North Macedonia
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North Macedonia (MK)
ECRML
Signed
1996
Ratified
(PENDING)
In Force
(PENDING)
FCNM
Signed
1996
Ratified
1997
In Force
1998
Country Description
North Macedonia regularly conducts national language censuses, with the last one taking place in 2021. North Macedonia is an exception when it comes to official data on sign language users – the last census specifically included an option for “Sign Language” under “Household Language”, which 51 people selected. 1 145 327 people indicated that their Household Language was Macedonian, while 444 026 selected Gheg Albanian.
Pan-National Official Language(s)
This category only includes languages that are official throughout the whole country (with the exception of Belgium) - languages that are e.g. regionally 'co-official' are not listed here but can be identified in the categories below wherever a relevant legal document is listed. A future update could include lists of co-official languages, as well.
To increase their visibility, recognised Sign Languages are always listed as official languages even if they are not yet technically official. The data on legal recognition was aggregated from legal documents and official sources. Wherever possible, the national number was taken from a national census or recent study/official estimate – sources are listed. The endangerment level is adopted from Ethnologue and further estimates of endangerment can be found on the individual language profile (e.g. by clicking on 'Italian').
| Language | Endonym | Geographic Area | Source | Legal Recognition | Legal Document | Source | National Number | Bases for Calculation | Estimation Date | Source | Endangerment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gheg
Albanoid
|
Shqip | Whole country | 2019 | Official Gazette | 444 026 (given) | Household Language | 2021 | 1 (National) | |||
|
Macedonian
Slavic
|
Makedonski jazik | Whole country | 2001 | Article 7 (Constitution of North Macedonia) | 1 145 327 (given) | Household Language | 2021 | 1 (National) | |||
|
Macedonian Sign Language
Sign Language
|
Makedonski znakoven jazik | Whole country | 2009 | On the Use of Sign Language / ЗА УПОТРЕБА НА ЗНАКОВНИОТ ЈАЗИК | 51 (listed as 'Sign Language') | Household Language | 2021 | Not listed |
ECRML-Recognised Languages
This includes languages recognised under the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages (ECRML). The data on legal recognition was aggregated from legal documents and official sources. Wherever possible, the national number was taken from a national census or recent study/official estimate – sources are listed. The endangerment level is adopted from Ethnologue and further estimates of endangerment can be found on the individual language profile (e.g. by clicking on 'Czech').
| Language | Endonym | Geographic Area | Source | Legal Recognition | Legal Document | Source | National Number | Bases for Calculation | Estimation Date | Source | Endangerment Level | ECRML level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| / | ||||||||||||
Non-ECRML Languages – Source Overview
Languages marked with ✓ appear in that source.
Languages listed in multiple sources may have differing data – see the detail tables below.
| Language | Ethnologue | ELP |
|---|---|---|
| Aromanian/Vlach | ✓ | |
| Balkan Gagauz Turkish | ✓ | |
| Balkan Romani | ✓ | |
| Bosnian | ✓ | |
| French | ✓ | |
| Greek | ✓ | |
| Megleno-Romanian | ✓ | |
| Serbian | ✓ | |
| Tosk | ✓ | |
| Turkish | ✓ | |
| Vlax Romani | ✓ |
Non-ECRML Languages (Ethnologue)
Languages listed with an 'established status' in Ethnologue. The data on legal recognition, national number, and endangerment level was taken from Ethnologue, reflecting its current state and gaps of knowledge.
| Language | Endonym | Geographic Area | Source | Legal Recognition | Legal Document | Source | National Number | Bases for Calculation | Estimation Date | Source | Endangerment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Aromanian/Vlach
Romance
|
Armãneashti / Vlãhi | Bitola, Ohrid, Prilep, Resen, and Struga municipalities: Gevgelija, Kocani-Vinica, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Skopje, Stip, and Sveti Nikole; north of Ohrid and Presba lakes | / | / | / | 16 100 | Users | 2022 | 4 (Educational) | ||
|
Balkan Gagauz Turkish
Turkic
|
Rumeli Türkçesi | Bitola and Kumanovo municipalities. Kumanovo area (Gagauz dialect); Bitola area (Yuruk dialect) | / | / | / | 3 500 | Users | 2022 | 7 (Shifting) | ||
|
Balkan Romani
Indo-Aryan
|
Romani ćhib / Balkaniko Romanes | Scattered | / | / | / | 45 900 | Users | 2022 | 5* (Developing) | ||
|
Bosnian
Slavic
|
Bosanski | Petrovec, Skopje, Veles and Zelenikovo municipalities | / | / | / | 15 000 | Users | 2022 | 5* (Dispersed) | ||
|
French
Romance
|
Français | / | / | / | / | 42 500 | Users | 2022 | 5* (Dispersed) | ||
|
Greek
Greek
|
Elliniká | Bitola municipality | / | / | / | 530 | Users | 2022 | 5* (Dispersed) | ||
|
Megleno-Romanian
Romance
|
Vlăhește | Gevgelija municipality | / | / | / | 1 800 | Users | 2022 | 6b (Threatened) | ||
|
Serbian
Slavic
|
Srpski | Kriva Palanka, Kumanovo, and Skopje municipalities | / | / | / | 22 000 | Users | 2022 | 4 (Educational) | ||
|
Tosk
Albanoid
|
Shqip | Ohrid and Struga municipalities | / | / | / | 3 300 | Users | 2022 | 4 (Educational) | ||
|
Turkish
Turkic
|
Türkçe | Berovo, Bitola, Centar Zupa, Debar, Gostivar, Plasnica, Radovis, Struga, Strumica, and Valandovo municipalities | / | / | / | 62 500 | Users | 2022 | 4 (Educational) | ||
|
Vlax Romani
Indo-Aryan
|
Romani cib | Bitola, Dolneni, Ohrid, Prilep, and Resen municipalities | / | / | / | 10 000 (based on ethnicity) | Users | 2023 | 6a* (Vigorous) |
Recognised Minorities
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