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.
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 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 161
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.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
20.7% (2018)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 98.2% of population
total: 99.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 1.8% of population
total: 0.6% of population (2020 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
rural: 93.9% of population
total: 98% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 6.1% of population
total: 2% of population (2020 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: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2021)
Environment
Environment – current 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
Environment – international 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
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.)
Urbanization
urban population: 68.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 19.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 2.02 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.75 megatons (2020 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.)
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)
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
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 19 March 2023 with a runoff on 2 April 2023 (next to be held in 2028); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly
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%
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, 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 fascist occupiers and sided with the partisan communist movement)
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 colors
red, gold
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 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)
$17.173 billion (2023 est.)
$16.149 billion (2022 est.)
$15.177 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 159
Real GDP growth rate
6.34% (2023 est.)
6.41% (2022 est.)
13.04% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 26
Real GDP per capita
$27,900 (2023 est.)
$26,200 (2022 est.)
$24,500 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 83
GDP (official exchange rate)
$7.531 billion (2023 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: 108
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 5.5% (2023 est.)
industry: 12.5% (2023 est.)
services: 62.2% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 75; industry 176; agriculture 112
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 73.1% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 17.9% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.6% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 8% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 50% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -68.6% (2023 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
2.8% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 105
Labor force
241,500 (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 174
Unemployment rate
14.1% (2024 est.)
14.6% (2023 est.)
14.9% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 181
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 37
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: 84
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
10.69% of GDP (2023 est.)
13.33% of GDP (2022 est.)
13.52% of GDP (2021 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: 61
Taxes and other revenues
37.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 14
Current account balance
-$1.389 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: 146
Exports
$3.634 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
$5.467 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: 147
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: 134
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.)
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
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
4O
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 a small, lightly armed military focused on 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 (2024)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 65,105 (Ukraine) (as of 29 January 2024)
stateless persons: 468 (2022)
note: 34,511 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2024)
Illicit drugs
drug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of of large quantities of cocaine destined for European markets
