Post by Bozur on Apr 23, 2009 13:02:58 GMT -5
Country profile: Montenegro
guardian.co.uk - 6 hours ago
Potted history of the country: One of the world's newest sovereign states, it became independent from the former Union of Serbia & Montenegro in 2006. ...
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Country profile: Montenegro
Facts and statistics on Montenegro including history, population, politics, geography, economy, religion and climate
* The Guardian, Thursday 23 April 2009
* Article history
Map of Montenegro.
Map of Montenegro. Source: Graphic
1. At a glance
2. Location: South-east Europe
3. Neighbours: Croatia, Serbia, Kosova, Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina
4. Size: 5,333 square miles
5. Population: 625,000 (164th)
6. Density: 117.2 people per square mile
7. Capital city: Podgorica (population 174,000)
8. Head of state: President Filip Vujanovi
Head of government: Prime minister Milo Đukanović
9. Currency: Euro
10. Time zone: Central European time (+1 hour)
11. International dialling code: +382
12. Website: www.vlada.cg.yu/
13. Data correct on Thursday 23 April 2009
Potted history of the country: One of the world's newest sovereign states, it became independent from the former Union of Serbia & Montenegro in 2006. From the 16th to 19th centuries it was a theocracy ruled by bishop princes and maintained independence from the Ottoman Empire. After the first world war it was absorbed into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became Yugoslavia in 1929. After dissolution, it federated with Serbia from 1992 until 2006.
Political pressure points: The coalition led by pro-Europe prime minister Milo Đukanović won more than half the votes cast in the early parliamentary elections last month. Đukanović is committed to accession to the EU, having filed an application in December 2008. Unemployment and regional disparities in development are key political concerns.
Population mix: Montenegrin 40.6%, Serbs 30%, Bosniaks 9.4%, Albanians 7.1%, ethnic Croats and Roma 4.3%
Religious makeup: Orthodox Christian 74%, Muslim 18%, Catholic 4%
Main languages: Montenegrin
Living national icons: Žarko Mirković (composer), Mirko Vučinić (footballer)
Landscape and climate: Located in south-east Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia, it has mountains, green alpine valleys and the dazzling blue of the Adriatic. There are also deep canyons and lakes and half the country is thick forest. A Mediterranean climate on the coast, with alpine conditions in the mountains.
Highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 metres
Area covered by water: 82.6 square miles
Healthcare and disease: The Montenegro Health System Improvement Project is currently reforming the health service, giving priority to increasing capacity for policy, planning and regulation, stabilising health financing, and improving primary healthcare service delivery. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer are the leading causes of death.
Average life expectancy (m/f): 72/77
Average number of children per mother: 1.8
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births: 14*
Infant deaths per 100,000 live births: 10
Adults HIV/Aids rate: 0.2%*
Doctors per 1,000 head of population: 2
Adult literacy rate: 97.65%
Economic outlook: Bright. The lifting of sanctions imposed in the 1990s restored access to international markets and capital. Annual economic growth since 2000 has been between 10% and 15%.
Main industries: Food, tobacco, metals
Key crops/livestock: Potatoes, maize, wheat, fruit, vegetables
Key exports: Aluminium, miscellaneous manufactured articles
GDP: £1,272m (141st)
GDP per head: £2,116
Unemployment rate: 30.3%
Proportion of global carbon emissions: 0.18%
Most popular tourist attractions: The Romanesque cathedral of St Tryphon in Kotor, the 16th-century Husein-Pasha Mosque in Pljevlja, the Baroque church of Our Lady of the Rocks on an islet in the Bay of Kotor.
Local recommendation: White-water rafting down the Tara river canyon in the majestic, mountainous Durmitor national park.
Traditional dish: Raštan (collard greens) with smoked pork
Foreign tourist visitors per year: 377,798
Media freedom index (ranked out of 173): 53
Did you know ... The country's names - both Montenegro (from Venetian Italian) and Crna Gora - translate as "Black Mountain," in reference to Mount Lovćen.
National anthem:
We love you, the rocky hills and their eerie gorges deep
That had never to endure the shameful chains of slavery
While our unity gives wings to our
Lovćen cause it shall brought the pride and glory to our beloved homeland
· Information correct on date of first publication, Thursday 23 April 2009.
* Statistics for Serbia and Montenegro (2005)
www.guardian.co.uk/country-profile/montenegro