Elderly population in North Macedonia
In 2025, the share of population aged 65 and over in North Macedonia was 18.5 %, up from 18.0 % in 2024. This gives North Macedonia the 52nd-highest globally (out of 236 economies with available data).
Elderly population
Share of total population aged 65 and over
North Macedonia
How North Macedonia compares
About this indicator
This indicator measures the share of the population aged 65 years and over within the resident population.
As a definitive gauge of population aging, it tracks the structural transition of a society toward an older demographic profile. This shift carries profound implications for the long-term vitality of labor markets, as a growing elderly share often corresponds with a shrinking pool of working-age individuals, potentially necessitating gains in labor productivity to maintain economic growth. Beyond the workforce, this metric serves as a signal for the fiscal sustainability of pension systems and social security frameworks, which must adapt to a higher ratio of retirees to active contributors. Furthermore, it highlights an evolving landscape for healthcare demand, shifting the focus of public and private investment toward geriatric services, long-term care infrastructure, and the specialized medical needs of an aging society.
As a definitive gauge of population aging, it tracks the structural transition of a society toward an older demographic profile. This shift carries profound implications for the long-term vitality of labor markets, as a growing elderly share often corresponds with a shrinking pool of working-age individuals, potentially necessitating gains in labor productivity to maintain economic growth. Beyond the workforce, this metric serves as a signal for the fiscal sustainability of pension systems and social security frameworks, which must adapt to a higher ratio of retirees to active contributors. Furthermore, it highlights an evolving landscape for healthcare demand, shifting the focus of public and private investment toward geriatric services, long-term care infrastructure, and the specialized medical needs of an aging society.
Sources and updates
Data sources
The data for this indicator are drawn from the United Nations (UN) World Population Prospects database.
Last update
This indicator was last updated on Econorama on 18 June 2026 and reflects the latest data available from the underlying sources at that time.
More on North Macedonia
Population & Demographics
Total population
Number of people
Rank152nd of 236
Cumulative growth of population
Total growth of population (%) since 2010
Rank222nd of 236
Median age of population
Age dividing the population into two equal halves
Rank54th of 236
Young population
Share of total population aged under 15
Rank167th of 236
Working age population
Share of total population aged 15 to 64
Rank105th of 236
Fertility rate
Average number of births per woman
Rank176th of 236
Migration rate
Net number of migrants (immigrants minus emigrants) per 1,000 population
Rank192nd of 236
Economic activity
Health
Public Finance
Government debt (% of GDP)
Gross debt of the general government
Rank98th of 190
Public debt per capita
Gross debt of the general government, in current international dollars
Rank78th of 191
Government budget balance (% of GDP)
Positive values indicate a surplus; negative values indicate a deficit
Rank138th of 194