Emergency contraception (EC) is available in the Republic of North Macedonia (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia): LNG and UPA EC pills are available in pharmacies, but EC is not included in national guidelines for family planning or covered by social security.
- Sexual & reproductive health background information
- Accessibility & prescription status
- Cost
- Guidelines & common practices
- EC use
Sexual & reproductive health background information
| Female population aged 15-49 | Mean age at first sexual intercourse | Mean age at birth of first child | Total fertility rate | % use of modern contraceptive methods | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 527,0001 | 16.92 | 26.23 | 1.524 | 13.05 |
| Year | 2015 | 2011 | 2011 | 2014 | 2014 |
Accessibility & prescription status
In the Republic of North Macedonia, EC pills are available behind the counter from pharmacies, which means they are available without a prescription but are not on the shelves and need to be requested in order to purchase. The Yuzpe method is also still used, but a prescription is required in order to buy oral contraceptive pills.
Cost*
| Type of EC | Approximate Cost | Brand(s) Available |
|---|---|---|
| LNG | € 12,5 | NorLevo |
| LNG | € 12,9 | Nembrel |
| UPA | € 24 | EllaOne |
EC is not reimbursed or covered under social security. However, at least in the capital city of Skopje, EC is provided free of charge to young and vulnerable populations at the sexual and reproductive health centers of NGOs, such as the Association for Health Education and Research (HERA), the national IPPF affiliate.
*Prices listed in February 2025.
Guidelines & common practices
There are no national clinical guidelines on EC. However, an LNG EC provision protocol aimed at pharmacists, is available from the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of the Republic of North Macedonia (MALMED): See “Instructions for pharmacists recommending Ezinele as emergency contraception“. 7
EC use
| Ever use of EC | EC use in the last 12 months | % of all women age 15-49 who have heard of EC (North Macedonia) | % of all women age 15-49 who have heard of EC (North Macedonia Roma Settlements) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate | n/a | n/a | 67,7%6 | 27,7%6 |
| Year | n/a | n/a | 2018/2019 | 2018/2019 |
Sources
1 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. New York, 2013.
2 UNFPA and NGO HERA. Report of RH Commodity Market Segmentation Research. 2012.
3 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division Database. Mean Age of Women at Birth of First Child by Country and Year. Updated 23 November 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013, from http://w3.unece.org/pxweb/dialog/varval.asp?ma=04_GEFHAge1stChild_r&path=../database/STAT/30-GE/02-Families_households/&lang=1&ti=Mean+age+of+women+at+birth+of+first+child.
4 Republic of Macedonia State Statistical Office. Population. Retrieved 6 July 2015, from http://www.stat.gov.mk/OblastOpsto_en.aspx?id=2.
5 Population Reference Bureau. Contraceptive Use Among Married Women Ages 15-49, by Method Type. 2014.
6 State Statistical Office and UNICEF. 2020. 2018-2019 North Macedonia Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and 2018-2019 North Macedonia Roma Settlements Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, Survey Findings Report. Skopje, North Macedonia: State Statistical Office and UNICEF. Retrieved 10 December 2021, from https://www.stat.gov.mk/Dokumenti/MICS_18-19.pdf.
7 Dr. Borjan Pavlovski (Association for emancipation, solidarity and equality of women – ESE), personal communication, April 2nd 2025.
Last update: April 2025
Previous update: February 2025, December 2021, June 2015
