95–100% | |
90–95% | |
50–70% | |
30–35% | |
10–20% | |
5–10% | |
4–5% | |
2–4% | |
1–2% | |
< 1% |
Muslims inNorth Macedonia represent just under one-third of the nation's total population according to the2021 census,[2] makingIslam the second most widely professed religion in the country.Muslims in North Macedonia followSunni Islam of theHanafimadhhab. Some northwestern and western regions of the country have Muslim majorities. A large majority of all the Muslims in the country are ethnicAlbanians, with the rest being primarilyTurks,Romani,Bosniaks orTorbeš.
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Albanian Muslims, forming roughly 25% of the nation's total population (2002 census), and most of the Muslim population, live mostly in thePolog and western regions of the country. The Turks, who make up about 4% of the country's total population (2002 census), are scattered throughout the country, but mostly in major cities, as are Roma Muslims. Bosniaks are mostly concentrated within Skopje.Muslims of Macedonian ethnicity number roughly 40,000 to 100,000 and can be found in the western part of North Macedonia in theCentar Župa,Debar,Struga andPlasnica areas.[citation needed]
| Ethnic group | Population 1948 | Population 2002 | Population 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albanians | 197,389 | 509,083[3][4] | 446,245 |
| Turks | 95,940 | 77,959[3][4] | 70,961 |
| Romani | 19,500 | 53,879[3][4] | 46,433 |
| Macedonian Muslims | 1,560 | 2,553[3][5] | 1,187 |
| Bosniaks | 17,018[3][4] | 16,042 |
The following table shows the Muslim population and percentage for each given year. The Muslim percentage in Macedonia generally decreased from 1904 to 1961 but began to rise again due to high fertility rate among Muslim families, reaching 33.33% in 2002. According to the census of 2021, the share of Muslims was 32.17% of the total (resident) population, which was slightly lower compared to 33.33% in the census of 2002.
| Year | Muslim population | Muslim percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1904 | 634,000[6] | 36.76% |
| 1912 | 384,000[6] | 33.47% |
| 1921 | 269,000[6] | 31.43% |
| 1948 | 314,603[6] | 27.29% |
| 1953 | 388,515[6] | 29.78% |
| 1961 | 338,200[6] | 24.05% |
| 1971 | 414,176[6] | 25.14% |
| 1981 | 546,437[6] | 28.62% |
| 1991 | 611,326[6] | 30.06% |
| 1994 | 581,203[6][7] | 30.04% |
| 2002 | 674,015[6][8] | 33.33% |
| 2021 | 590,878[9] | 32.17% |
(according to the 2021 census)
| Municipality | Statistical region | Population (2021) | Muslims (2021) | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tetovo | Polog | 84,770 | 64,468 | 76.1% |
| Čair | Skopje (city) | 62,586 | 50,755 | 81.1% |
| Gostivar | Polog | 59,770 | 43,459 | 72.7% |
| Saraj | Skopje (city) | 38,399 | 35,959 | 93.6% |
| Struga | Southwestern | 50,980 | 32,231 | 63.2% |
| Kumanovo | Northeastern | 98,104 | 28,528 | 29.1% |
| Lipkovo | Northeastern | 22,308 | 21,570 | 96.7% |
| Bogovinje | Polog | 22,906 | 21,329 | 93.1% |
| Kičevo | Southwestern | 39,669 | 21,056 | 53.1% |
| Studeničani | Skopje (region) | 21,970 | 19,968 | 90.9% |
| Šuto Orizari | Skopje (city) | 25,726 | 19,350 | 75.2% |
| Vrapčište | Polog | 19,842 | 18,224 | 91.8% |
| Želino | Polog | 18,988 | 18,193 | 95.8% |
| Gazi Baba | Skopje (city) | 69,626 | 17,476 | 25.1% |
| Butel | Skopje (city) | 37,968 | 17,438 | 45.9% |
| Tearce | Polog | 17,694 | 15,144 | 85.6% |
| Debar | Southwestern | 15,412 | 13,611 | 88.3% |
| Aračinovo | Skopje (region) | 12,676 | 12,363 | 97.5% |
| Dolneni | Pelagonia | 13,126 | 8,873 | 67.6% |
| Bitola | Pelagonia | 85,164 | 8,232 | 9.7% |
| Brvenica | Polog | 13,645 | 7,386 | 54.1% |
| Veles | Vardar | 48,463 | 6,286 | 13.0% |
| Ohrid | Southwestern | 51,428 | 5,908 | 11.5% |
| Prilep | Pelagonia | 69,025 | 5,063 | 7.3% |
