Montenegro has natural resources, primarily bauxite, adequate water supplies, and a climate conducive to agriculture and tourism. During the last few years, Montenegro has begun creating a business-friendly investment climate. The lower VAT rate for tourism is to encourage growth in this strategic industry. Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector. There has been a rapid growth in tourism and tourism investments, particularly along the Adriatic coast. The Euro replaced the DM on March 31, 2002. According to official statistics the inflation rate in 2008 was 8.4%. The independent World Travel and Tourism Council repeatedly have ranked Montenegro as the top-growing tourism destination in the world, with growth estimated at 10% annually through 2016. On 2007, Montenegro has joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own membership in the World Trade Organization and signed a Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in 2007. On 2008, Montenegro has submitted an EU membership application.

The global financial crisis is likely to have a significant negative impact on the economy, due to the ongoing credit crunch, a decline in the real estate sector, and a fall in aluminum exports.
Key political and economic problems are unemployment and regional disparities in development.

Labor force:
259,100 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 167

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 30%
services: 68% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
14.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Population below poverty line:
7% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 113

Investment (gross fixed):
30.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Public debt:
38% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 69

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 104

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.24% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 101
9.09% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.172 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.446 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$3.083 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 89
$3.699 billion (31 December 2007)
$1.754 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:
tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes; sheep

Industries:
steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.708 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$6.988 billion (2008 est.)
$6.5 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.496 billion (2009 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
-4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
7.5% (2008 est.)
10.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$10,300 (2008 est.)
$9,500 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Electricity - production:
2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126

Electricity - consumption:
18.6 million kWh (2005)
country comparison to the world: 207

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2005)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Oil - consumption:
NA bbl/day

Oil - exports:
314 bbl/day (2005)
country comparison to the world: 130

Oil - imports:
6,093 bbl/day (2005)
country comparison to the world: 153

Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Natural gas - consumption:
NA cu m

Current account balance:
-$1.102 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Exports:
$171.3 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 183

Imports:
$601.7 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 183

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA

Debt - external:
$650 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 153

Exchange rates:
Euro (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7338 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005)