Knelstrom Intelligence · World Factbook

Montenegro

Crna Gora

ME / MNEeurope

CapitalPodgorica

Population623,129

GDP$9.2bn

Area13,883 km²

RegionEurope & Central Asia

Data sources current · last checked September 20, 2026 2:11 am

Country facts

Official nameCrna Gora

CapitalPodgorica

Area13,883 km²

Official language(s)Montenegrin

Calling code+382

RegionEurope & Central Asia

Income levelUpper middle income

Form of governmentrepublic

Time zoneUTC+01:00

Overview

Population623,1292025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate626,2332026 · Estimated

GDP (current US$)$9,232,801,4652025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$14,8172025 · Verified

GDP growth2.7%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices3.9%2025 · Verified

Unemployment13.6%2025 · Verified

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.

Reference: 2017, 2010, 2006, 2003

Geography

Latitude42.4602°current · Verified

Longitude19.2595°current · Verified

Location

Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 13,812 sq km
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

total: 680 km
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

territorial sea: 12 nm
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

highest point: Zia Kolata 2,534 m
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 1,086 m

Natural resources

bauxite, hydroelectricity

Land use

agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 61.5% (2023 est.)
other: 18.9% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Irrigated land

24 sq km (2012)

Reference: 2012

Major lakes (area sq km)

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Population & Society

Population623,1292025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate626,2332026 · Estimated

Fertility rate1.82024 · Verified

Urban population65.6%2025 · Verified

Nationality

noun: Montenegrin(s)
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.)

Reference: 2011

Languages

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.

Reference: 2011

Religions

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

Reference: 2011

Age structure

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)

Reference: 2024

Dependency ratios

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.)

Reference: 2024

Median age

total: 41.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 39.5 years
female: 42.5 years

Reference: 2024

Population growth rate

-0.44% (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Birth rate

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

Reference: 2024

Death rate

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

Reference: 2024

Population distribution

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

Major urban areas - population

177,000 PODGORICA (capital) (2018)

Reference: 2018

Sex ratio

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.)

Reference: 2024

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.3 years (2010 est.)

Reference: 2010

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Reference: 2023

Gross reproduction rate

0.89 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Drinking water source

improved: urban: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

2.78 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Reference: 2023

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2020

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 93.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 6.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.3% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Reference: 2019

Tobacco use

total: 31.6% (2025 est.)
male: 29.9% (2025 est.)
female: 33.1% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.7% (2018 est.)

Reference: 2018

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.1% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 1.9% (2018)
women married by age 18: 5.8% (2018)
men married by age 18: 3.2% (2018)

Reference: 2018

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2023 est.)
male: 15 years (2023 est.)
female: 16 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Migration & Displacement

Immigrant/emigrant stock measures the number of international migrants resident in, or originating from, the country; it is not the same as annual immigration/emigration flows.

International migrant stock (immigrants)92,2372024 · Verified

International migrant stock14.4%2024 · Verified

International emigrant stock90,6782024 · Estimated

Net migration-9,2792025 · Verified

Refugees hosted12,2692025 · Verified

Asylum seekers hosted1752025 · Verified

Refugees from this country6962025 · Verified

Asylum seekers from this country1652025 · Verified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 18,820 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 423 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Government & Politics

Form of governmentrepubliccurrent · Reported

Office	Holder	Affiliation	From	Status	Evidence
Head of government	Milojko Spajić	—	2023-10-31	Current	Reported
Head of state	Jakov Milatović	—	2023-05-20	Current	Reported

Country name

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

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

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

civil law

Constitution

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

Reference: 2007

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

Reference: 2028, 2023, 2018

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

Reference: 2027, 2023

Judicial branch

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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Reference: 2024

Diplomatic representation from the US

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/

Reference: 2018

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

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)

Reference: 2006, 1910

National holiday

Statehood Day, 13 July (1878, 1941)
note: note: the holiday celebrates the day in 1878 when the Berlin Congress recognized Montenegro as an independent state, as well as the day in 1941 when the Montenegrins staged an uprising against its occupiers

Reference: 1941

Flag

description: a red field bordered with a narrow golden-yellow stripe; the Montenegrin coat of arms in the center is a double-headed golden eagle, with a crown above; the eagle holds a golden scepter in its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the eagle's breast shield shows a golden lion on a green field in front of a blue sky
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)

title: "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May)
lyrics/music: Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC
history: adopted 2004; music based on a Montenegrin folk song

Reference: 2004

National heritage

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)

Government & Official Links

Institution	Official website	X / Twitter	Verification
Montenegro official website	Official website	—	Reported · source Checked September 20, 2026

Institutional accounts only; personal accounts of political office-holders are excluded.

Legislature & Elections

Legislature

Name	Chamber	Seats	Electoral system
Parliament of Montenegro	—	81	—

Economy

GDP (current US$)$9,232,801,4652025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$14,8172025 · Verified

GDP growth2.7%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices3.9%2025 · Verified

Unemployment13.6%2025 · Verified

Income levelUpper middle incomecurrent · Verified

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) 2024: $17.375 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $16.862 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $15.857 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $27,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $27,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $25,400 (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 5.2% (2024 est.)
industry: 11.6% (2024 est.)
services: 62.1% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Reference: 2024

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 76.3% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 17.9% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 20.2% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 8.3% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 44.9% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -67.5% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Reference: 2024

Agricultural products

milk, potatoes, watermelons, grapes, sheep milk, cabbages, oranges, eggs, goat milk, figs (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Reference: 2023

