ARCHIVE // ME // 2021
Montenegro
2021 Edition — sovereign
Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 184,176 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29.32 (2020 est.)
Broadcast media
[time series]
state-funded national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks; 4 local public TV stations and 14 private TV stations; 14 local public radio stations, 35 private radio stations, and several on-line media (2019)
Internet country code
[time series]
.me
Internet users
[time series]
total: 477,300 (2021 est.) percent of population: 81.37% (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems
[time series]
general assessment: a small population, with a compact but modern telecommunications system and access to European satellites; fiber network is dominant platform; mobile penetration is high due to tourism; mobile broadband based on LTE even in rural areas; operators testing 5G in 2021; telecom sector in-line with EU norms provides competition, access, and tariff structures (2020) domestic: GSM mobile-cellular service, available through multiple providers with national coverage growing; fixed-line 30 per 100 and mobile-cellular 183 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 191,768 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30.53 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 1,080,089 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 172 (2020 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
milk, potatoes, grapes, vegetables, tomatoes, watermelons, wheat, apples, cabbages, barley
Budget
[time series]
revenues: 1.78 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.05 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
[time series]
-5.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Credit ratings
[time series]
Moody's rating: B1 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2014)
Current account balance
[time series]
-$780 million (2017 est.) -$710 million (2016 est.)
Debt - external
[time series]
$2.516 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.224 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Economic overview
[time series]
Montenegro's economy is transitioning to a market system. Around 90% of Montenegrin state-owned companies have been privatized, including 100% of banking, telecommunications, and oil distribution. Tourism, which accounts for more than 20% of Montenegro’s GDP, brings in three times as many visitors as Montenegro’s total population every year. Several new luxury tourism complexes are in various stages of development along the coast, and a number are being offered in connection with nearby boating and yachting facilities. In addition to tourism, energy and agriculture are considered two distinct pillars of the economy. Only 20% of Montenegro’s hydropower potential is utilized. Montenegro plans to become a net energy exporter, and the construction of an underwater cable to Italy, which will be completed by the end of 2018, will help meet its goal. Montenegro uses the euro as its domestic currency, though it is not an official member of the euro zone. In January 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF, and in December 2011, the WTO. Montenegro began negotiations to join the EU in 2012, having met the conditions set down by the European Council, which called on Montenegro to take steps to fight corruption and organized crime. The government recognizes the need to remove impediments in order to remain competitive and open the economy to foreign investors. Net foreign direct investment in 2017 reached $848 million and investment per capita is one of the highest in Europe, due to a low corporate tax rate. The biggest foreign investors in Montenegro in 2017 were Norway, Russia, Italy, Azerbaijan and Hungary. Montenegro is currently planning major overhauls of its road and rail networks, and possible expansions of its air transportation system. In 2014, the Government of Montenegro selected two Chinese companies to construct a 41 km-long section of the country’s highway system, which will become part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Cheaper borrowing costs have stimulated Montenegro’s growing debt, which currently sits at 65.9% of GDP, with a forecast, absent fiscal consolidation, to increase to 80% once the repayment to China’s Ex/Im Bank of a €800 million highway loan begins in 2019. Montenegro first instituted a value-added tax (VAT) in April 2003, and introduced differentiated VAT rates of 17% and 7% (for tourism) in January 2006. The Montenegrin Government increased the non-tourism Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to 21% as of January 2018, with the goal of reducing its public debt.
Exchange rates
[time series]
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.885 (2017 est.) 0.903 (2016 est.) 0.9214 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$1.24 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $2.42 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $2.35 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - commodities
[time series]
aluminum, packaged medicines, cars, zinc, wine (2019)
Exports - partners
[time series]
Serbia 17%, Hungary 15%, China 11%, Russia 7%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 6%, Germany 6%, Italy 5%, Poland 5% (2019)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$5.486 billion (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
household consumption: 76.8% (2016 est.) government consumption: 19.6% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.2% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 2.9% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 40.5% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -63% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
[time series]
agriculture: 7.5% (2016 est.) industry: 15.9% (2016 est.) services: 76.6% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
[time series]
39 (2015 est.) 32.3 (2013 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 25.7% (2014 est.)
Imports
[time series]
$2.9 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $3.59 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $3.67 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - commodities
[time series]
refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, recreational boats, cigarettes (2019)
Imports - partners
[time series]
Serbia 30%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 8%, Croatia 8%, Italy 6%, Greece 6%, Germany 5% (2019)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
-4.2% (2017 est.)
