The Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies and the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027 sets out the basic principles and action guidelines for all actors in society which are underlined in the eight thematic areas of the Strategy: 

• Youth participation
• Youth information
• Youth work
• Education 
• Culture
• Health 
• Entrepreneurship and pre-employment support
• Security (violence) 

The goals and measures set are based on the challenges identified by young people, the status and development needs of the youth sector, as well as youth trends in the country.

The Law on Youth aligns with the National Youth Strategy, which defines ‘youth’ as individuals aged 15 to 29. This group holds significant potential for social progress but is also highly vulnerable to social and economic changes. The interventions outlined in the Strategy aim to be accessible to all young people in North Macedonia, with a particular focus on those from vulnerable groups.

In North Macedonia, municipalities generally set the age limit for youth as 15 to 29 in their local strategies, with some exceptions. Nationally, 'youth' is typically defined as individuals aged 15 to 29, according to the Law on Youth, or up to 30 years in some local strategies, such as the Municipality of Kochani's 2019-2023 plan. This age range, regardless of sex, race, nationality, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, social status, or disability, is commonly used to define the youth demographic in national policies and strategies.

Another example is the Local Youth Strategy of the Municipality of Kriva Palanka (2019-2024), which targets young people aged 7 to 18, with a focus on those in vulnerable situations. This includes youth from the Roma community, children without parents, those with disabilities, and children from impoverished or disadvantaged areas of the city.