Statistical regions of Montenegro

Regions of Montenegro
Regioni Crne Gore
Regions of Montenegro; Regioni Crne Gore
Category	Statistical regions
Location	Montenegro
Number	3 regions
Populations	159,642 (Northern region); 309,556 (Central Region); 163,960 (Coastal region);
Areas	8,399 km2 (Northern region); 7,372 km2 (Central Montenegro); 1,591 km2 Coastal region;
Subdivisions	Municipality;

Statistical regions of Montenegro are defined, as of 2011, by the Montenegrin Regional Development Law (Zakon o regionalnom razvoju).^[1] The regions, as defined by law, roughly correspond to the informal and colloquial division of Montenegro, often used by the Montenegrin media and citizens.

Regions are not administrative divisions per se; they are used for statistical and analytical purposes, to help create the outline for more uniform economic development of Montenegro. This official definition of the regions of Montenegro is one of many definitions that are in everyday use in the country. However, this division into three regions is most widespread:

List

Name	Area (km²)	Population	No. of municipalities
Central region Централни регион Centralni region	4,917	279,419	6
Coastal Region Приморски регион Primorski region	1,591	146,784	6
Northern Region Сјеверни регион Sjeverni region	8,399	195,991	13

Central Region

This region consists of six municipalities. It is the most populous of the regions, and contains the capital of Podgorica, the historical capital of Cetinje, and the industrial center of Nikšić. Most of the Montenegrin economic, cultural, educational and administration base is located within the region.

Prominent tribal, historical and geographical subregions in the central region are: Nikšići (Župa, Rudine), Golija, Banjani, Grahovo, Krivošije, Brda (Piperi, Rovca, Bratonožići, Kuči, Bjelopavlići, Lijeva rijeka), Zeta (Upper and Lower), Skenderija, Malesija, Old Montenegro (Pješivci, Čevo, Cuce, Bjelice, Njeguši, Cetinje field, Ceklin, Komani, Zagarač, Lješani and Rijeka).

Municipality	Area		Population		Ethnic majority	Predominant language	Predominant religion
Municipality	km²	Rank	Total	Rank	Ethnic majority	Predominant language	Predominant religion
Cetinje	899	3	16,757	4	Montenegrin	Montenegrin	Eastern Orthodox
Danilovgrad	501	4	17,678	3	Montenegrin	Serbian	Eastern Orthodox
Nikšić	2,065	1	72,824	2	Montenegrin	Serbian	Eastern Orthodox
Podgorica	1,399	2	187,085	1	Montenegrin	Serbian	Eastern Orthodox
Tuzi	236	5	12,096	5	Albanian	Albanian	Roman Catholicism

Coastal Region

This southernmost region consists of municipalities with access to the Adriatic Sea. This region is mainly oriented towards tourism, and has a population of 146,784 (2003). Following municipalities make up the region:

Prominent tribal, historical and geographical subregions of the coastal statistical region are: Bay of Kotor, Grbalj, Budva riviera, Pobori, Brajići, Maine, Paštrovići, Spič, Crmnica, Bar, Mrkojevići, Ulcinj riviera and Skadarska Krajina.

Municipality	Area		Population		Ethnic majority	Predominant language	Predominant religion
Municipality	km²	Rank	Total	Rank	Ethnic majority	Predominant language	Predominant religion
Bar	598	1	42,368	1	Montenegrin	Montenegrin	Eastern Orthodox
Budva	122	5	19,170	5	Serb	Serbian	Eastern Orthodox
Herceg Novi	235	4	30,992	2	Serb	Serbian	Eastern Orthodox
Kotor	335	2	22,799	3	Montenegrin	Serbian	Eastern Orthodox
Tivat	46	6	14,111	6	Serb	Serbian	Eastern Orthodox
Ulcinj	255	3	20,265	4	Albanian	Albanian	Sunni Islam

Northern Region

Northern region comprises eleven municipalities and is the largest by area. It encompasses the sparsely populated mountainous part of Montenegro. With the decline of the heavy industries in the 1990s, the region has seen perpetual economic hardship and migration of the population to the two southern regions.

Prominent tribal, historical and geographical subregions of the northern statistical region are: Drobnjak (Uskoci, Jezera, Šaranci), Zatarje, Pljevlja, Piva, Brda (Morača (Upper and Lower), Vasojevići), Polja, Kolašin (Upper and Lower), Southern Sanjak, Plav and Gusinje, Bihor (Upper and Lower), Polimlje and Potarje.

Municipality	Area		Population (2023)
Municipality	km²	Rank	Total	Rank
Andrijevica	283	12	3,978	10
Berane	544	6	25,162	3
Bijelo Polje	924	2	39,710	1
Gusinje	486	8	4,662	9
Kolašin	897	3	6,765	7
Mojkovac	367	11	6,824	6
Petnjica	173	13	5,552	8
Plav	486	7	10,378	5
Plužine	854	4	2,232	12
Pljevlja	1,346	1	24,542	4
Rožaje	432	10	25,247	2
Šavnik	553	5	1,588	13
Žabljak	445	9	3,002	11

References

^ "Draft of Regional Development Law". - Montenegrin only

[1] "Draft of Regional Development Law". - Montenegrin only

[1]