Montenegro faces rising emigration and shifting migration trends

Recent census data from MONSTAT reveals significant emigration trends in Montenegro. Between 2021 and 2023, 13,110 citizens were recorded as living abroad, with the number of departures more than doubling in 2023 compared to 2021. Approximately 48.7 percent of those living abroad cited economic and business reasons for their departure, while 24.4 percent cited family reasons.

Demographic concerns are rising as nearly two-thirds of those recorded abroad are between the ages of 20 and 49, representing a loss of the country’s working-age population. While the total population showed a marginal increase of 0.58 percent between 2011 and 2023, experts warn that this does not account for the scale of internal migration.

Separately, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports a decrease in irregular migration through the Western Balkan route. During the summer months, the number of registered migrants in Montenegro dropped to between 100 and 150 individuals per month. The majority of these migrants are adult men, primarily from Sudan, Egypt, and Afghanistan.