Postal History of North Macedonia

North Macedonia is a country in the Balkan Peninsula, in southeastern Europe, near Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia.

North Macedonia became independent from Yugoslavia in 1991. Before that, it used Yugoslav stamps. After independence, it started issuing its own stamps showing the country’s culture and history. North Macedonia is known for its rich history, including ancient archaeological sites like the city of Heraclea Lyncestis and beautiful lakes such as Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe. The country changed its official name from “Republic of Macedonia” to “Republic of North Macedonia” in 2019.

Stamps Through the Years

  • Before 1941: The area now known as North Macedonia was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and used Yugoslav stamps.
  • 1941–1944 (World War II): The region was occupied and divided by Axis powers.
    • In the eastern parts occupied by Bulgaria, Bulgarian stamps were used.
    • In the western parts, controlled by Italian-occupied Albania, Italian and Albanian stamps were used.
  • 1945–1991: After the war, North Macedonia became part of socialist Yugoslavia as the People’s Republic of Macedonia and used Yugoslav stamps again.
  • 1992: First stamps issued as an independent country, marked “Republic of Macedonia.” Designs featured national symbols, history, and landmarks.
  • 1990s–2018: Stamps continued to celebrate Macedonian culture and famous people. Internationally, the country was known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
  • 2019 to present: Country officially renamed “Republic of North Macedonia.” New stamps show this updated name on the issues.

Did You Know?

  • Before independence, North Macedonia’s postal service was part of Yugoslavia’s system.
  • The name dispute with Greece affected how the country appeared in stamp catalogues for many years.
  • The country is famous for growing tobacco, which is an important crop for its economy.
  • Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to many unique fish species found nowhere else in the world.
  • The city of Skopje, the capital, has a famous stone bridge called the “Bridge of Civilizations” that connects its old and new parts.
  • The name “Macedonian” comes from an ancient kingdom ruled by Alexander the Great more than 2,000 years ago. The region of Macedonia today is shared by North Macedonia, Greece, and Bulgaria.