Fewer inhabitants in 13 municipalities?

In 13 Montenegrin municipalities, mostly in the north of the country, the number of inhabitants decreased compared to 2011.

This can be concluded on the basis of Monstat's report on the number of enumerated residents until December 26, two days before the conclusion of this year's census, which "Vijesti" had access to.

Until yesterday, a total of 618.351 inhabitants were enumerated in Montenegro, which is 99,7 percent compared to the 2011 census, which showed that 620.029 inhabitants live in Montenegro.

The Monstat report, which was delivered yesterday to the members of the parliamentary committee for monitoring the census, shows that, out of a total of 25 Montenegrin municipalities, 13 municipalities have fewer inhabitants.

This could mean that there are fewer inhabitants in Andrijevica, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Kolašin, Plužine, Šavnik, Žabljak, Mojkovac, Nikšić, Danilovgrad, Cetinje, Danilovgrad and Kotor.

Bar, Budva, Herceg Novi, Tivat, Ulcinj, Podgorica, Tuzi, Zeta, Gusinje, Petnjica, Plav and Rožaje have more inhabitants, according to the number registered so far.

In most municipalities, a small number of unregistered voters remained, so these numbers will be slightly applied until the end of the census, "Vijesti" sources claim.

Deputy director of Monstat Snezana Remiković she said yesterday at the session of the Parliamentary Committee for Monitoring the Census, that it is premature to talk about analyzes of the increase or decrease in the number of the population.

"Foreigners will be in the real population if they satisfy the place of habitual residence," she said in response to a question from a Democrat deputy. Nikola Rovčanin who reminded that in 2011 there were eight percent of foreigners in Montenegro.

CEO of Monstat Miroslav Pejović he said that enumerators who used "write-erase" pens in Podgorica have been prosecuted, and that the material from other municipalities will be forwarded to the Police Directorate.

He pointed out that some enumerators did not know how to use write-erase pens, but also that the reliability of that data was completely correct and that the contract with those enumerators was terminated.

Pejović said that the last case was ten days ago in Danilovgrad and Budva.

To the MP's question whether it is true that the contracts of some enumerators were not extended, Snežana Remiković replied that the census in more than half of the total number of municipalities was completed and that for a certain number of enumerators the contracts were not extended.

Monstat told "Vijesta" that enumerators were not paid in any municipality, and the payments that were made were related to daily wages due to attendance at trainings, as well as expected telephone costs.

They announced that the enumerators will be paid after the census commissions of local self-governments submit financial calculations (financial forms) to the Directorate of Statistics.

Monstat said that, in accordance with the decision adopted by the Government, enumerators are entitled to a fee for filling out census questionnaires in the amount of 80 cents (questionnaire containing only information about the apartment), two euros (questionnaire for a person) and 2,5 euros for apartment and household questionnaire containing data on the apartment and persons (P-2).

Plužine lost a third of its inhabitants, a large "inflow" in Petnjica, Gusinje, Rožaje and Plav

If the number of enumerated inhabitants is analyzed, Plužine lost 30,5 percent, Kotor 24,7 percent, Šavnik 22,8 percent, Andrijevica and Kolašin 19,5 percent each, Mojkovac 18,6 percent, and Pljevlja 18,5 percent. percent.

In Žabljak, 15,3 percent fewer inhabitants were registered, in Cetinje 14,3 percent, in Berane 10,9 percent less, in Nikšić ten percent, in Bijeli Polje about six percent, and in Danilovgrad 5,7 percent less compared to 2011.

A significant increase in the number of inhabitants, if the number of censuses is taken into account, was recorded in Petnjica, Gusinje, Plav and Rožaje, municipalities that have been facing population outflow for years.

34,4 percent more citizens were registered in Petnjica compared to the previous census, 27,5 percent in Gusinje, and around 20 percent in Plav and Rožaje.

More than a quarter of the total population in Montenegro lives in the capital Podgorica. By December 26, 3,1 percent more were registered compared to the previous census.

The municipalities of Bar, Budva, Herceg Novi, Tivat, Ulcinj, Tuzi and Zeta also recorded an increase in the number of inhabitants.

Almost 12 percent more citizens were registered in Bar compared to the previous census, 22,5 percent more in Budva, five percent more in Herceg Novi, ten percent in Tivat, and 15,7 percent in Ulcinj.

In Tuzi, 20,6 percent more inhabitants have been registered so far, and in the municipality of Zeta two percent more compared to 2011.

For municipalities formed after 2011, Monstat used data for comparison when they were part of other local governments.

Where are the strangers?

Various estimates since Russia's attack on Ukraine at the beginning of last year speak of different numbers of Ukrainians, Russians who are currently in Montenegro, as well as Turks after the failed coup in that country in 2016. Estimates range from a few tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand. The latest information from the UNHCR says that around 60.000 refugees from Ukraine are staying here.

Monstat recently announced to "Vijesta" that the population included in the census includes Montenegrin citizens who reside in the country or abroad, as well as foreigners who legally reside in Montenegro.

Since the number of inhabitants according to the still unfinished census is close to that of 2011, it is not clear whether the number of Montenegrin citizens who for whatever reason were not registered is the same as the number of newly arrived foreigners or something is wrong with the registration of foreigners. There are speculations that a large number of foreigners, especially Ukrainians and Russians, did not want to open their doors to enumerators in order not to be listed, but also that some enumerators did not insist that foreigners be listed.

"At this moment, we do not have the requested information. The same will be available as a result of the preliminary census, no later than 30 days after the end of the census, and the final data in the second half of 2024," Monstat recently answered the question of "Vijesti" about how many foreigners have been counted so far.