{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "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. The later medieval state of Zeta maintained its existence until 1496 when Montenegro finally fell under Ottoman rule. Over subsequent centuries, Montenegro managed to maintain a level of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it transformed into a secular principality. Montenegro was recognized as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. After World War I, during which Montenegro fought on the side of the Allies, 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 joined with Serbia, creating the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, shifting to a looser State 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 two-state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia barely exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally restore its independence on 3 June 2006. In 2017, Montenegro joined NATO and is currently completing its EU accession process, having officially applied to join the EU in December 2008."
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "42 30 N, 19 18 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Europe"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "13,812 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "13,452 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "360 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than Connecticut; slightly larger than twice the size of Delaware"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "680 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Albania 186 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 242 km; Croatia 19 km; Kosovo 76 km; Serbia 157 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "293.5 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "defined by treaty"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Zia Kolata 2,534 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Adriatic Sea 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "1,086 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "bauxite, hydroelectricity"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "38.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 12.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 24.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "40.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "21.4% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "24 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "Fresh water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Lake Scutari (shared with Albania) - 400 sq km<br>note - largest lake in the Balkans"
      }
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: <em>(Black Sea)</em> Danube (795,656 sq km)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "highest population density is concentrated in the south, southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "destructive earthquakes"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "strategic location along the Adriatic coast"
    },
    "Map description": {
      "text": "<p>Montenegro map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Adriatic Sea.</p>"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "604,966 (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Montenegrin(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Montenegrin"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "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.)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "Serbian 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%, Bosnian 5.3%, Albanian 5.3%, Serbo-Croat 2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 4% (2011 est.)"
      },
      "major-language sample(s)": {
        "text": "<br>Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) <br><br>Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Montenegrin/Bosnian)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      }
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "18.14% (male 57,402/female 53,217)"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "12.78% (male 40,220/female 37,720)"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "39.65% (male 120,374/female 121,461)"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "13.41% (male 40,099/female 41,670)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "16.02% (2020 est.) (male 42,345/female 55,351)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "51.1"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "27.3"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "23.8"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "4.2 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "39.6 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "38.1 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "41.1 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "-0.41% (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "11.19 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "10.33 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-4.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "highest population density is concentrated in the south, southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "68.2% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "177,000 PODGORICA (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "0.99 male(s)/female"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "0.96 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.69 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.97 male(s)/female (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "26.3 years (2010 est.)"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3.24 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "2.72 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "3.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "77.75 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "75.32 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "80.27 years (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.81 children born/woman (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "20.7% (2018)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 98.2% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 99.4% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 1.8% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current Health Expenditure": {
      "text": "8.3% (2019)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "2.76 physicians/1,000 population (2018)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "3.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 93.9% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 98% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 6.1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 2% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "(2020 est.) <.1%"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "(2020 est.) &lt;500",
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>estimate does not include children"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "(2020 est.) &lt;100",
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>estimate does not include children"
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "intermediate (2020)"
      },
      "food or waterborne diseases": {
        "text": "bacterial diarrhea"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "23.3% (2016)"
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "3.7% (2018/19)"
    },
    "Child marriage": {
      "women married by age 15": {
        "text": "1.9% (2018)"
      },
      "women married by age 18": {
        "text": "5.8% (2018)"
      },
      "men married by age 18": {
        "text": "3.2% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "98.8%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "99.5%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "98.3% (2018)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "15 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "15 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "16 years (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "36%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "33.6%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "39.7% (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; serious air pollution in Podgorica, Pljevlja and Niksie; air pollution in Pljevlja is caused by the nearby lignite power plant and the domestic use of coal and wood for household heating"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "20.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "2.02 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "0.75 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "38.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 12.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 24.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "40.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "21.4% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "68.2% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "forest revenues": {
        "text": "0.43% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "coal revenues": {
        "text": "0.12% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "intermediate (2020)"
      },
      "food or waterborne diseases": {
        "text": "bacterial diarrhea"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "332,000 tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "17,994 tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "5.4% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "Fresh water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Lake Scutari (shared with Albania) - 400 sq km<br>note - largest lake in the Balkans"
      }
