2000 Edition

Background

In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a communist nation within Soviet-ruled 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 has experienced more difficulty than the Czech Republic in developing a modern market economy.

Area

land

48,800 sq km

total

48,845 sq km

water

45 sq km

Area - comparative

about twice the size of New Hampshire

Climate

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Gerlachovka 2,655 m

lowest point

Bodrok River 94 m

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, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates

48 40 N, 19 30 E

Geography - note

landlocked

Irrigated land

800 sq km (1993 est.)

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

31%

forests and woodland

41%

other

8% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

3%

permanent pastures

17%

Location

Central Europe, south of Poland

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 19% (male 538,780; female 514,427) 15-64 years: 69% (male 1,854,779; female 1,880,584) 65 years and over: 12% (male 236,072; female 383,314) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

10 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

9.29 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.6%, Gypsy 1.6% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which is about 500,000), Czech, Moravian, Silesian 1.1%, Ruthenian and Ukrainian 0.6%, German 0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.2% (1996)

Infant mortality rate

9.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Slovak (official), Hungarian

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.98 years (2000 est.)

male

69.71 years

total population

73.74 years

Literacy

definition

NA

female

NA%

male

NA%

total population

NA%

Nationality

adjective

Slovak

noun

Slovak(s)

Net migration rate

0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

5,407,956 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.12% (2000 est.)

Religions

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

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: 0.62 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.25 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky

Capital

Bratislava

Constitution

ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993; changed in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president

Country name

conventional long form

Slovak Republic

conventional short form

Slovakia

local long form

Slovenska Republika

local short form

Slovensko

Data code

LO

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas HENGEL

embassy

Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

(7) 5443-0861, 5443-3338

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

(temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Martin BUTORA

telephone

(202) 965-5161

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Rudolf SCHUSTER (since 15 June 1999)

election results

Rudolf SCHUSTER won the first direct popular election with 57% of the vote

elections

president elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); note - following the National Council elections in September 1998, the Constitution was changed to allow direct election of the president; 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

head of government

Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since 30 October 1998)

note

government coalition - SDK, SDL, SMK, SOP

FAX

(202) 965-5166

(7) 5441-5148

Flag 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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and Slovak Republics)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Council; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the 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 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)

election results

percent of vote by party - HZDS 27%, SDK 26.3%, SDL 14.7%, SMK 9.1%, SNS 9.1%, SOP 8%; seats by party - governing coalition 93 (SDK 42, SDL 23, SMK 15, SOP 13), opposition 57 (HZDS 43, SNS 14)

elections

last held 25-26 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2002)

National holiday

Slovak Constitution Day, 1 September (1992); Anniversary of Slovak National Uprising, 29 August (1944)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Movement or KDH ; Coexistence ; Democratic Party or DS ; Democratic Union or DU ; Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement or MKDH ; Hungarian Civic Party or MOS ; Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or HZDS ; Party of Civic Understanding or SOP [Pavol HAMZIK]; Party of Greens in Slovakia or SZS ; Party of the Democratic Center or SDS ; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL ; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK (includes MKDH, MOS, and Coexistence) ; Slovak Democratic Coalition or SDK (includes KDH, DS, DU, SSDS, SZS) [Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS ; Social Democratic Party of Slovakia or SSDS ; SMER [Robert FICO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Association of Employers of Slovakia; Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Christian Social Union; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG; Party of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen of Slovakia

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

revenues

$5.4 billion

Currency

1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov

Debt - external

$10.6 billion (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$421.9 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Slovakia continues the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. It started 1999 faced with a sharp slowdown in GDP growth, large budget and current account deficits, fast-growing external debt, and persisting corruption, but made considerable progress toward achieving macroeconomic stabilization later in the year. Tough austerity measures implemented in May cut the overall fiscal deficit from 6% in 1998 to under 4% of GDP, and the current account deficit was halved to an estimated 5% of GDP. Slovakia was invited by the EU in December to begin accession negotiations early in 2000. Foreign investor interest, although rising, has not yet led to actual deals; several credit rating agencies have upgraded their outlook for the country. However, Slovakia's fiscal position remains weak; inflation and unemployment remain high; and the government is only now addressing the structural problems inherited from the MECIAR period, such as large inefficient enterprises, an insolvent banking sector and high inter-company debts, and declining tax and social support payments. Furthermore, the government faces considerable public discontent over the government's austerity package, persistent high unemployment - which reached an all-time high of 20% in December 1999 - rising consumer prices, reduced social benefits, and declining living standards. Real GDP is forecast to stagnate in 2000; inflationary pressures will remain strong due to further price liberalization; and little scope exists for further fiscal consolidation in the 2000 budget, which is based on rosier assumptions than nearly all private forecasts.

Electricity - consumption

23.3 billion kWh (1999 est.)

Electricity - exports

920 million kWh (1999 est.)

Electricity - imports

840 million kWh (1999 est.)

Electricity - production

20.035 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

24%

hydro

20%

nuclear

56%

other

0% (1999 est.)

Exchange rates

koruny (Sk) per US$1 - 42.059 (January 2000), 41.363 (1999), 35.233 (1998), 33.616 (1997), 30.654 (1996), 29.713 (1995)

Exports

$10.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 37%; intermediate manufactured goods 30%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 13%; chemicals 9%; raw materials 4% (1998)

Exports - partners

EU 56% (Germany 29%, Austria 7%), Czech Republic 20%, Poland 7% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $45.9 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

5%

industry

33%

services

62% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $8,500 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 5.1% highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)

Imports

$11.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 40%; intermediate manufactured goods 18%; fuels 11%; chemicals 11%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 10% (1998)

Imports - partners

EU 50% (Germany 26%, Italy 6%), Czech Republic 18%, Russia 10% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

0.9% (1998)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14% (1999 est.)

Labor force

3.32 million (1997)

Labor force - by occupation

industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

20% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

11 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

3.12 million (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

predominantly an analog system which is now receiving digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger cities; mobile cellular capability has been added

international

3 international exchanges, 1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica, are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects which will increase the availability of external services

Telephones - main lines in use

1.557 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

641,000 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

41 (1998)

Televisions

2.62 million (1997)

Airports

36 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

18 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: 8 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 8 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

17,533 km (including 288 km of expressways)

total

17,710 km

unpaved

177 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 3 (1999 est.)

total

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,041 GRT/19,517 DWT

Pipelines

petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km

Ports and harbors

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) (1998)

standard gauge

3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1505 km electrified; 1,011 km double track)

total

3,660 km

Waterways

172 km on the Danube

Military branches

Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Civil Defense Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$332 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.7% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,484,567 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,134,751 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

45,605 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary; agreement with Czech Republic signed 24 November 1998 resolves issues of redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property - approval by both parliaments is expected in 2000

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe

SLOVENIA COUNTRY FLAG OF SLOVENIA

SOLOMON ISLANDS