Montenegro

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.me

Internet users

total: 418,000 | percent of population: 64.6% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Telephone system

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 154,448 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 1.008 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Agriculture - products

tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheep

Budget

revenues: $1.56 billion | expenditures: $1.63 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.22% (31 December 2014 est.) | 9.36% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Current account balance

-$535 million (2015 est.) | -$699 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Debt - external

$1.576 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.433 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.2 (2013 est.) | 24.3 (2010) | country comparison to the world: 137

Economy - overview

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%.

Exchange rates

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.)

Exports

$370.2 million (2014 est.) | $489.2 million (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Exports - partners

Croatia 22.7%, Serbia 22.7%, Slovenia 7.8% (2012 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.039 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$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

GDP - composition, by end use

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.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 8.3% | industry: 21.2% | services: 70.5% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$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

GDP - real growth rate

4.1% (2015 est.) | 1.8% (2014 est.) | 3.5% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Gross national saving

14.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | 4.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | 5.1% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Imports

$1.982 billion (2014 est.) | $2.4 billion (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Imports - partners

Serbia 29.3%, Greece 8.7%, China 7.1% (2012 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

4.5% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Industries

steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2015 est.) | -0.7% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Labor force

263,200 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 5.3% | industry: 17.9% | services: 76.8% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$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

Population below poverty line

8.6% (2013 est.)

Public debt

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$599.6 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Stock of broad money

$1.982 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | $2.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$133 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$483 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $446.5 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Stock of domestic credit

$2.63 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.682 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Stock of narrow money

$749 million (31 December 2011 est.) | $783.3 million (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Taxes and other revenues

38.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Unemployment rate

18.5% (2014 est.) | 19.1% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

18 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - consumption

2.8 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - exports

600 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Electricity - from fossil fuels

24.6% of total installed capacity (20113 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

75.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Electricity - imports

900 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Electricity - installed generating capacity

900,000 kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Electricity - production

3.1 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014) | country comparison to the world: 169

Refined petroleum products - consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Refined petroleum products - exports

622 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Refined petroleum products - imports

5,987 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210

Area

total: 13,812 sq km | land: 13,452 sq km | water: 360 sq km | country comparison to the world: 162

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate

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

Coastline

293.5 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 1,086 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m | highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m

Environment - current issues

pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor

Environment - international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

42 30 N, 19 18 E

Geography - note

strategic location along the Adriatic coast

Irrigated land

24 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 680 km | border countries (5): Albania 186 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 242 km, Croatia 19 km, Kosovo 76 km, Serbia 157 km

Land use

agricultural land: 38.2% | arable land 12.9%; permanent crops 1.2%; permanent pasture 24.1% | forest: 40.4% | other: 21.4% (2011 est.)

Location

Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | continental shelf: defined by treaty

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources

bauxite, hydroelectricity

Population - distribution

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

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

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

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 22 October 2007; amended 2013, 2014 (2016)

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 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Srdjan DARMANOVIC (since 30 November 2010) | chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108 | FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109 | consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 6 April 2008) | head of government: Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 4 December 2012); note - DJUKANOVIC resigns 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%%

Flag description

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

3 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICC jurisdiction

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, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 3 years, other judges 9 years | subordinate courts: Administrative Courts; Appellate Court; Commercial Courts; High Courts; basic courts

Legal system

civil law

Legislative branch

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

National anthem

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

National holiday

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)

National symbol(s)

double-headed eagle; national colors: red, gold

Political parties and leaders

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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. 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.

Military branches

Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army of Montenegro (includes Montenegrin Navy (Mornarica Crne Gore, MCG)), Air Force (2011)

Military expenditures

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

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Age structure

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.)

Birth rate

10.2 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 8,520 | percentage: 10% (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1% (2013) | country comparison to the world: 133

Contraceptive prevalence rate

39.4% (2005/06)

Death rate

9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 47.7% | youth dependency ratio: 27.6% | elderly dependency ratio: 20.2% | potential support ratio: 5% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population | rural: 99.2% of population | total: 99.7% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0.8% of population | total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 65

Hospital bed density

4 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Languages

Serbian 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%, Bosnian 5.3%, Albanian 5.3%, Serbo-Croat 2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 4% (2011 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 98.7% | male: 99.5% | female: 98% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea | vectorborne disease: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (2016)

Major urban areas - population

PODGORICA (capital) 165,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Median age

total: 40.2 years | male: 39.3 years | female: 41.3 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.3 (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Montenegrin(s) | adjective: Montenegrin

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.4% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 79

Physicians density

2.11 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

644,578 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.35% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 222

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98% of population | rural: 92.2% of population | total: 95.9% of population | urban: 2% of population | rural: 7.8% of population | total: 4.1% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years | male: 15 years | female: 15 years (2010)

Sex ratio

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.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 41.1% | male: 42.3% | female: 39.7% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Urbanization

urban population: 64% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.34% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 3,262 (2015)

Airports

5 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 181

Airports - with paved runways

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)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

4O (2016)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

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

National air transport system

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)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Bar

Railways

total: 250 km | standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (169 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 126

Roadways

total: 7,762 km | paved: 7,141 km | unpaved: 621 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 142