1996 Edition

Description

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue

Location

48 40 N, 19 30 E -- Central Europe, south of Poland Flag ----

Area

comparative area

about twice the size of New Hampshire

land area

48,800 sq km

total area

48,845 sq km

Climate

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Environment

current issues

air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests

international agreements

party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

natural hazards

NA

Geographic coordinates

48 40 N, 19 30 E

Geographic note

landlocked

International disputes

Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary; unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border countries

Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km

total

1,355 km

Land use

arable land

NA%

forest and woodland

NA%

meadows and pastures

NA%

other

NA%

permanent crops

NA%

Location

Central Europe, south of Poland

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural resources

brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt

Terrain

rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south

highest point

Gerlachovka 2,655 m

lowest point

Bodrok River 94 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 22% (male 605,379; female 579,232) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,777,100; female 1,812,555) 65 years and over: 11% (male 234,377; female 365,719) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

12.62 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

9.35 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.7%, Gypsy 1.5% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which could reach 500,000 or more), Czech 1%, Ruthenian 0.3%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.3%

Infant mortality rate

10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Slovak (official), Hungarian

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.21 years (1996 est.)

male

69.01 years

total population

73.01 years

Literacy

NA

Nationality

adjective

Slovak

noun

Slovak(s)

Net migration rate

0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

5,374,362 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.34% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.65 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

4 departments (kraje, singular - kraj) Bratislava, Zapadoslovensky, Stredoslovensky, Vychodoslovensky

Capital

Bratislava

Constitution

ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993

Data code

LO

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

(temporary) Suite 380, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Branislav LICHARDUS

telephone

[1] (202) 965-5161

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Michal KOVAC (since 8 February 1993) was elected for a five-year term by the National Parliament; election last held 8 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)

head of government

Prime Minister Vladimir MECIAR (since 12 December 1994) was appointed by the president

FAX

[1] (202) 965-5166

[42] (7) 533-5439

Flag

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue

Independence

1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Parliament

Legal system

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Slovak Republic

conventional short form

Slovakia

local long form

Slovenska Republika

local short form

Slovensko

National holiday

Slovak Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

National Parliament (Narodni Rada)

elections last held 30 September-1 October 1994 (next to be held by October 1998); results - HZDS 35%, SDL 10.4%, Hungarian coalition (Hungarian Christian Democrats, Hungarian Civic Party, Coexistence) 10.2%, KDH 10.1%, DU 8.6%, ZRS 7.3%, SNS 5.4%; seats - (150 total) governing coalition 83 (HZDS 61, ZRS 13, SNS 9), opposition 67 (SDL 18, Hungarian coalition 17, KDH 17, DU 15)

Other political or pressure groups

Green Party; Social Democratic Party of Slovakia; Slovak Christian Union

Political parties and leaders

Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), Vladimir MECIAR, chairman; Common Choice/Party of the Democratic Left (SDL), Peter WEISS, chairman; Hungarian Christian Democrats, Vojtech BUGAR; Hungarian Civic Party; Coexistence, Miklos DURAY, chairman; Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Jan CARNOGURSKY; Democratic Union (DU), Jozef MORAVCIK, chairman; Association of Slovak Workers (ZRS), Jan LUPTAK, chairman; Slovak National Party (SNS), Jan SLOTA, chairman

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

parliamentary democracy

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Ralph JOHNSON

embassy

Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[42] (7) 533-0861, 533-3338

Agriculture

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; hogs, cattle, poultry; forest products

Budget

expenditures

$6.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

revenues

$6.1 billion

Currency

1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $104 million (1993)

Economic overview

Since its separation from the Czech Republic on 1 January 1993, Slovakia has continued the difficult transformation from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented economy. Macroeconomic performance improved steadily in 1994 and 1995 - with 4.8% and 6% growth, respectively. But privatization progressed only in fits and starts. Strong export performance boosted growth in both years, with consumption and investment rebounding. Unemployment fell to 12.8% in November 1995, the lowest level since mid-1993, and inflation dropped from 26% in 1993 to 7.5% in 1995. The federal government deficit fell from 7% of GDP in 1993 to less than 2% in 1994-95, as growth boosted revenues. Positive international financial performance led Standard & Poor's to raise its rating of the National Bank of Slovakia's foreign currency debt to just one step below investment grade. The trade and current accounts are both in surplus, and foreign currency reserves held by the central bank have climbed to $3.5 billion. Foreign debt of $4.6 billion - about the same as Romania's - is the lowest in Central and Eastern Europe and the second lowest per capita. Bratislava made the Slovak crown convertible for current account transactions on 1 October 1995. Slovakia continued to have difficulty attracting foreign investment, however, because of perceived political uncertainty and vacillations in privatization policy. The government as well as the OECD projects 5% growth in 1996 and 1997.

Electricity

capacity

6,300,000 kW

consumption per capita

3,609 kWh (1993)

production

20.9 billion kWh

Exchange rates

koruny (Sk) per US$1 - 29.587 (August 1995), 29.447 (November 1994), 32.045 (1994), 30.770 (1993), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991); note - values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rate

Exports

$8.8 billion (f.o.b., January-November 1995)

commodities

machinery and transport equipment; chemicals; fuels, minerals, and metals; agricultural products

partners

Czech Republic 35.4%, Germany 18.9%, Austria 5.0%, Italy 4.7%, Hungary 4.6%, Poland 4.4%, Russia 3.6%, Ukraine 2.1%, France 2.0%, Netherlands 1.7% (January-October 1995)

External debt

$4.6 billion hard currency indebtedness (1995 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $39 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

6.7%

industry

47.6%

services

45.7% (1993 est.)

GDP per capita

$7,200 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

6% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe

Imports

$8.7 billion (f.o.b., January-November 1995)

commodities

machinery and transport equipment; fuels and lubricants; manufactured goods; raw materials; chemicals; agricultural products

partners

Czech Republic 28.1%, Russia 16.8%, Germany 14.3%, Austria 5.2%, Italy 4.5%, Poland 2.9%, US 2.3%, France 2.3%, Hungary 2.2%, Netherlands 1.7%, Ukraine 1.5% (January-October 1995)

Industrial production growth rate

7.8% (January-August 1995)

Industries

metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, and nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force

2.484 million

by occupation

industry 33.2%, agriculture 12.2%, construction 10.3%, communication and other 44.3% (1990)

Unemployment rate

13% (1995 est.)

Branches

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $430 million, 3.0% of GDP (1995)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

1,442,321

males fit for military service

1,104,901

males reach military age (18) annually

48,695 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there is 1 station of NA type

Radios

1.1 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

NA

Telephones

1,362,178 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1

Televisions

1.6 million (1994 est.) Defense

Airports

total

37

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

2

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

3

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2

with paved runways over 3 047 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

4

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

2

with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

2

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

10

with unpaved runways under 914 m

11 (1994 est.)

Highways

paved

NA km

total

17,737 km

unpaved

NA km (1993 est.)

Merchant marine

total

4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,010 GRT/22,039 DWT (1995 est.)

Pipelines

petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km

Ports

Bratislava, Komarno

Railways

broad gauge

102 km 1.520-m gauge

narrow gauge

51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1995)

standard gauge

3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1378 km electrified)

total

3,660 km

Waterways

172 km on the Danube