In 2024, Montenegro achieved the highest youth participation index in the region (69.7). However, data indicates that the primary challenges remain within the political and economic spheres.

Young people are underrepresented in decision-making positions. Although political parties maintain youth wings, their actual influence is limited, and youth often feel their interests are only prioritized during election cycles.

Research shows that approximately 62.7% of young people are not interested in politics. The main drivers for this are feelings of marginalization and a lack of belief that their involvement can spark real change.

While highly active on social media, youth interaction with political content remains largely passive, consisting mostly of following news rather than launching civic campaigns.

Civic Engagement and Activism

The Strategy for Youth 2023–2027 prioritizes the development of youth as "active citizens" who are integral to community development.

The Parliament of Montenegro regularly organizes educational initiatives such as the Youth Parliament, which serves as a platform for direct dialogue between young people and state institutions.

Current action plan for Strategy for Youth 2025–2026 aim to strengthen mechanisms for the official recognition of volunteer work to ensure it is viewed as a contribution to society rather than just unpaid labor.

Young people in Montenegro also participate actively in society through many youth organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These organizations encourage volunteering, education, activism, human rights protection, and youth participation in decision-making processes. Some well-known youth and civil society organizations include Forum MNE, Juventas, Centre for Civic Education, Mladiinfo Montenegro, Network for Youth Activism of Montenegro, Youth Network of Montenegro and others. Through projects, workshops, campaigns, and community activities, young people develop leadership skills and become more engaged in democratic processes.

In 2024, state-run youth services (centers and clubs) recorded approximately 5,000 visits, providing a space for non-formal education and community projects.

 Key Trends and Sentiments 

Recent surveys from 2025 indicate that 70.6% of young people support Montenegro’s membership in the European Union..

The YOUTHPOINT project has established a digital research database to ensure that future youth policies are based on real-time data and specific youth needs

Despite a well-developed institutional framework, research and youth surveys indicate that challenges remain in practice. A significant proportion of young people report that institutions do not sufficiently take their opinions into account, and that their influence on decision-making processes is still limited. This highlights a gap between formal mechanisms of participation and their actual effectiveness in ensuring meaningful youth involvement in democratic governance.