Montenegro
Population
599.8K
Area
13,812 km²
GDP
$8.07B
GDP Per Capita
$27,900
Pop. Density
43/km²
Quick Facts
Currency
€euro(EUR)
Calling Code
+382
Timezone
UTC+01:00
Languages
Montenegrin
Driving Side
right
Demonym
Montenegrin
Background
Historical Trends
GDP (USD)
↑204.3% since 2006Population
↑1.4% since 2006Life Expectancy at Birth
Latest: 77.6 yearsData source: World Bank Open Data
Geography19
Location
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
Geographic coordinates
42 30 N, 19 18 E
Map references
Europe
Area
land: 13,452 sq km
water: 360 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Connecticut; slightly larger than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries
border countries: Albania 186 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 242 km; Croatia 19 km; Kosovo 76 km; Serbia 157 km
Coastline
293.5 km
Maritime claims
continental shelf: defined by treaty
Climate
Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland
Terrain
highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus
Elevation
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 1,086 m
Natural resources
bauxite, hydroelectricity
Land use
agricultural land
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
24 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km)
note - largest lake in the Balkans
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Population distribution
highest population density is concentrated in the south and southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area
Natural hazards
destructive earthquakes
Geography - note
strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People & Society35
Population
male: 294,482
female: 305,367
Nationality
adjective: Montenegrin
Ethnic groups
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.)
Languages
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.
Religions
Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.)
Age structure
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 192,631/female 193,515)
65 years and over: 17.9% (2024 est.) (male 47,243/female 60,258)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 27.5 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 27.8 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.6 (2024 est.)
Median age
male: 39.5 years
female: 42.5 years
Population growth rate
-0.46% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
10.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
10.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
highest population density is concentrated in the south and southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
177,000 PODGORICA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
26.3 years (2010 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 75.8 years
female: 80.7 years
Total fertility rate
1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.88 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
2.78 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
3.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
23.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 3.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 3.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 29.9% (2025 est.)
female: 33.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
3.7% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.6% (2018 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 5.8% (2018)
men married by age 18: 3.2% (2018)
Literacy
male: 99.2% (2018 est.)
female: 97.9% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male: 15 years (2023 est.)
female: 16 years (2023 est.)
Government23
Country name
conventional long form
conventional short form
local long form
local short form
former
etymology
Government type
parliamentary republic
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 Slavic name translates as "under the mountain," from pod (under) and gora (mountain)
Administrative divisions
Legal system
civil law
Constitution
amendment process: 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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Montenegro
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
head of government
cabinet
election/appointment process
most recent election date
election results
2023: Jakov MILATOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Milo DUKANOVIC (DPS) 35.4%, Jakov MILATOVIC (Europe Now!) 28.9%, Andrija MANDIC (DF) 19.3%, Aleksa BECIC (DCG) 11.1%, other 5.3%; percent of vote in second round - Jakov MILATOVIC 58.9%, Milo DUKANOVIC 41.1%
2018: Milo DJUKANOVIC elected president in 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%
expected date of next election
Legislative branch
legislature name
legislative structure
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Judicial branch
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
Political parties
Albanian Alternative or AA
Albanian Democratic League or LDSH
Albanian Forum (electoral coalition includes AA, LDSH, UDSH)
Aleksa and Dritan - Count Bravely! (electoral coalition includes Democrats, URA)
Bosniak Party or BS
Civic Movement United Reform Action or United Reform Action or URA
Croatian Civic Initiative or HGI
Democratic Alliance or DEMOS
Democratic League in Montenegro or DSCG
Democratic Montenegro or Democrats
Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS
Democratic People's Party or DNP
Democratic Union of Albanians or UDSH
Europe Now!
