party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People ::Montenegro
Population:
672,180 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16% (male 52,645/female 54,846)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 244,949/female 227,794)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 37,217/female 54,729) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.7 years
male: 35.2 years
female: 38.4 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.851% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 232
Birth rate:
11.14 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Death rate:
8.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Montenegrin
Ethnic groups:
Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other
(Muslims, Croats, Roma (Gypsy)) 12% (2003 census)
Religions:
Orthodox 74.2%, Muslim 17.7%, Catholic 3.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified
3%, atheist 1% (2003 census)
Languages:
Serbian 63.6%, Montenegrin (official) 22%, Bosnian 5.5%, Albanian
5.3%, unspecified 3.7% (2003 census)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Montenegro
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montenegro
local long form: none
local short form: Crna Gora
former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of
Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Podgorica
geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
21 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar,
Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi,
Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine,
Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak
Independence:
3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)
National holiday:
National Day, 13 July (1878)
Constitution:
approved 19 October 2007 (by the Assembly)
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 6 April 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC (since 29
February 2008)
cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet
elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 6 April 2008 (next
to be held in 2013); prime minister proposed by president, accepted
by Assembly
election results: Filip VUJANOVIC reelected president; Filip
VUJANOVIC 51.89%, Andrija MANDIC 19.55%, Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC 16.64%,
Srdan MILIC 11.92%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly (81 seats; members elected by direct vote for
four-year terms; changed from 74 seats in 2006)
elections: last held 29 March 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Coalition for European
Montenegro 51.94%, SNP 16.83%, NSD 9.22%, PZP 6.03%, other
(including Albanian minority parties) 15.98%; seats by party -
Coalition for European Montenegro 48, SNP 16, NSD 8, PZP 5, Albanian
minority parties 4
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (five judges with nine-year terms); Supreme
Court (judges have life tenure)
Political parties and leaders:
Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Coalition for European
Montenegro or DPS-SDP (bloc) [Milo DJUKANOVIC] (includes Democratic
Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC] and Social Democratic
Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]); Coalition SNP-NS-DSS (bloc)
(includes Socialist People's Party or SNP [Srdjan MILIC], People's
Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC], and Democratic Serbian
Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko KADIC]); Democratic League-Party
of Democratic Prosperity or SPP [Mehmet BARDHIJ]; Democratic Union
of Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSA]; Liberals and the Bosniak Party
(bloc) [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC] (includes Liberal Party of Montenegro or
LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC] and Bosniak Party or BS [Rafet HUSOVIC]);
Movement for Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; New Serb Democracy
or NSD [Andrija MANDIC]; Serbian List (bloc) [Andrija MANDIC]
(includes Party of Serb Radicals or SSR [Dusko SEKULIC], People's
Socialist Party or NSS [Emilo LABUDOVIC], and Serbian People's Party
of Montenegro or SNS [Andrija MANDIC]); Socialist People's Party of
Montenegro or SNP [Srdjan MILIC]
International organization participation:
CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Miodrag VLAHOVIC
chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roderick W. MOORE
embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [382] 81 225 417
FAX: [382] 81 241 358
Flag description:
a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the
Montenegrin coat of arms centered
Economy ::Montenegro
Economy - overview:
Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia
during the MILOSEVIC era and maintained its own central bank,
adopted the Deutchmark, then the euro - rather than the Yugoslav
dinar - as official currency, collected customs tariffs, and managed
its own budget. The dissolution of the loose political union between
Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several
international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development. On 18 January 2007, Montenegro
joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own
membership in the World Trade Organization and signed a
Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in
October 2007. On December 15, 2008, Montenegro submitted an EU
membership application. Unemployment and regional disparities in
development are key political and economic problems. Montenegro has
privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant industry - as
well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to attract
foreign direct investment in the tourism sector. The global
financial crisis is likely to have a significant negative impact on
the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.832 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$6.355 billion (2007 est.)
$5.804 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.848 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
9.5% (2007 est.)
8.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,100 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$9,300 (2007 est.)
