Behind the GDP growth of 4.3 percent lie strong investment activity, double-digit exports growth, growing consumption, and positive movements in several significant economic activities, Macedonian Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska told a press conference Thursday, after the State Statistics Office (SSO) released that the country’s GDP grew by 4.3% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to Q2 2025.
The FinMIn stressed that with 4.3 percent growth, 2026 Q2 ranks among the quarters with the highest economic growth in the past two and a half years, which, she stressed, “is one more confirmation the economy is moving in a good direction”.
“Even more important is the fact that during all ten consecutive quarters in this period the economy has recorded positive growth, and most of the period the growth rate has been around and over 3 percent. That is the essence of this data, we are not talking about growth in one isolated quarter, but about continued economic growth,” Dimitrieska-Kochoska said.
Dimitrieska-Kochoska stresses that based on available data for the second quarter of 2026, 4.3 percent growth ranks the country fifth among European countries in terms of growth rate.
“At the same time, the growth of the Macedonian economy is significantly higher than the European Union average of 1.2 percent and the Eurozone’s 1 percent. Our rate is among the highest in the region as well. The growth rate of 4.3 percent is higher than Serbia’s 3.8 percent, Bulgaria’s 2.5 percent, and Croatia’s 1.7 percent,” Dimitrieska-Kochoska said.
The FinMin said historically the Macedonian economy has had higher growth rates during periods when the European economy was stronger, while this quarter’s 4.3 percent growth comes in different conditions – with moderate growth of the European economy, global uncertainty, and geopolitical risks. “This,” she said, “is especially significant for a small and open economy such as ours, which is closely connected to the European market.”
Data on the GDP structure show that growth is broad-based. Gross investments in the second quarter increased by 16.5%, exports of goods and services by 10.4%, and construction recorded a growth of 21.9%. Positive developments were also registered in the manufacturing industry, trade, transport and hospitality, and growth is also supported by domestic consumption.
