Montenegro

Montenegrois a country inSoutheastern Europe, on theBalkan Peninsula.Its 25municipalitieshave a total population of 633,158 people in an area of 13,883 km(5,360 sq mi). It is bordered byBosnia and Herzegovinato the northwest,Serbiato the northeast,Kosovoto the east,Albaniato the southeast,Croatiato the west, and has a coastline along theAdriatic Seato the southwest.The capital and largest city isPodgorica, whileCetinjeis theOld Royal Capitaland cultural centre.
Before the arrival of the Slav peoples in the Balkans in the 6th and 7th centuries CE, the area now known as Montenegro was inhabited principally by people known asIllyrians.
During theEarly Medievalperiod, three principalities were located on the territory of modern-day Montenegro:Duklja, roughly corresponding to the southern half;Travunia, the west; andRasciaproper, the north.ThePrincipality of Zetaemerged in the 14th and 15th centuries. From the late 14th century to the late 18th century, large parts of southern Montenegro were ruled by theVenetian Republicand incorporated intoVenetian Albania.The nameMontenegrowas first used to refer to the country in the late 15th century. After falling underOttoman Empirerule, Montenegro gained semi-autonomy in 1696 under the rule of theHouse of Petrović-Njegoš, first as atheocracyand later as a secularprincipality. Montenegro's independence was recognised by theGreat Powersat theCongress of Berlinin 1878.
In 1910, the country became akingdom. AfterWorld War I, the kingdom became part ofYugoslavia. Following thebreakup of Yugoslavia, the republics ofSerbiaandMontenegrotogether proclaimed afederation. In June 2006 Montenegro declared its independence fromSerbia and Montenegrofollowing anindependence referendum, creating Montenegro andSerbiaas they exist today.
Montenegro has anupper-middle-income economy, mostlyservice-based, and is inlate transitionto amarket economy.It is a member of theUnited Nations,NATO, theWorld Trade Organization, theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, theCouncil of Europe, and theCentral European Free Trade Agreement.Montenegro is also a founding member of theUnion for the Mediterranean,and has been in the process ofjoining the European Unionsince 2012.
Montenegro's (/ˌmɒntɪˈniːɡroʊ,-ˈneɪɡroʊ,-ˈnɛɡroʊ/MON-tin-E(E)G-roh, -⁠AY-groh;Montenegrin:Crna Gora/Црна Гора;Albanian:Mali i Zi)English name derives from aVenetiancalqueof theMontenegrinphrase "Crna Gora", meaning literally "Black Mountain", deriving from the appearance ofMount Lovćenwhich was covered in dense evergreen forests.Crna Gorawas mentioned for the first time inedictsissued byStefan Uroš Ito theSerbian OrthodoxZetaEpiscopateseat atVranjina islandinLake Skadar.It came to denote the majority of contemporary Montenegro in the 15th century.
Modern-day Montenegro was more and more known by that name in the historical period following the fall of theSerbian Despotatein 1459.Originally, it had referred to only a small strip of land under the rule of thePaštrovićitribe, but the name eventually came to be used for the wider mountainous region after theCrnojević noble familytook power inUpper Zeta.The aforementioned region became known asStara Crna Gora'Old Montenegro' by the 19th century to distinguish the independent region from the neighbouring Ottoman-occupied Montenegrin territory ofBrda(the "Highlands"). Montenegro further increased its size several times by the 20th century, as the result of wars against theOttoman Empire, which saw the annexation ofOld Herzegovinaand parts ofMetohijaand southernRaška. Its borders have changed little since then, losingMetohijaand gaining theBay of Kotor.
After the second session of theAVNOJduringWorld War II in Yugoslavia, the contemporary modern state of Montenegro was founded as theFederal State of Montenegro(Montenegrin: Савезна држава Црне Горе /Savezna država Crne Gore) on 15 November 1943 within the Yugoslav Federation by theZAVNOCGB. After the war, Montenegro became a republic under its name, thePeople's Republic of Montenegro(Montenegrin: Народна Република Црна Гора /Narodna Republika Crna Gora) on 29 November 1945. In 1963, it was renamed to theSocialist Republic of Montenegro(Montenegrin: Социјалистичка Република Црна Гора /Socijalistička Republika Crna Gora). As thebreakup of Yugoslaviaoccurred, the SRCG was renamed to theRepublic of Montenegro(Montenegrin: Република Црна Гора /Republika Crna Gora) on 27 April 1992 within theFederal Republic of Yugoslaviaby removing the adjective "socialist" from the republic's title. Since 22 October 2007, a year after its independence, the name of the country became simply known asMontenegro. The country is known asMali i Zi(lit. black mountain) inAlbanian,while it is known asCrna Gorain Montenegrin, Serbian,Bosnian, andCroatian.
Modern-day Montenegro was part ofIllyriaand populated by the Indo-European-speakingIllyrians.TheIllyrian kingdomwas conquered by theRoman Republicin theIllyro-Roman Warsand the region was incorporated into theprovince of Illyricum(laterDalmatiaandPraevalitana).
