Montenegro
republicIndependence 3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)
Montenegro as the 2012 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 135 fields, one of 20 editions from 2006 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta; over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality. After World War I, 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, first as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser 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 exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June 2006.
Geography
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
18 fieldsLand useshare of 13,812 sq km
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
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
People and Society
20 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2012 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2003 census)
Religions(2003 census)
Languages
Serbian 63.6%, Montenegrin (official) 22%, Bosnian 5.5%, Albanian 5.3%, unspecified (includes Croatian) 3.7% (2003 census)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.07 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 0.95 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.08 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.66 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- intermediate
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial diarrhea
- vectorborne disease:
- Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (2009)
Government
Republic; President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 6 April 2008); Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 4 December 2012)
20 fieldsAssembly, 81 seats, elected 14 October 2012one dot, one seat
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
Capital
- name:
- Podgorica; note - the Old Royal Capital is Cetinje mentioned in the constitution
- 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
Administrative divisions
- 21 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina);
- Andrijevica, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICC jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 6 April 2008)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 4 December 2012)
- cabinet:
- Ministries act as cabinet; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- president elected by direct vote for five-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held on 6 April 2008 (next to be held in 2013);
- prime minister proposed by president, accepted by Assembly
- election results:
- Filip VUJANOVIC reelected president; Filip VUJANOVIC 51.9%, Andrija MANDIC 19.6%, Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC 16.6%, Srdan MILIC 11.9%
Legislative branch
unicameral Assembly (81 seats; members elected by direct vote to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 14 October 2012 (next to be held by 2016)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 45.6%, Democratic Front 22.8%, SNP 11.1%, Positive Montenegro 8.2%, Bosniak Party, 4.2%, other (including Albanian and Croatian minority parties) 8.1%;
- seats by party - Coalition for European Montenegro 39, Democratic Front 20, SNP 9, Positive Montenegro 7, Bosniak Party 3, Albanian and Croatian minority parties 3
Judicial branch
Constitutional Court (five judges serve nine-year terms); Supreme Court (judges have life tenure)
Political parties and leaders
- Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ];
- Bosniak Party or BS [Rafet HUSOVIC];
- Coalition for European Montenegro (bloc) [Milo DJUKANOVIC] (includes Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC], Social Democratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC], and the Liberal Party of Montenegro or LP [Andrija POPOVIC]);
- Croatian Civic Initiative or HGI [Marija VUCINOVIC];
- Democratic Center or DC [Goran BATRICEVIC];
- Democratic Front (bloc) [Miodrag LEKIC] (includes New Serb Democracy or NOVA [Andrija POPOVIC], Movement for Change or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC], a dissident faction of the Socialist People's Party, and the Democratic Party of Unity [Zoran ZIZIC]);
- Democratic League-Party of Democratic Prosperity [Mehmet BARDHIJ];
- Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC];
- Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Mehmet ZENKA];
- FORCA [Nazif CUNGU];
- People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC];
- Positive Montenegro [Darko PAJOVIC];
- Socialist People's Party or SNP [Srdjan MILIC]
International organization participation
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Srdjan DARMANOVIC
- chancery:
- 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 234-6108
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 234-6109
- consulate(s) general:
- New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Sue K BROWN
- embassy:
- Dzona Dzeksona 2, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
- mailing address:
- use embassy street address
- telephone:
- [382] 20 410 500
- FAX:
- [382] 20 241 358
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 symbol of episcopal authority and harks back to the three and a half centuries that Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy
National anthem
- name:
- "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May)
- lyrics/music:
- Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC
note: adopted 2004; the anthem's music is based on a Montenegrin folk song
Economy
Montenegro's economy is transitioning to a market system, but the state sector remains large and additional institutional changes are needed.
32 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2011)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Economy - overview
Montenegro's economy is transitioning to a market system, but the state sector remains large and additional institutional changes are needed. The economy relies heavily on tourism and the export of refined metals. Unprofitable state-owned enterprises weigh on public finances. Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and maintained its own central bank, adopted the deutsch mark, then the euro - rather than the Yugoslav dinar - as official currency, collected customs tariffs, and managed its own budget.
The dissolution of the loose political union between Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In January 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro became the 156th member of World Trade Organization in December 2011.
The European Council (EC) granted candidate country status to Montenegro at the December 2010 session. 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.
Unemployment and regional disparities in development are key political and economic problems. Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector.
The global financial crisis had a significant negative impact on the economy, due to the ongoing credit crunch, a decline in the real estate sector, and a fall in aluminum exports. In 2012, real GDP growth slipped to 0.2%, reflecting the general downturn in most of Europe.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
24.3 (2010) · 30 (2003) country comparison to the world: 135
Public debt
45% of GDP (2011 est.) · 38% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 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 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
Commercial bank prime lending rate
9.69% (31 December 2011 est.) · 9.53% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Stock of narrow money
$749 million (31 December 2011 est.) · $783.3 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Stock of broad money
$1.982 billion (31 December 2011 est.) · $2.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Stock of domestic credit
$3.29 billion (31 December 2009) · $3.771 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 128
Current account balance
-$1.927 billion (2011 est.) · -$1.102 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$400 million (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 149
Debt - external
$1.2 billion (2011 est.) · $650 million (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) · 0.7185 (2011 est.) · 755 (2010 est.) · 0.7198 (2009 est.) · 0.6827 (2008 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 868,000 kW(2009 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
1.941 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone 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
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)
Transportation
8 fieldsMerchant marine, 2 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 250 km
country comparison to the world: 124
- standard gauge:
- 250 km 1.435-m gauge (169 km electrified) (2007)
Military
Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army of Montenegro (includes Montenegrin Navy (Mornarica Crne Gore, MCG)), Air Force (2011)
4 fieldsMilitary branches
Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army of Montenegro (includes Montenegrin Navy (Mornarica Crne Gore, MCG)), Air Force (2011)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Montenegro.” The World Factbook 2012. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/montenegro/2012.