Industries
[time series]
steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
0.3% (2019 est.) 2.6% (2018 est.) 2.3% (2017 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
167,000 (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
agriculture: 7.9% industry: 17.1% services: 75% (2017 est.)
Population below poverty line
[time series]
24.5% (2018 est.)
Public debt
[time series]
67.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 66.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
[time series]
$11.36 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $13.39 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $12.87 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
4.3% (2017 est.) 2.9% (2016 est.) 3.4% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita
[time series]
$18,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $21,500 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $20,700 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$1.077 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $846.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
37.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
15.82% (2019 est.) 18.8% (2018 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
(Unemployment, youth ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 36% male: 33.6% female: 39.7% (2020 est.)
Energy
Crude oil - exports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
[time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
2.808 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports
[time series]
914 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
[time series]
23% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
[time series]
69% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources
[time series]
8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - imports
[time series]
1.21 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
[time series]
890,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - production
[time series]
3.045 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity access
[time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
[time series]
0 cu m (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption
[time series]
6,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports
[time series]
357 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports
[time series]
6,448 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Environment
Air pollutants
[time series]
particulate matter emissions: 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 2.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.75 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
[time series]
Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland
Environment - current issues
[time series]
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; serious air pollution in Podgorica, Pljevlja and Niksie; air pollution in Pljevlja is caused by the nearby lignite power plant and the domestic use of coal and wood for household heating
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 38.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.1% (2018 est.) forest: 40.4% (2018 est.) other: 21.4% (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases
[time series]
degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
Major lakes (area sq km)
[time series]
Fresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Albania) - 400 sq km note - largest lake in the Balkans
Major watersheds (area sq km)
[time series]
Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Revenue from coal
[time series]
coal revenues: 0.12% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
[time series]
forest revenues: 0.43% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total water withdrawal
[time series]
municipal: 96.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 62.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 67.8% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
[time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 332,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 17,994 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2015 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 13,812 sq km land: 13,452 sq km water: 360 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
slightly smaller than Connecticut; slightly larger than twice the size of Delaware
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
[time series]
highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 1,086 m
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
42 30 N, 19 18 E
Geography - note
[time series]
strategic location along the Adriatic coast
Irrigated land
[time series]
24 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 680 km border countries (5): Albania 186 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 242 km, Croatia 19 km, Kosovo 76 km, Serbia 157 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 38.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 12.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.1% (2018 est.) forest: 40.4% (2018 est.) other: 21.4% (2018 est.)
Location
[time series]
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
Major lakes (area sq km)
[time series]
Fresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Albania) - 400 sq km note - largest lake in the Balkans
Major watersheds (area sq km)
[time series]
Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
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
Population distribution
[time series]
highest population density is concentrated in the south, southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area
Terrain
[time series]
highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
24 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Gusinje, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Petnijica, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Tuzi, Ulcinj, Zabljak
Capital
[time series]
name: Podgorica; note - Cetinje retains the status of "Old Royal Capital" 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 etymology: the name translates as "beneath Gorica"; the meaning of Gorica is "hillock"; the reference is to the small hill named Gorica that the city is built around
Citizenship
[time series]
citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Montenegro dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Constitution
[time series]
history: several previous; latest adopted 22 October 2007 amendments: proposed by the president of Montenegro, by the government, or by at least 25 members of the Assembly; passage of draft proposals requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, followed by a public hearing; passage of draft amendments requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; changes to certain constitutional articles, such as sovereignty, state symbols, citizenship, and constitutional change procedures, require three-fifths majority vote in a referendum; amended 2013
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 etymology: the country's name locally as well as in most Western European languages means "black mountain" and refers to the dark coniferous forests on Mount Lovcen and the surrounding area