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: <em>(Black Sea)</em> Danube (795,656 sq km)"
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "96.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "62.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "1.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Montenegro"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Crna Gora"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the country's name locally as well as in most Western European languages means \"black mountain\" and refers to the dark coniferous forests on Mount Lovcen and the surrounding area"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Podgorica; note - Cetinje retains the status of \"Old Royal Capital\""
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "42 26 N, 19 16 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "daylight saving time": {
        "text": "+1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name translates as \"beneath Gorica\"; the meaning of Gorica is \"hillock\"; the reference is to the small hill named Gorica that the city is built around"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "24 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Gusinje, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Petnijica, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Tuzi, Ulcinj, Zabljak"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "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 holiday": {
      "text": "Statehood Day, 13 July (1878, the day the Berlin Congress recognized Montenegro as the 27th independent state in the world, and 1941, the day the Montenegrins staged an uprising against fascist occupiers and sided with the partisan communist movement)"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "several previous; latest adopted 22 October 2007"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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; amended 2013"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Montenegro"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "10 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 20 May 2018)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Dritan ABAZOVIC (since 28 April 2022)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Ministers act as cabinet"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 April 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Milo DJUKANOVIC elected president in the 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%"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral Assembly or Skupstina (81 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 30 August 2020 (next to be held in 2024)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party/coalition - DPS 35.1%, ZBCG 32.6%, MNIM 12.5%, URA 5.5%, SD 4.1%, BS 3.9%, SDP 3.1%, AL 1.6%, AK 1.1%, other 0.4%; seats by party/coalition - DPS 30, ZBCG 27, MNIM 10, URA 4, BS 3, SD 3, SDP 2, AL 1, AK 1.; composition - men 57, women 24, percent of women 29.6%"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest courts": {
        "text": "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)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "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"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Administrative Courts; Appellate Court; Commercial Courts; High Courts; basic courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "Albanian Alternative or AA [Nik DJELOSAJ]<br>Albanian Coalition (includes DP, DSCG, DUA)<br>Albanian Coalition Perspective or AKP<br>Albanian List (coalition includes AA, Forca, AKP, DSA)<br>Bosniak Party or BS [Rafet HUSOVIC]<br>Croatian Civic Initiative or HGI [Adrian VUKSANOVIC]<br>Croatian Reform Party [Marija VUCINOVIC]<br>Democratic Alliance or DEMOS [Miodrag LEKIC]<br>Democratic Front or DF [collective leadership] (coalition includes NOVA, PZP, DNP, RP)<br>Democratic League in Montenegro or DSCG [Mehmet BARDHI]<br>Democratic League of Albanians or DSA<br>Democratic Montenegro or DCG [Aleksa BECIC]<br>Democratic Party or DP [Fatmir GJEKA]<br>Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC]<br>Democratic Party of Unity or DSJ [Nebojsa JUSKOVIC]<br>Democratic People's Party or DNP [Milan KNEZEVIC]<br>Democratic Serb Party or DSS [Dragica PEROVIC]<br>Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Mehmet ZENKA]<br>For the Future of Montenegro or ZBCG [Zdravko KRIVOKAPIC] (electoral coalition includes SNP and 2 alliances - DF, NP)<br>In Black and White [Dritan ABAZOVIC]<br>Liberal Party or LP [Andrija POPOVIC]<br>Movement for Change or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]<br>New Democratic Power or FORCA [Nazif CUNGU]<br>New Serb Democracy or NOVA [Andrija MANDIC]<br>Party of Pensioners, Disabled, and Restitution or PUPI [Momir JOKSIMOVIC]<br>Peace is Our Nation or MNIM [Alexa BECIC] (coalition includes Democrats, DEMOS, New Left, PUPI)<br>Popular Movement or NP [Miodrag DAVIDOVIC] (coalition includes DEMOS, RP, UCG, and several minor parties)<br>Social Democratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]<br>Social Democrats or SD [Ivan BRAJOVIC]<br>Socialist People's Party or SNP [Vladimir JOKOVIC]<br>True Montenegro or PRAVA [Marko MILACIC]<br>United Montenegro or UCG [Goran DANILOVIC] (split from DEMOS)<br>United Reform Action or URA [Dritan ABAZOVIC]<br>Workers' Party or RP [Maksim VUCINIC]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marija STJEPCEVIC (since 4 February 2021)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 234-6108"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 234-6109"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>usa@mfa.gov.me"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "New York"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Judy Rising REINKE (since 20 December 2018)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Dzona Dzeksona 2, 81000 Podgorica"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "5570 Podgorica Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-5570"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "+382 (0)20-410-500"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[382]&nbsp; (0)20-241-358"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>PodgoricaACS@state.gov<br><br>https://me.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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 a symbol of episcopal authority and harkens back to the three and a half centuries when Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "double-headed eagle; national colors: red, gold"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Oj, svijetla majska zoro\" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 2004; music based on a Montenegrin folk song"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "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)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "<p>Montenegro's economy is transitioning to a market system. Around 90% of Montenegrin state-owned companies have been privatized, including 100% of banking, telecommunications, and oil distribution. Tourism, which accounts for more than 20% of Montenegro’s GDP, brings in three times as many visitors as Montenegro’s total population every year. Several new luxury tourism complexes are in various stages of development along the coast, and a number are being offered in connection with nearby boating and yachting facilities. In addition to tourism, energy and agriculture are considered two distinct pillars of the economy. Only 20% of Montenegro’s hydropower potential is utilized. Montenegro plans to become a net energy exporter, and the construction of an underwater cable to Italy, which will be completed by the end of 2018, will help meet its goal.</p> <p> </p> <p>Montenegro uses the euro as its domestic currency, though it is not an official member of the euro zone. In January 2007, Montenegro joined the World Bank and IMF, and in December 2011, the WTO. Montenegro began negotiations to join the EU in 2012, having met the conditions set down by the European Council, which called on Montenegro to take steps to fight corruption and organized crime.</p> <p> </p> <p>The government recognizes the need to remove impediments in order to remain competitive and open the economy to foreign investors. Net foreign direct investment in 2017 reached $848 million and investment per capita is one of the highest in Europe, due to a low corporate tax rate. The biggest foreign investors in Montenegro in 2017 were Norway, Russia, Italy, Azerbaijan and Hungary.</p> <p> </p> <p>Montenegro is currently planning major overhauls of its road and rail networks, and possible expansions of its air transportation system. In 2014, the Government of Montenegro selected two Chinese companies to construct a 41 km-long section of the country’s highway system, which will become part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Cheaper borrowing costs have stimulated Montenegro’s growing debt, which currently sits at 65.9% of GDP, with a forecast, absent fiscal consolidation, to increase to 80% once the repayment to China’s Ex/Im Bank of a €800 million highway loan begins in 2019. Montenegro first instituted a value-added tax (VAT) in April 2003, and introduced differentiated VAT rates of 17% and 7% (for tourism) in January 2006. The Montenegrin Government increased the non-tourism Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to 21% as of January 2018, with the goal of reducing its public debt.</p>"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$11.36 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$13.39 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": {
        "text": "$12.87 billion (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2017": {