Three principalities were located on the territory:Duklja, roughly corresponding to the southern half,Travunia, the west, andRaška, the north.Duklja gained its independence from the Byzantine Roman Empire in 1042. Over the next few decades, it expanded its territory to neighbouring Rascia and Bosnia, and also became recognised as a kingdom. Its power started declining at the beginning of the 12th century. After King Bodin's death (in 1101 or 1108), civil wars ensued. Duklja reached its zenith under Vojislav's son,Mihailo(1046–1081), and his grandsonConstantine Bodin(1081–1101).
As the nobility fought for the throne, the kingdom was weakened, and by 1186, the territory of modern-day Montenegro became part of the state ruled byStefan Nemanjaand was a part of various state formations ruled by theNemanjić dynastyfor the next two centuries. After theSerbian Empirecollapsed in the second half of the 14th century, the most powerful Zetan family, theBalšićs, became sovereigns of Zeta.
By the 13th century,Zetahad replacedDukljawhen referring to the realm. In the late 14th century, southern Montenegro (Zeta) came under the rule of theBalšić noble family, then theCrnojević noble family, and by the 15th century, Zeta was more often referred to asCrna Gora.
In 1421, Zeta was annexed to theSerbian Despotate, but after 1455, another noble family from Zeta, theCrnojevićs, became sovereign rulers of the country, making it the last free monarchy of the Balkans before it fell to theOttomansin 1496, and got annexed to thesanjakofShkodër. For a short time, Montenegro existed as a separate autonomoussanjakin 1514–1528 (Sanjak of Montenegro). Also,Old Herzegovinaregion was part ofSanjak of Herzegovina.
From 1392, numerous parts of the territory were controlled byRepublic of Venice, including the city ofBudva, in that time known as "Budua". 
The Venetian territory was centred on theBay of Kotor, and the Republic introduced governors who meddled in Montenegrin politics. Venice controlled territories in present-day Montenegro untilits fallin 1797.Large portions fell under the control of theOttoman Empirefrom 1496 to 1878. In the 16th century, Montenegro developed a unique form of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire that permitted Montenegrin clans freedom from certain restrictions. Nevertheless, the Montenegrins were disgruntled with Ottoman rule, and in the 17th century, repeatedly rebelled, which culminated in the defeat of the Ottomans in theGreat Turkish Warat the end of that century.
Montenegrin territories were controlled by warlike clans. Most clans had a chieftain (knez), who was not permitted to assume the title unless he proved to be as worthy a leader as his predecessor. An assembly of Montenegrin clans (Zbor) was held every year on 12 July in Cetinje, and any adult clansman could take part.In 1515, Montenegro became atheocracyled by theMetropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, which flourished after thePetrović-Njegošof Cetinje became the prince-bishop (whose title was "Vladika of Montenegro").
People from Montenegro in this historical period were described as Orthodox Serbs.
In 1858, one of the major Montenegrin victories over the Ottomans occurred at theBattle of Grahovac.Grand Duke Mirko Petrović, elder brother ofKnjaz Danilo, led an army of 7,500 and defeated the numerically superior Ottomans with 15,000 troops atGrahovacon 1 May 1858. This forced theGreat Powersto officially demarcate the borders between Montenegro and Ottoman Empire,de factorecognizing Montenegro's independence.
In theBattle of Vučji DoMontenegrins inflicted a major defeat on the Ottoman Army under Grand VizierAhmed Muhtar Pasha. In the aftermath of the Russian victory against the Ottoman Empire in theRusso-Turkish War of 1877–1878, themajor powersrestructured the map of the Balkan region. The Ottoman Empire recognised the independence of Montenegro in theTreaty of Berlinin 1878.
The first Montenegrin constitution (also known as the Danilo Code) was proclaimed in 1855. UnderNicholas I(ruled 1860–1918), theprincipalitywas enlarged several times in the Montenegro-Turkish Wars and was recognised as independent in 1878. Nicholas I established diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire.Minor border skirmishes excepted, diplomacy ushered in about 30 years of peace between the two states until the deposition ofAbdul Hamid IIin 1909.
The political skills of Abdul Hamid II and Nicholas I played a major role in the mutually amicable relations.Modernization of the state followed, culminating with the draft of a Constitution in 1905. However, political rifts emerged between the reigningPeople's Party, who supported the process of democratisation and union with Serbia, and those of theTrue People's Party, who were monarchist.
In 1910, Montenegro becamea kingdom, and as a result of theBalkan Warsof 1912–1913, a common border with Serbia was established, withShkodërbeing awarded toAlbania, though the current capital city of Montenegro, Podgorica, was on the old border of Albania and Yugoslavia. Montenegro became one of theAllied Powersduring World War I (1914–1918). In theBattle of Mojkovacfought in January 1916 betweenAustria-Hungaryand the Kingdom of Montenegro, Montenegrins achieved a decisive victory even though they were outnumbered five to one. The Austro-Hungarians accepted military surrender on 25 January 1916.From 1916 to October 1918 Austria-Hungary occupied Montenegro. During the occupation, King Nicholas fled the country and established agovernment-in-exileinBordeaux.
In 1922, Montenegro formally became theOblast of Cetinjein theKingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, with the addition of the coastal areas aroundBudvaandBay of Kotor. In a further restructuring in 1929, it became a part of a largerZeta Banateof theKingdom of Yugoslaviathat reached theNeretvaRiver.
Nicholas's grandson, the Serb KingAlexander I, dominated the Yugoslav government.Zeta Banovinawas one of nine banovinas that formed the kingdom; it consisted of the present-day Montenegro and parts of Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia.
In April 1941,Nazi Germany, theKingdom of Italy, and other Axis allies attacked and occupied the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Italian forces occupied Montenegro and established a puppetKingdom of Montenegro.
In May, the Montenegrin branch of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia started preparations for an uprising planned for mid-July. The Communist Party and its Youth League organised 6,000 of its members into detachments prepared forguerrilla warfare. According to some historians, the first armed uprising inNazi-occupied Europe happened on 13 July 1941 in Montenegro.
Unexpectedly, the uprising took hold, and by 20 July, 32,000 men and women had joined the fight. Except for the coast and major towns (Podgorica, Cetinje, Pljevlja, and Nikšić), which were besieged, Montenegro was mostly liberated. In a month of fighting, the Italian army suffered 5,000 dead, wounded, and captured. The uprising lasted until mid-August, when it was suppressed by a counter-offensive of 67,000 Italian troops brought in from Albania. Faced with new and overwhelming Italian forces, many of the fighters laid down their arms and returned home. Nevertheless, intense guerrilla fighting lasted until December.
Fighters who remained under arms fractured into two groups. Most of them went on to join the Yugoslav Partisans, consisting of communists and those inclined towards active resistance; these includedArso Jovanović,Sava Kovačević,Svetozar Vukmanović-Tempo,Milovan Đilas,Peko Dapčević,Vlado Dapčević,Veljko Vlahović, andBlažo Jovanović. Those loyal to theKarađorđević dynastyand opposing communism went on to becomeChetniks, and turned to collaboration with Italians against the Partisans.
War broke out between Partisans and Chetniks during the first half of 1942. Pressured by Italians and Chetniks, the core of the Montenegrin Partisans went to Serbia and Bosnia, where they joined with other Yugoslav Partisans. Fighting between Partisans and Chetniks continued through the war. Chetniks with Italian backing controlled most of the country from mid-1942 to April 1943. Montenegrin Chetniks received the status of "anti-communist militia" and received weapons, ammunition, food rations, and money from Italy. Most of them were moved toMostar, where they fought in theBattle of Neretvaagainst the Partisans, but were dealt a heavy defeat.
During German operation Schwartz against the Partisans in May and June 1943, Germans disarmed many Chetniks without fighting, as they feared they would turn against them in case of an Allied invasion of the Balkans. After the capitulation of Italy in September 1943, Partisans managed to take hold of most of Montenegro for a brief time, but Montenegro was soonoccupied by German forces, and fierce fighting continued during late 1943 and 1944. Montenegro was liberated by the Partisans in December 1944.
Montenegro became one of the six constituent republics of the communistSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia(SFRY). Its capital became Podgorica, renamedTitogradin honour of PresidentJosip Broz Tito. After the war, the infrastructure of Yugoslavia was rebuilt, industrialization began, and theUniversity of Montenegrowas established. Greater autonomy was established until theSocialist Republic of Montenegroratified a new constitution in 1974.
After the formal dissolution of the SFRY in 1992, Montenegro remained part of a smallerFederal Republic of Yugoslaviaalong with Serbia. In thereferendum on remaining in Yugoslavia in 1992, 96% of the votes cast were in favour of the federation with Serbia. The referendum was boycotted by opposition parties such as theLiberal Alliance of Montenegro,theSocial Democraticand Socialist Parties,as well as minority parties such as theDemocratic League in Montenegro,leading to a relatively low turnout of 66%.
During the 1991–1995Bosnian WarandCroatian War, Montenegrin police and military forces, under orders of president Momir Bulatovicand Interior MinisterPavle Bulatovicjoined Serbian troops in attacks onDubrovnik, Croatia.These operations, aimed at acquiring more territory, were characterised by large-scale violations of human rights.
Montenegrin GeneralPavle Strugarwas convicted for his part in the bombing of Dubrovnik.Bosnian refugees were arrested by Montenegrin police and transported to Serb camps inFoča, where they were subjected to systematic torture and executed.
In 1996,Milo Đukanović's government severed ties between Montenegro and its partner Serbia, which was led bySlobodan Milošević. Montenegro formed its owneconomic policyand adopted the GermanDeutsche Markas its currency and subsequentlyadopted the euro, although not part of theEurozone. Subsequent governments pursued pro-independence policies, and political tensions with Serbia simmered despite political changes inBelgrade.
Targets in Montenegro were bombed by NATO forces duringOperation Allied Forcein 1999, although the extent of these attacks was limited in both time and area affected.
In 2002, Serbia and Montenegro came to a new agreement for continued cooperation and entered into negotiations regarding the future status of theFederal Republic of Yugoslavia. This resulted in the Belgrade Agreement, which saw the country's transformation into a more decentralised state union namedSerbia and Montenegroin 2003. The Belgrade Agreement also contained a provision delaying any future referendum on the independence of Montenegro for at least three years.
The status of the union between Montenegro and Serbia was decided by areferendum on Montenegrin independenceon 21 May 2006. A total of 419,240 votes were cast, representing 86.5% of the electorate; 230,661 votes (55.5%) were for independence and 185,002 votes (44.5%) were against.This narrowly surpassed the 55% threshold needed to validate the referendum under the rules set by the European Union. According to the electoral commission, the 55% threshold was passed by only 2,300 votes. Serbia, the member-states of the European Union, and thepermanent members of the United Nations Security CouncilallrecognisedMontenegro's independence.
The 2006 referendum was monitored by five international observer missions, headed by anOSCE/ODIHRteam, and around 3,000 observers in total (including domestic observers fromCDT(OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE), and the European Parliament (EP) to form an International Referendum Observation Mission (IROM). The IROM—in its preliminary report—"assessed compliance of the referendum process with OSCE commitments, Council of Europe commitments, other international standards for democratic electoral processes, and domestic legislation." Furthermore, the report stated that the competitive pre-referendum environment was marked by an active and generally peaceful campaign and that "there were no reports of restrictions on fundamental civil and political rights".
On 3 June 2006, the Montenegrin Parliament declared the independence of Montenegro,formally confirming the result of the referendum.
On 28 June 2006, Montenegro joined theUnited Nationsas its 192nd member state.
Montenegro has been dominated since the breakup of Yugoslavia byMilo Đukanović(four-time prime minister and twice president), accused of having established anauthoritarianismandclientelistregime, while maintaining close relations withorganized crime.The massive privatizations of the Đukanović era lead to the enrichment of him and oligarchs close to him. His brother Aleksandar, owner of Montenegro's first private bank, oversaw the privatizations, while his sister, Ana Kolarevic, has long controlled the judiciary. The clientelist networks of the ruling party dominated all segments of social life. A party card was required to start a business or obtain a position in the administration. This policy also contributed to the reinforcement of regional disparities and social inequalities. Unemployment climbs to 36.6 per cent in the northern part of the country, compared to 3.9 per cent in the coastal region, while a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line (2018).
TheLaw on the Status of the Descendants of the Petrović Njegoš Dynastywas passed by the Parliament of Montenegro on 12 July 2011. It rehabilitated theRoyal House of Montenegroand recognised limited symbolic roles within the constitutional framework of the republic.
In 2015, the investigative journalists' networkOCCRPnamed Montenegro's long-time President and Prime MinisterMilo Đukanović"Person of the Year in Organized Crime".The extent of Đukanović's corruption led to street demonstrations and calls for his removal.
In October 2016, for the day of theparliamentary election, acoup d'état was preparedby a group of persons that included leaders of the Montenegrin opposition, Serbian nationals and Russian agents; the coup was prevented.In 2017, fourteen people, including two Russian nationals and two Montenegrin opposition leaders,Andrija MandićandMilan Knežević, were indicted for their alleged roles in the coup attempt on charges such as "preparing a conspiracy against the constitutional order and the security of Montenegro" and an "attempted terrorist act".
Montenegro formallybecame a memberofNATOin June 2017, despite attempts by Russia to sabotage it,an event that triggered a promise of retaliatory actions fromRussia's government.
Montenegro has been innegotiationswith the EU since 2012. In 2018, the earlier goal of acceding by 2022was revised to 2025.Legislation is being passed bringing Montenegro law in line with EU membership requirements.
In April 2018,Milo Djukanovic, the leader of the rulingDemocratic Party of Socialists(DPS), won Montenegro'spresidential election. The veteran politician had served as Prime Minister six times and as president once before. He had dominated Montenegrin politics since 1991.
Anti-corruption protestsbegan in February 2019 against Đukanović and the Prime MinisterDuško Marković-ledgovernmentof the rulingDemocratic Party of Socialists(DPS), which had been in power since 1991.
As of late December 2019,the newly adopted Law on Religion, whichde juretransferred the ownership of church buildings and estates built before 1918 from theSerbian Orthodox Churchto the Montenegrin state,sparked largeprotestsand road blockages.Seventeen oppositionDemocratic FrontMPs were arrested prior to the voting for disrupting the vote.Demonstrations continued into March2020 as peaceful protest walks, mostly organised by the Serbian Orthodox Church in the majority of Montenegrin municipalities.
In its political rights and civil liberties worldwide report in May 2020,Freedom Housemarked Montenegro as ahybrid regimerather than a democracy because of declining standards in governance, justice, elections, and media freedom.For the first time in three decades, in the2020 parliamentary election, the opposition won more votes than Đukanović's ruling party.In February 2022, that very same government was voted out in the first successful vote of no-confidence in the country's history.
In September 2022 an investigation linked six Russian diplomats with twenty eight Russian citizens holding temporary visas for Montenegro and two local citizens in a spy investigation. The diplomats were expelled.The Russian citizens were later banned from Montenegro and the two locals, one an ex-diplomat, face charges of illegal weapons, organising a criminal organisation and espionage.
In March 2023,Jakov Milatovic, a pro-western candidate of theEurope Nowmovement, won the presidentialelectionrun-off over incumbent Milo Djukanovic to succeed him as the incumbentpresident of Montenegro.TheEurope Nowmovement won the highest number of seats in the2023 Montenegrin parliamentary election.On 31 October 2023,Milojko Spajicof the Europe Now Movement became Montenegro's new prime minister, leading a coalition of  both pro-European and pro-Serb parties.
TheParliament of Montenegroin June 2024 adopted a resolution acknowledging the atrocities committed at theJasenovac concentration campduringWorld War II.This decision, spearheaded by pro-Serbian factions, is viewed as a response to Montenegro's earlier support for aUNresolution on theSrebrenica genocide.Croatiahas criticized the move, accusing Montenegro of politicizing historical events and warned that it could harmMontenegro's path to EU membershipand bilateral relations betweenCroatiaand Montenegro. The resolution has led to increased diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Montenegro features high peaks along its borders with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia. Its geography also includes a segment of thekarstof the western Balkan Peninsula, to a narrow coastal plain that is only 1.5 to 6 kilometres (1 to 4 miles) wide. The plain stops abruptly in the north, whereMount LovćenandMount Orjenplunge into the inlet of the Bay of Kotor.
Montenegro's large karst region lies generally at elevations of 1,000 metres (3,280 ft) above sea level; some parts, however, rise to 2,000 m (6,560 ft), such asMount Orjen1,894 metres (6,210 ft), the highest massif among the coastal limestone ranges. TheZeta Rivervalley, at an elevation of 500 m (1,600 ft), is the lowest segment.
The mountains of Montenegro include some of the most rugged terrains in Europe, averaging more than 2,000 metres (6,600 feet) in elevation. One of the country's notable peaks isBobotov Kukin theDurmitormountains, which reaches a height of 2,522 metres (8,270 ft) and was previously thought to be the country's highest point. In 2018, newtriangulationmeasurements showed thatZla Kolatain theProkletijemountains, which reaches a height of 2,534 metres (8,310 ft).Owing to the hyperhumid climate on their western sides, the Montenegrin mountain ranges were among the most ice-eroded parts of the Balkan Peninsula during the last glacial period.
Internationally, Montenegro bordersSerbia,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Kosovo,AlbaniaandCroatia. It lies between latitudes41°and44°N, and longitudes18°and21°E.
Montenegro is a member of theInternational Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, as more than 2,000 km(772 sq mi) of the country's territory lie within theDanubecatchment area.
The diversity of the geological base, landscape, climate, and soil, and the position of Montenegro on the Balkan Peninsula and Adriatic Sea, created the conditions for high biological diversity, putting Montenegro among the "hot-spots" of European and world biodiversity. The number of species per area unit index in Montenegro is 0.837, the highest in any European country.
Biological estimates suggest that over 1,200 species of freshwater algae, 300 species of marine algae, 589 species of moss, 7,000–8,000 species of vascular plants, 2,000 species of fungi, 16,000–20,000 species of insects, 407 species of marine fish, 56 species of reptile, 333 species of regularly visiting birds and a high species diversity of mammals are found in Montenegro.
Montenegro can be divided into two mainbiogeographicregions, which include theMediterranean Biogeographic Regionand theAlpine Biogeographic Region.It is also home to three terrestrial ecoregions:Balkan mixed forests,Dinaric Mountains mixed forests, andIllyrian deciduous forests.It had a 2019Forest Landscape Integrity Indexmean score of 6.41/10, ranking it 73rd globally out of 172 countries.
The total share of protected areas in Montenegro is 9.05% of the country's area, which mainly comes from the fivenational parks of Montenegro.
Montenegro is aparliamentaryrepresentative democraticrepublicwith acodified constitutionestablished in 2007. The constitution describes Montenegro as a "civic, democratic,ecologicalstate ofsocial justice, based on thereign of Law".Montenegro is amulti-party system.
ThePresident of Montenegrois the representativehead of state, elected for a period of five years throughdirect election. The President promotes the country internationally through diplomatic engagements, promulgates laws by ordinance, calls elections for theParliament, and ceremonially proposes candidates forPrime Minister, president and justices of the Constitutional Court to the Parliament. The President also ceremonially proposes the calling of areferendumto Parliament, grants amnesty for criminal offences proscribed by the national law, confers decoration and awards and performs other constitutional duties and is a member of the Supreme Defence Council. The official residence of the President is inCetinje. The incumbent president isJakov Milatovićwho has held the position since May 2023.
TheGovernment of Montenegrois theexecutive branchof government authority of Montenegro and led by thePrime Minister.The role of Prime Minister is the most politically powerful office in Montenegro. All of Montenegro's governments since 2006 have beencoalitionscomprising a minimum of threepolitical parties.The government is primarily based inPodgorica.
TheParliament of Montenegrois the country'sunicamerallegislature, located inPodgorica. The Parliament has power to appoint the government, passlegislation(parliamentary law) andscrutinisebills(proposed parliamentary law). It also appoints justices of all courts, approves the budget and performs other duties as established by the country's Constitution. Parliament can pass amotion of no confidencein the Government bysimple majority vote. One member of the Montenegrin parliament, known as a Deputy, is elected per 6,000 voters.There are currently 81 deputies. Elections to the Parliament are conducted by theD'Hondt method, a form ofproportional representation.
