World Factbook
Montenegro
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: a red field bordered with a narrow golden-yellow stripe; the Montenegrin coat of arms in the center is a double-headed golden eagle, with a crown above; the eagle holds a golden scepter in its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the eagle's breast shield shows a golden lion on a green field in front of a blue sky meaning: the eagle symbolizes the unity of church and state; the lion is a symbol of episcopal authority, a reference to the three-and-a-half centuries when Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy
Capital
name
Podgorica
note
note: Cetinje retains the status of "Old Royal Capital"
etymology
the Slavic name translates as "under the mountain," from pod (under) and gora (mountain)
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
geographic coordinates
42 26 N, 19 16 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
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
Country name
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
local long form
none
local short form
Crna Gora
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Montenegro
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)
Legal system
civil law
Government type
parliamentary republic
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)
subordinate courts
Administrative Courts; Appellate Court; Commercial Courts; High Courts; basic courts
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
Executive branch
cabinet
ministers serve as the cabinet
chief of state
President Jakov MILATOVIC (since 20 May 2023)
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%
head of government
Prime Minister Milojko SPAJIC (since 31 October 2023)
most recent election date
19 March 2023, with a runoff on 2 April 2023
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly
expected date of next election
2028
National holiday
Statehood Day, 13 July (1878, 1941)
note: the holiday celebrates the day in 1878 when the Berlin Congress recognized Montenegro as an independent state, as well as the day in 1941 when the Montenegrins staged an uprising against its occupiers
National color(s)
red, gold
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)
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
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
81 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament (Skupstina)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
6/11/2023
expected date of next election
June 2027
percentage of women in chamber
27.2%
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)
National anthem(s)
title
"Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May)
history
adopted 2004; music based on a Montenegrin folk song
lyrics/music
Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC
National symbol(s)
double-headed eagle
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 234-6109
chancery
1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 234-6108
chief of mission
Ambassador Jovan MIRKOVIĆ (since 18 September 2024)
consulate(s) general
New York
email address and website
usa@mfa.gov.me United States of America - Embassies and consulates of Montenegro and visa regimes for foreign citizens (www.gov.me)
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[382] (0) 20-241-358
embassy
Dzona Dzeksona 2, 81000 Podgorica
telephone
[382] (0) 20-410-500
mailing address
5570 Podgorica Place, Washington DC 20521-5570
chief of mission
Ambassador Judy Rising REINKE (since 20 December 2018)
email address and website
PodgoricaACS@state.gov 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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction