Macedonians in Sweden

According to the official census of 2006, there are 3,669 ethnic Macedonians in Sweden. The Swedish immigrant center reports that there are 6,000 Macedonians in Sweden, but Macedonian Associations and the Macedonian foreign ministry claim their number is over 15,000. Macedonians began to immigrate to Sweden after World War II . Many of these were originally Slavic speakers of Greek Macedonia who were later joined by Macedonians from Yugoslavia. The Macedonian population settled heavily in the south-western region of Sweden. Many immigrants settled in towns like Stockholm, Malmö, Gothenburg, Eslöv, Helsingborg, Trelleborg, Örebro and Växjö. The Swedish Government officially recognises the Macedonian minority present in Sweden. Macedonians in Sweden are well organised through many associations and they are recognised as a Macedonian minority through law. Throughout Sweden there are over 20 registered Macedonian associations, among the largest are: Makedoniska Riksförbundet i Sverige / Macedonian Union, Gothenburg Makedoniska kulturföreningen Goce Delcev / Kud Gotse Delchev, Gothenburg Kulturföreningen Makedonija / Kud Makedonija, Malmö The Macedonian associations are partly financed by Swedish government. There are also special provisions established by the Swedish government for education in Macedonian. Each year the various organisations hold the Zimski Festival (Winter Festival). The Associations also organise beauty contests, poetry nights and discos. The organizations have also had involvement with Macedonians in Denmark. They also run Saturday schools and humanitarian activities. There are three women's groups in operation in Sweden; Goce Delčev from Gothenburg Kočo Racin from Borås Makedonija '91 from Halmstad. The Macedonians in Sweden are predominantly of the Orthodox faith. On 14. January 1973 they established the first Macedonian Orthodox Church municipality (MPCO) in Europe dedicated to Naum of Ohrid.