North Macedonia’s Demographic Disaster: Taxing Singles to Save the Nation?
North Macedonia is facing a demographic meltdown so severe, it’s sounding alarm bells across Europe. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski isn’t mincing words — the country is in the grip of a “silent, long-term, systemic” crisis that’s not just a trend but a full-blown emergency.
Here’s the kicker: Mickoski’s government is seriously considering slapping extra taxes on singles — yes, the unmarried and unwed — as a desperate move to boost birth rates and keep young people from fleeing. “It’s time for a country where more babies are born to become our future,” he declared.
The numbers are grim. For every 16 babies born, 20 people die, resulting in a natural population decline of 4 people in just one year. Over the past four years, North Macedonia has lost over 33,000 residents — that’s like wiping out an entire city the size of Kavadarci or Kičevo. Birth rates have plummeted from 12.5 per thousand to a shocking 8.8 per thousand annually.
Schools in many towns and villages don’t even have a first-grade class anymore. More and more people live alone. Fewer women are getting married and having children. Mickoski warns this isn’t just cold data — it’s a spreading silence that threatens the country’s very existence.
The fight is on all fronts: kindergartens, schools, maternity wards, community centers, immigrant clubs, even border crossings where mothers say goodbye to their sons leaving the country. The goal? Make life worth living here, make motherhood a blessing, not a burden, and give young people a reason to stay and build their future in North Macedonia.
Mickoski admits there’s no magic fix. It’s going to take deliberate, ongoing state effort. Every policy, every investment, every measure aims to rebuild trust in the country. And yes, taxing singles is on the table.
But hold up — is it fair to tax people just because they’re single? Will it actually encourage more babies or just punish citizens? How does this fit with Europe’s broader demographic trends?
One thing’s clear: North Macedonia is on the brink of demographic collapse, and the government is ready to take drastic steps. Will taxing singles save the day or just stir more trouble? Time will tell.
So, what do you think? Would an extra tax make you rush to the altar or just make you mad? Drop a comment and let’s hear your take — because this conversation is just getting started!
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