Language in Montenegro

The 2023 census recorded 623,633 residents and allowed people to declare their language freely. Serbian was declared as a mother tongue by 43.18% of residents, Montenegrin by 34.52%, Bosnian by 6.97%, Albanian by 5.25%, Russian by 2.36%, Serbian-Croatian by 2.08%, Romani by 0.75% and Croatian by 0.35%. Reported spoken-language figures differ slightly: Serbian accounted for 43.52%, Montenegrin 36.23%, Bosnian 6.68%, Albanian 4.49%, Russian 2.21%, Serbian-Croatian 1.51%, Romani 0.32% and Croatian 0.26%. These figures describe language declarations and use, not ethnic identity. Montenegrin belongs to a mainly ijekavian Štokavian language continuum. Northwestern speech is associated with Eastern Herzegovinian varieties, while southern and southeastern areas include Zeta-Lovćen, Zeta-Sjenica, Zeta-South Sandžak and Zeta-Upper Polimlje varieties. Bokeljski is used as a local census description but has no separate constitutional official status. Montenegrin is especially prominent in Cetinje; Serbian is widely used in northern and central municipalities; Bosnian is particularly common in Rožaje, Plav, Petnjica and Gusinje; and Albanian has strong local use in Tuzi, Ulcinj, Gusinje and Plav. Public authorities use the official-language rules set by the Constitution and laws on minority rights. At the local-government level, minority-language use can apply where a minority forms a majority or a substantial share of the population; in practice, the relevant threshold is generally assessed at 5% using the two latest censuses. Depending on the municipality and available staff, this can cover procedures, public documents, registers, election materials, personal names, scripts and bilingual signs for streets and places. The Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, state bodies and local self-government bodies share responsibilities. The legal framework does not provide a single nationwide user fee or service deadline for language assistance, and implementation can vary because of staffing, resources and limited monitoring. Montenegrin is the regular teaching language, while Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian can also be used for instruction. Minority-language education can be provided fully in the relevant language, with Montenegrin and its script also taught. Albanian-language schools are particularly present in Tuzi, Ulcinj, Plav and Gusinje. Romani still has no regular formal school pathway, although the first Romani court interpreter was recorded on 5 November 2024 and a Romani-Montenegrin and Montenegrin-Romani dictionary was published in 2023. Montenegro has participated in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages since 6 June 2006. Albanian and Romani receive protection under Parts II and III, while Bosnian and Croatian receive protection under Part II. In 2025, no municipality had formally introduced Romani for official use. Support for Romani therefore remains mainly informal or project-based, unlike the more established pathways for the other officially used languages. Minority communities may establish their own media. Public media founded in Montenegro are expected to provide appropriate programming in minority languages, including news, culture, education, sport and entertainment, and to present minority life, culture and identity at least monthly in the relevant official language. RTCG and local public broadcasters are central providers, while translation and subtitles depend partly on available budgets. Minority councils, the Fund for the Protection and Exercise of Minority Rights and the Center for Preservation and Development of Minority Culture support publications, periodicals, literature, cultural events and language revitalization. The Strategy for Minority Policy 2024–2028 includes language-use goals. Minority councils can advise on curricula and support cultural and language projects. Minority participation also extends to local development planning, budgets, spatial planning and public debates, alongside representation mechanisms in Parliament, public services and state and local bodies. Among residents aged 15 and over, English was reported as known by 37.97%, Russian by 7.46%, Italian by 4.83%, German by 3.72%, French by 2.01% and Spanish by 1.02%; these foreign languages are functionally useful but do not have official-language status.