For the Future of Montenegro or ZBCG (coalition includes NSD, DNP, RP)
Liberal Party or LP
New Democratic Power or FORCA
New Serb Democracy or NSD or NOVA
Social Democrats or SD
Socialist People's Party or SNP
Together! (electoral coalition includes DPS, SD, LP, UDSH)
United Montenegro or UCG (split from DEMOS)
Workers' Party or RP
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
chancery
telephone
FAX
email address and website
[email protected]
United States of America - Embassies and consulates of Montenegro and visa regimes for foreign citizens (www.gov.me)
consulate(s) general
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
embassy
mailing address
telephone
FAX
email address and website
International organization participation
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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
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)
National holiday
Statehood Day, 13 July (1878, 1941)
Flag
meaning: the eagle symbolizes the unity of church and state; the lion is a symbol of episcopal authority, a reference to the three-and-a-half centuries when Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy
National symbol(s)
double-headed eagle
National color(s)
red, gold
National anthem(s)
lyrics/music: Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC
history: adopted 2004; music based on a Montenegrin folk song
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor (c); Durmitor National Park (n); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c); Fortified City of Kotor Venetian Defense Works (c)
Economy31
Economic overview
upper-middle-income, small Balkan economy; uses euro as de facto currency; reduced growth due to slowdown in tourism and industrial production; new impetus for EU accession under Europe Now government; energy price cap and declining food and services prices easing inflation rate
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $16.862 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $15.857 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $27,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $25,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$8.07 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 13% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 11.6% (2024 est.)
services: 62.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
government consumption
investment in fixed capital
investment in inventories
exports of goods and services
imports of goods and services
Agricultural products
milk, potatoes, watermelons, grapes, sheep milk, cabbages, oranges, eggs, goat milk, figs (2023)
Industries
steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism
Industrial production growth rate
-1.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force
245,300 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 14.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 14.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 27.5% (2024 est.)
female: 23.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
20.3% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Average household expenditures
on alcohol and tobacco: 5.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 24.7% (2021 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2023: 10.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 13.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $1.491 billion (2015 est.)
Public debt
Current account balance
Current account balance 2023: -$851.525 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$817.858 million (2022 est.)
Exports
Exports 2023: $3.769 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $3.177 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners
Italy 38%, Serbia 13%, Spain 6%, Slovenia 5%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities
electricity, aluminum, copper ore, aluminum ore, packaged medicine (2023)
Imports
Imports 2023: $5.167 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $4.614 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners
Serbia 21%, China 10%, Germany 8%, Croatia 6%, Italy 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, electricity, packaged medicine, aluminum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.574 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.041 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2024
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Energy6
Electricity access
Electricity
consumption: 2.719 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 6.288 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 5.421 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 601.023 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 7.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 53% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 1.658 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 205,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 2.8 metric tons (2022 est.)
proven reserves: 337 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 203 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media
state-funded national radio and 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 online media (2019)
Internet country code
.me
Internet users
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)
Transportation6
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
4O
Airports
5 (2025)
Heliports
1 (2025)
Railways
standard gauge: 250 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (224 km electrified)
Merchant marine
by type: bulk carrier 4, other 14
Ports
total ports
large
medium
small
very small
ports with oil terminals
key ports
Military & Security6
Military and security forces
Ministry of Interior: Police Directorate of Montenegro (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2024: 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 2,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory is small and consists largely of Soviet-era equipment inherited from the former Yugoslavia military, along with a limited but growing mix of imported Western systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18-30 for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006 (2025)
Military - note
the Army of Montenegro is responsible for the defense of Montenegro’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, cooperating in international and multinational security, and assisting civil authorities during emergencies such as natural disasters; since Montenegro joined NATO in 2017, another focus has been integrating into the Alliance, including adapting NATO standards for planning and professionalization, structural reforms, and modernization by replacing its Soviet-era equipment; the Army trains and exercises with NATO partners and actively supports NATO missions and operations, committing small numbers of troops in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Eastern Europe; a few personnel have also been deployed on EU- and UN-led operations (2025)
Transnational Issues1
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 423 (2024 est.)