Staying Behind in a Leaving Nation : Youth Immobility as a Key to Addressing Brain Drain in North Macedonia

Sammanfattning

North Macedonia has experienced a continuous population decline over the past two decades, losing approximately 11% of its population since year 2000. Migration data from 2026 indicate substantial outward mobility, with nearly one third of individuals born in North Macedonia currently residing abroad. These trends reflect a broader regional pattern, as the six Western Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – have collectively experienced a population decline of nearly 2.5 million over the past two decades. This study focuses on North Macedonia within this regional context. The country is characterised by ongoing debates concerning state legitimacy and national identity, which may shape perceptions of long-term socio-economic stability. Migration dynamics and brain drain are therefore relevant in relation to broader discussions on state capacity and development trajectories. Despite extensive research on emigration from North Macedonia and other Western Balkan states, less attention has been paid to the factors influencing non-migration. Accordingly, this study addresses the research question: What factors influence young people´s decision to remain in North Macedonia despite high levels of emigration and brain drain? The study employs a quantitative research design based on a survey of respondents aged 18-30 residing in North Macedonia. The findings indicate that cultural attachment, family ties, perceived lack of opportunities, and concerns about feeling unwelcome in Western Europe are key factors influencing decisions to remain in the country.