of the 8,509 positive opinions of 2025, a third, ahead of Bangladesh with 1,567 and Nepal with 1,089. From 1 January to 19 August 2026 Bangladesh received 1,837, more than in all of 2025, against 1,257 for Türkiye.
How does North Macedonia compare with its neighbours per resident?
8.2 approvals for every 1,000 residents aged 20 to 64 in 2025, renewals included, against 9.9 first unique permits in Albania, 6.3 first residence permits for work in Serbia and 4.9 across the EU.
Which rules apply to employers who hire from abroad?
A yearly quota, 10,000 in 2025 and again in 2026. The Employment Agency approves a hire only while the quota is open and no jobseeker at home is looking for that job, and gives its opinion within 15 working days. An approval runs for at most one year.
How is the working age population changing?
The World Bank projects 1,173,001 people aged 15 to 64 in 2026 and 1,020,375 in 2041: about 153,000 fewer, a fall of 13.0 percent.
How many Employment Agency approvals do we expect in North Macedonia in 2026, and what comes after?
About 9,720 in 2026, between 6,010 and 14,700; the quota allows about 10,800. For 2027 the range is too wide for a yearly number; the direction is rising. In 2031 the central line, a stated assumption, gives 10,700 a year and held flat 8,800, close to the quota.
The full report answers each question with its figures, charts and sources. Request the full report