In 2019, Montenegro was described as ahybrid regime(a political system which combinesdemocraticandauthoritarianfeatures) according to theUnited States–basedFreedom House. The organisation citedstate capture, abuse of power, and strongman tactics by Prime MinisterMilo Đukanović(2008–2010 and 2012–2016) as explanations for its description as such.Đukanovićheld a number of senior government positions, including the Presidency, before and after the dissolution of the union between Serbia and Montenegro. In 2021, theEconomist Democracy Index(EDI) declared Montenegro as a "flawed democracy" and as of 2023,it remains regarded as such by the EDI.
Đukanović'spro-Europeanandpro-NATODemocratic Party of Socialists(DPS) narrowly lost the2020 parliamentary electionwhich ended the party's 30-year ruleand the pro-Serbia "For the Future of Montenegro" (ZBCG)parliamentary group, composed mainly of Serb nationalist parties, formed a government under Prime MinisterZdravko Krivokapic.Prime Minister Krivokapic's government was toppled in a no-confidence vote after just 14 months in power.
In April 2022, a newminority government, led by Prime MinisterDritan Abazović, brought togethermoderateparties that are both pro-European and pro-Serb. However, his government lost a confidence vote after only 113 days. Since Montenegro had been unable to find a government which could command the confidence of the Parliament,Abazovićremained in his post until theSpajić Cabinethad been formed after theParliamentary election which took place on 11 June 2023, where theEurope Now!party led byMilojko Spajićwon the most seats.In October 2023, a new minority government withconfidence and supplysupport fromZBCGenabledMilojko Spajićto become the new prime minister.
Montenegro is divided into twenty-five municipalities (opština).Each municipality can contain multiple cities and towns. Historically, the territory of the country was divided intonahijeand during the beginning ofSR Montenegrowas divided into counties (srez).
Regions of Montenegro—designed for statistical purposes by the Statistical Office—have no administrative function. Note that other organizations (i.e.Football Association of Montenegro) use different municipalities as a part of similar regions.
The Ministry ofForeign Affairswas given the task of defining the foreign policy priorities and activities needed for their implementation in cooperation with other state administration authorities, the President, the Speaker of the Parliament, and other relevant stakeholders.
The country joinedNATOon 5 June 2017.Integration into the European Unionremains a high-priority for Montenegro and has been the focus of Montenegrin foreign policy since its independence from Serbia.In June 2023, newly elected President Milatović stated that he expects Montenegro tojoin the European Unionby 2027 or 2028.
The currentConstitution of Montenegrowas ratified and adopted by theConstitutional Parliamentof Montenegro on 19 October 2007 in a session by achieving the required two-thirdssupermajorityof votes. It was officially proclaimed on 22 October 2007.
The Constitution defines Montenegro as a civic,democraticandenvironmentally friendlycountry withsocial justice, established by thesovereign rightsof its government.
The judiciary in Montenegro is composed of several courts, with the Supreme Court being the highest judicial authority. It oversees the uniform application of laws. Administrative Courts handle disputes related to public administration. The judiciary also includes Basic Courts (for minor civil and criminal cases), High Courts (for more serious cases and appeals), and the Appellate Court for reviewing lower court decisions.
The Constitutional Court is a separate body, tasked with safeguarding the constitution by reviewing laws and acts of public authorities to ensure their compliance with the Constitution.
Judges in Montenegro are appointed by the Judicial Council and serve until the age of 67. ThePresident of Montenegroappoints judges upon the recommendation of the Judicial Council. Additionally, the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro (Ombudsman) is appointed by the Parliament for a six-year term, ensuring the protection of human rights and social justice.
Montenegro has a relatively low homicide rate, with the rate fluctuating around 1.5 to 2.0 murders per 100,000 people in recent years.
Abortion in Montenegro is legal on request during the first ten weeks of pregnancy.
Discrimination on the basis of bothsexual orientationandgender identityis banned in employment, the provision of goods and services, education and health services. Montenegro also possesseshate crimeandhate speechlaws which include sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds of non-discrimination.
Since 15 July 2021, same-sex couples may register their relationship as aLife Partnership.
Law enforcement in Montenegro is carried out by several agencies under theMinistry of Interior.Civil law enforcement in Montenegrois primarily the responsibility of the Police Directorate, the national police force.Municipal police, known as Communal Police, enforce local laws in their respective municipalities.
Law enforcement in Montenegro is carried out by several agencies under theMinistry of Interior. 
The primary law enforcement body is the Montenegrin Police Directorate, responsible for crime investigation, maintaining public order, and general law enforcement. The Municipal Police assist with local law enforcement tasks, primarily focusing on traffic regulation and minor public order issues.Private security firms operate in Montenegro but have no legal authority to arrest or detain suspects.
TheNational Security Agency (ANB)is responsible for counterintelligence and internal security, while Interpol Montenegro collaborates with international agencies to counter transnational crime. Special units within the police, such as the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ), handle organized crime, terrorism, and high-risk operations.
An agreement signed with theEUeffective July 2023 permits EUFrontexborder management personnel to operate in Montenegro in support of local border police operating on other, non EU, borders in Montenegro.
