If you lived in Macedonia instead of Iran, you would:

Health

see 69.9% more spent on your healthcare

Iran spends $1,064 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Macedonia spends $1,808 as of 2023.

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have 62.6% more doctors per person

Iran has 18.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Macedonia has 29.4 as of 2022.

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live 1.2 years less

In Iran, the average life expectancy is 78 years (76 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 42.0% more likely to die by suicide

Iran has a suicide rate of 4.1 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Macedonia, it is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 2.7 times more money

Iran has a GDP per capita of $3,924 as of 2025, while in Macedonia, the GDP per capita is $10,490 as of 2025.

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be 47.7% more likely to be unemployed

In Iran, 8.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Macedonia, that number is 12.3% as of 2025.

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Life

be 81.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Iran, approximately 16.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Macedonia, 3.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 10.7% more likely to be literate

In Iran, the literacy rate is 88.9% as of 2023. In Macedonia, it is 98.4% as of 2020.

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be 75.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Iran, approximately 10.3 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Macedonia, on the other hand, 2.5 children do as of 2024.

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have 30.0% fewer children

In Iran, there are approximately 12.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Macedonia, there are 8.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 23.2% more on healthcare

Iran spends 6.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Macedonia, that number is 7.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 72.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Iran, road accidents kill 20.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Macedonia, they kill 5.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 2.5 times more home broadband

Iran has 12.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Macedonia has 29.9 as of 2024.

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live with 35.4% less strain on fresh water

Iran withdraws 81% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Macedonia withdraws 53% as of 2022.

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use 13.0% less electricity

Iran uses 3,815 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Macedonia uses 3,320 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 55.8% less CO2

Iran emits 9.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Macedonia emits 4.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 21.6% more likely to die from air pollution

In Iran, air pollution causes 51.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Macedonia, it causes 62.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook (2020). How we calculate this

Macedonia: At a glance

Macedonia is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 25,433 sq km. Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution are ongoing. Since 2004, the US and over 130 other nations have recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an insurgency in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. Although Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005, the country still faces challenges, including fully implementing the Framework Agreement, improving relations with Bulgaria, carrying out democratic reforms, and stimulating economic growth and development. Macedonia's membership in NATO was blocked by Greece at the Alliance's Summit of Bucharest in 2008.
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