Montenegro
Montenegro proves that wealth isn't everything. Despite modest GDP, it achieves 0.862 in human development index, ranking #48 globally. See how this underdog defies expectations.
Montenegro is a country in Europe with a population of 599.8K and an area of 13,812 km². Life expectancy is 77.6 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Human Development Index
0.86The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Internet Users (%)
88.9%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Life Expectancy
77.6 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
34.2KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita
$27.9KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Life Expectancy
77.1 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
📡Mobile Subscriptions (%)
207.238The number of mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people.
❤️Health Spending (% GDP)
10.9%Total health spending as a percentage of GDP.
💰Unemployment Rate
14.1%The percentage of the workforce that is unemployed but actively looking for work.
🍻Spirits Consumption
3.22How many liters of spirits the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
🌱Forest Coverage (%)
61.5%The percentage of land covered by forests - natural or planted trees at least 5 meters tall (excludes orchards and urban parks).
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #4 globally in mobile subscriptions (%)
Mobile Subscriptions (%): 207.238
The number of mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people.
World Bank 2023Has one of the highest rates of child mortality
Child Mortality: 2.60
The probability that a newborn will die before age 5, per 1,000 live births.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #125 in railway length
Railway Length: 250
Total railway length from CIA World Factbook.
Ranks #19 in unemployment rate (lower is better)
Unemployment Rate: 14.1%
The percentage of the workforce that is unemployed but actively looking for work.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #158 in active military personnel
Active Military Personnel: 2.0K
Military and security service personnel strengths from CIA World Factbook.
Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Montenegro Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout 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.
- Location
- Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
- 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
- Natural Resources
- bauxite, hydroelectricity
- Natural Hazards
- destructive earthquakes
- Size Comparison
- slightly smaller than Connecticut; slightly larger than twice the size of Delaware
- Languages
- Serbian 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%, Bosnian 5.3%, Albanian 5.3%, Serbo-Croat 2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 4% (2011 est.)
- Religions
- Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.)
- 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.)
- Major Cities
- 177,000 PODGORICA (capital) (2018)
- Government Type
- parliamentary republic
- Capital
- Podgorica
- Capital Coordinates
- 42 26 N, 19 16 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Name Origin
- 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
- 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 Symbols
- double-headed eagle
- National Anthem
- "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
- 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
- Industries
- steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism
- Agricultural Products
- milk, potatoes, watermelons, grapes, sheep milk, cabbages, oranges, eggs, goat milk, figs (2023)
- Export Partners
- Italy 38%, Serbia 13%, Spain 6%, Slovenia 5%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 4% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- electricity, aluminum, copper ore, aluminum ore, packaged medicine (2023)
- Import Partners
- Serbia 21%, China 10%, Germany 8%, Croatia 6%, Italy 6% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- refined petroleum, cars, electricity, packaged medicine, aluminum (2023)
- Military Forces
- Army of Montenegro (Vojska Crne Gore or VCG): Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy Ministry of Interior: Police Directorate of Montenegro (2025)
- Military Service
- 18-30 for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006 (2025)
- Energy Mix
- 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.)
- 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)
Deep Dive
65 of 81 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
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Share something surprising about Montenegro!
The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Frequently Asked Questions about Montenegro
Montenegro has a population of 599.8K, ranking #170 globally by population.
Montenegro is located in Europe. It has an area of 13,812 km².
Life expectancy in Montenegro is 77.6 years, ranking #74 globally.
Montenegro's GDP per capita (PPP) is 34.2K, ranking #71 globally.
Montenegro ranks particularly high in Human Development Index (#48), Internet Users (%) (#70), Life Expectancy (#74).
Montenegro has an HDI of 0.862, ranking #48 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Montenegro has a population density of 46.4 people per km², ranking #156 globally.
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