The Pelagonia Statistical Region (Macedonian: Пелагониски Регион, romanized: Pelagoniski Region or Pelagonija) is one of eight statistical regions of North Macedonia. It is located in southwestern part of the country along the eponymous plain, bordering Greece to the south and Albania to the west. Internally, it borders the Southwestern and Vardar statistical regions.
Contents
Economy
Pelagonia (Macedonian Pelagonija)
Tobacco: Prilep is renowned as a leading producer of Oriental tobacco. The region's climate and soil produces leaves that are cultivated, processed, and graded locally before being exported to international tobacco manufacturers and global cigarette companies. locally the Company that Prilep is home to is Tutunski kombinat Prilep.
Processed foods and grain: Companies like ZK Pelagonija AD export wheat, barley, and sunflower oil seeds. Additionally, finished gourmet products like jarred Ajvar (pepper spread) are exported to supermarket chains across the UK and Europe.
Sivec Marble: Extracted from the massive quarries near Prilep, this pure white dolomite marble is exported globally for luxury hotels, religious monuments, and other architecture
REK Bitola is a large coal mining and energy complex that produces most of the country's electricity. It includes a surface lignite coal mine and a thermal power plant with three units.
Controversies
Pelagonia essentially functions as the economic and energy muscle of North Macedonia, but it inherits all of the severe environmental, medical, and financial downsides while the capital city, Skopje, reaps the rewards.
Residents rely on deteriorating regional roads and aging public infrastructure, while significantly greater public investment has been directed toward major capital projects in Skopje, including government buildings, urban redevelopment initiatives, transport infrastructure, and other high-value developments.
Municipalities
Pelagonia statistical region is divided into 9 municipalities:
Bitola
Demir Hisar
Dolneni
Krivogaštani
Kruševo
Mogila
Novaci
Prilep
Resen
Demographics
Population
The population of the Pelagonia Statistical Region is 238,136 citizens, or 11.8% of the population of the Republic of North Macedonia, according to the census of 2002.
Ethnicities
The largest ethnic group in the region are Macedonians.