Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,033,961
females age 16-49: 1,104,952 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,715
female: 26,290 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Transnational Issues ::Singapore
Disputes - international:
disputes persist with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, and maritime boundaries in the Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007, the ICJ will hold public hearings as a consequence of the Memorials and Countermemorials filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait
Illicit drugs:
drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Slovakia (Europe)
Introduction ::Slovakia
Background:
The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I allowed the Slovaks to join the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro area on 1 January 2009.
Geography ::Slovakia
Location:
Central Europe, south of Poland
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 49,035 sq km country comparison to the world: 130 land: 48,105 sq km
water: 930 sq km
Area - comparative:
about twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
total: 1,474 km
border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 197 km, Hungary 676 km, Poland 420 km, Ukraine 90 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:
rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
Natural resources:
brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
Land use:
arable land: 29.23%
permanent crops: 2.67%
other: 68.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,830 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
50.1 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.04
per capita: 193 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys
People ::Slovakia
Population:
5,463,046 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.8% (male 442,168/female 422,055)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 1,952,527/female 1,965,646)
65 years and over: 12.5% (male 254,510/female 426,140) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.9 years
male: 35.2 years
female: 38.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.137% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Birth rate:
10.6 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Death rate:
9.53 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Net migration rate:
0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Urbanization:
urban population: 56% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.84 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 171 male: 7.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.4 years country comparison to the world: 78 male: 71.47 years
female: 79.53 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.35 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Nationality:
noun: Slovak(s)
adjective: Slovak
Ethnic groups:
Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)
Languages:
Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2004)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 111
Government ::Slovakia
Country name:
conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local long form: Slovenska Republika
local short form: Slovensko
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Bratislava
geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Constitution:
ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed in September 1998; amended February 2001
note: the change in September 1998 allowed direct election of the president; the amendment of February 2001 allowed Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership
Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 July 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Dusan CAPLOVIC, Robert KALINAK, Stefan HARABIN, Jan MIKOLAJ (since 4 July 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 21 March and 4 April 2009 (next to be held no later than April 2014); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Ivan GASPAROVIC reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 55.5%, Iveta RADICOVA 44.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 June 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - Smer 29.1%, SDKU 18.4%, SMK 11.7%, SNS 11.7%, LS-HZDS 8.8%, KDH 8.3%, other 12%; seats by party - Smer 50, SDKU-DS 31, SMK 20, SNS 19, LS-HZDS 16, KDH 14; note - seats by party as of December 2008 - Smer 50, SDKU-DS 28, SMK 20, SNS 19, LS-HZDS 15, KDH 9, nonaffiliated 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council); Special Court (judges elected by a council of judges and appointed by president)
Political parties and leaders:
parties in the Parliament:: Christian Democratic Movement or KDH[Pavol HRUSOVSKY]; Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [RobertFICO]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Pal CSAKY]; People'sParty - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS [VladimirMECIAR]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party orSDKU-DS [Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA]
selected parties outside the Parliament:: Agrarian Party of theProvinces or ASV [Vladimir GOZORA]; Alliance of the New Citizen orANO [Pavol RUSKO]; Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Peter ZAJAC];Free Forum [Zuzana MARTINAKOVA]; Mission 21 - New ChristianDemocracy or MISIA 21 [Ivan SIMKO]; Movement for Democracy or HZD[Jozef GRAPA]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [LadislavKOZMON]; Prosperita Slovenska or PS [Frantisek A. ZVRSKOVEC]; SlovakCommunist Party or KSS [Jozef HRDLICKA]; Slovak People's Party orSLS [Jozef SASIK]; Union of the Workers of Slovakia or ZRS [JanLUPTAK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of TradeUnions or KOZ; Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia or ZPS;Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic;National Union of Employers or RUZ; Slovak Chamber of Commerce andIndustry or SOPK; The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CEI,CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU,WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter BURIAN
chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Keith EDDINS
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava
telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side
Economy ::Slovakia
Economy - overview:
Slovakia has made significant economic reforms since its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993. Reforms to the taxation, healthcare, pension, and social welfare systems helped Slovakia to consolidate its budget and get on track to join the EU in 2004 and to adopt the euro in January 2009. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost entirely in foreign hands, and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom with business friendly policies such as labor market liberalization and a 19% flat tax. Foreign investment in the automotive and electronic sectors has been strong. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in 2001-08 despite the general European slowdown. Unemployment, at an unacceptable 18% in 2003-04, dropped to 8.4% in 2008 but remains the economy's Achilles heel. Despite its 2006 pre-election promises to loosen fiscal policy and reverse the previous DZURINDA government's pro-market reforms, FICO's cabinet has thus far been careful to keep a lid on spending in order to meet euro adoption criteria and has focused on regulating energy and food prices instead. The OECD expects Slovakia's GDP growth to be positive in 2009.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$119.8 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $112.6 billion (2007 est.)
$102 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$95.4 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 10.4% (2007 est.)
8.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$22,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $20,700 (2007 est.)
$18,700 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.7%
industry: 37.2%
services: 59% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.254 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 4%, industry 39%, services 56.9% (30 September 2008)
Unemployment rate:
7.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 8.4% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
21% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 20.9% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2005) country comparison to the world: 128 26.3 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Budget:
revenues: $31.23 billion
expenditures: $33.32 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
28.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 46.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 2.8% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 115 4.25% (31 December 2007)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks from the euro area; as of 1 January 2009 Slovakia became a member of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.42% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$25.52 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 32 $26.17 billion (31 December 2007)
note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Slovak koruny in circulation prior to Slovakia joining the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
$27.71 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 38 $21.11 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$50.94 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 46 $41.76 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$5.079 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 77 $6.971 billion (31 December 2007)
$5.574 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Industries:
metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
Industrial production growth rate:
-3.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - production:
26.53 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - consumption:
26.81 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - exports:
8.891 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
9.412 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
14,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
Oil - consumption:
84,990 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Oil - exports:
74,070 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Oil - imports:
148,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Oil - proved reserves:
9 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - production:
102 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - consumption:
6.308 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas - exports:
186 million cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - imports:
6.266 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Natural gas - proved reserves:
14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Current account balance:
-$6.43 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 -$4.482 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$72.57 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $64.5 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
vehicles 25.9%, machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%, base metals 14.6%, chemicals and minerals 10.1%, plastics 5.4% (2004)
Exports - partners:
Germany 20%, Czech Republic 13.1%, France 6.7%, Poland 6.6%, Hungary 6.3%, Austria 5.9%, Italy 5.8%, UK 4.7% (2008)
Imports:
$73.62 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $65.47 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 41.1%, intermediate manufactured goods 19.3%, fuels 12.3%, chemicals 9.8%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 10.2% (2003)
Imports - partners:
Germany 20%, Czech Republic 17.7%, Russia 10.6%, Hungary 6.9%, SouthKorea 5.2%, Austria 5%, Poland 4.9%, China 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$18.78 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $18.96 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$52.53 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 52 $44.31 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$44.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $40.7 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.867 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $1.609 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Slovak koruny (SKK) per US dollar - 21.05 (2008 est.), 24.919 (2007), 29.611 (2006), 31.018 (2005), 32.257 (2004)
note: on 1 January 2009 Slovakia adopted the euro as legal tender
Communications ::Slovakia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.098 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 75
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.52 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 82
Telephone system:
general assessment: Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in cellular services
domestic: analog system is now receiving digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger cities; 3 companies provide nationwide cellular services
international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 22, shortwave 1 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
37 (2008)
Internet country code:
.sk
Internet hosts:
867,615 (2009) country comparison to the world: 41
Internet users:
3.566 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 53
Transportation ::Slovakia
Airports:
35 (2009) country comparison to the world: 110
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 20
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 10 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 7 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 3,622 km country comparison to the world: 48 broad gauge: 99 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,473 km 1.435-m gauge (1,577 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 50 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 43,761 km country comparison to the world: 83 paved: 38,085 km (includes 316 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,676 km (2006)
Waterways:
172 km (on Danube River) (2008) country comparison to the world: 100
Merchant marine:
total: 51 country comparison to the world: 70 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 42, refrigerated cargo 4
foreign-owned: 47 (Bulgaria 6, Germany 3, Greece 2, Ireland 1, Israel 4, Italy 2, Poland 2, Russia 1, Slovenia 1, Syria 2, Turkey 10, Ukraine 12, UK 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bratislava, Komarno
Military ::Slovakia
Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
17-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,420,966
females age 16-49: 1,386,259 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,165,470
females age 16-49: 1,152,941 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 36,552
female: 34,783 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.87% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Transnational Issues ::Slovakia
Disputes - international:
bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued in 2006 between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Slovenia (Europe)
Introduction ::Slovenia
Background:
The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Geography ::Slovenia
Location:
Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, betweenAustria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 20,273 sq km country comparison to the world: 154 land: 20,151 sq km
water: 122 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,086 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 455 km, Hungary 102 km, Italy 199 km
Coastline:
46.6 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Terrain:
a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Natural resources:
lignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests
Land use:
arable land: 8.53%
permanent crops: 1.43%
other: 90.04% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
32.1 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.9
per capita: 457 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
flooding; earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes
People ::Slovenia
Population:
2,005,692 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.5% (male 139,880/female 131,826)
15-64 years: 69.9% (male 707,219/female 695,470)
65 years and over: 16.5% (male 129,662/female 201,635) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.7 years
male: 40.1 years
female: 43.3 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.113% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 215
Birth rate:
8.97 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 211
Death rate:
10.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Net migration rate:
0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Urbanization:
urban population: 48% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 206 male: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.92 years country comparison to the world: 60 male: 73.25 years
female: 80.84 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.28 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
280 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 133
Nationality:
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups:
Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 census)
Religions:
Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Slovenian 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4% (2002 census)
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 41
Government ::Slovenia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenija
local short form: Slovenija
former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Ljubljana
geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urbanmunicipalities* (mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina )Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke,Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica,Cankova, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno,Cerkvenjak, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca,Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec,Dobrovnik-Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale,Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, GornjaRadgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina,Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos-Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina,Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola-Isola, Jesenice,Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje,Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Koper-Capodistria*, Kostel, Kozje, Kranj*,Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart,Lendava-Lendva, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, LoskaDolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk,Maribor*, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz naDravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Moravce,Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje,Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica,Pesnica, Piran-Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka,Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Ptuj*, Puconci,Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne naKoroskem, Razkrizje, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogasovci, RogaskaSlatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic,Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju,Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*,Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno obPaki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Starse,Store, Sveta Ana, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij,Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic,Trzin, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej,Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica,Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica,Zuzemberk, Zrece
note: the Government of Slovenia has reported 210 municipalities
Independence:
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 23 December 1991, amended 14 July 1997 and 25 July 2000
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Danilo TURK (since 22 December 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Borut PAHOR (since 7 November 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 21 October and 11 November 2007 (next to be held in the 8 October 2012); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to become prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly; election last held on 21 September 2008 (next National Assembly elections to be held in 8 October 2012)
election results: Danilo TURK elected president; percent of vote - Danilo TURK 68.2%, Alojze PETERLE 31.8%; Borut PAHOR elected prime minister by National Assembly vote
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a National Council or Drzavni Svet (40 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve five-year terms; note - this is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly decision, and call national referenda) and the National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 40 members are directly elected and 50 are elected on a proportional basis; note - the number of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election; the constitution mandates 1 seat each for Slovenia's Hungarian and Italian minorities; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held 8 October 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - SD 30.5%, SDS 29.3%, ZARES 9.4%, DeSUS 7.5%, SNS 5.5%, SLS+SMS 5.2%, LDS 5.2%, other 7.4%; seats by party - SD 29, SDS 28, ZARES 9, DeSUS 7, SNS 5, SLS+SMS 5, LDS 5, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the Judicial Council); Constitutional Court (judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and nominated by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia or LDS [Katarina KRESAL]; New Sloveniaor NSi [Ljudmila NOVAK (acting)]; Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS[Janez JANSA]; Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS[Karl ERJAVEC]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC];Slovene People's Party or SLS [Bojan SROT]; Slovene Youth Party orSMS [Darko KRANJC]; Social Democrats or SD [Borut PAHOR] (formerlyZLSD); ZARES [Gregor Golobic]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Democratic Party of Slovenian Pensioners or DeSUS (protecting the rights of the older generation); Slovenian Roma Association [Jozek Horvat MUC]
other: Catholic Church
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO,NSG, OAS (observer), OECD (accession state), OIF (observer), OPCW,OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Roman KIRN
chancery: 2410 California Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 386-6601
consulate(s) general: Cleveland, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Brad FREDEN
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, US Department of State, 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands
Economy ::Slovenia
Economy - overview:
Slovenia, which on 1 January 2007 became the first 2004 European Union entrant to adopt the euro, is a model of economic success and stability for the region. With the highest per capita GDP in Central Europe, Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe. Privatization has lagged since 2002, and the economy has one of highest levels of state control in the EU. Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed for somewhat greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and have helped to lower unemployment. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In December 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the accession process for joining the OECD. Despite its economic success, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia has lagged behind the region average, and taxes remain relatively high. Furthermore, the labor market is often seen as inflexible, and legacy industries are losing sales to more competitive firms in China, India, and elsewhere.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$59.49 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $57.47 billion (2007 est.)
$53.81 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$54.64 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 6.8% (2007 est.)
5.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$29,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 $28,600 (2007 est.)
$26,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%