| Čaška | Vardar | 7,942 | 4,710 | 59.3% |
| Radoviš | Southeastern | 24,122 | 4,470 | 18.5% |
| Strumica | Southeastern | 49,995 | 4,331 | 8.7% |
| Plasnica | Southwestern | 4,222 | 4,115 | 97.5% |
| Štip | Eastern | 44,866 | 3,798 | 8.5% |
| Gjorče Petrov | Skopje (city) | 44,844 | 3,680 | 8.2% |
| Mavrovo and Rostuša | Polog | 5,042 | 3,669 | 72.8% |
| Karpoš | Skopje (city) | 63,760 | 3,629 | 5.7% |
| Petrovec | Skopje (region) | 9,150 | 3,588 | 39.2% |
| Jegunovce | Polog | 8,895 | 3,522 | 39.6% |
| Resen | Pelagonia | 14,373 | 3,423 | 23.8% |
| Centar Župa | Southwestern | 3,720 | 3,346 | 89.9% |
| Kruševo | Pelagonia | 8,385 | 2,859 | 34.1% |
| Vasilevo | Southeastern | 10,552 | 2,557 | 24.2% |
| Centar | Skopje (city) | 43,893 | 2,507 | 5.7% |
| Kisela Voda | Skopje (city) | 61,965 | 2,267 | 3.7% |
| Aerodrom | Skopje (city) | 77,735 | 2,184 | 2.8% |
| Sopište | Skopje (region) | 6,713 | 2,159 | 32.2% |
| Kočani | Eastern | 31,602 | 2,069 | 6.5% |
| Valandovo | Southeastern | 10,508 | 1,435 | 13.7% |
| Čučer-Sandevo | Skopje (region) | 9,200 | 1,363 | 14.8% |
| Kavadarci | Vardar | 35,733 | 1,157 | 3.2% |
| Negotino | Vardar | 18,194 | 1,105 | 6.1% |
| Vinica | Eastern | 14,475 | 942 | 6.5% |
| Karbinci | Eastern | 3,420 | 865 | 25.3% |
| Ilinden | Skopje (region) | 17,435 | 855 | 4.9% |
| Gradsko | Vardar | 3,233 | 740 | 22.9% |
| Bosilovo | Southeastern | 11,508 | 702 | 6.1% |
| Delčevo | Eastern | 13,585 | 694 | 5.1% |
| Zelenikovo | Skopje (region) | 3,361 | 654 | 19.5% |
| Konče | Southeastern | 2,725 | 607 | 22.3% |
| Pehčevo | Eastern | 3,983 | 597 | 15.0% |
| Berovo | Eastern | 10,890 | 514 | 4.7% |
| Demir Kapija | Vardar | 3,777 | 419 | 11.1% |
| Kriva Palanka | Northeastern | 18,059 | 418 | 2.3% |
| Mogila | Pelagonia | 5,283 | 336 | 6.4% |
| Dojran | Southeastern | 3,084 | 309 | 10.0% |
| Makedonski Brod | Southwestern | 5,889 | 259 | 4.4% |
| Demir Hisar | Pelagonia | 7,260 | 244 | 3.4% |
| Lozovo | Vardar | 2,264 | 236 | 10.4% |
| Kratovo | Northeastern | 7,545 | 108 | 1.4% |
| Gevgelija | Southeastern | 21,582 | 104 | 0.5% |
| Sveti Nikole | Vardar | 15,320 | 92 | 0.6% |
| Debarca | Southwestern | 3,719 | 76 | 2.0% |
| Probištip | Eastern | 13,417 | 57 | 0.4% |
| Bogdanci | Southeastern | 7,339 | 52 | 0.7% |
| Rankovce | Northeastern | 3,465 | 52 | 1.5% |
| Rosoman | Vardar | 3,796 | 36 | 0.9% |
| Novaci | Pelagonia | 2,648 | 35 | 1.3% |
| Makedonska Kamenica | Eastern | 6,439 | 18 | 0.3% |
| Staro Nagoričane | Northeastern | 3,501 | 14 | 0.4% |
| Vevčani | Southwestern | 2,359 | 10 | 0.4% |
| Krivogaštani | Pelagonia | 5,167 | 8 | 0.2% |
| Češinovo-Obleševo | Eastern | 5,471 | 5 | 0.1% |
| Zrnovci | Eastern | 2,086 | 4 | 0.2% |
| Novo Selo | Southeastern | 6,972 | 3 | 0.0% |
| Macedonia (total) | 1,836,713 | 590,878 | 32.2% |
TheSs. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje stated in 2012 that "religion is primary importance to Macedonia's Muslims." The university conducted a survey of 1.850 Muslims in the country, which found that 81.6% described themselves as religious, 60.5% of which were very religious. Approximately 22% never went to a mosque (48,6% attend mosque at least once a week) and 17.3% did not pray at home (42,1% pray five times a day). About 28,6% believed that disputes should be resolved using Islamic Sharia law (41,7% say that should be resolved using Macedonia's laws, 29,7% didn't know or refused to answer), and 27,8% said that wearing a veil in school was "unacceptable." 16,4% of the respondents said cohabitation without marriage was "acceptable" (74,2% said "non acceptable" and 9,3% refused to answer), 13,6% ate pork and 24,8% drank alcohol. Also 94% of respondents said they circumcised their boys and 98% observed Muslim burial practices for their relatives.[citation needed]