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Judy Rising REINKE (since 20 December 2018) embassy: Dzona Dzeksona 2, 81000 Podgorica mailing address: 5570 Podgorica Place, Washington DC 20521-5570 telephone: +382 (0)20-410-500 FAX: [382] (0)20-241-358 email address and website: PodgoricaACS@state.gov https://me.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marija STJEPCEVIC (since 4 February 2021) chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109 email address and website: usa@mfa.gov.me consulate(s) general: New York
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 20 May 2018) head of government: Prime Minister Zdravko KRIVOKAPIC (since 4 December 2020) cabinet: Ministers act as cabinet elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 April 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly election results: Milo DJUKANOVIC elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Milo DJUKANOVIC (DPS) 53.9%, Mladen BOJANIC (independent) 33.4%, Draginja VUKSANOVIC (SDP) 8.2%, Marko MILACIC (PRAVA) 2.8%, other 1.7%
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered; the arms consist of a double-headed golden eagle - symbolizing the unity of church and state - surmounted by a crown; the eagle holds a golden scepter in its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the breast shield over the eagle shows a golden lion passant on a green field in front of a blue sky; the lion is a symbol of episcopal authority and harkens back to the three and a half centuries when Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy
Government type
[time series]
parliamentary republic
Independence
[time series]
3 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 13 March 1852 (Principality of Montenegro established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Montenegrin independence); 28 August 1910 (Kingdom of Montenegro established)
International law organization participation
[time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
[time series]
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch
[time series]
highest courts: Supreme Court or Vrhovni Sud (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 15 judges); Constitutional Court or Ustavni Sud (consists of the court president and 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president proposed by general session of the Supreme Court and elected by the Judicial Council, a 9-member body consisting of judges, lawyers designated by the Assembly, and the minister of judicial affairs; Supreme Court president elected for a single renewable, 5-year term; other judges elected by the Judicial Council for life; Constitutional Court judges - 2 proposed by the president of Montenegro and 5 by the Assembly, and elected by the Assembly; court president elected from among the court members; court president elected for a 3-year term, other judges serve 9-year terms subordinate courts: Administrative Courts; Appellate Court; Commercial Courts; High Courts; basic courts
Legal system
[time series]
civil law
Legislative branch
[time series]
description: unicameral Assembly or Skupstina (81 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 30 August 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - DPS 35.1%, ZBCG 32.6%, MNIM 12.5%, URA 5.5%, SD 4.1%, BS 3.9%, SDP 3.1%, AL 1.6%, AK 1.1%, other 0.4%; seats by party/coalition - DPS 30, ZBCG 27, MNIM 10, URA 4, BS 3, SD 3, SDP 2, AL 1, AK 1.; composition - men 57, women 24, percent of women 29.6%
National anthem(s)
(National anthem)
[time series]
name: "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May) lyrics/music: Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC note: adopted 2004; music based on a Montenegrin folk song
National holiday
[time series]
Statehood Day, 13 July (1878, the day the Berlin Congress recognized Montenegro as the 27th independent state in the world, and 1941, the day the Montenegrins staged an uprising against fascist occupiers and sided with the partisan communist movement)
National symbol(s)
[time series]
double-headed eagle; national colors: red, gold
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Albanian Alternative or AA [Nik DJELOSAJ] Albanian Coalition (includes DP, DSCG, DUA) Albanian Coalition Perspective or AKP Albanian List (coalition includes AA, Forca, AKP, DSA) Bosniak Party or BS [Rafet HUSOVIC] Croatian Civic Initiative or HGI [Adrian VUKSANOVIC] Croatian Reform Party [Marija VUCINOVIC] Democratic Alliance or DEMOS [Miodrag LEKIC] Democratic Front or DF [collective leadership] (coalition includes NOVA, PZP, DNP, RP) Democratic League in Montenegro or DSCG [Mehmet BARDHI] Democratic League of Albanians or DSA Democratic Montenegro or DCG [Aleksa BECIC] Democratic Party or DP [Fatmir GJEKA] Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC] Democratic Party of Unity or DSJ [Nebojsa JUSKOVIC] Democratic People's Party or DNP [Milan KNEZEVIC] Democratic Serb Party or DSS [Dragica PEROVIC] Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Mehmet ZENKA] For the Future of Montenegro or ZBCG [Zdravko KRIVOKAPIC] (electoral coalition includes SNP and 2 alliances - DF, NP) Liberal Party or LP [Andrija POPOVIC] Movement for Change or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC] New Democratic Power or FORCA [Nazif CUNGU] New Serb Democracy or NOVA [Andrija MANDIC] Party of Pensioners, Disabled, and Restitution or PUPI [Momir JOKSIMOVIC] Peace is Our Nation or MNIM [Alexa BECIC] (coalition includes Democrats, DEMOS, New Left, PUPI) Popular Movement or NP [Miodrag DAVIDOVIC] (coalition includes DEMOS, RP, UCG, and several minor parties) Social Democratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC] Social Democrats or SD [Ivan BRAJOVIC] Socialist People's Party or SNP [Vladimir JOKOVIC] True Montenegro or PRAVA [Marko MILACIC] United Montenegro or UCG [Goran DANILOVIC] (split from DEMOS) United Reform Action or URA [Dritan ABAZOVIC] Workers' Party or RP [Maksim VUCINIC]
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
The use of the name Crna Gora or Black Mountain (Montenegro) began in the 13th century in reference to a highland region in the Serbian province of Zeta. The later medieval state of Zeta maintained its existence until 1496 when Montenegro finally fell under Ottoman rule. Over subsequent centuries, Montenegro managed to maintain a level of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it transformed into a secular principality. Montenegro was recognized as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. After World War I, during which Montenegro fought on the side of the Allies, 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 joined with Serbia, creating the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, shifting to a looser State 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 two-state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia barely exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally restore its independence on 3 June 2006. In 2017, Montenegro joined NATO and is currently completing its EU accession process, having officially applied to join the EU in December 2008.
