1998 Edition

Area

total: 20,256 sq km land: 20,256 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate

Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east

Coastline

46.6 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

Environment-current issues

Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain

Environment-international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94

Geographic coordinates

46 00 N, 15 00 E

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,334 km border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km

Land use

arable land: 12% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 28% forests and woodland: 51% other: 6% (1993 est.)

Location

Southeastern Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

NA

Natural hazards

flooding and earthquakes

Natural resources

lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver

Terrain

a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east

Age structure

0-14 years: 17% (male 168,633; female 160,202) 15-64 years: 70% (male 692,043; female 686,707) 65 years and over: 13% (male 96,023; female 168,131) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

8.58 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

9.56 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%

Infant mortality rate

5.34 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.15 years male: 71.48 years female: 79.02 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: NA total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% note: of the total population 17.1% did not complete basic education, 29.9% completed basic education, 42.8% completed vocational/middle school, 8.8% completed higher education, and 1.4% education unknown

Nationality

noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian

Net migration rate

0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

1,971,739 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.08% (1998 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 70.8% (including 2% Uniate), Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist 4.3%, other 22.9%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.17 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

136 municipalities (obcine, singular-obcina) and 11 urban municipalities* (obcine mestne, singular-obcina mestna) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Bled, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova-Tisina, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik-Trnovska Vas, Divaca, Dobrepolje, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grosuplje, Hodos Salovci, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola, Jesenice, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Koper*, Kozje, Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Maribor*, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podvelka-Ribnica, Postojna, Preddvor, Ptuj*, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne-Prevalje, Ribnica, Rogasevci, Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Semic, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki, Sostanj, Starse Store, Sveti Jurij, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velike Lasce, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice Vojnik, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Ziri, Zrece

Constitution

adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia conventional short form: Slovenia local long form: Republika Slovenije local short form: Slovenija

Data code

SI

Executive branch

chief of state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 24 November 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to become prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly; election last held 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: Milan KUCAN elected president; percent of vote-Milan KUCAN 56.3%, Janez PODOBNIK 18%; Janez DRNOVSEK elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote-51%

FAX

[1] (202) 667-4563 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Victor JACKOVICH embassy: address NA, Ljubljana mailing address: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 1000 Ljubljana; American Embassy Ljubljana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7140 telephone: [386] (61) 301-427, 472, 485

[386] (61) 301-401

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center, beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an inverted triangle which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands

Government type

parliamentary democratic republic

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

International organization participation

CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dimitrij RUPEL chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Assembly on recommendation of the Judicial Council; Constitutional Court, judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and nominated by the president Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic or LDS [Janez DRNOVSEK, chairman]; Slovene Christian Democrats or SKD [Lozje PETERLE, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDS [Janez JANSA, chairman]; Slovene People's Party or SLS [Marjan PODOBNIK, chairman]; United List (former Communists and allies) or ZLSD [Borut PAHOR, chairman]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC, chairman]; Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of Slovenia or DeSUS [Joze GLOBACNIK] Political pressure groups and leaders: none

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats, 40 are directly elected and 50 are selected on a proportional basis; note-the numbers of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: National Assembly-last held 10 November 1996 (next to be held Fall 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-LDS 27.01%, SLS 19.38%, SDS 16.13%, SKD 9.62%, ZLDS 9.03%, DeSUS 4.32%, SNS 3.22%; seats by party-LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 10, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1; note-seating as of January 1997 is as follows: LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 9, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1, independents 1 note: the National Council or Drzavni Svet is an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws and ask to review any National Assembly decisions; in the election of NA November 1997, 40 members were elected to represent local, professional, and socioeconomic interests (next election to be held in the fall of 2002)

National capital

Ljubljana

National holiday

National Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Agriculture-products

potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry

Budget

revenues: $8.48 billion expenditures: $8.53 billion, including capital expenditures of $455 million (1996 est.)

Currency

1 tolar (SlT) = 100 stotins

Debt-external

$4.5 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $5 million (1993)

Economy-overview

Today, Slovenia exhibits the highest per capita GDP of all the transition economies of the region, fairly moderate inflation, and a comfortable level of international reserves. However, GDP has posted slower growth since reaching a zenith of 5.5% in 1994. Growth declined to 3.5% in 1995 and 3.2% in 1996 and in 1997. Exports in 1997 benefited from economic recovery abroad-especially of Slovenia's main trading partners of the EU, which take 70% of Slovene exports. This export-led trend is predicted to continue, with an expected GDP growth rate of 3.8% for 1998. Slovenia received an invitation in 1997 to begin accession negotiations with the EU-a further reflection of Slovenia's sound economic footing. Slovenia must press on with privatization, enterprise restructuring, institution reform, and liberalization of financial markets, thereby creating conditions conducive to foreign investment, and maintaining a stable tolar.

Electricity-capacity

2.524 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

5,759 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

11.615 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

tolars (SlT) per US$1-171.30 (January 1998), 159.69 (1997), 135.36 (1996), 118.52 (1995), 128.81 (1994), 113.24 (1993)

Exports

total value: $8.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: manufactured goods 50.7%, machinery and transport equipment 31.4%, chemicals 10.5%, food 3.8% (1995) partners: Germany 31%, former Yugoslavia 16.5%, Italy 13%, Croatia 10%, France 7%, Austria 7%, US 5% (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$19.5 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 5% industry: 33% services: 62% (1996)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$10,000 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

3.25% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $9.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 33.8%, manufactured goods 30.4%, chemicals 12.1%, fuels and lubricants 6.6%, food 8.4% (1995) partners: Germany 22%, Italy 17%, France 10%, Austria 10%, Croatia 6%, US 3% (1996)

Industrial production growth rate

0.8% (1996)

Industries

ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools

Inflation rate-consumer price index

9.7% (1996)

Labor force

total: 857,400 by occupation: services 62%, industry 36%, agriculture 2% (1995)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 0 note: there are more than 20 regional and local radio broadcast stations

Radios

596,100 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic: 70% digital; full digitalization scheduled by 2000 international: NA

Telephones

691,240 (1997 est.)

Television broadcast stations

7 note: there are more than 20 local cable television broadcast stations

Televisions

454,400 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.1% (1997 est.)

Airports

14 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 14,910 km paved: 12,226 km (including 231 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,684 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 223,976 GRT/373,462 DWT (controlled by Slovenian owners) ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 5 note: ships operate under the flags of Antigua and Barbuda, Liberia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Singapore; no ships remain under the Slovenian flag (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 290 km; natural gas 305 km Ports and harbors: Izola, Koper, Piran

Railways

total: 1,201 km standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 499 km) (1996)

Waterways

NA

Military branches

Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

2.1% (1997)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 531,429 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 423,198 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

19 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 15,546 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

significant progress has been made with Croatia toward resolving a maritime border dispute over direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; Italy is negotiating with Slovenia over property and minority rights issues dating from World War II

Illicit drugs

transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe and for precursor chemicals