Skip to content

Population in North Macedonia compared to Turkey: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Macedonia was 1,824,359 in 2024 vs 85,518,661 people in Turkey in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Macedonia's population is 1,805,954 people compared to 86,002,379 in Turkey.

Population statistics:

  • Turkey's population is 47.6 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • North Macedonia is ranked the 150th most populous country in the world, while Turkey is the 18th.
  • The countries together account for 1.06% of the world: 0.02% for North Macedonia vs 1.04% for Turkey.
  • For the last 10 years, North Macedonia has had an average growth rate of -0.48% per year vs +1.06% in Turkey.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Macedonia has decreased from 1.99M people to 1.81M (9.44% decline), while Turkey has grown from 70M to 86M (22.8% growth).

North Macedonia vs Turkey: population by year and forecast

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Macedonia Turkey
2100 866,884 64,274,243
2099 877,788 64,924,706
2098 888,715 65,567,989
2097 899,716 66,219,045
2096 910,709 66,865,890
2095 921,559 67,516,190
2094 932,633 68,169,346
2093 943,984 68,835,313
2092 955,335 69,496,264
2091 966,773 70,159,325
2090 978,130 70,828,304
2089 989,666 71,490,133
2088 1,001,224 72,146,464
2087 1,012,831 72,792,552
2086 1,024,787 73,439,558
2085 1,036,668 74,085,313
2084 1,048,876 74,713,882
2083 1,061,031 75,342,464
2082 1,073,408 75,969,760
2081 1,085,823 76,583,769
2080 1,098,127 77,195,480
2079 1,110,614 77,793,711
2078 1,123,398 78,386,293
2077 1,136,448 78,973,194
2076 1,149,787 79,556,991
2075 1,163,080 80,128,010
2074 1,176,671 80,697,544
2073 1,190,351 81,244,619
2072 1,204,015 81,785,452
2071 1,217,691 82,311,503
2070 1,231,978 82,827,402
2069 1,246,408 83,324,862
2068 1,260,869 83,806,741
2067 1,275,289 84,270,976
2066 1,289,439 84,728,547
2065 1,303,917 85,177,268
2064 1,318,161 85,611,517
2063 1,332,807 86,026,471
2062 1,347,540 86,425,827
2061 1,362,299 86,800,591
2060 1,376,807 87,156,663
2059 1,390,921 87,500,101
2058 1,404,982 87,809,920
2057 1,419,185 88,100,397
2056 1,433,595 88,369,840
2055 1,447,857 88,598,739
2054 1,462,210 88,806,632
2053 1,476,351 88,985,609
2052 1,489,905 89,144,425
2051 1,503,526 89,270,515
2050 1,516,629 89,374,730
