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

Health

be 49.8% less likely to die by suicide

Portugal has a suicide rate of 11.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Macedonia, it is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 5.8 years less

In Portugal, the average life expectancy is 82 years (80 years for men, 85 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 48.5% more likely to be obese

In Portugal, 18.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 26.8% of people as of 2024.

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see 63.3% less spent on your healthcare

Portugal spends $4,928 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Macedonia spends $1,808 as of 2023.

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have 49.7% fewer doctors per person

Portugal has 58.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Macedonia has 29.4 as of 2022.

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have 15.9% less access to essential health services

Portugal scores 88 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Macedonia scores 74 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 99.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Portugal, 6.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Macedonia, that number is 12.3% as of 2025.

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be 33.5% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Portugal, 16.4% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Macedonia, however, that number is 21.9% as of 2023.

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make 67.3% less money

Portugal has a GDP per capita of $32,082 as of 2025, while in Macedonia, the GDP per capita is $10,490 as of 2025.

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Life

be 80.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Portugal, approximately 15.0 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 11.4% more children

In Portugal, there are approximately 7.9 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 27.4% less on healthcare

Portugal spends 10.2% 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 20.8% less likely to die in a road accident

In Portugal, road accidents kill 7.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Macedonia, they kill 5.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.1 times more likely to be murdered

Portugal has a homicide rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Macedonia, that number is 1.5 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 33.9% less home broadband

Portugal has 45.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Macedonia has 29.9 as of 2024.

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live with 4.3 times more strain on fresh water

Portugal withdraws 12% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Macedonia withdraws 53% as of 2022.

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use 37.3% less electricity

Portugal uses 5,294 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Macedonia uses 3,320 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 6.2 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Portugal, air pollution causes 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Macedonia, it causes 62.0 as of 2019.

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emit 20.5% more CO2

Portugal emits 3.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Macedonia emits 4.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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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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