The Republic of Macedonia is a small country on the Balkan peninsula in south-eastern Europe. It borders Serbia, Albania, Greece and Bulgaria. The first recorded state on the territory was the Thraco-Illyrian kingdom of Paionia. The region later became known as Macedon or the Kingdom of Macedonia and became for a brief period a world power under the leadership of Alexander the Great. Macedonia became part of first the Roman Empire and then the Byzantine Empire. However, in the 6th century the region was invaded by Slavic tribes.

In the following millennia Macedonia shifted between belonging to the Byzantine, the Bulgarian and the Serbian Empire. In the 14th century Macedonia along with the rest of Balkan was invaded by the Ottomans and remained under the Ottoman Empire for the following 500 years. After the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire in 1913, the region became part of the Serbian Kingdom and after World War II part of the Republic of Yugoslavia. With the fall of communism, Macedonia became independent in 1991. In the beginning of the new millennia, Macedonia experienced some unrest and troubles with ethnic Albanian rebels, but this ended with a NATO instigated ceasefire. Today Macedonia is a candidate country for both NATO and the European Union.

Inhabitants: 2,000,000
Area: 25,000 km2
Capital: Skopje (500,000 inhabitants)
Languages: Macedonian, Albanian
Religion: Macedonian Orthodox Church (65%), Muslims (33%), others (2%)
GDP (PPP) per capita: $7,600
Government: Parliamentary republic
Climate: Transitional climate from Mediterranean to continental, with hot and dry summers and moderately cold winters.