2049 1,529,608 89,447,182
2048 1,542,390 89,484,074
2047 1,555,085 89,492,406
2046 1,568,151 89,467,391
2045 1,581,115 89,441,098
2044 1,593,878 89,390,601
2043 1,606,930 89,326,342
2042 1,619,941 89,237,658
2041 1,632,704 89,137,199
2040 1,645,446 89,021,820
2039 1,658,034 88,885,792
2038 1,670,347 88,736,121
2037 1,682,850 88,562,197
2036 1,695,204 88,373,007
2035 1,707,302 88,178,595
2034 1,719,193 87,975,336
2033 1,730,723 87,754,631
2032 1,742,288 87,524,158
2031 1,753,729 87,274,280
2030 1,765,162 87,004,538
2029 1,775,815 86,741,614
2028 1,786,051 86,466,107
2027 1,795,945 86,189,693
2026 1,805,954 85,932,926
2025 1,815,368 85,718,588
2024 1,824,359 85,518,661
2023 1,827,816 85,325,965
2022 1,831,712 84,979,913
2021 1,837,114 84,147,318
2020 1,856,124 83,384,680
2019 1,876,262 82,579,440
2018 1,889,051 81,407,204
2017 1,898,657 80,312,698
2016 1,906,313 79,277,962
2015 1,912,430 78,218,479
2014 1,917,557 77,181,884
2013 1,922,716 76,147,624
2012 1,929,821 75,175,827
2011 1,937,398 74,223,629
2010 1,946,298 73,142,150
2009 1,958,782 72,039,206
2008 1,971,493 71,051,678
2007 1,982,933 70,158,112
2006 1,994,287 70,045,349
2005 2,005,330 69,329,557
2004 2,016,186 68,592,617
2003 2,022,725 67,831,730
2002 2,020,157 67,048,795
2001 2,034,882 66,245,128
2000 2,026,350 65,425,961
1999 2,017,142 64,591,923
1998 2,007,523 63,734,383
1997 1,996,869 62,852,966
1996 2,012,553 61,951,134
1995 1,998,534 61,024,503
1994 1,992,666 60,033,836
1993 2,006,854 58,999,167
1992 2,032,523 57,990,118
1991 2,055,994 57,009,887
1990 2,063,689 56,015,628
1989 2,055,649 54,976,723
1988 2,045,737 53,909,626
1987 2,035,157 52,843,670
1986 2,024,732 51,777,772
1985 2,014,331 50,687,115
1984 2,003,399 49,574,069
1983 1,991,901 48,447,410
1982 1,978,956 47,322,096
1981 1,959,065 46,321,190
1980 1,933,038 45,408,815
1979 1,906,523 44,510,429
1978 1,879,847 43,645,306
1977 1,853,138 42,773,298
1976 1,825,830 41,899,984
1975 1,797,972 41,053,126
1974 1,770,545 40,210,234
1973 1,743,816 39,329,533
1972 1,717,395 38,430,221
1971 1,691,216 37,518,611
1970 1,664,208 36,638,465
1969 1,636,345 35,787,774
1968 1,608,930 34,921,684
1967 1,582,492 34,050,421
1966 1,557,349 33,177,672
1965 1,533,466 32,345,220
1964 1,510,900 31,543,072
1963 1,488,737 30,726,841
1962 1,471,745 29,916,147
1961 1,455,171 29,119,238
1960 1,435,059 28,329,898

