Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
First results on the main demographic developments in the year of reference.
3.2. Classification system
Not applicable.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Please indicate the definition of:
Population
The mother's residence
The data deaths
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
Usual residence’ means the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage.
Those who have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference time; or
Those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference time with the intention of staying there for at least one year.
According to the legal provisions on keeping the register of births, every birth is entered in the register of births maintained for the area of its occurrence and during processing, the data are grouped by legal place of residence of the mother.
According to the legal provisions on keeping the register books of deaths, each deceased person is entered in the register of deaths maintained for the area of its occurrence.During processing, the data are grouped by permanent place of residence i.e the resalts are processing by principle of permanent place of residence.
3.4.2 Please describe the national definition of
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not available.
Live Birth - is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or placenta is attached.
Death’ means the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth.
Immigrants are people arriving from abroad to establish usual residence in a country for a period that is of at least 12 months, having previously been usually residents having previously been usually resident in another Member State or a third country.
Еmigration’ means the action by which a person, having previously been usually resident in the territory of a Member State, ceases to have his or her usual residence in that Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 monthsNot available.
3.4.3 Please provide details of the deviations of the national definition used from the usual residence definition.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not available.
Not available.
Not available.
Not available.
Not available.
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons.
Each born and deceased person that has been registered.
3.6. Statistical population
In case of survey as data source, please describe the target statistical population (one or more) which the data set refers to
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
3.7. Reference area
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Reference year + 180 days.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Counts of statistical units.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31December). The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Not available.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not available.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Individual data are protected by the Law on State Statistics. Data collected with statistical surveys from the reporting units or indirectly from administrative or other sources are confidential data and are used only for statistical purposes. Results from the statistical processing may also generate information considered as confidential, for example: anonymised individual data, tables with low level of aggregation, as well as unreleased data. The Policy on Statistical Confidentiality contains the basic principles used in the SSO.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
All individual or personal data, in each phase of statistical processing, are treated as confidential data and may be used only for statistical purposes. When releasing data from this survey at an aggregated level, there is no need for additional data treatment for the purpose of ensuring confidentiality.
In accordance with the dissemination policy, all users have equal access to statistical data at the same time. Data are released on the web site at the same time for all users, which are informed with the Release Calendar, and no user has privileged access.
Please provide a link to national methodology reports and reference metadata files available on-line concerning the supplied data.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Net migration
Not available
Nota available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
The reference metadata structure (ESMS) is a structure of reference metadata consisting of 21 concepts, with a limited breakdown of sub-concepts. The ESMS structure works towards documenting statistical data at survey level, methodologies, quality and the statistical production processes in general.
The metadata shown below is from the theme: Population
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available.
11.1. Quality assurance
The commitment of the SSO to ensuring quality of products and services is described in the Law on State Statistics, the Strategy of the State Statistical Office and the Quality Policy of the State Statistical Office as well as in the continuous efforts for harmonisation with the European Statistics Code of Practice. The main aspects and procedures for quality management in the phases and sub-phases of the Statistical Business Process Model, as well as the good practices for ensuring quality are documented in the internal document called “Guide for ensuring quality of statistical processes”. Input and output metadata, as well as relevant quality indicators for certain sub-processes are described in the document “Guide for survey managers”.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not available.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Demographic data and indicators calculated on the basis of data obtained from the statistical survey on births are of particular interest both for the domestic and the international public (e.g. institutions, universities, media and individuals) for the creation and implementation of scientific and development policies in the society. The data are used directly, but also for calculation of statistical indicators from other sectors.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The State Statistical Office conducts the User Satisfaction Survey at the domain level. This Survey is conducted every three years and the last one was in 2015.
In terms of the indicators required by Regulation 1260/2013 of the European Commission, the SSO provides about 90% of them.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Please report on the reasons for any unreliability of the data on:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Net migration
Data accuracy is ensured by working on decreasing sampling and/or non-sampling errors, as well as with additional data comparisons and analysis before dissemination.
13.2. Sampling error
In case of survey as data source, please provide information on the part of the difference between a population value and an estimate thereof, derived from a random sample, which is due to the fact that only a subset of the population is enumerated.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
13.3. Non-sampling error
In case of survey as data source, please provide information on the error in survey estimates which cannot be attributed to sampling fluctuations.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
14.1. Timeliness
Reference year + 180 days
14.2. Punctuality
Data are disseminated within the established deadlines in accordance with the Release Calendar.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
There is geographical comparability of the released data at national and regional level. With respect to geographical comparability with other EU countries, it is also ensured because data are collected in line with EU regulations.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Please provide information on the length of comparable time series (indicate the first reference year for which data are availble), reference periods at which series occur, the reasons for the breaks and treatments of them.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
At the national level, without break in the time series, data are comparable from 1994. At the regional level, without break in the time series, data are comparable from 2004.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Cross-domain coherence of data is ensured (comparison with data from administrative register of population).
Data from the statistical survey on births are released as provisional and final (revised) data.
18.1. Source data
Please report on the data sources used for the first reference year and inform of any changes thereto, to produce:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Population estimation is matematicaly balanced estimation of total population of Republic of North Macedonia calculated for two critical moments for every calendar year, for 30 June and 31 December.
For estimating the population by sex and age are used folowing data:
Number of population from previous year, by sex and year of birth
Number of new bourn persons during the year, by sex
Number of dead persons during the year, by sex and year of birth
Number of net migration during the year by sex and year of birth
The source of data for this statistical survey is administrative, i.e. the data are obtained on the basis of records / registration of births in the register of births by the Register Offices responsible for the Register of Births - Ministry of Justice - Department for Civil Registration.
