Southwestern Statistical Region

The Southwestern Statistical Region (Macedonian: Југозападен Регион; Albanian: Rajoni jugperendimor) is one of eight statistical regions of North Macedonia. Southwestern, located in the western part of the country, sharing Ohrid Lake with its westerly border Albania. Internally, it borders the Pelagonia, Polog, Skopje, and Vardar statistical regions.

Southwestern Statistical Region Југозападен Регион (Macedonian) Rajoni jugperendimor (Albanian)
statistical region
Seal
Country	North Macedonia
Area
• Total	3,280 km2 (1,270 sq mi)
Population  (2021)
• Total	177,398
• Density	54/km2 (140/sq mi)
HDI (2017)	0.758 high · 4th of 8

Municipalities

Map of the municipalities of the region (2004-2013).

The Southwestern Statistical Region is divided into nine municipalities:

• Centar Župa
• Debar
• Debarca
• Kičevo
• Makedonski Brod
• Ohrid
• Plasnica
• Struga
• Vevčani

Population

The current population of the Southwestern statistical region is 177,398 citizens, according to the last population census in 2021.

Census Year	Population	Change
1994	211,046	N/A
2002	221,546	+5.0%
2021	177,398	-19.9%

Ethnicities

Map of the majority ethnic groups by municipality (2004-2013).

The largest ethnic group in the region is Macedonian, followed by Albanians and Turkish people.

	2002		2021
	Number	%	Number	%
TOTAL	221,546	100	177,398	100
Macedonians	107,387	48.5	83,757	47.2
Albanians	81,863	36.9	52,849	29.8
Turks	21,431	9.7	17,832	10.1
Roma	2,826	1.3	3,570	2.0
others	8,039	3.6	6,616	3.7
Refused/undeclared	n/a	n/a	12,774	7.2

Religions

Religious affiliation according to the 2002 and 2021 censuses:

Religion	2002		2021
	Number	%	Number	%
TOTAL	221,546	100	177,398	100
Orthodox	103,013	46.5	67,108	47.2
Christians/Protestants	7	0.13	16,304
Catholics	296	0.00	271
Islam	116,395	52.5	80,612	45.4
others	1,840	0.83	329	0.19
Refused/undeclared	n/a		12,774	7.20