Montenegro - ME - MNE - MNE - Europe

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/

0-14 years: 17.7% (male 54,608/female 51,594)

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)

42 30 N, 19 18 E

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

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.)

destructive earthquakes

slightly smaller than Connecticut; slightly larger than twice the size of Delaware

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006 (2024)

note: as of 2024, women made up over 11% of the military's full-time personnel

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. Under Ottoman control beginning in 1496, Montenegro was a semi-autonomous theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes until 1852, when it became a secular principality. Montenegro fought a series of wars with the Ottomans and eventually won recognition as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. In 1918, the country was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. At the end of World War II, Montenegro joined the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). When the SFRY dissolved in 1992, Montenegro and Serbia created the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), which shifted in 2003 to a looser State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Montenegro voted to restore its independence on 3 June 2006. Montenegro became an official EU candidate in 2010 and joined NATO in 2017.

pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets; serious air pollution in some cities from lignite power plants and household use of coal and wood for heating

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

2% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2023)
1.4% of GDP (2022)
1.6% of GDP (2021)
1.7% of GDP (2020)

20.3% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 24.7% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

25 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Gusinje, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Petnjica, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Tuzi, Ulcinj, Zabljak, Zeta

milk, potatoes, watermelons, grapes, sheep milk, cabbages, oranges, eggs, goat milk, figs (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Army of Montenegro (Vojska Crne Gore or VCG): Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy 

Ministry of Interior: Police Directorate of Montenegro (2025)

revenues: $1.463 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures: $1.491 billion (2015 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

etymology: the Slavic name translates as "under the mountain," from pod (under) and gora (mountain)

note: Cetinje retains the status of "Old Royal Capital"

Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland

293.5 km

history: several previous; latest adopted 22 October 2007

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

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.951 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.877 (2020 est.)

note: Montenegro, which is neither an EU member state nor a party to a formal EU monetary agreement, uses the euro as its de facto currency

chief of state: President Jakov MILATOVIC (since 20 May 2023)

head of government: Prime Minister Milojko SPAJIC (since 31 October 2023)

cabinet: ministers serve as the cabinet

election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly

most recent election date: 19 March 2023, with a runoff on 2 April 2023

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: 2028

a red field bordered with a narrow golden-yellow stripe and the Montenegrin coat of arms in the center; the arms consist of a double-headed golden eagle that symbolizes the unity of church and state, with a crown above; 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 on a green field in front of a blue sky; the lion is a symbol of episcopal authority, a reference to the three-and-a-half centuries when Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy

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)

steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

highest court(s): 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

total: 680 km

border countries (5): Albania 186 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 242 km; Croatia 19 km; Kosovo 76 km; Serbia 157 km

agricultural land: 18.8% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0.7% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.4% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 17.8% (2022 est.)

forest: 61.5% (2022 est.)

other: 19.7% (2022 est.)

civil law

legislature name: Parliament (Skupstina)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 81 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 6/11/2023

parties elected and seats per party: Europe now! (Evropa sad) (24); Together! For the future that belongs to you (DPS – SD – DUA – LP - UDSh) (21); For the future of Montenegro (New Serb Democracy; Democratic People’s Party of Montenegro, Labour Party) (13); Bravery counts! (HRABRO se broji!) (11); It’s clear! (Jasno je!) – Bosniak Party (6); Other (6)

percentage of women in chamber: 27.2%

expected date of next election: June 2027

total population: 98.5% (2018 est.)

male: 99.1% (2018 est.)

female: 97.9% (2018 est.)

territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: defined by treaty

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

note: Montenegro is an EU candidate country whose satisfactory completion of accession criteria is required before being granted full EU membership

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)

noun: Montenegrin(s)

adjective: Montenegrin

bauxite, hydroelectricity

strategic location along the Adriatic coast

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

 

Albanian Alliance (electoral coalition includes FORCA, PD, DSCG)
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 

total: 250 km (2017)

standard gauge: 250 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (224 km electrified)

18 years of age; universal

highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus

parliamentary republic

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 name in Italian means "dark mountain" and is a translation of the Serbo-Croatian name Crna Gora; both refer to the dark coniferous forests in the mountainous region

Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Europe

24 sq km (2012)

chief of mission: Ambassador Jovan MIRKOVIĆ (since 18 September 2024)

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

United States of America - Embassies and consulates of Montenegro and visa regimes for foreign citizens (www.gov.me)

consulate(s) general: New York

percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)

.me

refugees (country of origin): 65,105 (Ukraine) (as of 29 January 2024)

stateless persons: 468 (2022)

note: 34,511 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2024)

$7.531 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 16 years (2021)

urban population: 68.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 98.2% of population

total: 99.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 1.8% of population

total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)

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

177,000 PODGORICA (capital) (2018)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

2.78 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

3.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

double-headed eagle

26.3 years (2010 est.)

20.7% (2018)

household consumption: 73.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 17.9% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 19.6% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 8% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 50% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -68.6% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

total dependency ratio: 55.3 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 27.5 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 27.8 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3.6 (2024 est.)

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

highest population density is concentrated in the south and southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

4O

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 93.9% of population

total: 98% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 6.1% of population

total: 2% of population (2020 est.)

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.)

Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.)

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.

highest point: Zia Kolata 2,534 m

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 1,086 m

10.6% of GDP (2021)

16.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

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)

approximately 1,600 active-duty Army of Montenegro forces (2024)

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 (2024)

Serbia 21%, China 10%, Germany 8%, Croatia 6%, Italy 6% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

refined petroleum, cars, electricity, packaged medicine, aluminum (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Italy 38%, Serbia 13%, Spain 6%, Slovenia 5%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

electricity, aluminum, copper ore, aluminum ore, packaged medicine (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

municipal: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 1.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

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.)

on food: 24.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 5.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 19.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 2.02 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.75 megatons (2020 est.)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Albania) - 400 sq km
note - largest lake in the Balkans

total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)

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)

women married by age 15: 1.9% (2018)

women married by age 18: 5.8% (2018)

men married by age 18: 3.2% (2018)

production: 1.862 million metric tons (2023 est.)

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.)

fossil fuels: 39.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

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.)

refined petroleum consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

0.89 (2024 est.)

57.1% (2023 est.)

10.69% of GDP (2023 est.)
13.33% of GDP (2022 est.)
13.52% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

total ports: 4 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 1

very small: 3

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Bar, Kotor, Risan, Tivat

red, gold

241,500 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total: 25.9% (2024 est.)

male: 27.5% (2024 est.)

female: 23.6% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 41.1 years (2024 est.)

male: 39.5 years

female: 42.5 years

$3.643 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

$1.741 billion (2024 est.)
$1.574 billion (2023 est.)
$2.041 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

67.2% of GDP (2017 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

1.8 children born/woman (2024 est.)

14.1% (2024 est.)
14.6% (2023 est.)
14.9% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 599,849 (2024 est.)

male: 294,482

female: 305,367

2.808 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.543 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 1.265 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 13,812 sq km

land: 13,452 sq km

water: 360 sq km

37.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

$17.173 billion (2023 est.)
$16.149 billion (2022 est.)
$15.177 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

5 (2025)

total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 1.31 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 203 (2022 est.)

34.3 (2021 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

3.3% (2024 est.)
8.6% (2023 est.)
13% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$1.389 billion (2024 est.)
-$851.525 million (2023 est.)
-$817.858 million (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$27,900 (2023 est.)
$26,200 (2022 est.)
$24,500 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 203,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)

total: 31.6% (2025 est.)

male: 29.9% (2025 est.)

female: 33.1% (2025 est.)

23.3% (2016)

63.407 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

10.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

installed generating capacity: 1.082 million kW (2023 est.)

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.)

total: 18 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 4, other 14

3.7% (2018/19)

$5.467 billion (2024 est.)
$5.167 billion (2023 est.)
$4.614 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$3.634 billion (2024 est.)
$3.769 billion (2023 est.)
$3.177 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

1 (2025)

total subscriptions: 190,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

total: 9.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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.)

total population: 78.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 75.8 years

female: 80.7 years

6.34% (2023 est.)
6.41% (2022 est.)
13.04% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

2.8% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture: 5.5% (2023 est.)

industry: 12.5% (2023 est.)

services: 62.2% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

-0.44% (2024 est.)