# Macedonians of Croatia

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 SFR 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 in Republic 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.
A lectorate in Macedonian language was established at the University of Rijeka in 2008.

## 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.
The Macedonian Orthodox Church of Saint Zlata of Meglen in Zagreb was dedicated in May 2023.

## 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

| County | Macedonians | % |
| City of Zagreb | 1,036 | 0.14% |
| Istria | 488 | 0.25% |
| Primorje-Gorski Kotar | 443 | 0.17% |
| Split-Dalmatia | 269 | 0.06% |
| Osijek-Baranja | 230 | 0.09% |
| Zagreb County | 206 | 0.07% |
| Zadar | 98 | 0.06% |
| Sisak-Moslavina | 90 | 0.06% |
| Dubrovnik-Neretva | 89 | 0.08% |
| Karlovac | 86 | 0.08% |
| Vukovar-Syrmia | 69 | 0.05% |
| Šibenik-Knin | 68 | 0.07% |
| Bjelovar-Bilogora | 56 | 0.05% |
| Požega-Slavonia | 48 | 0.07% |
| Međimurje | 47 | 0.04% |
| Varaždin | 43 | 0.03% |
| Virovitica-Podravina | 43 | 0.06% |
| Koprivnica-Križevci | 42 | 0.04% |
| Krapina-Zagorje | 41 | 0.03% |
| Brod-Posavina | 39 | 0.03% |
| Lika-Senj | 24 | 0.06% |
10 most populated cities with Macedonians :
| No | City | Macedonians | % |
| 1 | Zagreb | 1,036 | 0.14 |
| 2 | Rijeka | 240 | 0.22 |
| 3 | Pula | 203 | 0.39 |
| 4 | Split | 145 | 0.09 |
| 5 | Osijek | 139 | 0.14 |
| 6 | Zadar | 63 | 0.09 |
| 7 | Karlovac | 62 | 0.13 |
| 8 | Velika Gorica | 57 | 0.09 |
| 9 | Šibenik | 46 | 0.11 |
| 10 | Sisak | 43 | 0.11 |

## Notable Macedonian Croatians

* Ljupka Dimitrovska - singer
* Ljiljana Nikolovska - singer
* Aki Rahimovski - singer
* Ordan Petlevski - artist
* Sibila Petlevski - author
* Goce Sedloski - football manager, former footballer
* Branko Trajkov - drummer
* Kostadinka Velkovska - actor