Montenegro Trade Balance
External balance on goods and services NE.RSB.GNFS.CD
Montenegro's trade balance was $-1.7B in 2025, ranked 118th globally. This represents a 9.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Montenegro's trade balance stood at $-1.7B in 2025, a rise of +$166.9M from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $-1.7B by 2025. Montenegro ranked 118th globally.
Montenegro’s trade balance has remained persistently negative over the 26‑year series, widening from a deficit of ‑140,706,840.74 in 2000 – the all‑time peak – to a trough of ‑2,422,879,595.72 in 2008, before moderating to ‑1,689,751,551.22 in 2025, which places the country 118th globally. The deepening of the deficit during the global financial crisis reflects reduced export competitiveness and heightened import demand, while the subsequent partial recovery aligns with modest export growth and structural reforms in the services sector. Montenegro’s 2025 deficit is comparable to those of French Polynesia (‑1,666,352,884.04) and Mauritius (‑1,700,258,255.20), underscoring a regional pattern of small economies relying heavily on imported inputs. Continued diversification of export markets and investment in higher‑value industries will be crucial to reverse the negative trajectory and move the trade balance toward surplus in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Trade Balance | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $-1.8B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $-1.8B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $-1.7B | - | - |
| 2025 | $-1.7B | +$166.9M | #118 |
| 2024 | $-1.9B | −$454.0M | #52 |
| 2023 | $-1.4B | +$20.5M | #64 |
| 2022 | $-1.4B | −$288.7M | #74 |
| 2021 | $-1.1B | +$535.6M | #64 |
| 2020 | $-1.7B | −$498.4M | #57 |
| 2019 | $-1.2B | +$142.2M | #67 |
| 2018 | $-1.3B | −$174.9M | #65 |
| 2017 | $-1.1B | −$155.4M | #65 |
| 2016 | $-983.6M | −$234.8M | #68 |
| 2015 | $-748.8M | +$162.7M | #91 |
| 2014 | $-911.4M | −$14.4M | #76 |
| 2013 | $-897.0M | +$94.0M | #82 |
| 2012 | $-991.0M | −$5.4M | #83 |
| 2011 | $-985.7M | +$66.7M | #81 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Montenegro matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw trade balance improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Montenegro's trade balance was $-1.7B in 2025. Ranked 118th globally. This represents a 9.0% increase from the previous year.
Montenegro's trade balance peaked at $-140.7M in 2000.
The lowest trade balance in Montenegro was $-2.4B in 2008.
Montenegro ranks 118th globally in trade balance as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is NE.RSB.GNFS.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Montenegro's trade balance is projected to reach $-1.7B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The trade balance of Montenegro in 2025 was $-1.7B. This ranks 118th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_montenegro_trade-balance,
title = {Montenegro Trade Balance},
url = {https://historysaid.com/montenegro/trade-balance/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}