2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

48,105 sq km

total

49,035 sq km

water

930 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

Gerlachovsky Stit 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-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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

193 cu m/yr (2003)

total

1.04

Geographic coordinates

48 40 N, 19 30 E

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

Irrigated land

1,830 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 197 km, Hungary 676 km, Poland 420 km, Ukraine 90 km

total

1,474 km

Land use

arable land

29.23%

other

68.1% (2005)

permanent crops

2.67%

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

Total renewable water resources

50.1 cu km (2003)

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) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

10.55 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

9.56 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 200 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

7.83 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.71 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.74 years (2010 est.)

male

71.7 years

total population

75.62 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.6% (2004)

male

99.7%

total population

99.6%

Median age

female

38.9 years (2010 est.)

male

35.7 years

total

37.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Slovak

noun

Slovak(s)

Net migration rate

0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

5,470,306 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.129% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2008)

male

14 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.051 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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.36 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

56% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

48 09 N, 17 07 E

name

Bratislava

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Country name

conventional long form

Slovak Republic

conventional short form

Slovakia

local long form

Slovenska Republika

local short form

Slovensko

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Theodore SEDGWICK

embassy

Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava

FAX

[421] (2) 5441-8861

mailing address

P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava

telephone

[421] (2) 5443-3338

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Peter BURIAN

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 237-6438

telephone

[1] (202) 237-1054

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004)

election results

Ivan GASPAROVIC reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 55.5%, Iveta RADICOVA 44.5%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Iveta RADICOVA (since 8 July 2010); Deputy Prime Ministers Jan FIGEL, Ivan MIKLOS, Jozef MIHAL, Rudolf CHMEL (since 9 July 2010)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, 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, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, 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 National Council); Special Court (judges elected by a council of judges and appointed by president)

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

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - Smer 34.8%, SDKU-DS 15%, SaS 12.1%, KDH 8.5%, Most-Hid 8.1%, SNS 5.1%, other 16.2%; seats by party - Smer 62, SDKU-DS 28, SaS 22, KDH 15, Most-Hid 14, SNS 9

elections

last held on 12 June 2010 (next to be held in June 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Janko MATUSKA/traditional note: adopted 1993, in use since 1844; the anthem"s music is based on the Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku"

name

"Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Storm Over the Tatras)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

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]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party or SDKU-DS [Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA]

selected parties outside the Parliament

: Alliance for a Europe of Nations or AZEN [Milan URBANI]; Association of Slovak Workers or ZRS [Jan LUPTAK]; Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Peter ZAJAC]; Green Party or SZ [Peter PILINSKY]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Marek BLAHA]; 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 Communist Party or KSS [Jozef HRDLICKA]; Union - Party for Slovakia or Unia [Milan CELIK]

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; Slovenska Pospolitost; The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

1% (31 December 2009) 3% (31 December 2008) 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

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.93 billion (2010 est.) -$2.819 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$59.33 billion (30 June 2010 est.) $52.53 billion (31 December 2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26 (2005) 26.3 (1996)

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 7.7% in 2008 but remains the economy's Achilles heel. FICO's cabinet was 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 has included substantial government intervention and the option to nationalize strategic companies. Slovakia was admitted to the euro zone in January 2009. RADICOVA's government, in power since July 2010, has allowed the budget deficit to rise slightly, to 8.2% of GDP in 2010. GDP fell nearly 5% in 2009 before gaining back 4% in 2010, and unemployment rose above 12% in 2010, as the global recession impacted many segments of the economy.

Electricity - consumption

28.75 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

8.891 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

9.412 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

25.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Slovak koruny (SKK) per US dollar - 0.774 (2010), 0.718 (2009), 21.05 (2008), 24.919 (2007), 29.611 (2006)

Exports

$64.18 billion (2010 est.) $55.32 billion (2009 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 20.1%, Czech Republic 12.9%, France 7.8%, Poland 7.2%, Hungary 6.3%, Italy 6.1%, Austria 5.8%, UK 4.8% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.7%

industry

35.6%

services

61.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$22,200 (2010 est.) $21,400 (2009 est.) $22,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2010 est.) -4.7% (2009 est.) 6.2% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$86.26 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$121.3 billion (2010 est.) $116.7 billion (2009 est.) $122.4 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 20.9% (1996)

Imports

$62.43 billion (2010 est.) $53.67 billion (2009 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 16.8%, Czech Republic 12.3%, Russia 9%, South Korea 6.8%, China 5.8%, Hungary 5.3%, Poland 4% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

7.5% (2010 est.)

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)

1.2% (2010 est.) 1.6% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.673 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3.5%

industry

27%

services

69.4% (December 2009)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.672 billion (31 December 2009) $5.079 billion (31 December 2008) $6.971 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

6.493 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

15 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

6.974 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

103 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

79,930 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

75,110 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - imports

144,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - production

4,114 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

9 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

21% (2002)

Public debt

41% of GDP (2010 est.) 35.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $1.16 billion (31 January 2010 est.)

Stock of broad money

$52.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $52.68 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$2.643 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.743 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$52.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $50.26 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$65.09 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $64.25 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$34.37 billion (31 December 2010 est) $34.1 billion (31 December 2009 est) 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 circulating within their own borders

Unemployment rate

12.5% (2010 est.) 11.4% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned public broadcaster, Slovak Television (STV), operates 3 national TV stations; roughly 35 privately-owned television broadcast stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 40% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems; channels from the Czech Republic and Hungary are widely viewed; state-owned public radio operates multiple national and regional networks; more than 20 privately-owned radio stations (2008)

Internet country code

.sk

Internet hosts

1.133 million (2010)

Internet users

4.063 million (2009)

Telephone system

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

general assessment

Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in 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

Telephones - main lines in use

1.022 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.498 million (2009)

Airports

36 (2010)

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

16 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 7 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 19, refrigerated cargo 3

foreign-owned

21 (Germany 4, Greece 1, Ireland 1, Italy 2, Montenegro 1, Poland 2, Slovenia 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 7) (2010)

total

23

Pipelines

gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Bratislava, Komarno

Railways

broad gauge

99 km 1.520-m gauge

narrow gauge

50 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2008)

standard gauge

3,473 km 1.435-m gauge (1,577 km electrified)

total

3,622 km

Roadways

paved

38,085 km (includes 384 km of expressways)

total

43,761 km

unpaved

5,676 km (2008)

Waterways

172 km (on Danube River) (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,413,079 females age 16-49: 1,377,754 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,162,282 females age 16-49: 1,147,526 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

32,448 (2010 est.)

male

33,915

Military branches

Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej

Republiky)

Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2010)

Military expenditures

1.87% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2010)

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 January 12, 2011 ======================================================================