North Macedonia Prime Minister: We are seriously considering implementing a tax on those who do not marry

North Macedonia Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski delivered an emotional speech during a government meeting on Friday regarding the demographic collapse, which he described as one of the most serious crises facing the country.

Emphasizing that the rapid decline in the country's population, falling birth rates, and the mass exodus of young people cannot be ignored, Mickoski stated that one of the solutions they are discussing is the implementation of an additional tax on adults who are single and living alone.

Stressing that this measure is still in the evaluation stage, Mickoski said, "We are seriously considering implementing an additional tax on those who do not marry."

Mickoski emphasized that the "bachelor tax" is part of a broader vision aimed at making family and birth rates a national priority in the country. "There is nothing more sacred than life. At the same time, there is nothing sadder than our country quietly emptying out," Mickoski said. He noted that in the Balkan nation of 1.8 million people, the number of children born in 2024 was 16,061, while the number of deaths was 20,201. Highlighting that the population has decreased by 33,000 in four years, Mickoski pointed out that this is equivalent to the population of cities like Kavadarci or Kicevo. Noting that birth rates are falling rapidly and that there are no first-grade classes in primary schools in many regions due to the lack of children, Mickoski observed that more and more citizens are choosing to live alone and that the number of marriages is also decreasing. Describing the fight against the demographic crisis as a "fight for the future," Mickoski said, "This is a war that must be fought in every home, every nursery, every school, and every maternity ward."