 The national flag of the Bosniaks of Sandžak | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 58,956(2023 census)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Rožaje Municipality (84.66%) Petnjica Municipality (83.96%) Plav Municipality (65.64%) Gusinje Municipality (57.13%) Bijelo Polje Municipality (31.85%) Tuzi Municipality (13.65%) | |
| Languages | |
| Bosnian,Montenegrin | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| OtherSouth Slavs |
Bosniaks are an ethnic minority inMontenegro, first introduced in the 2003 census. According to the last census from 2023, the total number of Bosniaks in Montenegro was 58,956 or 9.45% of the population. Bosniaks are the third largest ethnic group in the country, afterMontenegrins andSerbs.[1]
Bosniaks primarily live in theSandžak area of northern Montenegro, and form the majority of the population in four municipalities:Rožaje (84.7%),Petnjica (84%),Plav (65.6%) andGusinje (57.1%).[1]
The majority of Bosniaks of Montenegro were in favor of Montenegrin independence during theindependence referendum in 2006.
TheBCMS dialects ofGusinje andPlav show a very high structural influence from Albanian. Its uniqueness in terms of language contact between Albanian and BCMS is explained by the fact that most BCMS speakers there are ofAlbanian origin.[2]
Today, the majority of Bosniaks are predominantlySunni Muslim and adhere to theHanafi school of thought/jurisprudence, the largest and oldestschool of jurisprudence withinSunni Islam.
Notable Bosniaks from Montenegro, past and present, include:
