Europe :: MONTENEGRO

  • Introduction :: MONTENEGRO

  • 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 federated 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 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.

  • Geography :: MONTENEGRO

  • Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
    42 30 N, 19 18 E
    Europe
    total: 13,812 sq km
    land: 13,452 sq km
    water: 360 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 162
    slightly smaller than Connecticut
    total: 680 km
    border countries (5): Albania 186 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 242 km, Croatia 19 km, Kosovo 76 km, Serbia 157 km
    293.5 km
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    continental shelf: defined by treaty
    Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland
    highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus
    mean elevation: 1,086 m
    elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
    highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m
    bauxite, hydroelectricity
    agricultural land: 38.2%
    arable land 12.9%; permanent crops 1.2%; permanent pasture 24.1%
    forest: 40.4%
    other: 21.4% (2011 est.)
    24 sq km (2012)
    highest population density is concentrated in the south, southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area
    destructive earthquakes
    pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor
    party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
    signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
    strategic location along the Adriatic coast

  • People and Society :: MONTENEGRO

  • 644,578 (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168
    noun: Montenegrin(s)
    adjective: Montenegrin
    Montenegrin 45%, Serbian 28.7%, Bosniak 8.7%, Albanian 4.9%, Muslim 3.3%, Roma 1%, Croat 1%, other 2.6%, unspecified 4.9% (2011 est.)
    Serbian 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%, Bosnian 5.3%, Albanian 5.3%, Serbo-Croat 2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 4% (2011 est.)
    Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.)
    0-14 years: 15.13% (male 47,983/female 49,527)
    15-24 years: 9.92% (male 29,003/female 34,907)
    25-54 years: 46.83% (male 163,055/female 138,792)
    55-64 years: 13.37% (male 42,998/female 43,168)
    65 years and over: 14.76% (male 38,014/female 57,131) (2016 est.)
    total dependency ratio: 47.7%
    youth dependency ratio: 27.6%
    elderly dependency ratio: 20.2%
    potential support ratio: 5% (2015 est.)
    total: 40.2 years
    male: 39.3 years
    female: 41.3 years (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 48
    -0.35% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 222
    10.2 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 193
    9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 53
    highest population density is concentrated in the south, southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area
    urban population: 64% of total population (2015)
    rate of urbanization: 0.34% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
    PODGORICA (capital) 165,000 (2014)
    at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
    26.3 (2010 est.)
    7 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 160
    39.4% (2005/06)
    6.4% of GDP (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 65
    2.11 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
    4 beds/1,000 population (2011)
    improved:
    urban: 100% of population
    rural: 99.2% of population
    total: 99.7% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 0% of population
    rural: 0.8% of population
    total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 98% of population
    rural: 92.2% of population
    total: 95.9% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 2% of population
    rural: 7.8% of population
    total: 4.1% of population (2015 est.)
    NA
    NA
    NA
    degree of risk: intermediate
    food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
    vectorborne disease: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (2016)
    21.4% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 79
    1% (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    NA
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 98.7%
    male: 99.5%
    female: 98% (2015 est.)
    total: 15 years
    male: 15 years
    female: 15 years (2010)
    total number: 8,520
    percentage: 10% (2005 est.)
    total: 41.1%
    male: 42.3%
    female: 39.7% (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 11

  • Government :: MONTENEGRO

  • 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
    parliamentary republic
    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
    23 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, Ulcinj, Zabljak
    3 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro)
    National 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 Nazi occupiers and sided with the partisan Communist movement)
    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, 2014 (2016)
    civil law
    has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICC jurisdiction
    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
    18 years of age; universal
    chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 6 April 2008)
    head of government: Prime Minister Dusko MARKOVIC (since 28 November 2016); note - Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC resigned 26 October 2016
    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 7 April 2013 (next to be held in 2018); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly
    election results: Filip VUJANOVIC reelected president; percent of vote - Filip VUJANOVIC (DPS) 51.2%, Miodrag LEKIC (independent) 48.8%%
    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 16 October 2016 (next to be held by October 2020)
    election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - DPS 41.4%, DF 20.3%, Key Coalition, 11.1%, DCG 10.0%, SDP 5.2%, SD 3.3%, BS, 3.2%, Albanians Decisively 1.3%, HGI .5%, other 3.7%; seats by party/coalition - DPS 36, DF 18, Key Coalition 9, DCG 8, SDP 4, SD 2, BS 2, Albanians Decisively 1, HGI 1
    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 3 years, other judges 9 years
    subordinate courts: Administrative Courts; Appellate Court; Commercial Courts; High Courts; basic courts
    Albanians Decisively [Genci NIMANBEGU] (includes FORCA, AA, DUA)
    Albanian Alternative or AA [Nik DJELOSAJ]
    Bosniak Party or BS [Rafet HUSOVIC]
    Croatian Civic Initiative or HGI [Marija VUCINOVIC]
    Democratic Alliance or DEMOS [Miodrag LEKIC]
    Democratic Front or DF [collective leadership] (includes NOVA, PZP, DNP, RP)
    Democratic Montenegro or DCG [Aleksa BECIC]
    Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC]
    Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Mehmet ZENKA]
    Key Coalition [Miodrag LEKIC] (includes DEMOS, SNP, URA]
    Movement for Change or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]
    New Democratic Power or FORCA [Nazif CUNGU]
    New Serb Democracy or NOVA [Andrija MANDIC]
    Social Democratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]
    Social Democrats or SD [Ivan BRAJOVIC]
    Socialist People's Party or SNP [Srdjan MILIC]
    United Reform Action or URA [Zarko RAKCEVIC]
    Workers' Party or RP [Janko VUCINIC]
    NA
    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, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
    chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
    chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009
    telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108
    FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109
    consulate(s) general: New York
    chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret UYEHARA (since 19 February 2015)
    embassy: Dzona Dzeksona 2, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
    mailing address: use embassy street address
    telephone: [382] (0) 20 410 500
    FAX: [382] (0) 20 241 358
    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
    double-headed eagle; national colors: red, gold
    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

