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.
[MK1] State Statistical Office (MAKSTAT) (North Macedonia)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
SSO, department for population statistics
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Dame Gruev 4, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
10 February 2026
2.2. Metadata last posted
10 February 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
10 February 2026
3.1. Data description
Final results on the main demographic developments in the year of reference. The final results on the main demographic developments in the reference year (T) contain the total usual resident population on 1 January of year T+1, total number of live births, total number of deaths, total number of immigrants, and total number of emigrants during the reference year (T).
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
The regional breakdown is done under the most recent NUTS classification. There are agreements between Eurostat and Candidate countries as well as between Eurostat and EFTA countries, for which statistical regions have been coded in a way that resembles NUTS. For more information on the versions in force, please see Eurostat NUTS.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
Usually resident population means all persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time; for more information see the Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 1260/2013.
See the table 3.4.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
See the table 3.4.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
Counts of statistical units.
See the table 3.6 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.7. Reference area
Data are available at national and regional level of geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time
T+180
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data is collected at unit (person) level. Units of measure are absolute numbers, rates, percentage points and coeffients.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period ( 31st December). 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
National legal framework:
Law on State Statistics (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia” No. 54/1997, 21/2007, 51/2011, 104/2013, 42/2014, 192/2015, 27/16, 83/18, 220/18 and 31/20);
Programme of Statistical Surveys 2023-2027 (“Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia” No.” бр.29/23);
Family Law ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia" No. 80/1992, 9/1996, 38/2004, 33/2006, 84/2008, 67/10, 156/10, 39/12, 44/12, 38/ 14,115/14 and 104/15);
Law on civil registration ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia" No. 8/95, 38/2002, 66/2007, 67/2009, 13/2013, 43/2014 and 27/2016).
EU and international legal framework:
Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 of the European Parliament on European demographic statistics,
Regulation (EU) No 205/2014,
UN Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System, Revision 3
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data are shared with joint annual questionnaires and transmitted to EUROSTAT viaEDAMIS:DEMOBAL (DEMOgraphic BALance data collection); NOWCAST (NOWCASTdemographic data collection); POPSTAT and annual questionnaires to: UN Statistics Division-Demographic Statistics Section-Questionnaire on Vital Statistics and WHO.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The protection of individual data is regulated by the Law on State Statistics,Law on State Statistics
The basic principles and activities undertaken to ensure data confidentiality are described in the Policy on Statistical Confidentiality,
All users have equal access to statistics at the same time: this means that the publication dates are announced in advance and no user has access to official statistics before they are published. Statistical data are first published in the "News Releases" edition on the website of the State Statistical Office at 12:00h.
The data are published monthly and quarterly as preliminary data, and as final on annual basis.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
New Release are available on the SSO website in the chapter:” Release ".
MakStat database available on the SSO website - Population at the following link:MakStat database.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Methodological explanation and reference metadata ESMS eare an integral part of the web site of the State Statistical Office.Information on population statistics
See the table 10.6 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Data collection, validation, and dissemination follow established national and international quality standards, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and comparability, and supporting consistent analysis and reporting at national and European level.
The quality criteria are also determined in the Law on State Statistics inArticle 4b and Article 4c.
See the table 11.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The State Statistical Office carries out statistical activities in accordance with the StatisticalBusiness Process Model, which is based on the international model - Generic Statistical BusinessProcess Model (GSBPM). The application of this model and international standards in statisticalproduction ensures a high level of accuracy and comparability of data.
See the table 11.2.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Demographic and migration statistics are highly relevant as they provide a basic and internationally comparable overview of population developments. They are used for monitoring population developments and for policy planning, analysis, and reporting at national and European level, in line with practices in other European countries. These statistics support evidence-based policymaking, planning, and evaluation in areas such as social policy, labour markets, education, healthcare, and regional development.The data are used directly, but also forcalculation of statistical indicators from other sectors.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Starting from 2009, the State Statistical Office conducts a User Satisfaction Survey every three years.
12.3. Completeness
In line with practices in other European countries, demographic data are essential for national and European-level analyses, comparisons, and reporting, and they contribute to harmonised statistical systems within the European Union.In terms of the indicators required by EU Regulation in domain of the population statistics, the SSO provides about 80% of them.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The survey methodology and the data collection method ensure good coverage and accuracyof the data.
See the table 13.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.1.1 Accuracy - unknown values
See the table 13.1.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
See the table 13.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
See the table 13.3 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
14.1. Timeliness
According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
There is geographical comparability of the released data at national and regional level. With other EU countries, there is geographical comparability in line with EU regulations.
15.2. Comparability - over time
See the table 15.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Cross-domain coherence of data is ensured comparison with data from administrative register of population.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence of data is ensured. The monthly and quarterly preliminary data in the currentyear are used for monitoring the coverage and trend of the treated event with data from the previous year and comparison between the preliminary and definitive (final) data.
After the implementation of the Census of population 2021, SSO made revision of the Total population size, by age and sex, for the period between the two last censuses (2002 and 2021) and also made calculation of the basic indicators in domain of the vital statistics. All data are available on the MakstatData base- Population estimates, SSO web page.
18.1. Source data
See the table 18.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The data are collected on monthly basis and processed annually.
18.3. Data collection
Data are obtained from administrative sources, namely the Office for Civil Registration and the Ministry of Interior (MoI). Data collection is based on interview and reporting methods. For each registered event, a standardized statistical form is completed in accordance with the prescribed methodology.
18.4. Data validation
Data validation is carried out through systematic checks for completeness, consistency at natioanal and regional level. Validation procedures include logical and arithmetic controls, verification of coding accuracy, and cross-checks against administrative records, in accordance with established methodological instructions and quality assurance procedures.Regional statistical departments monitor data coverage, coding, and data entry in line with established methodological guidelines and quality control procedures.Subject- matter department in the SSO, made additional controls, data processing and tabulation of the in cooperation with the IT sector, using the established methodological rules and defined criteria for control.
18.5. Data compilation
Final datasets are produced after consistency checks and quality assurance procedures, ensuring compliance with Eurostat requirements.
Final results on the main demographic developments in the year of reference. The final results on the main demographic developments in the reference year (T) contain the total usual resident population on 1 January of year T+1, total number of live births, total number of deaths, total number of immigrants, and total number of emigrants during the reference year (T).
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
Usually resident population means all persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time; for more information see the Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 1260/2013.
See the table 3.4.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
See the table 3.4.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Number of persons.
Counts of statistical units.
See the table 3.6 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Data are available at national and regional level of geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period ( 31st December). 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.
The survey methodology and the data collection method ensure good coverage and accuracyof the data.
See the table 13.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
13.1.1 Accuracy - unknown values
See the table 13.1.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
Data is collected at unit (person) level. Units of measure are absolute numbers, rates, percentage points and coeffients.
Final datasets are produced after consistency checks and quality assurance procedures, ensuring compliance with Eurostat requirements.
See the table 18.1 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
The data are published monthly and quarterly as preliminary data, and as final on annual basis.
According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
There is geographical comparability of the released data at national and regional level. With other EU countries, there is geographical comparability in line with EU regulations.
See the table 15.2 in the annex POPSTAT_UNIESMS_A.