        "text": "4.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2016": {
        "text": "2.9% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2015": {
        "text": "3.4% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$18,300 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$21,500 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2018": {
        "text": "$20,700 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$5.486 billion (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "0.3% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": {
        "text": "2.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": {
        "text": "2.3% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "B1 (2016)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "B+ (2014)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "7.5% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "15.9% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "76.6% (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "76.8% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "19.6% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "23.2% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "2.9% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "40.5% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-63% (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "milk, potatoes, grapes, vegetables, tomatoes, watermelons, wheat, apples, cabbages, barley"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "-4.2% (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "167,000 (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "7.9%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "17.1%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "75% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "15.82% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2018": {
        "text": "18.8% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "36%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "33.6%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "39.7% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "24.5% (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015": {
        "text": "39 (2015 est.)"
      },
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2013": {
        "text": "32.3 (2013 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "3.5%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "25.7% (2014 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "1.78 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "2.05 billion (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-5.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "67.2% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "66.4% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "37.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2017": {
        "text": "-$780 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2016": {
        "text": "-$710 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$1.24 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$2.42 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Exports 2018": {
        "text": "$2.35 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Serbia 17%, Hungary 15%, China 11%, Russia 7%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 6%, Germany 6%, Italy 5%, Poland 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "aluminum, packaged medicines, cars, zinc, wine (2019)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$2.9 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$3.59 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      },
      "Imports 2018": {
        "text": "$3.67 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Serbia 30%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 8%, Croatia 8%, Italy 6%, Greece 6%, Germany 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, recreational boats, cigarettes (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$1.077 billion (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$846.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$2.516 billion (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$2.224 billion (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "currency": {
        "text": "euros (EUR) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "0.885 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2016": {
        "text": "0.903 (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2015": {
        "text": "0.9214 (2015 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2014": {
        "text": "0.885 (2014 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2013": {
        "text": "0.7634 (2013 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "3.045 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "2.808 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "914 million kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "1.21 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "890,000 kW (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "23% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "69% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "6,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "357 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "6,448 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2016 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "191,768 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "31 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "1,080,089 (2020)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "172 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "a small population, with a compact but modern telecommunications system and access to European satellites; fiber network is dominant platform; mobile penetration is high due to tourism; mobile broadband based on LTE even in rural areas; operators testing 5G in 2021; telecom sector in-line with EU norms provides competition, access, and tariff structures (2020)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "GSM mobile-cellular service, available through multiple providers; fixed-line over 30 per 100 and mobile-cellular 172 per 100 persons (2020)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments"
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "state-funded national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks;&nbsp;4 local public TV stations and 14 private TV stations; 14 local public radio stations, 35 private radio stations, and&nbsp;several on-line media (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".me"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "484,619 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "78% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "184,176 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "29 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "4"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "565,522 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "130,000 (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "4O"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5"
      },
      "2,438 to 3,047 m": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "914 to 1,523 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "1 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "1 (2021)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "250 km (2017)"
      },
      "standard gauge": {
        "text": "250 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (224 km electrified)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "7,762 km (2010)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "7,141 km (2010)"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "621 km (2010)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "17"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "bulk carrier 4, other 13 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Bar"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "the Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: joint force with land, air, and naval elements (2021)"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "1.7% of GDP (2020)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "1.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $130 million)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "1.4% of GDP (2018) (approximately $120 million)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2017": {
        "text": "1.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $110 million)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 2,000 total active duty troops (2021)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the inventory of the Armed Forces of Montenegro is small and consists mostly of equipment inherited from the former Yugoslavia military, with a limited mix of other imported systems; since 2010, it has received small quantities of equipment from Austria, Turkey, and the US (2021)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006 (2021)",
      "note": "note - as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "Montenegro officially became a member of NATO in 2017; Greece and Italy provide NATO's air policing mission for Montenegro"
    }
  },
  "Terrorism": {
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>Kosovo ratified the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in March 2018, but the actual demarcation has not been completed</p>"
    },
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "458 (mid-year 2021)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 21,484 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-May 2022)"
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "<p>drug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of large quantities of cocaine  destined for  European markets</p>"
    }
  }
}