Unemployment rate in Montenegro
Montenegro: Unemployment rate was 13.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Montenegro, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Montenegro stood at 13.6%.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Montenegro peaked at 30.5% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 13.1%, in 2023.
That places Montenegro 19th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Montenegro, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 30.1% | — |
| 1992 | 30.2% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 30.2% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 30.2% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 30.2% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 30.2% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 30.2% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 30.2% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 30.5% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 30.4% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 30.5% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 30.4% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 30.4% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 30.3% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 30.3% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 24.8% | -18.1% |
| 2007 | 19.4% | -21.8% |
| 2008 | 17.1% | -11.6% |
| 2009 | 19.1% | +11.3% |
| 2010 | 19.6% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 19.8% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 19.8% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 19.6% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 18.1% | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 17.6% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 17.7% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 16.1% | -9.3% |
| 2018 | 15.2% | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 15.1% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 17.9% | +18.2% |
| 2021 | 16.5% | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 14.9% | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 13.1% | -11.5% |
| 2024 | 13.2% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 13.6% | +2.8% |
Montenegro compared with similar countries
- Montenegro's 13.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 2.4× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Montenegro's 13.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.2% | 30.1% | 30.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.3% | 17.1% | 30.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.9% | 15.1% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.9% | 13.1% | 17.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Montenegro
More work & labour data for Montenegro
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.13 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.14 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.7 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.0301 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 454.35 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 133.55 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 159.71 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 166.3 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 326.01 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Montenegro?
- Unemployment rate in Montenegro was 13.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Montenegro?
- The highest recorded value was 30.5% in 2001.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Montenegro?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.1% in 2023.
- How does Montenegro rank for unemployment rate?
- Montenegro ranks 19th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Montenegro?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Montenegro data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.