Montenegro

: This article is about the republic in Serbia-Montenegro, Europe. See also: Montenegro, Brazil or Montenegro, Colombia.

Demographics

Main article: Demographic history of Montenegro

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Ethnic composition according to the 2003 census:

Related Topics:
2003 - Census

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• Montenegrins: 267,669 (43.16%)
• Serbs: 198,414 (31.99%)
• Bosniaks: 48,184 (7.77%)
• Albanians: 47,682 (7.09%)
• Muslims: 24,625 (3.97%)
• Croats: 6,811 (1.10%)
• Roma and Egyptians: 2,826 (0.46%)

NB: Montenegrin and Serb identities are not exclusive and the size of each group varies with each census, due to political events and as people view themselves, on balance, as more one than the other. For example, a "Montenegrin" may view himself as a "Serb" as well, and vice versa. Of course, in both groups there are those who view themselves as belonging to one group exclusively. However the number of Montenegrins does seem to be in steep decline since the introduction of the category by the Communists on the 1948 census.

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In the constitution of Montenegro adopted in 1992, the official language of the republic was changed from Serbo-Croat to Serbian of the Ijekavian standard. As of 2003, 63.5% of the population declare Serbian their mother tongue, while almost 22% declare Montenegrin language. The used dialects are the same, very similar to those used by Serbs in Republika Srpska and Krajina, with slight nuances.

Related Topics:
Serbian - Montenegrin language - Republika Srpska - Krajina

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Over 74% of Montenegrins are Eastern Orthodox Christians, belonging to the Serb Orthodox Church. The anti-cannonical Montenegrin Orthodox Church was officially established in 1993. However, its following is small to the point of non-existence and it has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church. Its critics note the fact that it still has not built a single shrine to its name. 110,000 Muslims make up 17.74% of Montenegro's population. They are divided into three main groups: ethnic Albanians and Slavic Muslims split among Bosniaks and Muslims. Albanians are a separate group, speaking their own language (5.26%) and living mostly in the south-east, especially in Ulcinj, where they form the majority of the population. Bosniaks are Slavic Muslims speaking the Bosnian language and Bosniak language living mostly in the north. Finally, there are a few Catholic inhabitants, who live mostly in the coastal areas, particularly Boka Kotorska.

Related Topics:
Eastern Orthodox - Serb Orthodox Church - Montenegrin Orthodox Church - Albanians - Bosniaks - Muslims - Ulcinj - Bosnian language - Bosniak language - Boka Kotorska

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