Property rights ranking: Montenegro rises on IPRI, North Macedonia 57th

Montenegro rose ten places in the latest International Property Rights Index (IPRI), reaching 56th among 126 countries, according to the most recent available edition published on 06 September, 2026 at 17:29. The upward move places Montenegro ahead of several neighbouring states in the Western Balkans.

Regional standings and where North Macedonia sits

In the same IPRI ranking North Macedonia is placed 57th, just one position behind Montenegro. Serbia ranks 60th, Albania 71st and Bosnia and Herzegovina 76th. Among the region's EU members, Croatia appears at 35th and Slovenia at 27th.

The International Property Rights Index evaluates legal and physical protection of property, including the rule of law, regulatory environment and the security of physical and intellectual property. The index aggregates these components to produce national rankings that allow international comparisons.

The latest edition shows Montenegro’s notable improvement in the overall ranking, while North Macedonia remains close behind in the mid-range of the 126-country list. The published ranking provides a snapshot of relative performance on property-rights measures, but does not itself explain the specific policy changes or reforms that caused individual country movements.

For policymakers and investors in the Western Balkans, movements in the IPRI can signal shifts in the investment climate and legal protections for assets. Montenegro's ten-place jump and North Macedonia's 57th-place position will likely draw attention from domestic authorities seeking to strengthen property rights and from international observers tracking regional convergence.

Photo: press material from the event