$8,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
259,100 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 162
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 30%
services: 68% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
14.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Population below poverty line:
7% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 115
Investment (gross fixed):
30.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Budget:
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA
Public debt:
38% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 59
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 43
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.24% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 92
9.09% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.172 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.446 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$3.083 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 90
$3.699 billion (31 December 2007)
$1.754 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
grains, tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes;
sheepherding; commercial fishing negligible
Industries:
steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods,
tourism
Electricity - production:
2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - consumption:
18.6 million kWh (2005)
country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Oil - consumption:
bbl/day NA
Oil - exports:
313.6 bbl/day (2005)
country comparison to the world: 127
Oil - imports:
6,093 bbl/day (2005)
country comparison to the world: 152
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - consumption:
NA cu m
Current account balance:
-$1.102 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Exports:
$171.3 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 183
Imports:
$601.7 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 182
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA
Debt - external:
$650 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 160
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007),
0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::Montenegro
Telephones - main lines in use:
362,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
Telephones - mobile cellular:
735,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 147
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to
European satellites
domestic: GSM wireless service, available through 3 providers with
national coverage, is growing
international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect
the national system
Radio broadcast stations:
31 (station frequency types NA) (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (2004)
Internet country code:
.me
Internet hosts:
3,245 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 141
Internet users:
294,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 128
Transportation ::Montenegro
Airports:
5 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 182
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Railways:
total: 250 km
country comparison to the world: 126
standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2007)
Roadways:
total: 7,368 km
country comparison to the world: 146
paved: 4,742 km
unpaved: 2,626 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 6
country comparison to the world: 129
by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 3 (Bahamas 2, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bar
Military ::Montenegro
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army, Navy, Air Force
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 154,029
females age 16-49: 136,847 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,945
female: 3,907 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully professional
armed forces
Transnational Issues ::Montenegro
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,000 (Kosovo); note - mostly ethnic
Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999
IDPs: 16,192 (ethnic conflict in 1999 and riots in 2004) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Montenegro is primarily a transit country for the
trafficking of women and girls to Western Europe for the purpose of
commercial sexual exploitation; women and girls from the Balkans and
Eastern Europe are trafficked across Montenegro to Western European
countries
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Montenegro is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat trafficking in persons in 2007; public attention to the issue
of trafficking has diminished considerably in Montenegro in recent
years (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Montserrat (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Montserrat
Background:
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on
Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades
later. The British and French fought for possession of the island
for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a
British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy
was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century.
Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population
fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano
that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity
since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.
Geography ::Montserrat
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 102 sq km
country comparison to the world: 225
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills
volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere
Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)
Environment - current issues:
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note:
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three
major volcanic centers of differing ages
People ::Montserrat
Population:
5,097
country comparison to the world: 228
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.6% (male 731/female 678)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,599/female 1,738)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 232/female 119) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.5 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 28.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.392% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Birth rate:
12.36 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Death rate:
8.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 14% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.08 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 122
male: 12.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.76 years
country comparison to the world: 115
male: 74.74 years
female: 70.68 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.23 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups:
black, white
Religions:
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day
Adventist, other Christian denominations
Languages:
English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 137
Government ::Montserrat
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Plymouth
geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity;
interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the
Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat
Administrative divisions:
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
effective 19 December 1989
Legal system:
English common law and statutory law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July 2007)
head of government: Chief Minister Rueben MEADE (since 10 September
2009)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief
minister, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance
secretary
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party usually becomes chief minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected;
members serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney
general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members
elections: last held 8 September 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MCAP 6, independents 3
note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single
constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast
ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of
the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the
High Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for
Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's
Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow
harp with her arm around a black cross
Economy ::Montserrat
Economy - overview:
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper
on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997
closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and
social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the
island. Some began to return in 1998 but lack of housing limited the
number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack
of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects
for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the
volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. The UK
has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help
reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain
uninhabitable for another decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29 million (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
-1% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,400 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 23.1%
services: 75.7% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
NA
Unemployment rate:
6% (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million (1997 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 65
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.89% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 81
10.4% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$16.71 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
$17.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$45.42 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 123
$43.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$9.93 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 128
$5.537 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock
products
Industries:
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
22 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - consumption:
20.46 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - imports:
520.6 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - exports: