Slovakia Population: 5,463,046
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| 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. |
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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: | 1,830 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: | 5,463,046 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 |
| 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.) |
| Birth rate: | 10.6 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
| Death rate: | 9.53 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 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 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 male: 71.47 years female: 79.53 years (2009 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.35 children born/woman (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | fewer than 200 (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 100 (2001 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 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, Jan MIKOLAJ (since 4 July 2006), Viera PETRIKOVA (since 3 July 2009) 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 June 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 2009 - Smer 50, SDKU-DS 28, SMK 15, SNS 19, LS-HZDS 15, KDH 9, nonaffiliated 14 |
| 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 [Jan FIGEL]; Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Pal CSAKY]; People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party or SDKU-DS [Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA] selected parties outside the Parliament:: Agrarian Party of the Provinces or ASV [Vladimir GOZORA]; Alliance of the New Citizen or ANO [Pavol RUSKO]; Bridge or Most-Hid [Bela BUGAR]; Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Peter ZAJAC]; Conservative Democrats of Slovakia or KDS [Vladimir PALKO]; Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK]; Free Forum [Zuzana MARTINAKOVA]; Green Party or SZ [Peter PILINSKY]; Mission 21 - New Christian Democracy or MISIA 21 [Ivan SIMKO]; Movement for Democracy or HZD [Jozef GRAPA]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Ladislav KOZMON]; Prosperita Slovenska or PS [Frantisek A. ZVRSKOVEC]; Slovak Communist Party or KSS [Jozef HRDLICKA]; Slovak People's Party or SLS [Jozef SASIK]; Union of the Workers of Slovakia or ZRS [Jan LUPTAK] |
| 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; 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), 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, 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 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 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 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 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. To maintain a stable operating environment for investors, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development advised the Slovak government to refrain from intervening in important sectors of the economy. However, Bratislava's approach to mitigating the economic slowdown includes substantial government intervention and the option to nationalize strategic companies. GDP fell nearly 5% in 2009 and unemployment rose above 11%, as the global recession impacted many segments of the economy. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $115.3 billion (2009 est.) $121.2 billion (2008 est.) $113.9 billion (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $88.3 billion (2009 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -4.9% (2009 est.) 6.4% (2008 est.) 10.4% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $21,100 (2009 est.) $22,200 (2008 est.) $20,900 (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 7.8% industry: 79.6% services: 12.6% (2009 est.) |
| Labor force: | 2.641 million (2009 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 4%, industry 39%, services 56.9% (30 September 2008) |
| Unemployment rate: | 11.8% (2009 est.) 7.65% (2008 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) 26.3 (1996) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (2009 est.) 4.6% (2008 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 24.5% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $28.31 billion expenditures: $32.94 billion (2009 est.) |
| Public debt: | 34.6% of GDP (2009 est.) 28.7% of GDP (2008 est.) |
| 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: | -10% (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 26.53 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 26.81 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 8.891 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 9.412 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 14,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 84,990 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 74,070 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 148,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 9 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 102 million cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 6.308 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 186 million cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 6.266 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $-3.408 billion (2009 est.) $-6.43 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports: | $45.05 billion (2009 est.) $72.57 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | vehicles 25.9%, machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%, base metals 14.6%, chemicals and minerals 10.1%, plastics 5.4% |
| 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: | $46.47 billion (2009 est.) $73.62 billion (2008 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% |
| Imports - partners: | Germany 20%, Czech Republic 17.7%, Russia 10.6%, Hungary 6.9%, South Korea 5.2%, Austria 5%, Poland 4.9%, China 4.1% (2008) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $NA (31 December 2009 est.) $18.78 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $NA (31 December 2009 est.) $52.53 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $45.75 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $44.12 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $2.267 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $1.867 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $5.079 billion (31 December 2008) $6.971 billion (31 December 2007) $5.574 billion (31 December 2006) |
| Exchange rates: | Slovak koruny (SKK) per US dollar - 0.734 (2009), 21.05 (2008), 24.919 (2007), 29.611 (2006), 31.018 (2005) note: on 1 January 2009 Slovakia adopted the euro as legal tender |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 1.098 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 75 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 5.52 million (2008) |
| 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) |
| Internet users: | 3.566 million (2008) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 35 (2009) country comparison to the world: 110 |
| Airports (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 (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 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 paved: 38,085 km (includes 316 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,676 km (2006) |
| Waterways: | 172 km (on Danube River) (2008) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 51 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 |
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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) (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.) |
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