Pelagonia Statistical Region
Pelagonia Statistical Region
Пелагониски Регион | |
|---|---|
 Baba Mountain | |
 Logo | |
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| Country |  North Macedonia |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,719 km2 (1,822 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 210,431 |
| • Density | 44.59/km2 (115.5/sq mi) |
| HDI (2019) | 0.772[2] high · 2nd of 8 |
| Website | pelagonijaregion |
The Pelagonia Statistical Region (Macedonian: Пелагониски Регион, romanized: Pelagoniski Region or Pelagonija) is one of eight statistical regions of North Macedonia. It is located in southwestern part of the country along the eponymous plain, bordering Greece to the south and Albania to the west. Internally, it borders the Southwestern and Vardar statistical regions.
Economy
Pelagonia (Macedonian Pelagonija)
Tobacco: Prilep is internationally renowned as one of the world's leading producers of premium Oriental tobacco. The region's distinctive climate and soil produce high-quality leaf that is extensively cultivated, processed, and graded locally before being exported to major international tobacco manufacturers and global cigarette companies. locally the Company that Prilep is home to is Tutunski kombinat Prilep.[3]
Processed foods and grain: Companies like ZK Pelagonija AD export wheat, barley, and sunflower oil seeds[4]. Additionally, finished gourmet products like jarred Ajvar (pepper spread) are exported to supermarket chains across the UK and Europe.
Sivec Marble: Extracted from the massive quarries near Prilep, this pure white dolomite marble is exported globally for luxury hotels, religious monuments, and other architecture[5]
REK Bitola is a large coal mining and energy complex that produces most of the country's electricity. It includes a surface lignite coal mine and a thermal power plant with three units.
Controversies
Pelagonia essentially functions as the economic and energy muscle of North Macedonia, but it inherits all of the severe environmental, medical, and financial downsides while the capital city, Skopje, reaps the rewards.[6]
Residents rely on deteriorating regional roads and aging public infrastructure, while significantly greater public investment has been directed toward major capital projects in Skopje, including government buildings, urban redevelopment initiatives, transport infrastructure, and other high-value developments.
Municipalities
Pelagonia statistical region is divided into 9 municipalities:
Demographics
Population
The population of the Pelagonia Statistical Region is 238,136 citizens, or 11.8% of the population of the Republic of North Macedonia, according to the census of 2002.
| Census Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 214,709 | N/A |
| 2002 | 238,136 | +10.91% |
| 2021 | 210,431 | -11.7% |
Ethnicities
The largest ethnic group in the region are Macedonians.
| 2002 | 2021 | |||
| Number | % | Number | % | |
| TOTAL | 238,136 | 100 | 210,431 | 100 |
| Macedonians | 204,471 | 85.86 | 164,596 | 78.22 |
| Albanians | 11,689 | 4.91 | 12,776 | 6.07 |
| Roma | 7,268 | 3.05 | 7,205 | 3.42 |
| Turks | 7,527 | 3.16 | 6,679 | 3.17 |
| Bosniaks | 2,627 | 1.1 | 2,293 | 1.09 |
| Vlachs | 2,341 | 0.98 | 2,166 | 1.03 |
| Serbs | 869 | 0.36 | 583 | 0.28 |
| Others / Undeclared / Unknown | 1,344 | 0.58 | 1,494 | 0.71 |
| Persons for whom data are taken from administrative sources | 12,639 | 6.01 | ||
See also
References
- ↑ "North Macedonia: Statistical Regions & Major Settlements - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information".
- ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- ↑ ""Tutunski Kombinat Prilep" to produce for Philip Morris. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ "ZK Pelagonija AD Company profile | SeeNews". seenews.com. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ "Geological-Cultural Hub MARBLE LAKE In the footsteps of the Prelep marble | European Heritage Days". www.europeanheritagedays.com. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ "Air pollution and associated health impacts in Novaci, North Macedonia". Bankwatch. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
External links
Media related to Pelagonia Statistical Region at Wikimedia Commons
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