The source of data for this statistical survey is administrative, i.e. the data are obtained on the basis of records / registration in the books of deaths by the Registrar Offices responsible for Registrar books of deaths - Ministry of Justice - Department for Civil registration.
The source of data for this statistical survey is administrative, i.e. the data are obtained on the basis of records / registration of the forms registering or notifying resettlement or removal, which are completed by competent offices in the Ministry of Interior.
The source of data for this statistical survey is administrative, i.e. the data are obtained on the basis of records / registration of the forms registering or notifying resettlement or removal, which are completed by competent offices in the Ministry of Interior.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Data collection (for births and deaths) are made by self-enumeration method form reporting units, i.e. register offices. Self-enumeration (about 98%) is done electronically.
18.4. Data validation
Control of data is carried out in accordance with the established methodological rules and guidelines for control. First control of the data is performed by the regional offices of the SSO. For monitoring the coverage they complete the statistical form Monthly report on vital statistics (DEM 4), which is submitted electronically to the State Statistical Office, no later than the 10th of the month for the previous month. For any deviations, the reporting units are contacted. The next stage is data coding and data entry according to established rules and methodological instructions for control.
18.5. Data compilation
After verification and possible corrections in consultation with the reporting units, i.e. register offices, completed questionnaires are entered in the regional offices in an application with on-line controls. Missing data are provided by imputation of data, according to the established methodological rules and guidelines for control. Data entered in regional departments are then taken by the subject-matter department in the Central Office, where additional control, processing and tabulation of data is done by using established methodological rules and defined control criteria.
18.6. Adjustment
Data adjustment is not performed.
Not available.
First results on the main demographic developments in the year of reference.
26 June 2025
3.4.1 Please indicate the definition of:
Population
The mother's residence
The data deaths
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
1.Usual Residence Population
2.Legal Residence Population
3.Registered Residence Population
4.Other
Usual residence’ means the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage.
Those who have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference time; or
Those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference time with the intention of staying there for at least one year.
According to the legal provisions on keeping the register of births, every birth is entered in the register of births maintained for the area of its occurrence and during processing, the data are grouped by legal place of residence of the mother.
According to the legal provisions on keeping the register books of deaths, each deceased person is entered in the register of deaths maintained for the area of its occurrence.During processing, the data are grouped by permanent place of residence i.e the resalts are processing by principle of permanent place of residence.
3.4.2 Please describe the national definition of
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not available.
Live Birth - is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or placenta is attached.
Death’ means the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth.
Immigrants are people arriving from abroad to establish usual residence in a country for a period that is of at least 12 months, having previously been usually residents having previously been usually resident in another Member State or a third country.
Еmigration’ means the action by which a person, having previously been usually resident in the territory of a Member State, ceases to have his or her usual residence in that Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 monthsNot available.
3.4.3 Please provide details of the deviations of the national definition used from the usual residence definition.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not available.
Not available.
Not available.
Not available.
Not available.
Number of persons.
Each born and deceased person that has been registered.
In case of survey as data source, please describe the target statistical population (one or more) which the data set refers to
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31December). The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
Please report on the reasons for any unreliability of the data on:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Net migration
Data accuracy is ensured by working on decreasing sampling and/or non-sampling errors, as well as with additional data comparisons and analysis before dissemination.
Counts of statistical units.
After verification and possible corrections in consultation with the reporting units, i.e. register offices, completed questionnaires are entered in the regional offices in an application with on-line controls. Missing data are provided by imputation of data, according to the established methodological rules and guidelines for control. Data entered in regional departments are then taken by the subject-matter department in the Central Office, where additional control, processing and tabulation of data is done by using established methodological rules and defined control criteria.
Please report on the data sources used for the first reference year and inform of any changes thereto, to produce:
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
Population estimation is matematicaly balanced estimation of total population of Republic of North Macedonia calculated for two critical moments for every calendar year, for 30 June and 31 December.
For estimating the population by sex and age are used folowing data:
Number of population from previous year, by sex and year of birth
Number of new bourn persons during the year, by sex
Number of dead persons during the year, by sex and year of birth
Number of net migration during the year by sex and year of birth
The source of data for this statistical survey is administrative, i.e. the data are obtained on the basis of records / registration of births in the register of births by the Register Offices responsible for the Register of Births - Ministry of Justice - Department for Civil Registration.
The source of data for this statistical survey is administrative, i.e. the data are obtained on the basis of records / registration in the books of deaths by the Registrar Offices responsible for Registrar books of deaths - Ministry of Justice - Department for Civil registration.
The source of data for this statistical survey is administrative, i.e. the data are obtained on the basis of records / registration of the forms registering or notifying resettlement or removal, which are completed by competent offices in the Ministry of Interior.
The source of data for this statistical survey is administrative, i.e. the data are obtained on the basis of records / registration of the forms registering or notifying resettlement or removal, which are completed by competent offices in the Ministry of Interior.
Not available.
Reference year + 180 days
There is geographical comparability of the released data at national and regional level. With respect to geographical comparability with other EU countries, it is also ensured because data are collected in line with EU regulations.
Please provide information on the length of comparable time series (indicate the first reference year for which data are availble), reference periods at which series occur, the reasons for the breaks and treatments of them.
Population
Live births
Deaths
Immigrants
Emigrants
At the national level, without break in the time series, data are comparable from 1994. At the regional level, without break in the time series, data are comparable from 2004.
