ARCHIVE // ME // 2008
Montenegro
2008 Edition — sovereign
Communications
Internet country code
[time series]
.me
Internet users
[time series]
280,000 (2007)
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
31 (station types NA) (2004)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to European satellites domestic: GSM wireless service, available through 2 providers with national coverage, is growing rapidly international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones - main lines in use)
[time series]
353,300 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
643,700 (2006)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
13 (2004)
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
grains, tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheepherding; commercial fishing negligible
Budget
[time series]
revenues: NA expenditures: NA
Commercial bank prime lending rate
[time series]
9.09% (31 December 2007)
Exchange rates
(Currency (code))
[time series]
euro (EUR)
Current account balance
[time series]
$NA
Debt - external
[time series]
$650 million (2006)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
(Distribution of family income - Gini index)
[time series]
30 (2003)
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and maintained its own central bank, used the euro instead of the Yugoslav dinar as official currency, collected customs tariffs, and managed its own budget. The dissolution of the loose political union between Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. On 18 January 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own membership in the World Trade Organization as well as negotiating a Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in anticipation of eventual membership. Severe unemployment remains a key political and economic problem for this entire region. Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector.
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
18.6 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports
[time series]
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports
[time series]
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production
[time series]
2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Exchange rates
[time series]
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
Exports
[time series]
$171.3 million (2003)
Exports - partners
[time series]
Switzerland 83.9%, Italy 6.1%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.3% (2006)
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$2.974 billion (2007 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP (purchasing power parity))
[time series]
$5.918 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita (PPP))
[time series]
$3,800 (2005 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
7.5% (2007 est.)
Imports
[time series]
$601.7 million (2003)
Imports - partners
[time series]
Greece 10.2%, Italy 10.2%, Germany 9.6%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 9.2% (2006)
Industries
[time series]
steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
3.4% (2007)
Investment (gross fixed)
[time series]
30.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
259,100 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
agriculture: 2% industry: 30% services: 68% (2004 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
[time series]
$NA
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
NA cu m
Oil - consumption
[time series]
450 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
[time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Public debt
[time series]
38% of GDP (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$NA
Stock of domestic credit
[time series]
$3.083 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money
(Stock of money)
[time series]
$1.172 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money
(Stock of quasi money)
[time series]
$1.446 billion (31 December 2007)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
14.7% (2007 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 14,026 sq km land: 13,812 sq km water: 214 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Climate
[time series]
Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland
Coastline
[time series]
293.5 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m
Environment - current issues
[time series]
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
42 30 N, 19 18 E
Geography - note
[time series]
strategic location along the Adriatic coast
Irrigated land
[time series]
NA
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 625 km border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km, Croatia 25 km, Kosovo 79 km, Serbia 124 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 13.7% permanent crops: 1% other: 85.3%
Location
[time series]
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
Map references
[time series]
Europe
Maritime claims
[time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: defined by treaty
Natural hazards
[time series]
destructive earthquakes
Natural resources
[time series]
bauxite, hydroelectricity
Terrain
[time series]
highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
21 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar, Berana, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak
Capital
[time series]
name: Podgorica geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Constitution
[time series]
19 October 2007 (approved by the Assembly)
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montenegro local long form: none local short form: Crna Gora former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Roderick W. MOORE embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [382] 81 225 417 FAX: [382] 81 241 358
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Miodrag VLAHOVIC chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109 consulate(s) general: New York
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 11 May 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 29 February 2008) cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 6 April 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister proposed by president, accepted by Assembly election results: Filip VUJANOVIC reelected president; Filip VUJANOVIC 51.89%, Andrija MANDIC 19.55%, Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC 16.64%, Srdan MILIC 11.92%
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered
Government type
[time series]
republic
Independence
[time series]
3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)
International organization participation
[time series]
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Judicial branch
[time series]
Constitutional Court (five judges with nine-year terms); Supreme Court (judges have life tenure)
Legal system
[time series]
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral Assembly (81 seats; members elected by direct vote for four-year terms; changed from 74 seats in 2006) elections: last held 10 September 2006 (next to be held 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 47.7%, Serbian List 14.4%, Coalition SNP-NS-DSS 13.8%, PZP 12.9%, Liberals and Bosniaks 3.7%, other (including Albanian minority parties) 7.5%; seats by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 41, Serbian List 12, Coalition SNP/NS/DSS 11, PZP 11, Liberals and Bosniaks 3, Albanian minority parties 3
National holiday
[time series]
National Day, 13 July (1878)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Coalition for European Montenegro or DPS-SDP (bloc) [Milo DJUKANOVIC] (includes Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC] and Social Democratic Party of SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]); Coalition SNP-NS-DSS (bloc) (includes Socialist People's Party or SNP [Srdjan MILIC], People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC], and Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC]); Democratic League-Party of Democratic Prosperity or SPP [Mehmet BARHDI]; Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSA]; Liberals and the Bosniak Party (bloc) [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC] (includes Liberal Party of Montenegro or LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC] and Bosniak Party or BS [Rafet HUSOVIC]); Movement for Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; Serbian List (bloc) [Andrija MANDIC] (includes Party of Serb Radicals or SSR [Dusko SEKULIC], People's Socialist Party or NSS [Emilo LABUDOVIC], and Serbian People's Party of Montenegro or SNS [Andrija MANDIC])
Political parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
Sandzak People's Movement [Cemal SULFEJIC]
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta; over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality. After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June 2006.
Military
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
[time series]
male: 4,426 female: 4,201 (2008 est.)
Military - note
[time series]
Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully professional armed forces
Military and security forces
(Military branches)
[time series]
Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army, Navy (serves as Coast Guard), Air Force (2008)
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006
People
Birth rate
[time series]
11.17 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
8.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
NA
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other (Muslims, Croats, Roma (Gypsy)) 12% (2003 census)
Languages
[time series]
Serbian 63.6%, Montenegrin (official) 22%, Bosnian 5.5%, Albanian 5.3%, unspecified 3.7% (2003 census)
Major infectious diseases
[time series]
degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (2008)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Montenegrin(s) adjective: Montenegrin
Population
[time series]
678,177 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
-0.925% (2008 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Orthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 3%, atheist 1% (2003 census)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons
[time series]
refugees (country of origin): 7,000 (Kosovo); note - mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999 IDPs: 16,192 (ethnic conflict in 1999 and riots in 2004) (2007)
Trafficking in persons
[time series]
current situation: Montenegro is primarily a transit country for the trafficking of women and girls to Western Europe for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls from the Balkans and Eastern Europe are trafficked across Montenegro to Western European countries tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Montenegro is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007; public attention to the issue of trafficking has diminished considerably in Montenegro in recent years (2008)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
5 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways
[time series]
total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports
[time series]
1 (2007)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 6 by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 1 registered in other countries: 3 (Bahamas 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)
Ports
(Ports and terminals)
[time series]
Bar
Railways
[time series]
total: 250 km standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2006)
Roadways
[time series]
total: 7,368 km paved: 4,742 km unpaved: 2,626 km (2006)