North Macedonia prosecutors face significant staffing shortages

Annual reports from the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Council of Public Prosecutors reveal a significant staffing shortage within North Macedonia's prosecution system. In 2025, only 194 prosecutors were employed out of 261 systematized positions, representing a fulfillment rate of just 74.3 percent. Despite a 9.6 percent increase in staff compared to 2024, case processing efficiency has not improved.

The shortage is particularly acute in smaller municipalities. Berovo, Delchevo, and Sveti Nikole have operated for years without a basic public prosecutor, with some locations employing only a single prosecutor. In Bitola, only two out of eight planned positions were filled, while the Shtip region faced a deficit of 13 prosecutors.

This personnel deficit has directly impacted the speed of legal proceedings. Out of 31,067 known adult individuals whose cases were processed in 2025, prosecutors resolved reports for 20,247 people (65.2 percent), leaving 10,820 cases (34.8 percent) unresolved. The Public Prosecutor's Office characterized this 65.2 percent resolution rate as unsatisfactory.