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North Macedonia social welfare and poverty issues

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2026-10-17 09:32 UTC → 2026-10-17 10:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Research presented at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje indicates that approximately 6% of households in North Macedonia, or roughly 34,900 households, live in multidimensional poverty. The study identified significant regional disparities, with the Southeastern region reporting a 10.3% poverty rate and the municipality of Chashka reaching 71%. Deprivations measured included socio-economic factors such as low education and inadequate sanitation, as well as limited access to healthcare and schools. Following these findings regarding socio-economic conditions, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski announced the discovery of over 4,500 fraudulent recipients of social assistance and guaranteed minimum assistance. Investigations found that funds were being paid to deceased individuals, fictitious persons, and displaced citizens. These controls have reduced monthly payouts by approximately 200 million denars, with an estimated annual impact of 25 million euros. The government intends to extend future audits to other sectors, such as healthcare, to redirect saved funds toward capital investments. Recent data from UNICEF and the State Statistical Office for 2024 highlights a severe child poverty risk, affecting nearly 120,000 children, or 29.5% of those under age 17. The general poverty risk rate in the country is 21.9%. Vulnerability is notably higher among single-parent households (45.8%) and families with two adults and three or more children (54.8%). UNICEF noted that despite 2019 social protection reforms, child poverty remains high due to rising living costs, suggesting a need for expanded child benefits and better-targeted financial aid. In response to these conditions, the Macedonian Platform Against Poverty (MPP) issued an open letter demanding an urgent national strategy to combat poverty and social exclusion. The MPP noted that while 88% of EU households with children receive family benefits, only 19% of similar households in North Macedonia receive such support.

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