Montenegro’s 2023 Census Reveals Significant Demographic Shifts
On Tuesday, Montenegro unveiled the results of its 2023 census, highlighting a notable change in the demographic landscape of the small Balkan nation. According to the data, approximately 41% of the population identifies as Montenegrin, marking a decline from around 45% in the previous census conducted in 2011. This shift indicates evolving national identities within the region.
The census also reported an increase in the percentage of citizens identifying as Serbs, which has risen by more than 4% to reach 33%. The detailed breakdown of the population’s ethnic composition is as follows:
- Montenegrins: 41%
- Serbs: 33%
- Bosniaks: 9.45%
- Albanians: 4.97%
- Russians: 2.06%
- Muslims: 1.63%
- Undeclared ethnicity: 2.88%
The findings were published by the Statistical Office of Montenegro (MONSTAT), which has the challenging task of compiling demographic data in a region where ethnic identity is a sensitive and often contentious issue. The complexities surrounding ethnicity and nationality play a crucial role in the political climate of Montenegro, especially in light of the historical context following the disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
Montenegro, which declared independence from Serbia in 2006, remains the last republic to separate from the former Yugoslav federation. Although relations between Serbia and Montenegro have been relatively stable, underlying ethnic tensions persist throughout the Western Balkans. As the population of Serbs in Montenegro continues to grow, this demographic change may influence pro-Serbian political movements within the country, alongside the sentiments of Montenegrin nationalists.