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-macedonia/turkey | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Macedonia decreased by 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline), while Turkey gained 9,232,613 people (a 13.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Macedonia lost 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline), while Turkey's population increased by 6,724,417 people (a 8.48% growth).

North Macedonia was ranked 142nd most populous country in 2006 and is 150th in 2026. Turkey was ranked 18th in 2006 and still ranked 18th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) North Macedonia's population will shrink by 16% to 1,516,629 people with a rank change from 150th to 152nd. The population of Turkey will increase by 3.92% to 89,374,730 people and rank change from 18th to 19th.

Turkey is projected to reach its peak in 2047 at 89.5M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 867K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Macedonia Turkey
2100 -1.24% -1%
2099 -1.23% -0.98%
2098 -1.22% -0.98%
2097 -1.21% -0.97%
2096 -1.18% -0.96%
2095 -1.19% -0.96%
2094 -1.2% -0.97%
2093 -1.19% -0.95%
2092 -1.18% -0.95%
2091 -1.16% -0.94%
2090 -1.17% -0.93%
2089 -1.15% -0.91%
2088 -1.15% -0.89%
2087 -1.17% -0.88%
2086 -1.15% -0.87%
2085 -1.16% -0.84%
2084 -1.15% -0.83%
2083 -1.15% -0.83%
2082 -1.14% -0.8%
2081 -1.12% -0.79%
2080 -1.12% -0.77%
2079 -1.14% -0.76%
2078 -1.15% -0.74%
2077 -1.16% -0.73%
2076 -1.14% -0.71%
2075 -1.15% -0.71%
2074 -1.15% -0.67%
2073 -1.13% -0.66%
2072 -1.12% -0.64%
2071 -1.16% -0.62%
2070 -1.16% -0.6%
2069 -1.15% -0.57%
2068 -1.13% -0.55%
2067 -1.1% -0.54%
2066 -1.11% -0.53%
2065 -1.08% -0.51%
2064 -1.1% -0.48%
2063 -1.09% -0.46%
2062 -1.08% -0.43%
2061 -1.05% -0.41%
2060 -1.01% -0.39%
2059 -1% -0.35%
2058 -1% -0.33%
2057 -1.01% -0.3%
2056 -0.99% -0.26%
2055 -0.98% -0.23%
2054 -0.96% -0.2%
2053 -0.91% -0.18%
2052 -0.91% -0.14%
2051 -0.86% -0.12%
2050 -0.85% -0.08%
2049 -0.83% -0.04%
2048 -0.82% -0.009%
2047 -0.83% 0.03%
2046 -0.82% 0.03%
2045 -0.8% 0.06%
2044 -0.81% 0.07%
2043 -0.8% 0.1%
2042 -0.78% 0.11%
2041 -0.77% 0.13%
2040 -0.76% 0.15%
2039 -0.74% 0.17%
2038 -0.74% 0.2%
2037 -0.73% 0.21%
2036 -0.71% 0.22%
2035 -0.69% 0.23%
2034 -0.67% 0.25%
2033 -0.66% 0.26%
2032 -0.65% 0.29%
2031 -0.65% 0.31%
2030 -0.6% 0.3%
2029 -0.57% 0.32%
2028 -0.55% 0.32%
2027 -0.55% 0.3%
2026 -0.52% 0.25%
2025 -0.49% 0.23%
2024 -0.19% 0.23%
2023 -0.21% 0.41%
2022 -0.29% 0.99%
2021 -1.02% 0.91%
2020 -1.07% 0.98%
2019 -0.68% 1.44%
2018 -0.51% 1.36%
2017 -0.4% 1.31%
2016 -0.32% 1.35%
2015 -0.27% 1.34%
2014 -0.27% 1.36%
2013 -0.37% 1.29%
2012 -0.39% 1.28%
2011 -0.46% 1.48%
2010 -0.64% 1.53%
2009 -0.64% 1.39%
2008 -0.58% 1.27%
2007 -0.57% 0.16%
2006 -0.55% 1.03%
2005 -0.54% 1.07%
2004 -0.32% 1.12%
2003 0.13% 1.17%
2002 -0.72% 1.21%
2001 0.42% 1.25%
2000 0.46% 1.29%
1999 0.48% 1.35%
1998 0.53% 1.4%
1997 -0.78% 1.46%
1996 0.7% 1.52%
1995 0.29% 1.65%
1994 -0.71% 1.75%
1993 -1.26% 1.74%
1992 -1.14% 1.72%
1991 -0.37% 1.77%
1990 0.39% 1.89%
1989 0.48% 1.98%
1988 0.52% 2.02%
1987 0.51% 2.06%
1986 0.52% 2.15%
1985 0.55% 2.25%
1984 0.58% 2.33%
1983 0.65% 2.38%
1982 1.02% 2.16%
1981 1.35% 2.01%
1980 1.39% 2.02%
1979 1.42% 1.98%
1978 1.44% 2.04%
1977 1.5% 2.08%
1976 1.55% 2.06%
1975 1.55% 2.1%
1974 1.53% 2.24%
1973 1.54% 2.34%
1972 1.55% 2.43%
1971 1.62% 2.4%
1970 1.7% 2.38%
1969 1.7% 2.48%
1968 1.67% 2.56%
1967 1.61% 2.63%
1966 1.56% 2.57%
1965 1.49% 2.54%
1964 1.49% 2.66%
1963 1.15% 2.71%
1962 1.14% 2.74%
1961 1.4% 2.79%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-macedonia/turkey | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Macedonia declined by 0.19%, while Turkey's population grew by 0.23%.

