North Macedonia's Youth See Corruption as Greatest Challenge, Even Before the Kočani Tragedy

The recent nightclub disaster in Kočani, a town in North Macedonia about 100 kilometers east of the capital Skopje, which killed 59 people, many of them teenagers, has tragically validated what North Macedonia's youth have been telling us: corruption is the country's most pressing problem. The Pulse nightclub operated with an illegally obtained license, lacked basic safety measures including fire alarms and sprinkler systems, and was packed with twice its legal capacity. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski stated there are "grounds for suspicion that there is bribery and corruption" that allowed the venue to operate despite these violations. Data from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's Southeast Europe Youth Study 2024 reveals how young North Macedonians view corruption in its various forms - from outright bribery to using connections - and that they identify it as their nation's biggest challenge.

Strong Anti-Bribery Stance Sets North Macedonia Apart

When it comes to outright bribery, North Macedonian youth stand among the region's strongest opponents. With 58.4% saying accepting or giving bribes can never be justified, North Macedonia ranks third, just behind Kosovo (61.9%) and Türkiye (58.8%) in categorically rejecting such practices. Only 4.8% of North Macedonian youth believes bribery is "often" or "always" acceptable.

Using Connections: A More Nuanced Picture

We further asses other views on curruption-related practices by looking at what the youth thinks about using connections to "get things done" - such as in hospitals or government offices. Here, North Macedonian youth show more ambivalence. Only 32% completely reject this practice. However, since this practice is more accepted across the whole region, the country is still in the middle of the regional pack. Notably, 41.4% say using connections can sometimes be justified, suggesting that while North Macedonia's youth strongly oppose outright bribery, they're more accepting of informal networks - a distinction that may contribute to systemic corruption.

Youth Prioritize Corruption Above All Other National Challenges

When asked to identify the most pressing issues facing North Macedonia over the next decade, young people overwhelmingly point to corruption as their top concern. At 63.2%, it surpasses all other challenges, including the emigration of skilled workforce (55.3%), quality of public services (51.4%), and unemployment (51.2%). This assessment proved tragically prescient with the Kočani nightclub disaster, where officials suspect corruption allowed the venue to operate with inadequate safety measures.

The protests following the tragedy, with youth chanting "we are asking for justice," reflect the frustration captured in the survey data. Young people understand that corruption enables such disasters by allowing businesses to operate outside regulations designed to protect public safety.

The Kocani tragedy may serve as a catalyst for change. With youth already identifying corruption as their primary concern before the disaster, this incident could transform awareness into action. The coming months will test whether North Macedonia's leaders can respond to these demands for reform, or whether corruption will continue to exact its deadly toll.

About the Data

This analysis draws from the FES Southeast Europe Youth Study 2024 and its North Macedonia component, examining views on society and politics among youth aged 14-29.

To read the 2024 North Macedonia Youth Study report or the 2024 Comparative Southeast Europe Youth Study 2024 report, please find them below.