North Macedonia explained to kids

North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a country located in the Balkan peninsula. North Macedonia is bordered by Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west. It has a total area of 25,713 square kilometers (9,928 square miles) and a population of 2,066,895. The capital and largest city is Skopje, with 506,926 inhabitants. North Macedonia is a landlocked country that emerged from the former Yugoslavia's republic of Macedonia after declaring independence in 1991. The country's geography is defined by mountains, valleys, and rivers. The country has a Mediterranean climate and covers an area of 25,713 square kilometers (9,928 square miles). North Macedonia is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and NATO. The name "Macedonia" is derived from the ancient kingdom of Macedon, which was ruled by the dynasty of Alexander the Great. The name "North Macedonia" was chosen to differentiate the country from the Greek province of Macedonia, which also has a claim to the ancient kingdom's heritage. The official language of North Macedonia is Macedonian, a South Slavic language. Macedonian is spoken by the majority of the country's population, as well as by minorities in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia. Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Romani, and Serbian are also spoken in North Macedonia. The country's economy is based on agriculture, forestry, and mining. The main agricultural products are tobacco, rice, corn, wheat, and vegetables. North Macedonia is also a producer of timber and coal. The industrial sector includes food processing, textiles, and electronics. North Macedonia is a parliamentary republic with a unicameral legislature. The executive branch is headed by the prime minister, who is elected by the parliament. The judicial branch is independent of the executive and legislature. The country is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and NATO.