The Socialist Republic of Montenegro ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Socijalistička Republika Crna Gora, Социјалистичка Република Црна Гора), commonly referred to as Socialist Montenegro or simply Montenegro, was one of the six republics forming the

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (commonly abbreviated as SFRY or SFR Yugoslavia), known from 1945 to 1963 as the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as Socialist Yugoslavia or simply Yugoslavia, was a country ...

and the

nation state A nation state, or nation-state, is a political entity in which the State (polity), state (a centralized political organization ruling over a population within a territory) and the nation (a community based on a common identity) are (broadly ...

of the

Montenegrins Montenegrins (, or ) are a South Slavic ethnic group that share a common ancestry, culture, history, and language, identified with the country of Montenegro. Montenegrins are mostly Orthodox Christians; however, the population also includes ...

. It is a predecessor of the modern-day

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

. Socialist Montenegro was a non-nationalist state and

Serbo-Croatian Serbo-Croatian ( / ), also known as Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian (BCMS), is a South Slavic language and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It is a pluricentric language with four mutually i ...

was its official language. Prior to its formation, Montenegro was part of Zeta banovina administrative unit of

Kingdom of Yugoslavia The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe, Southeast and Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1941. From 1918 to 1929, it was officially called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, but the term "Yugoslavia" () h ...

. Between 1945 and 1963, the Montenegrin government embarked on a program of rapid industrialization, nationalization of

private property Private property is a legal designation for the ownership of property by non-governmental Capacity (law), legal entities. Private property is distinguishable from public property, which is owned by a state entity, and from Collective ownership ...

, and collectivization of agriculture, following the wider Yugoslav socialist development strategy. Political control was exercised through the League of Communists of Montenegro, the local branch of the LCY, which played a central role in governance and ideological supervision. The 1963 Constitution marked a shift by renaming the republic and modestly redefining its status within the federation. A more significant transformation occurred after the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution, which granted Montenegro and other republics increased autonomy, particularly in

governance Governance is the overall complex system or framework of Process, processes, functions, structures, Social norm, rules, Law, laws and Norms (sociology), norms born out of the Interpersonal relationship, relationships, Social interaction, intera ...

, foreign relations, and economic planning. Nonetheless, Montenegro remained loyal to federal unity, often aligning closely with Belgrade’s political direction. Montenegrin politics during this era were relatively stable but tightly controlled. Dissent was minimal until the 1980s, when a broader liberalization across Yugoslavia led to increasing national expression and the emergence of reformist voices. These shifts, combined with the federation’s deepening political and economic crisis, culminated in the collapse of the socialist regime. In 1991, Montenegro began its transition toward multiparty democracy, formally ending decades of communist rule.

History

On 7 July 1963, the ''People's Republic of Montenegro'' (Serbo-Croatian: ''Narodna Republika Crna Gora'' / Народна Република Црна Гора) was renamed the "Socialist Republic of Montenegro" (a change ratified both by the Federal Constitution and the newly created Montenegrin Constitution in 1963) with

as the official language. In 1991, as the League of Communists of Montenegro changed its name to

Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) ** Democratic Par ...

after the first multi-party elections, the adjective "Socialist" was erased from the republic's title (ratified by the Constitutional Amendment LXXXIV of August 2 in 1991). Montenegro joined the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 27 April 1992 after a referendum was held on 1 March on the question of whether Montenegro should remain a part of Yugoslavia or pursue independence. The flag and emblem were changed in December 1993.

Demographics

1971 census: *

: 355,632 (''67.15%'') * ethnic Muslims: 70,236 (''13.26%'') *

Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Southeastern Europe who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of Serbia, history, and Serbian lan ...

: 39,512 (''7.46%'') *

Albanians The Albanians are an ethnic group native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, Albanian culture, culture, Albanian history, history and Albanian language, language. They are the main ethnic group of Albania and Kosovo, ...

: 35,671 (''6.74%'') *

Yugoslavs Yugoslavs or Yugoslavians ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Jugoslaveni/Jugosloveni, Југославени/Југословени; ; ) is an identity that was originally conceived to refer to a united South Slavic people. It has been used in two connotations: ...

: 10,943 (''2.07%'') *

Croats The Croats (; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other neighboring countries in Central Europe, Central and Southeastern Europe who share a common Croatian Cultural heritage, ancest ...

: 9,192 (''1.74%'') *Total: 529,604 inhabitants 1981 census: *

: 400,488 (''68.54%'') * ethnic Muslims: 78,080 (''13.36%'') *

: 37,735 (''6.46%'') *

: 31,243 (''5.35%'') *

: 19,407 (''3.32%'') *

: 6,904 (''1.18%'') * Roma: 1,471 (''0.25%'') * Macedonian: 875 (''0.15%'') *

Slovenes The Slovenes, also known as Slovenians ( ), are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Slovenia and adjacent regions in Italy, Austria and Hungary. Slovenes share a common ancestry, Slovenian culture, culture, and History of Slove ...

: 564 (''0.1%'') *

Hungarians Hungarians, also known as Magyars, are an Ethnicity, ethnic group native to Hungary (), who share a common Culture of Hungary, culture, Hungarian language, language and History of Hungary, history. They also have a notable presence in former pa ...

: 238 (''0.04%'') *

Germans Germans (, ) are the natives or inhabitants of Germany, or sometimes more broadly any people who are of German descent or native speakers of the German language. The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, constitution of Germany, imple ...

: 107 (''0.02%'') *

Russians Russians ( ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Eastern Europe. Their mother tongue is Russian language, Russian, the most spoken Slavic languages, Slavic language. The majority of Russians adhere to Eastern Orthodox Church ...

