[en] In the last decade, many studies have been made for measuring natural radioactivity in regions of the Republic of Macedonia. However, the information on terrestrial radiation exposure, and, consequently, risk assessment were not available. In this study, a risk assessment was done considering a specific activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs in the topsoil. The results indicate that the external gamma doses due to natural radionuclides in soils are higher than those of ¹³⁷Cs. The absorbed dose rate in air varies in intervals: from 4.3 to 57 n Gy/h (due to ²²⁶Ra); from 3.9 to 88 n Gy/h (due to ²³²Th); from 3.3 to 58 n Gy/h (due to ⁴⁰K); and from 0.01 to 5.3 n Gy/h (due to ¹³⁷Cs). In addition, the mean annual effective doses due to natural radionuclides and ¹³⁷Cs in the soils of the Republic of Macedonia are estimated to be 78 μSv and 1.01 μSv, respectively. As well as, the values of external hazard index H_ex indicate in general low gamma radiation risk for populations living in the Republic of Macedonia. (author)