Live population counters

North Macedonia Turkey
Current population
1805954
86002379
Population rank 150/197 18/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 1.04%
One net population change
2.53 hours
2.73 minutes
One birth every
31.3 minutes
33 seconds
One death every
26.1 minutes
59.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline -9 +528
Annual growth/decline -3,457 +192,696
Annual growth/decline rate -0.19% +0.23%
Population growth rate rank 176/197 154/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
2.04 minutes
Annual migration change -5,645 -258,205
Net migration rank 119/196 188/196
Foreign-born residents 150,902 7,083,501
Foreign-born residents rank 122/195 11/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.3% 8.1%
Foreign-born share rank 73/195 75/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
Turkey
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Macedonia Turkey
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,645 - -258,205
2024 - -5,728 - -275,952
2023 -3,290 -5,597 426,630 -318,070
2022 -4,397 -5,296 535,373 -301,544
2021 -9,737 -5,483 521,713 20,283
2020 -5,939 -23,458 608,708 37,934
2019 -375 -24,204 751,472 -15,690
2018 1,512 -24,878 830,353 187,570
2017 1,329 -24,227 875,408 659,846
2016 2,374 -24,144 895,841 352,063
2015 2,294 -23,010 930,799 1,063,140
2014 3,644 -22,132 957,055 1,033,384
2013 3,653 -20,297 921,386 438,618
2012 3,087 -19,083 917,145 258,623
2011 3,100 -17,871 875,839 68,849
2010 4,866 -16,668 892,334 55,532
2009 4,309 -15,455 900,491 24,276
2008 3,746 -17,645 868,749 47,915
2007 2,974 -15,705 876,626 -186,402
2006 3,988 -9,632 897,351 -190,194
2005 4,011 -2,244 898,650 -174,177
2004 5,444 -2,640 896,025 -146,574
2003 8,900 -2,880 893,683 -121,383
2002 9,697 -2,858 922,927 -129,444
2001 10,174 -922 980,560 -166,759
2000 12,159 -2,824 1,020,515 -195,996
1999 10,489 -1,261 1,063,312 -219,778
1998 12,446 -589 1,103,242 -231,744
1997 12,979 -477 1,099,738 -208,465
1996 14,806 -397 1,091,827 -179,423
1995 17,239 -3,603 1,090,630 -149,737
1994 19,103 -21,006 1,078,208 -37,762
1993 20,797 -47,273 1,064,168 -35,245
1992 21,659 -46,509 1,039,125 -49,923
1991 23,387 -45,484 1,041,229 -69,982
1990 22,868 -16,174 1,044,467 -27,193
1989 22,912 -13,528 1,094,036 -33,519
1988 24,064 -13,621 1,101,266 -27,659
1987 24,359 -13,635 1,099,042 -40,772
1986 23,720 -13,589 1,102,660 -29,134
1985 24,167 -13,492 1,098,846 8,960
1984 24,436 -13,251 1,096,529 21,787
1983 24,690 -12,884 1,095,106 39,871
1982 25,810 -11,716 1,091,863 23,728
1981 25,689 0 1,100,082 -213,889
1980 26,547 -189 1,090,538 -151,969
1979 27,096 -426 1,076,707 -218,509
1978 27,150 -462 1,054,863 -182,818
1977 27,410 -683 1,023,779 -151,825
1976 28,799 -911 1,009,999 -135,377
1975 28,983 -1,147 1,012,904 -193,829
1974 28,400 -1,376 1,020,053 -153,311
1973 28,032 -1,600 1,025,675 -130,985
1972 28,236 -1,834 1,023,781 -119,850
1971 28,010 -2,064 1,014,165 -94,891
1970 28,022 60 991,950 -150,924
1969 27,464 181 970,958 -110,578
1968 28,378 -1,201 950,778 -78,973
1967 28,401 -2,696 936,727 -65,993
1966 28,766 -4,176 925,790 -50,999
1965 28,564 -5,385 904,016 -113,911
1964 27,889 -5,938 884,152 -69,978
1963 28,124 -5,759 862,626 -44,317
1962 25,317 -13,702 837,473 -34,353
1961 27,846 -6,309 816,911 -26,187
1960 28,816 -10,126 773,009 14,948

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/north-macedonia/turkey | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 6.45% of the population change in North Macedonia is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 people). In Turkey 73% is from natural causes (a gain of 7,333,352 people) and 27% is from migration (a gain of 2,718,916 people).

As of 2024, 150,902 residents or 8.3% of the population were not native-born in North Macedonia, compared to 7,083,501 people or 8.1% in Turkey.

Biggest cities by population

North Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K
Turkey
City Population
Istanbul 15.7M
Ankara 5.8M
Izmir 4.49M
Bursa 2.9M
Antalya 2.43M
Konya 2.23M
Urfa 1.99M
Kocaeli 1.85M
Adana 1.77M
Diyarbakir 1.73M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/north-macedonia/turkey | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.