Industries

steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

Industrial production growth rate

-1.7% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Reference: 2024

Labor force

245,300 (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Reference: 2024

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 25.9% (2024 est.)
male: 27.5% (2024 est.)
female: 23.6% (2024 est.)
note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Reference: 2024

Population below poverty line

20.3% (2021 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Reference: 2021

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 34.3 (2021 est.)
note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Reference: 2021

Average household expenditures

on food: 24.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 5.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 24.7% (2021 est.)
note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Reference: 2021

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 10.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 10.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 13.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Budget

revenues: $1.463 billion (2015 est.)
expenditures: $1.491 billion (2015 est.)
note: 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

Reference: 2015

Public debt

Public debt 2017: 67.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
note: 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

Reference: 2017

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: -$1.406 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$851.525 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$817.858 million (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Exports 2024: $3.629 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $3.769 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $3.177 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

Italy 38%, Serbia 13%, Spain 6%, Slovenia 5%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 4% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

electricity, aluminum, copper ore, aluminum ore, packaged medicine (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Imports 2024: $5.478 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $5.167 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $4.614 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

Serbia 21%, China 10%, Germany 8%, Croatia 6%, Italy 6% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, electricity, packaged medicine, aluminum (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.741 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.574 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.041 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $3.643 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Reference: 2023

Exchange rates

Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.951 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 0.877 (2020 est.)
note: 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

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Trade

Exports of goods and services40.1%2025 · Verified

Imports of goods and services65.7%2025 · Verified

Trade105.8%2025 · Verified

Current account balance

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

Italy 38%, Serbia 13%, Spain 6%, Slovenia 5%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 4% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

electricity, aluminum, copper ore, aluminum ore, packaged medicine (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

Serbia 21%, China 10%, Germany 8%, Croatia 6%, Italy 6% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, electricity, packaged medicine, aluminum (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Energy & Resources

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Electric power consumption4,564 kWh/person2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption39.6%2021 · Verified

Electricity

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.)

Reference: 2023

Electricity generation sources

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.)

Reference: 2023

Coal

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.)

Reference: 2023, 2022

Petroleum

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

Reference: 2023

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 63.407 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Infrastructure

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions32.3 per 1002024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions221.7 per 1002024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 190,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Health

Life expectancy at birth77.9 years2024 · Verified

Current health expenditure9.7%2023 · Verified

Infant mortality rate1.9 per 1,0002024 · Verified

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Reference: 2023

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

2.78 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Reference: 2023

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2020

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.3% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Tobacco use

total: 31.6% (2025 est.)
male: 29.9% (2025 est.)
female: 33.1% (2025 est.)

Education

Adult literacy rate98.5%2018 · Verified

Secondary school enrolment, gross93.9%2023 · Verified

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2023 est.)
male: 15 years (2023 est.)
female: 16 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Rights, Freedoms & Society

Press & Media Freedom

V-Dem expert-coded/modelled source measures. Knelstrom does not create a press-freedom ranking or composite score.

Freedom of expression & alternative information index0.8532025 · Estimated

Government censorship effort — media1.8952025 · Estimated

Harassment of journalists1.2202025 · Estimated

Print/broadcast media critical of government1.5412025 · Estimated

Range of perspectives in major media1.2612025 · Estimated

Media bias1.4842025 · Estimated

Media self-censorship1.0802025 · Estimated

LGBTQ+ Rights & Law

Concrete legal-status fields only; Knelstrom does not generate an LGBTQ rights score or country ranking.

Same-sex sexual activityYes Legal since 1977 (As part of Yugoslavia); + UN decl. sign.Reported

Recognition of same-sex relationshipsYes Life partnership from July 2021Reported

Same-sex marriageNo Constitutional ban since 2007Reported

Same-sex adoptionNoReported

Open military serviceYesReported

Sexual-orientation anti-discrimination lawYes Bans all anti-gay discriminationReported

Gender identity / expression lawYes Requires sterilisation and surgery for changeReported

Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country or territory (CC BY-SA 4.0). Community-edited legal-status summary; retrieved by Knelstrom and not legal advice.

Crime & Justice

Legal system

civil law

Judicial branch

Military & Security

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

Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
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.)

Reference: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022

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 (2024)

Reference: 2024

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006 (2024)
note: note: as of 2024, women made up over 11% of the military's full-time personnel

Reference: 2024, 2006

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)

Reference: 2025, 2017

International Relations

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic representation in the US

Reference: 2024

Diplomatic representation from the US

Reference: 2018

International organization participation

Treaties & Organisations

Organisation	Status	Joined
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)	member	2006-06-22
NATO (NATO)	member	2017-06-05
United Nations (UN)	member	2006-06-28
World Trade Organization (WTO)	member	—

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Conflict & Security

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 18,820 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 423 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Transportation & Logistics

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

5 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

Railways

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

Reference: 2017

Merchant marine

total: 18 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 4, other 14

Reference: 2023

Ports

total ports: 4 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 1
very small: 3
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Bar, Kotor, Risan, Tivat

Reference: 2024

Environment

Forest area61.5%2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption39.6%2021 · Verified

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

International environmental agreements

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

Climate

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

Land use

Reference: 2023

Urbanization

urban population: 68.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2020

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions: 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.)

Reference: 2023

Particulate matter emissions

17.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 329,800 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.4% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 121.32 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 2.079 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 6.76 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Communications & Media

Individuals using the Internet88.9%2024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions221.7 per 1002024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions32.3 per 1002024 · Verified

Secure Internet servers6,425 per million2024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 190,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

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)

Reference: 2019