Veles (Macedonian: Велес [ˈvɛːlɛs] ⓘ) is a municipality in central part of North Macedonia. Veles is also the name of the city where the municipal seat is found. Veles Municipality is part of the Vardar Statistical Region.
Municipality of Veles
Општина Велес
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Urban municipality
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Coat of arms | |
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| Country |  North Macedonia |
| Region |  Vardar |
| Municipal seat | Veles |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Marko Kolev[1] (VMRO-DPMNE) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 427.45 km2 (165.04 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 48,463 |
| • Density | 128.92/km2 (333.9/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| Area code | 043 |
| car plates | VE |
| Website | http://www.Veles.gov.mk |
The municipality borders Čaška Municipality and Zelenikovo Municipality to the west, Petrovec Municipality to the north, and Gradsko, Lozovo, and Sveti Nikole municipalities to the east. There are 28 populated locations, one town and 27 villages.
According to the last national census from 2021, this municipality had 48,463 inhabitants. At the census of 1994, it had 56,571 inhabitants.
| 2002 | 2021 | |||
| Number | % | Number | % | |
| TOTAL | 55,108 | 100 | 48,463 | 100 |
| Macedonians | 46,767 | 84.9 | 36,825 | 75.99 |
| Albanians | 2,299 | 4.2 | 2,736 | 5.65 |
| Bosniaks | 2,406 | 4.4 | 1,825 | 3.77 |
| Turks | 1,724 | 3.1 | 1,037 | 2.14 |
| Roma | / | / | 507 | 1.05 |
| others | 1,912 | 3.4 | 815 | 1.68 |
| Persons for whom data are taken from administrative sources | n/a | n/a | 4,718 | 9.74 |
Religious affiliation according to the 2002 and 2021 Macedonian censuses:
| 2002 | 2021 | |||
| Number | % | Number | % | |
| TOTAL | 46,843 | 100 | 48,463 | 100 |
| Orthodox | 7,096 | 85.0 | 24,107 | 76.8 |
| Christians / Protestants | 6 | 0.01 | 13,058 | |
| Catholics | 67 | 0.12 | 50 | |
| Islam | 7,344 | 13.3 | 6,286 | 13.0 |
| others | 848 | 1.54 | 244 | 0.50 |
| Persons for whom data are taken from administrative sources | n/a | 4,718 | 9.74 | |
41°44′N 21°47′E / 41.73°N 21.78°E / 41.73; 21.78