North Macedonia economy grows 4.3% in second quarter of 2026

North Macedonia's economy grew by 4.3% in the second quarter of 2026, according to data from the State Statistical Office. This represents an acceleration from the 3.1% growth recorded in the first quarter, bringing the average growth for the first half of the year to approximately 3.7%.

Key drivers of this expansion include a significant 21.9% surge in the construction sector, a 16.5% increase in gross investments, and a 10.4% rise in the export of goods and services. Other sectors, such as manufacturing, trade, and information technology, also showed positive trends.

While government officials, including Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kocoska, have hailed these results as a confirmation of successful economic policies, analysts from Finance Think have offered a more nuanced view. They suggest the growth is heavily induced by public spending, particularly in construction and capital projects, which has contributed to a budget deficit of 7.1% in the first half of the year. Additionally, while GDP is rising, some sectors like mining are experiencing declines, and industrial employment saw a decrease of 2.6% in July compared to the previous year.