307.187 empty apartments in North Macedonia, but prices and sales keep rising
The 2021 census found 307.187 uninhabited apartments, yet sales and prices climbed in early 2026.
Despite a large number of empty flats recorded in the 2021 census, prices for residential units in North Macedonia continue to rise and sales activity has climbed in early 2026.
The 2021 census registered 307.187 uninhabited apartments, representing 36,6 percent of the country's total housing stock. At the same time, construction has been active: 36.281 flats were built between 2020 and 2025, and building permits for an additional 754 units were issued in June 2026.
Prices and market indicators
High individual sales recorded this year illustrate the discrepancy between vacancy and price growth. In Skopje Center a new 50-square-metre flat sold for 168.000 euros (about 3.360 euros per square metre), while in Ohrid a 66-square-metre apartment reached 211.200 euros (about 3.200 euros per square metre). These figures refer to the largest single transactions, not average market prices.
Market statistics for the second quarter of 2026 show 6.221 purchase-sale transactions, a rise of 20,2 percent compared with the previous period. At the same time the number of lease contracts fell by 16,8 percent.
Analysts and market participants point to continued investor demand and limited supply in key locations as drivers of rising prices, even where a substantial share of the housing stock remains without permanent residents.
Photo: press material from the event
