North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has announced a controversial proposal to introduce additional taxes on unmarried individuals as part of a broader strategy to boost the country's declining birth rate. The prime minister highlighted a severe demographic crisis facing North Macedonia, stating that the nation is "disappearing."
During a government event, Mickoski presented stark figures underscoring the urgency of the situation. In 2024, North Macedonia recorded only 16,061 births compared to 20,201 deaths, resulting in a natural population decrease of over 4,000 people in a single year, as reported by albinfo.ch.
"In the last four years, we have lost over 33,000 inhabitants, the equivalent of a city like Kavadarci or Kichevo," Mickoski declared.
He further elaborated on the alarming trend, noting that the birth rate has plummeted from 12.5 per thousand inhabitants in 2010 to a mere 8.8 per thousand in 2024. The prime minister also pointed out that many rural municipalities no longer have first-grade students, and the number of people living alone continues to rise, exacerbating the demographic challenges.
The proposed "bachelor tax" aims to incentivize marriage and, consequently, encourage higher birth rates. While the specifics of the tax are yet to be detailed, the announcement has already sparked considerable debate within North Macedonia regarding its potential effectiveness and ethical implications.