Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Montenegro, representing 74.4% of the total population, with Eastern Orthodoxy as the largest denomination, which is adhered to by 71.1% of the population. In addition to Christianity, there is also a sizeable number of adherents to Islam at 20% of the population.
Montenegro has no official religion and freedom of religion is a right defined by the country's Constitution, which also defines all religious communities as equal before the law and separate from the state.
Demographics + 2023 census Religion Population %Eastern Orthodox 443,394 71.1Roman Catholic 20,408 3.2Protestant5680.1Christianity464,37074.4Islam124,66820.0Atheist14,2602.3Agnostic2,5240.4Other 22,859 2.8+ Historical preview Religion 1991 2003 2011 2023Eastern Orthodox 69.1 74.2 72.0 71.1Islam 19.2 17.7 19.1 20.0Roman Catholic 4.4 3.5 3.4 3.2Protestant 1.4 0.4 0.4 0.1Irreligious / Atheist 1.6 0.9 1.2 2.3Agnostic 0.07 0.4Other 0.1 0.07 1.0 0.1Udeclared/unknown 4.0 3.0 2.6 2.3
+Ethnicityby religionTotalMontenegrins SerbsBosniaksAlbaniansRomaCroats Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %Eastern Orthodox443,39471.1211,39882.4203,99099.3//510.14107.31573.0Islam124,66820.022,2928.7980.0458,85999.822,52072.75,09290.4//Roman Catholic20,4083.25,7952.21300.06//8,08526.1//4,58088.9Protestant5680.11960.0751 0.02//360.120.0100.02Atheist/Agnostic16,7842.711,2964.45870.3410.07700.2//2344.5
Christianity
Eastern Orthodoxy
Adherents of Eastern Orthodoxy in Montenegro are predominantly ethnic Montenegrins and Serbs. Ethnic Montenegrins are divided between a majority affiliated with the Serbian Orthodox Church and a minority affiliated with the canonically unrecognized Montenegrin Orthodox Church, while Serbs overwhelmingly adhere to the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Catholicism
Most Catholics are ethnic Albanians and Croats as well as some Montenegrins.
Islam
Islam is the largest minority religion in the country. Muslims in Montenegro are divided into two main groups, and further subgroups:
Bosnian-speaking ethnic Bosniak Muslim Other Slavic Muslims (ethnic Muslims), including Gorani, and other Slavs of the Muslim faith who identify by religion rather than by ethnicity. Albanian Muslims Albanian-speaking ethnic Albanian Muslims Romani people Islam is the dominant religion in the northeastern municipalities, which are part of the Sandžak geographical region, and in municipalities where Albanians form a majority. Islam is the majority religion in the municipalities of Gusinje, Petnjica, Plav, Rožaje, Tuzi and Ulcinj.
Judaism
According to the World Jewish Congress, there were approximately 400 to 500 Jews in the country in 2022.US State Dept 2022 report There is a high respect for the Jewish people and its contribution to the secular civilization. In 2012, the Prime Minister of Montenegro Igor Lukšić signed an agreement with the Montenegrin Jewish community to grant official recognition of Jews as a minority in Montenegro. The agreement also established Judaism as the country's fourth official religion, along with the Eastern Orthodox Church, Catholic Church and Islam.
Atheism
Religiosity is lowest in the Bay of Kotor region and the capital city of Podgorica. Municipalities with highest share of atheists are Herceg Novi (2.43%), Kotor (2.03%), Podgorica (1.99%) and Tivat (1.7%). In contrast, Rožaje has the fewest atheists, who make up only 0.01% of its population. For the purpose of the chart, the categories 'Islam' and 'Muslims' were merged; 'Buddhist' (.02) and Other Religions were merged; 'Atheist' (1.24) and 'Agnostic' (.07) were merged; and 'Adventist' (.14), 'Christians' (.24), 'Jehovah Witness' (.02), and 'Protestants' (.02) were merged under 'Other Christian'.
Religious freedom
Montenegro's laws guarantee the freedom of religion and outlaw several forms of religious discrimination, as well as establishing that there is no state religion in Montenegro. The government provides some funding to religious groups.
According to a 2017 survey conducted by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Office of the Ombudsperson of Montenegro, 45% of respondents reported having experienced religious discrimination.International Religious Freedom Report 2017 Montenegro, US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
In 2023, the country was scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom.Freedom House website, retrieved 12-4-2024
References
Sources
External links
Venice Commission (2015): Draft Joint Interim Opinion on the Draft Law on Freedom of Religion of Montenegro Venice Commission (2019): Montenegro: Opinion on the Draft Law on Freedom of Religion or Beliefs and Legal Status of Religious Communities Council of Europe (2019): Montenegro: Provisions on religious property rights include positive changes to out-dated legislation, but need more clarity, says Venice Commission Freedom of Religion or Belief in Montenegro: Conclusions (2019)