Montenegro - Profile

Name: Crna Gora (= Black Mountain)

Form of government: Parliamentary republic

Head of state: Jakov Milatović (2023)

Head of government: Milojko Spajić (Nov. 2023)

Area: 13,812 km²

Coastline: 260 kilometers

Capital: Podgorica (approx. 151,000 inhabitants excluding suburbs, 2011 census, formerly Titograd)

Other major cities: Nikšić, Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje, Bar, Cetinje, Herceg Novi, Budva, Ulcinj, Tivat;

Airports: Podgorica, Tivat;

National borders: Croatia (HR), Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), Serbia (SRB), Kosovo (RKS), Albania (AL);

Highest mountain: Bobotov Kuk in the Durmitor Mountains at 2,522 meters

Border mountains in the Prokletije Mountains to Albania: Zla Kolata (2,534 m) and Maja e Rosit (2,528 m);

Longest river: Tara at 141 kilometers Other major rivers: Drina, Lim, Zeta, Piva, Morača, Ibar;

Population: 642,550 (2017), almost as many Montenegrins live abroad as migrant workers;

Population density: 48.7/km²

Population: 45% Montenegrins,

29% Serbs, 8.5% Bosniaks, 5% Albanians, rest: Croats, Roma, Sinti, and others;

Religion: approximately 72% Serbian Orthodox, 16% Muslim, remainder: Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and followers of the unrecognized, independent “Church of Montenegro”;

Language: Montenegrin (also Serbian, Croatian, Albanian), both the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets are in use;

Independence: July 13, 1878 from the Ottoman Empire, June 3, 2006 from Serbia;

National holidays: May 21 – Independence Day (referendum day = vote by all eligible citizens), July 13 – Sovereignty Day;

Economic growth: approx. 4.2%

Inflation rate: 4.5% (2025)

GDP per capita: US$13,000 (2024)

Unemployment: approx. 9.13% (2024) However, the official figures do not come close to reflecting the high level of underemployment in the Montenegrin labor market. Numerous unregistered unemployed people are supported by their families working abroad. Average wage: approx. €750.00.

Climate: Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and moderate, rainy winters; alpine with heavy snowfall in the mountains.

Annual tourists: 2.5 million (2023)

National currency: Euro, 1 and 2 cent coins are not in circulation;

Time zone: UTC + 1 hour (=CET)

Car registration: MNE

Country code: +382 - Internet code: .me

Member: NATO, UN, WTO, OSCE, Council of Europe;