Factbook dossier
Background
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.
Location
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
Area
total : 13,812 sq km land: 13,452 sq km water: 360 sq km
Natural resources
bauxite, hydroelectricity
Natural hazards
destructive earthquakes
Population
total: 599,849 (2024 est.) male: 294,482 female: 305,367
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
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.
Religions
Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.)
Environmental issues
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
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
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"
Executive branch
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
Legislative branch
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$17.375 billion (2024 est.) $16.862 billion (2023 est.) $15.857 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$27,900 (2024 est.) $27,000 (2023 est.) $25,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.3% (2024 est.) 8.6% (2023 est.) 13% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
Italy 38%, Serbia 13%, Spain 6%, Slovenia 5%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
Serbia 21%, China 10%, Germany 8%, Croatia 6%, Italy 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Army of Montenegro (Vojska Crne Gore or VCG): Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy Ministry of Interior: Police Directorate of Montenegro (2025)
Military expenditures
2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)