Montenegro Fact File
Montenegro’s name dates from the Middle Ages when it was under Venetian rule. Monte negro means ‘black mountain’. This refers to the dark forests once covering the slopes of the Dinaric Alps, as seen from the Adriatic Sea.
Area: 5382 square miles.
Neighbouring countries: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania.
Environment: Montenegro’s climate is Mediterranean, and its terrain mostly mountainous (Bobotov Kuk 2522 m).
Population: 678,000.
Ethnic groups: Montenegrin 43%;
Serbian 32%; Bosniak 8%; Albanian 5%; others (Muslims, Croats, Roma) 12%.
Language: Montenegrin (official),
Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian, Croatian.
Capital: Podgorica.
Economy: With bauxite as an important natural resource, aluminium production is a dominant industry. Other important industries include mining, steelmaking, agriculture (grapes, olives and tobacco) and forestry. Tourism is important. Unemployment remains high at about 15%.
Religion: Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic.
History: Montenegro was absorbed into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II it became part of the communist Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter disintegrated in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia. In 2006 Montenegro voted to become independent of Serbia.
