Montenegro Social Condition Facts

Social conditions

The paper contains a comprehensive social insurance system for government employees and their families. However, the war of the 1990s and the NATO bombing war of 1999 contributed to the demolition of the welfare systems, in particular the medical services, which are still suffering from major shortcomings. In the spring of 2016, the entire public health care system was collapsing due to underfunding and discussions were being held to raise more money through taxes on tobacco and alcohol, among other things.

Many new private clinics have been started, especially in larger cities, but most Montenegrins cannot afford to use them. It is common to pay bribes to doctors, even in public health care, to ensure the best possible treatment.

  • Countryaah Official Site: Official statistics for population in Montenegro, including population growth, density, and estimation in next 50 years.

In the fall of the Milošević regime in 2000, one third of the population lived below the poverty line and large sections of the population, including the many refugees, depended on humanitarian aid from international organizations to cover basic needs such as food, clothing and medicines. Since then, the situation has improved, but poverty is still widespread. Among the most vulnerable groups are the Romans. The income gaps are large between rural residents in the north with their outdated or abandoned industries, and the more prosperous coastal areas, with good income from tourism.

montenegro population

In the wake of the war, a great deal of crime emerged with trafficking in human beings, smuggling of drugs, cigarettes and weapons, corruption and the laundering of black money, problems that are now being tried with varying degrees of success.

Although the government in 2013 adopted an action plan against discrimination against LGBTQ persons, where, among other things, police, lawyers and medical staff receive special training, the public’s view of these is often intolerant. In the second largest city, Nikšić, for example, the police in 2015 banned three local pride parades with reference to security; in the capital Podgorica, however, such a could be carried out for the fourth year in a row in December 2016. Participants demanded, among other things, that gender-neutral marriage be allowed.

FACTS – SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Infant Mortality: 2 per 1000 births (2018)

Percentage of HIV infected: 0.1 percent (2018)

Proportion of HIV infected among young women

0.1 percent (2018)

Proportion of HIV infected among young men: 0.1 percent (2018)

Proportion of population with access to clean water: 97.6 percent (2015)

Proportion of the population having access to toilets: 97.8 percent (2017)

Public expenditure on health care as a percentage of GDP: 6.0 percent (2015)

Public expenditure on health care per person: US $ 532 (2016)

Proportion of women in parliament: 24 percent (2018)

2012

December

Đukanović again prime minister

Milo Đukanović is appointed prime minister for the seventh time. His representative, Igor Lukšić, becomes Foreign Minister.

October

Back for DPS of choice

The ruling center-left coalition wins the parliamentary election but backs somewhat and does not get its own majority in the legislative assembly (Skupština).

June

Membership negotiations start with the EU

The EU is launching membership negotiations with Montenegro, but at the same time calls for vigorous action against widespread corruption and organized crime.

April

Montenegro becomes a WTO member

Montenegro becomes a full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

January

Protests against increased electricity prices

Extensive demonstrations, organized by trade unions, among others, are taking place in the capital Podgorica at higher prices for electricity and fuel.