Demographic features of the population of Montenegro include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects.

Population size and structure

Population censuses

Structure of the population

Vital statistics

Source: Statistical Office of Montenegro (c) = 2023 population census preliminary results.

Current vital statistics

Marriages and divorces

Nationality/Ethnicity

Ethnic population 1909–20231

The vast majority (over 90%) of the population of Montenegro is of Slavic origin. Albanians make up 5 percent of the population (4.9% at the 2011 census), while there is also a small Romani minority (total 1.2% at the 2011 census). The Slavic population of Montenegro uses a large diversity in ethnic identities to describe their ethnicity. The 1909 official census of Principality of Montenegro - total 317.856 inhabitants During the first decades after WW II most Slavic people identified themselves as Montenegrins, with less than 2% Serbs and less than 2% Croats in 1948. During the last decades of the existence of Yugoslavia up to 5% of the population declared themselves Yugoslavs (South-Slavs). During and after the Yugoslav Wars the ethnic identity of the Serbs (and in general the political influence of Serbia) became increasingly important in Montenegro and at the 2003 census almost one third of the population identified themselves as Serbs. The Serbs live mostly along the borders with Bosnia and Serbia, while the Montenegrins live in the center of the country. The Slavic population are in majority Eastern Orthodox Christians, but there is also a large Muslim minority, unlike in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the majority identify as Muslim.

Ethnic structure by region

According to the 2011 census Source: Statistical Office of Montenegro According to the 2003 census (November 2003 data) Andrijevica total 6.384 Bar total 45.223 Berane total 40.885 Bijelo Polje total 57.124 Budva total 16.095 Cetinje total 18.749 Danilovgrad total 16.400 Herceg Novi total 33971 Kolašin total 9.975 Kotor total 23.481 Mojkovac total 10.274 Nikšić total 76.671 Plav total 21.604 Pljevlja total 36.918 Plužine total 4.294 Podgorica total 179.403 Rožaje total 27.562 Šavnik total 2.972 Tivat total 13.991 Ulcinj total 26.435 Žabljak total 4.245 This census witnessed the return of ethnic Bosniaks; although there are still people who declare themselves as ethnic Muslims. Also, there are very few people left who consider themselves Yugoslavs. Also a noticeable difference compared to 1991 census is the reemerging in the number of Serbs, from nearly 60,000 to 200,000 in a decade. Others include small ethnic groups of non-European/Slavic origins: Romani, Balkan Egyptians and Black Montenegrins.

Refugees from Kosovo

Linguistic structure

From 2003:

Religious structure

From 2003: