Macedonian diaspora

The Macedonian diaspora (Macedonian: Македонска дијаспора, Makedonska dijaspora) consists of ethnic Macedonian emigrants and their descendants in countries such as Australia, Italy, Germany, Canada, the United States and others. A 1964 estimate put the number of Macedonian emigrants at over 580,000.

The Macedonian diaspora is the consequence of either voluntary departure or forced migration over the past 100 years. It is claimed that there were six major waves of emigration. The Macedonian Slavic-speaking immigrants in the first half of 20th century were considered and identified as Bulgarians or as Macedonian Bulgarians.

In the 2006 Census, 40,656 Australian residents are listed as having been born in the Republic of Macedonia. In addition, 83,978 residents declared their ancestry as Macedonian, either alone or in combination with another ancestry. In 2001 the Macedonian language was spoken at home by 71,994 residents.

Large Macedonian centers were established in Vojvodina and Belgrade. Most Notably in Pančevo, Kacarevo (19%), Jabuka (33%), Plandište (21.3%), Glogonj (12%) and Dužine (31%). By 1965 65% of Jabuka, 40% of Kacarevo and 39% of Plandište were Macedonian. Many Macedonians chose to leave Serbia after the collapse of the Yugoslav Federation. Macedonian was soon recognised as a Minority language and the Macedonians became a recognised minority. Today they enjoy full minority rights.

¹; This figure refers to country of birth only.

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