Emergency services in Montenegro include medical services, firefighters, and search and rescue units, which are coordinated by the Directorate for Emergency Situations. Emergency medical services are operated by local health institutions but are overseen by theMinistry of Health.
Themilitary of Montenegroconsist of three professional service branches: theMontenegrin Ground Army, theMontenegrin Navyand theMontenegrin Air Force. The armed forces of Montenegro are managed by theMinistry of Defence, and controlled by the Chief of the General Staff. ThePresident of Montenegrois theCommander-in-Chiefof the armed forces, to whom members of the forces swear an oath of allegiance. The Armed Forces are charged with protecting Montenegro, promoting the global security interests and supporting international peacekeeping efforts.
Montenegro is a NATO member and a member ofAdriatic Charter.The government planned to have the army participate inpeacekeepingmissions through the UN and NATO such as theInternational Security Assistance Force.
Montenegro is the 35th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024Global Peace Index.
The economy of Montenegro is mostlyservice-basedand is inlate transitionto amarket economy. According to theInternational Monetary Fund, thenominal GDPof Montenegro was $5.424 billion in 2019.TheGDP PPPfor 2019 was $12.516 billion, or $20,083 per capita.According toEurostatdata, the Montenegrin GDP per capita stood at 48% of the EU average in 2018.
Montenegro joined theCentral European Free Trade Agreementin 2007 and has a free trade agreement with theEuropean Free Trade Associationsince 2012. TheCentral Bank of Montenegrois not part of the euro system but the country is "euroised", usingthe euro unilaterallyas its currency. Montenegro was ranked 65th in theGlobal Innovation Indexin 2024, up from 75th in 2023.
The Montenegrin road infrastructure is not at Western European standards. No roads meet full motorway standards. Construction of new motorways is considered a national priority, as they are important for uniform economic development and the development of Montenegro as an attractive tourist destination.
TheEuropean routesthat pass through Montenegro areE65andE80.
The backbone of the Montenegrin rail network is theBelgrade–Bar railway, which provides international connection towardsSerbia. A domestic branch line, theNikšić-Podgorica railway, operated as a freight-only line for decades, that opened for passenger traffic after reconstruction and electrification in 2012. The other branch line from Podgorica towards the Albanian border, thePodgorica–Shkodër railway, is not in use.
Montenegro has two international airports,Podgorica AirportandTivat Airport.
ThePort of Baris Montenegro's main seaport. Initially built in 1906, the port was almost completely destroyed during World War II. Reconstruction began in 1950. It is equipped to handle over five million tons of cargo annually, but has been operating at a loss and well below capacity. The reconstruction of theBelgrade-Bar railwayand the proposedBelgrade-Bar motorwayare expected to return operating levels to capacity.
In 2023 there is a plan to install anLNGterminal at Bar to receive gas imports.
A total of 2.1 million visitors visited Montenegro in 2022 spending 12.4m nights there.The majority of foreign visitors to Montenegro come from the neighbouring countries of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, as well as Russia.
The MontenegrinAdriaticcoast is 295 km (183 mi) long, with 72 km (45 mi) of beaches and many well-preserved ancient towns. Some of the most popular beaches includeJaz Beach,Mogren Beach,Bečići Beach,Sveti Stefan BeachandVelika Plaža.Meanwhile, some of the most popular ancient towns includeHerceg Novi,Perast,Kotor,BudvaandUlcinj.
National Geographic Traveler(edited once a decade) ranks Montenegro among the "50 Places of a Lifetime". Montenegrin seaside townSveti Stefanwas once used as the cover for the magazine.The coast region of Montenegro was considered one of the great "discoveries" among world tourists. In January 2010,The New York Timesranked the Ulcinj South Coast region of Montenegro, includingVelika Plaža,Ada Bojana, and theHotel Mediteranof Ulcinj, among the "Top 31 Places to Go in 2010" as part of a worldwide ranking.
The 2023 census reported 623,633 citizens.Montenegro is amultiethnic statewith no ethnic majority.Montenegrinsmake up 41.1% of the population,Serbs32.9%,Bosniaks9.45%,Albanians4.99%, andRussians2.01%.There is a significant number of other ethnic groups, includingRomani people,Croats,Ukrainians,Belarusians, andTurks.
Montenegrois one of 22 countries with aGHIscore of less than 5.
The official language in Montenegro isMontenegrin.Serbian,Bosnian,Albanian, andCroatianare recognised in official usage. Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian aremutually intelligibleasstandard varietiesof theSerbo-Croatian language. Serbian is the most spoken language in the country, as a plurality of the population at 43.18% consider it as theirnative language, while 34.52% speaks the Montenegrin language. There is also significant number of people speaking Bosnian (6.98%), Albanian (5.25%), andRussian(2.36%).
Montenegro has historically stood at the crossroads of multiculturalism, and over centuries this has shaped its unique co-existence between its Christian and Muslim populations.Montenegrins have throughout history beenEastern Orthodox Christiansthat are members of theSerbian Orthodox Church, which is governed by theMetropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoraland theEparchy of Budimlja and Nikšić.Eastern Orthodox Christianityis the predominant religion in Montenegro, with 71.1% of the population adhering to the religion.Meanwhile, the Serbian Orthodox Church is the largest and most popular church, with approximately 90% of Orthodox Christians in Montenegro following the church.Aschismaticchurch called TheMontenegrin Orthodox Church, which broke off from the Serbian Orthodox church in 1993, is followed by the remaining 10% of Orthodox Christians in the country. It also has not been officially recognized by theEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinopleand is not in communion with any other canonical Orthodox Christian Church.
Despite tensions between religious groups during theBosnian War, Montenegro remained fairly stable, mainly due to its population's perspective on religious tolerance and faith diversity.Religious institutions have guaranteed rights and are separate from the state. The second largest religion isIslam, practiced by 19% of the population. Montenegro has one of the highest proportion of Muslims in Europe and the third highest proportion among Slavic countries, behind only Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia. A little more than one-fourth of the country'sAlbaniansareCatholics(8,126 in the 2003 census) while the rest (22,267) are mainlySunni Muslims; in 2012 a protocol recognisedIslamas an official religion, which ensures thathalalfoods are served at military facilities, hospitals, dormitories and social facilities; and that Muslim women are permitted to wear headscarves in schools and at public institutions, as well as ensuring that Muslims have the right to take Fridays off for theJumu'ah(Friday)-prayer.Since the time ofVojislavljević dynastyCatholicism is autochthonous in the Montenegrin area.A small Roman Catholic population, mostly Albanians with some Croats, is divided between theArchdiocese of Antivariheaded by the Primate of Serbia and theDiocese of Kotorthat is a part of theCatholic Church in Croatia.
Montenegrin culture has been shaped most importantly by Orthodox, Ottoman (Turk), Slavic, Central European, and seafaring Adriatic cultures (notably parts of Italy, like theRepublic of Venice).
Montenegro has many significant cultural and historical sites, including heritage sites from the pre-Romanesque,GothicandBaroqueperiods. The Montenegrin coastal region is known for its religious monuments, including theCathedral of Saint TryphoninKotor(Cattaro under the Venetians), the basilica of St. Luke (over 800 years),Our Lady of the Rocks(Škrpjela), theSavina Monasteryand others. Medieval monasteries contain many artistically important frescoes.
One cultural dimension is the ethical ideal ofČojstvo i Junaštvo, "Humaneness and Gallantry".The traditional folk dance of the Montenegrins is theOro, the "eagle dance" that involves dancing in circles with couples alternating in the centre, and is finished by forming a human pyramid of dancers standing on each other's shoulders.
Television, magazines, and newspapers are operated by both state-owned and for-profit corporations that depend on advertising,subscription, and other sales-related revenues. TheConstitution of Montenegroguarantees freedom of speech. Montenegro's media system is under transformation, along with the rest of the country.
Sport in Montenegro revolves mostly aroundteam sports, such aswater polo,football,basketball,handball, andvolleyball. Other sports involved areboxing,tennis, swimming,judo,karate,athletics,table tennis, andchess.
Water polois the most popular and is considered thenational sport.Montenegro men's national water polo teamis one of the world'stop rankedteams, winning the gold medal at the2008 Men's European Water Polo ChampionshipinMálaga, Spain, and winning the gold medal at the2009 FINA Men's Water Polo World League, held inPodgorica. The Montenegrin teamPVK PrimoracfromKotorbecame a champion of Europe at theLEN Euroleague2009 inRijeka, Croatia. Montenegro came fourth in the men's water polo in the2016 Olympics.
Footballis the second most popular sport.TheMontenegro national football team, founded in 2006, played in playoffs forUEFA Euro 2012, its highest play appearance. TheMontenegro national basketball teamis known for good performances and won many medals as part of theYugoslavia national basketball team. In 2006, theBasketball Federation of Montenegroalong with this team joined theInternational Basketball Federation(FIBA) on its own, following theIndependence. Montenegro participated in twoEuroBaskets.
Among women sports,the national handball teamis the most successful, winning the country's first Olympic medal, claiming silver at the2012 Summer Olympics. This was followed by the2012 European Championshipwhich Montenegro won, becoming European champions.ŽRK Budućnost Podgoricahas twice won the EHF Champions League. Montenegro was one of the host countries for the2022 European Women's Handball Championshipand came third.
The first major influences to Montenegrin cuisine came from theLevantandTurkey:sarma,musaka,pilav,pita,gibanica,burek,ćevapi,kebab,đuveč, and Turkish sweets such asbaklavaandtulumba.Hungarian cuisineinfluencesstewsandsataraš. WhileCentral European cuisineis evident in the prevalence ofcrêpes,doughnuts,jams, many types ofbiscuitsandcakes, and various kinds of breads. Montenegrin cuisine also varies geographically; with the cuisine in the coastal area differing from that of the northern highland region. The coastal area is traditionally a representative ofMediterranean cuisine, withseafoodbeing a common dish. The traditional dishes of Montenegro'sAdriatic coast, unlike its heartland, have been significantly influenced byItaliancuisine.
42°30′N19°18′E﻿ / ﻿42.500°N 19.300°E﻿ /42.500; 19.300