Over the past year, from August 2024 to July 2025, electricity consumption in North Macedonia has primarily relied on fossil fuels, with more than half of the electricity generated by carbon-emitting energy sources. Coal contributes approximately 36%, while gas accounts for around 17% of the total electricity production. A significant portion, nearly a third, of North Macedonia's electricity is derived from net imports, which primarily consist of fossil energy. In terms of low-carbon or clean electricity, North Macedonia's reliance has been sparse, amounting to about 14% of its total consumption. This low-carbon production is primarily sourced from hydropower, which comprises approximately 13% of the overall energy mix, and a small fraction from wind energy, producing close to 2%.
Is Electricity Growing in North Macedonia?
In terms of trends, North Macedonia's latest figures suggest a concerning decline in electricity consumption, particularly in terms of person-specific metrics. As of 2025, electricity consumption per person stands at 3352 kWh, a noticeable drop from the 2011 record high of 4624 kWh per person. This represents a dip of 1271 kWh per person, a significant reduction that could imply a shrinking demand or inefficiencies in electricity production. The decline in clean electricity generation per person is even more pronounced. In 2025, low-carbon electricity generation reached 485 kWh per person, a steep fall of 732 kWh compared to the 2023 record. This regression in low-carbon generation, particularly, is alarming amidst global movements towards sustainable energy.
Suggestions
To boost its low-carbon electricity generation, North Macedonia can look toward strategies implemented by successful regions. Countries like France and Slovakia have effectively utilized nuclear energy to generate a substantial majority, around 69% and 64% respectively, of their electricity from this clean source. Meanwhile, regions like Iowa and South Dakota have harnessed wind energy to power 60% or more of their electricity needs. These examples, particularly from European countries like Bulgaria and Hungary and neighboring Slovenia with their notable nuclear utilization, underline the importance of expanding nuclear and solar investments. By prioritizing the development of these clean energy sources, North Macedonia can reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and align more closely with global sustainable energy goals.
History
Reflecting on the history of low-carbon electricity in North Macedonia, specifically hydropower, there has been notable fluctuation over the decades. In the early 1990s, there were modest gains and setbacks; for instance, in 1991 there was an increase of 0.4 TWh, only to see a decrease of 0.3 TWh by 1993. This cycle of progress followed by regression continued, such as the increase of 1.2 TWh in 2010 and the subsequent wipe-out of these gains with a reduction of 1 TWh in 2011. More recently, 2023 saw a slight increase in hydropower accompanied by the rise of solar energy by 0.3 TWh—a promising trend for solar. However, the consecutive drops in hydropower in 2024 and 2025 indicate a troubling lack of consistency in clean energy production that North Macedonia must address with urgency to stabilize and grow its clean energy infrastructure.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.