Military and Security
Military - note
[time series]
Montenegro officially became a member of NATO in 2017
Military and security forces
[time series]
the Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: joint force with land, air, and naval elements (2021)
Military and security service personnel strengths
[time series]
the Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro have approximately 2,000 total active duty troops (2020)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
[time series]
the inventory of the Armed Forces of Montenegro is small and consists mostly of equipment inherited from the former Yugoslavia military, with a limited mix of other imported systems; since 2010, it has received small quantities of equipment from Austria, Turkey, and the US (2020)
Military expenditures
[time series]
1.72% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.33% of GDP (2019) 1.37% of GDP (2018) 1.34% of GDP (2017) 1.42% of GDP (2016)
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006 (2019)
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 18.14% (male 57,402/female 53,217) 15-24 years: 12.78% (male 40,220/female 37,720) 25-54 years: 39.65% (male 120,374/female 121,461) 55-64 years: 13.41% (male 40,099/female 41,670) 65 years and over: 16.02% (male 42,345/female 55,351) (2020 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
11.35 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
3.7% (2018/19)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
[time series]
20.7% (2018)
Current health expenditure
(Current Health Expenditure)
[time series]
8.4% (2018)
Death rate
[time series]
10.37 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Dependency ratios
[time series]
total dependency ratio: 51.1 youth dependency ratio: 27.3 elderly dependency ratio: 23.8 potential support ratio: 4.2 (2020 est.)
Drinking water source
[time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0.2% of population (2017 est.)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
NA
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Montenegrin 45%, Serbian 28.7%, Bosniak 8.7%, Albanian 4.9%, Muslim 3.3%, Romani 1%, Croat 1%, other 2.6%, unspecified 4.9% (2011 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
<.1% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
note: estimate does not include children
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
note: estimate does not include children
Hospital bed density
[time series]
3.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Serbian 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%, Bosnian 5.3%, Albanian 5.3%, Serbo-Croat 2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 4% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Montenegrin/Bosnian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 77.51 years male: 75.06 years female: 80.04 years (2021 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.5% female: 98.3% (2018)
Major infectious diseases
[time series]
degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
177,000 PODGORICA (capital) (2018)
Maternal mortality ratio
[time series]
6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 39.6 years male: 38.1 years female: 41.1 years (2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
[time series]
26.3 years (2010 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Montenegrin(s) adjective: Montenegrin
Net migration rate
[time series]
-4.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
23.3% (2016)
Physician density
(Physicians density)
[time series]
2.76 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Population
[time series]
607,414 (July 2021 est.)
Population distribution
[time series]
highest population density is concentrated in the south, southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area
Population growth rate
[time series]
-0.4% (2021 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.)
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 93.9% of population total: 97.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 6.1% of population total: 2.2% of population (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
[time series]
total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2020)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.82 children born/woman (2021 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
(Unemployment, youth ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 36% male: 33.6% female: 39.7% (2020 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 67.8% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
Kosovo ratified the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in March 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completed
Illicit drugs
[time series]
drug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of large quantities of cocaine destined for European markets
Refugees and internally displaced persons
[time series]
stateless persons: 472 (2020) note: 20,687 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-December 2021)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
total: 5 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019) under 914 m: 1
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
4O
Heliports
[time series]
1 (2012)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 17 by type: bulk carrier 4, other 13 (2021)
National air transport system
[time series]
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 565,522 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 130,000 mt-km (2018)
Ports
(Ports and terminals)
[time series]
major seaport(s): Bar
Railways
[time series]
total: 250 km (2017) standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (224 km electrified) (2017)
Roadways
[time series]
total: 7,762 km (2010) paved: 7,141 km (2010) unpaved: 621 km (2010)