1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
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, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, 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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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: 24% forests and woodland: 54% other: 7% (1996 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 and Austria, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 16% (male 163,816; female 155,509) 15-64 years: 70% (male 693,382; female 687,060) 65 years and over: 14% (male 99,121; female 171,682) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
8.97 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
9.62 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%
Infant mortality rate
5.28 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.36 years male: 71.71 years female: 79.21 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: NA total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian
Net migration rate
0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
1,970,570 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.04% (1999 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: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.23 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
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
Capital
Ljubljana
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%
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), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, 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 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J. Paul REID embassy: address NA, Ljubljana mailing address: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 1000 Ljubljana; American Embassy Ljubljana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7140
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Assembly on the 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 PETERLE, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDS PODOBNIK, chairman]; United List (former Communists and allies) or JELINCIC, chairman]; Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of 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 holiday
National Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Economy
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
$4.4 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
ODA, $5 million (1993)
Economy--overview
Today, Slovenia exhibits one of the highest per capita GDPs of the transition economies of the region, fairly moderate inflation, and a comfortable level of international reserves. Slovenia received an invitation in 1997 to begin accession negotiations with the EU--a reflection of its 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 the maintenance of a stable tolar. Critical to the future success of the economy is the development of export sales in increasingly competitive international markets.
Electricity--consumption
11.295 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
2.03 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
1.25 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
12.075 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 34.58% hydro: 29.31% nuclear: 36.11% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
tolars (SlT) per US$1--162.50 (January 1999), 166.13 (1998), 159.69 (1997), 135.36 (1996), 118.52 (1995), 128.81 (1994)
Exports
$9.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities
manufactured goods 45%, machinery and transport equipment 30%, chemicals 10%, food 3% (1997)
Exports--partners
Germany 29%, Italy 15%, Croatia 10%, France, Austria, US (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$20.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 5% industry: 35% services: 60% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$10,300 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
3.6% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 24.5% (1993)
Imports
$9.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities
machinery and transport equipment 31%, manufactured goods 31%, chemicals 11%, fuels and lubricants, food (1997)
Imports--partners
Germany 21%, Italy 17%, France 10%, Austria 8%, Croatia 5%, Hungary, US (1997)
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 prices)
8% (1998 est.)
Labor force
857,400
Labor force--by occupation
NA
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
7.1% (1997 est.)
Communications
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
23 (consisting of 20 network stations and three private stations; there are also about 400 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
454,400 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
14 (1998 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 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 14,830 km paved: 12,309 km (including 251 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,521 km (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 489 km) (1998)
Waterways
NA
Military and Security
Military branches
Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$272 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
1.8% (1998)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 530,182 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 421,864 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
19 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 15,294 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
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 and Slovenia made progress in resolving bilateral issues
Illicit drugs
transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe and for precursor chemicals