Economy, jobs and prices in Southwest Region, North Macedonia: official figures
The Southwest Region produced 79,466 million denars of gross domestic product in 2024, 8.2% of the national total of 964,087 million denars.
What is GDP per capita in the Southwest Region?
GDP per head in the Southwest Region was 451,768 denars in 2024, 85.5% of the national average of 528,453 denars and 4th lowest of 8 regions.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyHow fast is the economy of the Southwest Region growing?
Between 2019 and 2024 GDP per head in the Southwest Region rose 77.1% in current prices, from 255,123 denars, compared with 58.4% across North Macedonia.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in the Southwest Region?
The Labour Force Survey put unemployment in the Southwest Region at 16.1% in 2025, 4.6 points higher than the national rate of 11.5%, and down from 20.8% in 2021.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyWhat is the employment rate in the Southwest Region?
In 2025, 42.5% of people aged 15 and over in the Southwest Region were in work and 50.7% were economically active, against 46.4% and 52.5% nationally.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyWhat is the average wage in the Southwest Region?
The average gross monthly wage paid in the Southwest Region was 49,286 denars in 2023, up 28.9% on 2021 and 90% of the national average of 54,916 denars.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyWhat is the average net salary in the Southwest Region?
Average net pay in the Southwest Region was 32,917 denars a month in 2023, 4th highest of 8 regions; the national average was 36,614 denars.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyHow many businesses are there in the Southwest Region?
The Southwest Region had 7,135 active enterprises in 2022, 40.3 per 1,000 residents (national 38.9), down 1.8% from 7,268 in 2020.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyHow many tourists visit the Southwest Region?
Accommodation in the Southwest Region registered 456,194 tourists in 2023, 39.0% of the national total of 1,168,730, up 62.2% on 2021.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyHow Southwest Region compares with other statistical regions
GDP per head (denars) (2024)
Southwest Region ranks 5 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per head (denars) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Southeast Region | 603,678 |
| 3 | Pelagonia Region | 516,897 |
| 4 | East Region | 472,618 |
| 5 | Southwest Region | 451,768 |
| 6 | Vardar Region | 431,513 |
| 7 | Polog Region | 286,095 |
| 8 | Northeast Region | 284,132 |
Unemployment rate, Labour Force Survey (%) (2025)
Southwest Region ranks 3 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, Labour Force Survey (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Region | 24.2% |
| 2 | Polog Region | 19.3% |
| 3 | Southwest Region | 16.1% |
| 4 | Vardar Region | 10.3% |
| 5 | Pelagonia Region | 9.6% |
| 6 | Skopje Region | 8.6% |
| 7 | East Region | 6.2% |
Employment rate, people aged 15+ (%) (2025)
Southwest Region ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, people aged 15+ (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pelagonia Region | 51.9% |
| 3 | Vardar Region | 49.3% |
| 4 | Skopje Region | 49.0% |
| 5 | East Region | 47.0% |
| 6 | Southwest Region | 42.5% |
| 7 | Polog Region | 37.4% |
| 8 | Northeast Region | 35.4% |
Average monthly net wage (denars) (2023)
Southwest Region ranks 4 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly net wage (denars) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skopje Region | 41,410 |
| 2 | Pelagonia Region | 34,154 |
| 3 | Polog Region | 32,948 |
| 4 | Southwest Region | 32,917 |
| 5 | East Region | 30,991 |
| 6 | Southeast Region | 30,064 |
| 7 | Northeast Region | 29,809 |
More on Southwest Region: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · North Macedonia
Sources
- State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia: Regions of the Republic of North Macedonia, 2024, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 80909f4d17cd…)
- State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia: Gross Domestic Product, by year and regions (MakStat table 675_NacSmA_Reg_BDPreg_ml), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 98512569b7e3…)
- State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia: Activity rates of the population aged 15 years and over by regions, annual (MakStat table 090_PazTrud_Reg_StapAkt_ml), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 34ac0a750a0f…)
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