Slovakia Population: 5,488,339
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| Background | |
| Slovakia's roots can be traced to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. Following the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) resulted in a strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who were under Austrian rule. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state allied with Nazi Germany. Following World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro zone on 1 January 2009. |
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| Geography | |
| Landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys | |
| Location: | Central Europe, south of Poland |
| Geographic coordinates: | 48 40 N, 19 30 E |
| Area: | total: 49,035 sq km land: 48,105 sq km water: 930 sq km Size comparison: 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: | 1,660 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | NA |
| Current Environment Issues: | air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| People | |
| Population: | 5,488,339 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 15.5% (male 435,635/female 416,223) 15-24 years: 12.6% (male 354,390/female 338,536) 25-54 years: 45.1% (male 1,246,625/female 1,229,929) 55-64 years: 13.3% (male 344,605/female 384,967) 65 years and over: 13.4% (male 278,659/female 458,770) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 38 years male: 36.5 years female: 39.5 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.104% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 10.38 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 9.64 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 76.03 years male: 72.14 years female: 80.12 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.39 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | fewer than 500 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 100 (2009 est.) |
| 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) |
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| Government | |
| 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 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; note - legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal system |
| 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 April 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Robert KALINAK, Peter KAZIMIR, Miroslav LAJCAK (since 4 April 2012), Lubomir VAZNY (since 26 November 2012) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 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 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 elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 10 March 2012 (next to be held in 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - Smer-SD 44.4%, KDH 8.8%, OLaNO 8.6%, Most-Hid 6.9%, SDKU-DS 6.1%, SaS 5.9%, other 19.3%; seats by party - Smer-SD 83, KDH 16, OLaNO 16, Most-Hid 13, SDKU-DS 11, SaS 11 |
| 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) |
| Political parties and leaders: | parties in the Parliament: Bridge or Most-Hid [Bela BUGAR]; Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Jan FIGEL]; Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO]; Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK]; Ordinary People and Independent Personalities or OLaNO [Igor MATOVIC]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party or SDKU-DS [Pavol FRESO] selected parties outside the Parliament: Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Ondrej DOSTAL]; Nation and Justice - Our Party or NAS [Anna BELOUSOVOVA]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Jozef DURICA]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Jozsef BERENYI]; People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR]; People's Party - Our Slovakia or LSNS [Marian KOTLEBA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Andrej DANKO] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia or ZPS; Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic; Medical Trade Association or LOZ; National Union of Employers or RUZ; Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry or SOPK; The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS |
| International organization participation: | Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Peter KMEC chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore SEDGWICK embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338 FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861 |
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| Economy | |
| 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 consolidate its budget and get on track to join the EU in 2004 after a period of relative stagnation in the early and mid 1990s 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. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in 2001-08 despite a general European slowdown. Foreign direct investment (FDI), especially in the automotive and electronic sectors, fueled much of the growth until 2008. Cheap and skilled labor, low taxes, no dividend taxes, a relatively liberal labor code and a favorable geographical location are Slovakia's main advantages for foreign investors. The economy contracted 5% in 2009 primarily as a result of smaller inflows of FDI and reduced demand for Slovakia's exports before rebounding in 2010-11, but growth slowed in 2012 due to weakening external demand. The government of Prime Minister Robert FICO in 2012 implemented tax increases on higher-earning individuals and corporations, effectively scrapping Slovakia's flat tax to help meet budget deficit targets of 4.9% of GDP in 2012 and 3% of GDP in 2013. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $132.4 billion (2012 est.) $129 billion (2011 est.) $124.8 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $91.19 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 2.6% (2012 est.) 3.3% (2011 est.) 4.2% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $24,300 (2012 est.) $23,700 (2011 est.) $23,000 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 3.8% industry: 36.4% services: 59.8% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 2.724 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 3.5% industry: 27% services: 69.4% (December 2009) |
| Unemployment rate: | 12.8% (2012 est.) 13.2% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 21% (2002) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 22.4% (2009 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 26 (2005) 26.3 (1996) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (2012 est.) 3.9% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 22.2% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $31.39 billion expenditures: $35.85 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 48.6% of GDP (2012 est.) 43.3% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover general Government Gross Debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds. |
| 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: | 6.9% (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 27.7 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 28.76 billion kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 10.5 billion kWh (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 10.9 billion kWh (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 116 million cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 6.468 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 7 million cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 6.743 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $535.2 million (2012 est.) $52.86 million (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $77.82 billion (2012 est.) $78.5 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | machinery and electrical equipment 35.9%, vehicles 21%, base metals 11.3%, chemicals and minerals 8.1%, plastics 4.9% (2009 est.) |
| Exports - partners: | Germany 21.4%, Czech Republic 15.1%, Poland 7.9%, Hungary 7.8%, Austria 7.5%, France 6.7%, Italy 5.2% (2011) |
| Imports: | $74.29 billion (2012 est.) $75.1 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and transport equipment 31%, mineral products 13%, vehicles 12%, base metals 9%, chemicals 8%, plastics 6% (2009 est.) |
| Imports - partners: | Germany 19.3%, Czech Republic 18.5%, Russia 11.4%, Hungary 7%, Poland 5.5%, Austria 4.6%, Italy 4.1%, China 4% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $2.676 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.462 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $72.94 billion (30 November 2011 est.) $59.33 billion (30 June 2010 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $53.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $51.29 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $4.309 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.209 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $4.736 billion (31 December 2011) $4.15 billion (31 December 2010) $4.672 billion (31 December 2009) |
| Exchange rates: | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 0.755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 1.056 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 75 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 5.983 million (2011) |
| 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 (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .sk |
| Internet hosts: | 1.384 million (2012) |
| Internet users: | 4.063 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 37 (2012) country comparison to the world: 108 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 9 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 8 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 1 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 3,622 km broad gauge: 99 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 3,473 km 1.435-m gauge (1,615 km electrified) narrow gauge: 50 km 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 43,761 km paved: 38,085 km (includes 384 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,676 km (2008) |
| Waterways: | 172 km (on Danube River) (2009) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 11 by type: cargo 9, refrigerated cargo 2 foreign-owned: 11 (Germany 3, Ireland 1, Italy 2, Montenegro 1, Slovenia 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 2) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Bratislava, Komarno |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2010) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women are eligible to serve (2010) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,405,310 females age 16-49: 1,369,897 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,156,113 females age 16-49: 1,139,380 (2010 est.) |
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