Skopje, 7 February 2025 (MIA) - A majority of citizens (59.8%) believe that security in the country is very threatened or mainly threatened, according to a survey conducted by the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) on citizens' perception of security. 

According to MCIC, the survey is made of two parts - the first part addresses issues related to security threats, factors that influence them, areas to be invested in, as well as the safety of women and men.  

"The survey showed that the majority of citizens (59.8%) believe that security in the country is very threatened or mainly threatened. Women are more numerous among them. The higher the level of education, the lower the concern, with 67.0% among those with incomplete primary education to 47.2% among respondents with completed higher education," said MCIC. 

In terms of what activities could overcome the security threat, 64.0% of the respondents completely agreed with the statement "stricter laws and greater discipline among citizens."

"A large majority of 91.7% agree (fully or partially) that this can be done by raising the citizens' standard of living, which gives an economic dimension to security. Two areas where most investment is needed to reduce security threats are strengthening institutions (21.8%), investing in people who are part of the security system through increasing wages and purchasing equipment (19.4%). Unemployment and poverty (57.9%), the emergence of local terrorism and armed rebellion (52.0%), and interethnic tensions (51.3%) are factors that can affect security," show the MCIC survey results. 

The MCIC also notes high levels of agreement (full or partial) regarding support for factors such as level of democracy, the country's debt, and the rise in political polarization.

"Corruption, organized crime, emigration abroad, and financial debt are a great concern for the majority of citizens in North Macedonia. Almost half of the citizens are very concerned about drug abuse, and about a third are concerned about depopulation," the survey shows.

There has been no majority positive response to a question on women's safety in marriage, at work or on the street. Most positive responses were for women's safety in marriage, then at work and finally - on the street.

"Unlike the question on women's safety, when it comes to men's safety, all positive responses are majority. The largest number (64.2%) believe that men are safe in marriage. This percentage drops for safety at work to 59.7% and further drops for safety on the street (54.4%)," the MCIC adds. 

The MCIC said the second part of the survey will be published next week.

The MCIC survey was conducted by M-Prospect. Data was collected through a telephone survey conducted on a nationally representative sample of 1,000 respondents. 

Photo: MCIC