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

Health

be 17.3% less likely to die by suicide

Italy has a suicide rate of 7.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Macedonia, it is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 7.3 years less

In Italy, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 86 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 91.8% more likely to be obese

In Italy, 14.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 26.8% of people as of 2024.

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see 63.8% less spent on your healthcare

Italy spends $4,993 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Macedonia spends $1,808 as of 2023.

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have 29.8% fewer doctors per person

Italy has 41.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Macedonia has 29.4 as of 2022.

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have 11.9% less access to essential health services

Italy scores 84 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Macedonia scores 74 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 91.9% more likely to be unemployed

In Italy, 6.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Macedonia, that number is 12.3% as of 2025.

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make 75.8% less money

Italy has a GDP per capita of $43,309 as of 2025, while in Macedonia, the GDP per capita is $10,490 as of 2025.

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Life

be 50.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Italy, approximately 6.0 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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have 39.7% more children

In Italy, there are approximately 6.3 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 12.0% less on healthcare

Italy spends 8.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 7.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 2.7 times more likely to be murdered

Italy has a homicide rate of 0.6 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Macedonia, that number is 1.5 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 14.0% more likely to die in a road accident

In Italy, road accidents kill 5.0 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Macedonia, they kill 5.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 76.5% more strain on fresh water

Italy withdraws 30% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Macedonia withdraws 53% as of 2022.

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use 35.4% less electricity

Italy uses 5,137 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Macedonia uses 3,320 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 21.3% less CO2

Italy emits 5.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Macedonia emits 4.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 4.1 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Italy, air pollution causes 15.0 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), World Health Organization (2024). 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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