North Macedonia — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

Makedonska Poshta (Macedonian Post) is North Macedonia’s national postal operator. The Republic of Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia on 8 September 1991 and began issuing stamps in 1992. The country was admitted to the UN in 1993 under the provisional name “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” (FYROM) and renamed North Macedonia in 2019 following the Prespa Agreement with Greece. This name change is reflected in stamp inscriptions of recent issues.

Notable Stamp Issues

North Macedonia’s first stamps in 1992 depicted the Demir Kapija gorge and the Macedonian coat of arms — natural and national symbols establishing the new state’s identity. The country subsequently produced stamps featuring the archaeological site of Stobi, the Ohrid Lake UNESCO heritage, the ancient Heraclea Lyncestis ruins, and Orthodox churches and monasteries including the Monastery of Saint Naum. The country’s stamps include notable issues on the Cyrillic alphabet and Macedonian folk traditions.

Collecting Tips

North Macedonia stamps are typically found in the Michel Eastern Europe catalogue. The country’s annual stamp programme is modest in quantity. The name change from “Macedonia” to “North Macedonia” creates distinct collecting sub-periods. Yugoslav stamps from Macedonian territory are a relevant predecessor area. Lake Ohrid and its endemic trout species are popular thematic subjects. The ancient Macedonian star (Vergina Sun) controversy affects some stamp imagery.

Part of the Europe Postal Directory.