  • Economy :: MONTENEGRO

  • Montenegro's economy is transitioning to a market system. From the beginning of the privatization process in 1999 through 2015, around 85% of Montenegrin state-owned companies have been privatized, including 100% of banking, telecommunications, and oil distribution. Tourism brings in twice 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.
    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 EC in June, 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. The biggest foreign investors in Montenegro are Italy, Norway, Austria, Russia, Hungary and the UK. Net foreign direct investment in 2014 reached $483 million and investment per capita is one of the highest in Europe.
    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. Construction will cost around $1.1 billion. 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. In May 2013, the Montenegrin Government raised the higher level VAT rate to 19%.
    $10.04 billion (2015 est.)
    $9.642 billion (2014 est.)
    $9.473 billion (2013 est.)
    note: data are in 2015 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 159
    $4.039 billion (2015 est.)
    4.1% (2015 est.)
    1.8% (2014 est.)
    3.5% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 93
    $16,100 (2015 est.)
    $15,500 (2014 est.)
    $15,300 (2013 est.)
    note: data are in 2015 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 102
    14.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
    4.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
    5.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 165
    household consumption: 81.8%
    government consumption: 21.2%
    investment in fixed capital: 19.5%
    investment in inventories: -0.1%
    exports of goods and services: 42.1%
    imports of goods and services: -64.5% (2013 est.)
    agriculture: 8.3%
    industry: 21.2%
    services: 70.5% (2013 est.)
    tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheep
    steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism
    4.5% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 46
    263,200 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 164
    agriculture: 5.3%
    industry: 17.9%
    services: 76.8% (2014 est.)
    18.5% (2014 est.)
    19.1% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 165
    8.6% (2013 est.)
    26.2 (2013 est.)
    24.3 (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 137
    revenues: $1.56 billion
    expenditures: $1.63 billion (2014 est.)
    38.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 50
    -1.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 75
    59.5% of GDP (31 December 2014 est.)
    57.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
    note: data cover general government debt and include 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 intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental 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
    country comparison to the world: 64
    calendar year
    1.6% (2015 est.)
    -0.7% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 111
    9.22% (31 December 2014 est.)
    9.36% (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 90
    $749 million (31 December 2011 est.)
    $783.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 158
    $1.982 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
    $2.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 156
    $2.63 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $2.682 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 135
    $7.532 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $3.827 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
    $3.322 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 78
    -$535 million (2015 est.)
    -$699 million (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 95
    $370.2 million (2014 est.)
    $489.2 million (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 179
    Croatia 22.7%, Serbia 22.7%, Slovenia 7.8% (2012 est.)
    $1.982 billion (2014 est.)
    $2.4 billion (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 162
    Serbia 29.3%, Greece 8.7%, China 7.1% (2012 est.)
    $599.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 143
    $1.576 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $1.433 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 154
    $483 million (31 December 2014 est.)
    $446.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 114
    $133 million (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 96
    euros (EUR) per US dollar -
    0.885 (2015 est.)
    0.7525 (2014 est.)
    0.7634 (2013 est.)
    0.78 (2012 est.)
    0.7185 (2011 est.)

  • Energy :: MONTENEGRO

  • electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
    3.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 127
    2.8 billion kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 130
    600 million kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 61
    900 million kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 78
    900,000 kW (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    24.6% of total installed capacity (20113 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 189
    0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    75.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 19
    0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 200
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 166
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 159
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 96
    0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
    country comparison to the world: 166
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 210
    6,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 164
    622 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 113
    5,987 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 131
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 101
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 170
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 144
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99
    0 cu m (1 January 2014)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    18 million Mt (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 84

  • Communications :: MONTENEGRO

  • total subscriptions: 154,448
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 135
    total: 1.008 million
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 158
    general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to European satellites
    domestic: GSM mobile-cellular service, available through multiple providers with national coverage, is growing
    international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system (2015)
    state-funded national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks; 4 public TV stations and some 20 private TV stations; 14 local public radio stations and more than 40 private radio stations (2007)
    .me
    total: 418,000
    percent of population: 64.6% (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 136

  • Transportation :: MONTENEGRO

  • number of registered air carriers: 1
    inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
    annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 526,980
    annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)
    4O (2016)
    5 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 181
    total: 5
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
    914 to 1,523 m: 1
    under 914 m: 1 (2013)
    1 (2012)
    total: 250 km
    standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (169 km electrified) (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    total: 7,762 km
    paved: 7,141 km
    unpaved: 621 km (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 142
    total: 2
    by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1
    registered in other countries: 4 (Bahamas 2, Honduras 1, Slovakia 1) (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 146
    major seaport(s): Bar

  • Military and Security :: MONTENEGRO

  • Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army of Montenegro (includes Montenegrin Navy (Mornarica Crne Gore, MCG)), Air Force (2011)
    18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
    1.65% of GDP (2015)
    1.74% of GDP (2014)
    1.59% of GDP (2013)
    1.69% of GDP (2012)
    1.75% of GDP (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 46

  • Transnational Issues :: MONTENEGRO

  • none
    stateless persons: 3,262 (2015)