If you lived in Macedonia instead of Sao Tome and Principe, you would:

Health

live 6.7 years longer

In Sao Tome and Principe, the average life expectancy is 70 years (66 years for men, 74 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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see 5.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Sao Tome and Principe spends $355 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Macedonia spends $1,808 as of 2023.

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have 6.3 times more doctors per person

Sao Tome and Principe has 4.6 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Macedonia has 29.4 as of 2022.

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have 25.4% more access to essential health services

Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Macedonia scores 74 as of 2021.

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be 49.7% more likely to be obese

In Sao Tome and Principe, 17.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 26.8% of people as of 2024.

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be 6.7 times more likely to die by suicide

Sao Tome and Principe has a suicide rate of 0.9 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 2.6 times more money

Sao Tome and Principe has a GDP per capita of $4,084 as of 2025, while in Macedonia, the GDP per capita is $10,490 as of 2025.

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be 34.3% more likely to be unemployed

In Sao Tome and Principe, 9.1% 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 96.0% less likely to die during childbirth

In Sao Tome and Principe, approximately 75.0 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 72.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Sao Tome and Principe, approximately 9.2 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 68.7% fewer children

In Sao Tome and Principe, there are approximately 28.1 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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Basic Needs

be 23.0% more likely to have access to electricity

In Sao Tome and Principe, approximately 81% of people have electricity access (82% in urban areas, and 70% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Macedonia, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 57.5% more likely to have internet access

In Sao Tome and Principe, approximately 59.1% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Macedonia, about 93.1% do as of 2025.

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be 25.9% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Sao Tome and Principe, approximately 78% of people have access to drinking water (79% in urban areas, and 73% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 98% of people on average (98% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 28.8% more on healthcare

Sao Tome and Principe spends 5.8% 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 51.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Sao Tome and Principe, road accidents kill 11.7 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 10.0 times more home broadband

Sao Tome and Principe has 3.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Macedonia has 29.9 as of 2024.

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live with 28.0 times more strain on fresh water

Sao Tome and Principe withdraws 2% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Macedonia withdraws 53% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 27.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In Sao Tome and Principe, air pollution causes 85.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Macedonia, it causes 62.0 as of 2019.

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emit 6.3 times more CO2

Sao Tome and Principe emits 0.6 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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