: 96 (''0.02%'') *

Italians Italians (, ) are a European peoples, European ethnic group native to the Italian geographical region. Italians share a common Italian culture, culture, History of Italy, history, Cultural heritage, ancestry and Italian language, language. ...

: 45 (''0.01%'') *other: 816 (''0.14%'') *No response: 301 (''0.05%'') *Regional affiliation: 1,602 (''0.27%'') *Unknown: 4,338 (''0.74%'') *Total: 584,310 inhabitants 1991 census: *

: 380,467 (''61.86%'') * ethnic Muslims: 89,614 (''14.57%'') *

: 57,453 (''9.34%'') *

: 40,415 (''6.57%'') *

: 26,159 (''4.25%'') *

: 6,244 (''1.02%'') * Roma: 3,282 (''0.53%'') * Macedonians: 1,072 (''0.17%'') *

: 369 (''0.06%'') *

: 205 (''0.03%'') *

: 124 (''0.02%'') *

: 118 (''0.02%'') *

: 58 (''0.01%'') *other: 437 (''0.07%'') *No response: 1,944 (''0.32%'') *Regional affiliation: 998 (''0.16%'') *Unknown: 6,076 (''0.99%'') *Total: 615,035 inhabitants

Heads of institutions

President

* President of the Montenegrin Anti-Fascist Assembly of National Liberation ** Niko Miljanić (15 November 1943 – 21 November 1946) *Presidents of the Presidency of the People's Assembly **Miloš Rašović (21 November 1946 – 6 November 1950) ** Nikola Kovačević (6 November 1950 – 4 February 1953) *Presidents of the People's Assembly ** Nikola Kovačević (4 February 1950 – 15 December 1953) ** Blažo Jovanović (15 December 1953 – 12 July 1962)"Montenegro"
''World Statesmen''. Retrieved 2011-02-06. ** Filip Bajković (12 July 1962 – 5 May 1963) **Andrija Mugoša (5 May 1963 – 5 May 1967) ** Veljko Milatović (5 May 1967 – 6 October 1969) ** Vidoje Žarković (6 October 1969 – April 1974) **

Budislav Šoškić Budislav Šoškić (1925–1979) was a politician from Socialist Republic of Montenegro and member of League of Communists of Yugoslavia. Biography Šoškić was born in Novi Pazar and had studied at the University of Belgrade. He was the last Pre ...

(April 1974 – 5 April 1974) *Presidents of the Presidency ** Veljko Milatović (5 April 1974 – 7 May 1982) ** Veselin Đuranović (7 May 1982 – 7 May 1983) ** Marko Orlandić (7 May 1983 – 7 May 1984) ** Miodrag Vlahović (7 May 1984 – 7 May 1985) **

Branislav Šoškić Branislav Šoškić ( sr-cyrl, Бранислав Шошкић; 19 November 1922 – 4 April 2022) was a Montenegrin politician who served as the President of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro's Presidency from 1985 to 1986. He was a member of ...

(6 May 1985 – 6 May 1986) ** Radivoje Brajović (6 May 1986 – 6 May 1988) ** Božina Ivanović (6 May 1988 – 13 January 1989) **Slobodan Simović (acting) (13 January 1989 – 17 March 1989) ** Branko Kostić (17 March 1989 – 23 December 1990) **

Momir Bulatović Momir Bulatović ( sh-Cyrl, Момир Булатовић; 21 September 1956 – 30 June 2019) was a Yugoslav and Montenegrin politician. He was the first president of the Republic of Montenegro from 1990 to 1998, after which he served as the Pr ...

(23 December 1990 – December 1993)

Prime minister

*Minister for Montenegro (in the central Yugoslav government) **

Milovan Đilas Milovan Djilas (; sr-Cyrl-Latn, Милован Ђилас, Milovan Đilas, ; 12 June 1911 – 20 April 1995) was a Yugoslav communist politician, theorist and author. He was a key figure in the Partisan movement during World War II, as well ...

(7 March 1945 – 17 April 1945) *Prime Minister of Montenegro ** Blažo Jovanović (17 April 1945 – 4 February 1953) *Presidents of the Executive Council ** Blažo Jovanović (4 February 1953 – 16 December 1953) ** Filip Bajković (16 December 1953 – 12 July 1962) ** Đorđije Pajković (16 December 1962 – 25 June 1963) ** Veselin Đuranović (25 June 1963 – 8 December 1966) **Mijuško Šibalić (8 December 1966 – 5 May 1967) ** Vidoje Žarković (5 May 1967 – 7 October 1969) ** Žarko Bulajić (7 October 1969 – 6 May 1974) ** Marko Orlandić (6 May 1974 – 28 April 1978) ** Momčilo Cemović (28 April 1978 – 7 May 1982) ** Radivoje Brajović (7 May 1982 – 6 June 1986) ** Vuko Vukadinović (6 June 1986 – 29 March 1989) **

Radoje Kontić Radoje Kontić ( sh-Cyrl, Радоје Контић: born 31 May 1937) is a Montenegrin former politician and technologist who served as the Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1993 to 1998. Biography He was the last Chai ...

(29 March 1989 – 15 February 1991) **

Milo Đukanović Milo Đukanović (, ; born 15 February 1962) is a Montenegrin politician who served as the President of Montenegro from 2018 to 2023, previously serving in the role from 1998 to 2002. He also served as the Prime Minister of Montenegro (1991–19 ...

(15 February 1991 – December 1993)

References

{{coord, 42, 47, N, 19, 28, E, type:country_source:kolossus-eswiki, display=title * Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

* 1943 establishments in Montenegro 1992 disestablishments in Montenegro 1943 establishments in Yugoslavia 1992 disestablishments in Yugoslavia

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...