Poverty and living standards in Southwest Region, North Macedonia: official figures
20.9 households per 1,000 residents in the Southwest Region received guaranteed minimum assistance in 2023, 3rd lowest of 8 regions; the national rate was 24.2 and the region's rate in 2022 was 22.0.
Is poverty rising in the Southwest Region?
The number of households in the Southwest Region receiving social cash benefit went from 2,153 in 2019 to 2,936 in 2024, up 36.4%; nationally it went up 71.8%.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyHow many families get child allowance in the Southwest Region?
9.0% of children up to 18 in the Southwest Region received child allowance in 2023 (national 10.0%), and 1.4% of people up to 26 received the special allowance (national 1.2%).
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyHow many new homes are built in the Southwest Region?
784 dwellings were completed in the Southwest Region in 2023, 4.4 per 1,000 residents and 13.6% of the national 5,776; in 2021 the figure was 545.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyIs there much joblessness in the Southwest Region?
Joblessness in the Southwest Region was 16.1% in 2025, 3rd highest of 8 regions, while 42.5% of people aged 15 and over had a job.
Source: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia · saved copyHow Southwest Region compares with other statistical regions
Households receiving guaranteed minimum assistance per 1,000 residents (2023)
Southwest Region ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households receiving guaranteed minimum assistance per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Polog Region | 32.3 |
| 3 | Pelagonia Region | 23.9 |
| 4 | Vardar Region | 23.2 |
| 5 | Southeast Region | 22.6 |
| 6 | Southwest Region | 20.9 |
| 7 | Skopje Region | 20.6 |
| 8 | East Region | 17.2 |
Social cash benefit recipients (household members) per 1,000 residents (2024)
Southwest Region ranks 4 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Social cash benefit recipients (household members) per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polog Region | 109.4 |
| 2 | Northeast Region | 77.2 |
| 3 | Skopje Region | 56.9 |
| 4 | Southwest Region | 54.4 |
| 5 | Vardar Region | 47.2 |
| 6 | Pelagonia Region | 47.0 |
| 7 | Southeast Region | 45.7 |
Children up to 18 receiving child allowance (%) (2023)
Southwest Region ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children up to 18 receiving child allowance (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pelagonia Region | 12.6% |
| 3 | Vardar Region | 10.9% |
| 4 | Skopje Region | 10.7% |
| 5 | Southeast Region | 9.3% |
| 6 | Southwest Region | 9.0% |
| 7 | East Region | 7.0% |
| 8 | Polog Region | 6.5% |
Dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2023)
Southwest Region ranks 1 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Dwellings completed per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwest Region | 4.45 |
| 2 | Southeast Region | 4.17 |
| 3 | Skopje Region | 4.10 |
| 4 | Polog Region | 3.45 |
| 5 | East Region | 2.48 |
| 6 | Vardar Region | 1.80 |
| 7 | Pelagonia Region | 1.41 |
More on Southwest Region: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · North Macedonia
Sources
- State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia: Social cash benefit recipients by regions and by year (MakStat table 175_SocZas_reg_KorSocParPom_ML), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 32a045fbb5e1…)
- 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: 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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