Macedonians of Croatia

Macedonians in Croatia
Македонци во Хрватска
Makedonci u Hrvatskoj

Total population
(4,138)
Regions with significant populations
Zagreb, Istria Region, Osijek
Languages
Primarily Macedonian and Croatian
Religion
Macedonian Orthodox Church
Related ethnic groups
Macedonians

Macedonians in Croatia refers to the group of ethnic Macedonians who reside in Croatia. According to the official census of 2011, there are 4,138 ethnic Macedonians in Croatia.

Macedonians are recognised as an autochthonous national minority, and as such they elect a special representative to the Croatian Parliament, shared with members of four other national minorities.

Migration

Macedonians had been migrating to Croatia since the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Early Migration was primarily of Macedonians from a rural background. These migrants have been joined by many newer business migrants who have come to Croatia for the opportunities offered. Many settled in the national capital Zagreb, and the Istria region. Macedonian communities can be also found in larger towns such as Osijek, Pula, and Zadar.

Culture

The main Macedonian cultural association in Croatia is the Macedonian Community of Croatia (Croatian: Zajednica Makedonaca u Republici Hrvatskoj). It was founded in 1992 and it branches over six other smaller organisations from the major cities where Macedonians reside. The Cultural associations are as follows; KUD-Ohridski Biser from Zagreb, KUD-Makedonija from Split, KUD-Biljana from Zadar, KUD-Brak Miladinov from Osijek, KUD-Ilinden from Rijeka and KUD-Kočo Racin from Pula.

The associations encourage traditional Macedonian folklore and customs from the motherland. They also encourage the upkeep of Macedonian heritage, language and traditions in Croatia.

Religion

Macedonians in Croatia are predominantly adherents to the Macedonian Orthodox Church . There are four organised church communities which are abbreviated to the MPCO (Macedonian: Makedonska Pravoslavna Crkovna Opština). The four Communities are St. Zlata Meglenska of Zagreb, St.Naum of Ohrid in Split, St.Joachim of Osogovo of Pula and St.Tsar Constantin and Tsaritsa Elena of Rijeka. Father Kiro Velinski holds liturgy in Zagreb and Split.

Media

There are several Macedonian language newspapers operating in Croatia. The most prominent is Makedonski glas (Macedonian: Македонски Глас, meaning Macedonian voice) which has been in print since the 1990s. It is printed with financial assistance from the Croatian government.

Macedonians by counties and cities

File:Macedonians in Croatia.png

  <1000

  100-500

  50-100

  50<

County	Macedonians	%
Istria	454	0,22%
Bjelovar-Bilogora	93	0,07%
Karlovac	90	0,06%
Koprivnica-Križevci	51	0,04%
Krapina-Zagorje	48	0,03%
Lika-Senj	23	0,04%
Međimurje	21	0,02%
Primorje-Gorski Kotar	489	0,16%
Sisak-Moslavina	125	0,07%
Varaždin	66	0,04%
Zagreb County	190	0,06%
Zagreb town	1315	0,17%
Dubrovnik-Neretva	109	0,09%
Split-Dalmatia	387	0,08%
Šibenik-Knin	63	0,06%
Zadar	122	0,08%
Brod-Posavina	75	0,04%
Osijek-Baranja	311	0,09%
Požega-Slavonia	60	0,07%
Virovitica-Podravina	54	0,06%
Vukovar-Syrmia	124	0,06%

10 most populated cities with Macedonians
No	City	Macedonians	%
1	Zagreb	1315	0,17
2	Rijeka	320	0,22
3	Split	280	0,15
4	Pula	229	0,39
5	Osijek	178	0,16
6	Zadar	87	0,12
7	Karlovac	71	0,12
8	Sisak	62	0,12
9	Velika Gorica	59	0,09
10	Dubrovnik	49	0,11

Notable Macedonian Croatians

• Ordan Petlevski
• Sibila Petlevski
• Ljupka Dimitrovska - singer
• Ljiljana Nikolovska - singer
• Kostadinka Velkovska - actor

External links

• Union of Macedonians in Zagreb
• Community of Macedonians in Croatia