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. 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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Geographic coordinates

42 30 N, 19 18 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total : 13,812 sq km

land: 13,452 sq km

water: 360 sq km

comparison ranking: total 161

Area – comparative

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

Area comparison map:

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

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: 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.)

Irrigated land

24 sq km (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

People and Society

Population

total: 599,849 (2024 est.)

male: 294,482

female: 305,367

comparison rankings: total 172; female 172; male 172

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.)

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.

Serbian audio sample:

Montenegrin/Bosnian audio sample:

Religions

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

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)

2024 population pyramid:

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.)

Median age

total: 41.1 years (2024 est.)

male: 39.5 years

female: 42.5 years

comparison ranking: total 54

Population growth rate

-0.44% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 219

Birth rate

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

comparison ranking: 165

Death rate

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

comparison ranking: 31

Net migration rate

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

comparison ranking: 203

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population: 68.5% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

177,000 PODGORICA (capital) (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.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

26.3 years (2010 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

comparison ranking: 165

Infant mortality rate

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

comparison ranking: total 202

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 75.8 years

female: 80.7 years

comparison ranking: total population 82

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 141

Gross reproduction rate

0.89 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)

total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)

total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

10.6% of GDP (2021)

16.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

2.78 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 93.9% of population (2022 est.)

total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 6.1% of population (2022 est.)

total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

23.3% (2016)

comparison ranking: 66

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.)

comparison ranking: total 23

Tobacco use

total: 31.6% (2025 est.)

male: 29.9% (2025 est.)

female: 33.1% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 17

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.7% (2018/19)

comparison ranking: 73

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.1% (2023 est.)

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)

Literacy

total population: 98.5% (2018 est.)

male: 99.1% (2018 est.)

female: 97.9% (2018 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years (2023 est.)

male: 15 years (2023 est.)

female: 16 years (2023 est.)

Environment

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

Urbanization

urban population: 68.5% of total population (2023)

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

Carbon dioxide 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.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 152

Particulate matter emissions

17.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

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.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 1.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Government

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

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”

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

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

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

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:
[email protected]

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

consulate(s) general: New York

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:
[email protected]

https://me.usembassy.gov/

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: 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)

National holiday

Statehood Day, 13 July (1878, 1941)

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

Flag description

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

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

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)

Economy

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)

$17.375 billion (2024 est.)
$16.862 billion (2023 est.)
$15.857 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 157

Real GDP growth rate

3% (2024 est.)
6.3% (2023 est.)
6.4% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 116

Real GDP per capita

$27,900 (2024 est.)
$27,000 (2023 est.)
$25,400 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 83

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.07 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 105

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 5.2% (2024 est.)

industry: 11.6% (2024 est.)

services: 62.1% (2024 est.)

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

comparison rankings: services 76; industry 176; agriculture 110

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

Agricultural products

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

Industrial production growth rate

-1.7% (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 158

Labor force

245,300 (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 173

Unemployment rate

14.1% (2024 est.)
14.7% (2023 est.)
14.9% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 171

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 25.9% (2024 est.)

male: 27.5% (2024 est.)

female: 23.6% (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: total 32

Population below poverty line

20.3% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

34.3 (2021 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 89

Average household expenditures

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

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 24.7% (2021 est.)

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

Remittances

10.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
10.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
13.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

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

Budget

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

Public debt

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

comparison ranking: 62

Current account balance

-$1.406 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

comparison ranking: 138

Exports

$3.629 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

comparison ranking: 149

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

Exports – commodities

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$5.478 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

comparison ranking: 148

Imports – partners

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

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

Imports – commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$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

comparison ranking: 130

Debt – external

$3.643 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 79

Exchange rates

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

Energy

Electricity access

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

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.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 85; imports 42; exports 36; consumption 146; installed generating capacity 133

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.)

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.)

Petroleum

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

Energy consumption per capita

63.407 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 80

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 190,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 119

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 1.31 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 203 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 162

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)

Internet country code

.me

Internet users

percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 203,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 122

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

5 (2025)

comparison ranking: 178

Heliports

1 (2025)

comparison ranking: 162

Railways

total: 250 km (2017)

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

Merchant marine

total: 18 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 4, other 14

comparison ranking: total 148

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

Military and 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

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)

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

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)

Military service age and obligation

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

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)