Disappearances remain a recurring issue in Montenegro, with 183 people reported missing since the beginning of 2025. Of that number, 171 individuals have been found, while 12 are still unaccounted for, according to data provided by the Police Directorate. Speaking to Radio Montenegro, Tamara Pavicevic from the Police Directorate confirmed the figures and gave a regional breakdown of the cases. In the south, 41 people were reported missing, of whom 36 have been found; in the north, 11 were reported, 10 were located, and one person is confirmed to have left the country. In the central region, 115 cases were recorded, with 110 resolved, while in the west, 16 were reported missing and 15 found. Just two days ago, a body was discovered near Budva, and authorities are working on identification while awaiting autopsy results.
Ivan Pekic, PhD in security studies, attributes the frequent disappearances to a range of factors, including a high annual suicide rate of around 200 individuals, as well as cases where people are temporarily missing but are located shortly after police involvement. He also pointed to global statistics from the International Committee of the Red Cross, which recorded nearly 284,000 missing persons in 2024, underscoring the scale of the issue worldwide.
Montenegro’s police emphasise that any reported departure from a person’s residence is treated as a potential disappearance, although a number of those reported missing eventually return home on their own.
