2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities* (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina ) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik-Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos-Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola-Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Koper-Capodistria*, Kostel, Kozje, Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava-Lendva, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Maribor*, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran-Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Ptuj*, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogasovci, Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Starse, Store, Sveta Ana, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zuzemberk, Zrece

note

there may be 45 more municipalities

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 143,079/female 135,050) 15-64 years: 70.5% (male 714,393/female 702,950) 65 years and over: 15.7% (male 121,280/female 193,595) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

14 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

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

total

6

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m

4 (2006)

Area

land

20,151 sq km

total

20,273 sq km

water

122 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Background

The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004. Geography Slovenia

Birth rate

8.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$16.35 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$15.9 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

46 03 N, 14 31 E

name

Ljubljana

time difference

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

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

Constitution

adopted 23 December 1991

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Slovenia

conventional short form

Slovenia

former

People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia

local long form

Republika Slovenija

local short form

Slovenija

Currency (code)

euro (EUR)

note

on 1 January 2007, Slovenia's currency became the euro; both the tolar and the euro were in circulation from 1 January until 15 January

Currency code

SIT

Current account balance

$-789.2 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

10.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$27.63 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Thomas B. ROBERTSON

embassy

Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana

mailing address

American Embassy Ljubljana, US Department of State, 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140

telephone

[386] (1) 200-5500

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Samuel ZBOGAR

telephone

[1] (202) 667-5363

Disputes - international

the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Piran Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute; Slovenia also protests Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia must implement the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia

Distribution of family income - Gini index

28.4 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $484 million (2004-06)

Economy - overview

With a GDP per capita substantially greater than the other transitioning economies of Central Europe, Slovenia is a model of economic success and stability for its neighbors in the former Yugoslavia. The country, which joined the EU in 2004 and joined the eurozone on 1 January 2007, has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and an excellent central location. Privatization of the economy proceeded at an accelerated pace in 2002-05. Despite lackluster performance in Europe in 2001-05, Slovenia maintained moderate growth. Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed for greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and have helped to lower unemployment. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. Despite its economic success, Slovenia faces growing challenges. Much of the economy remains in state hands and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia is one of the lowest in the EU on a per capita basis. Taxes are relatively high, the labor market is often seen as inflexible, and legacy industries are losing sales to more competitive firms in China, India, and elsewhere. The current center-right government, elected in October 2004, has pledged to accelerate privatization of a number of large state holdings and is interested in increasing FDI in Slovenia. In late 2005, the government's new Committee for Economic Reforms was elevated to cabinet-level status. The Committee's program includes plans for lowering the tax burden, privatizing state-controlled firms, improving the flexibility of the labor market, and increasing the government's efficiency.

Electricity - consumption

12.67 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

7.094 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

6.314 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

14.46 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

35.2%

hydro

27.3%

nuclear

36.8%

other

0.7% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Triglav 2,864 m

lowest point

Adriatic Sea 0 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-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Ethnic groups

Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 census)

Exchange rates

tolars per US dollar - 190.465 (2006), 192.71 (2005), 192.38 (2004), 207.11 (2003), 240.25 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly

chief of state

President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22 December 2002)

election results

Janez DRNOVSEK elected president; percent of vote - Janez DRNOVSEK 56.5%, Barbara BREZIGAR 43.5%; Janez JANSA elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 57 to 27

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 10 November and 1 December 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2007); 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 9 November 2004 (next National Assembly elections to be held October 2008)

head of government

Prime Minister Janez JANSA (since 9 November 2004)

Exports

$21.85 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Exports - partners

Germany 19.8%, Italy 12.7%, Croatia 9.3%, France 8.1%, Austria 8.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 667-4563

[386] (1) 200-5555

consulate(s) general

Cleveland, New York

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Slovenia

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 are three six-pointed 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 Economy Slovenia

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.3%

industry

34.7%

services

62.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$22,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.4% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$37.64 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$46.08 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

46 07 N, 14 49 E

Geography - note

despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes People Slovenia

Government type

parliamentary republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

280 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

21.4% (1998)

lowest 10%

3.6%

Illicit drugs

minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$23.59 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food

Imports - partners

Germany 19.5%, Italy 18.6%, Austria 12%, France 7.1%, Croatia 4.2% (2005)

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2006 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

3.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

4.99 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.si

Internet hosts

61,735 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

11 (2000)

Internet users

1.09 million (2005) Transportation Slovenia

Investment (gross fixed)

25% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2003)

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)

Labor force

914,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

4.8%

industry

39.1%

services

56.1% (2004)

Land boundaries

border countries

Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Hungary 102 km, Italy 280 km

total

1,382 km

Land use

arable land

8.53%

other

90.04% (2005)

permanent crops

1.43%

Languages

Slovenian 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4% (2002 census)

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consisting of a National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 40 are directly elected and 50 are selected on a proportional basis; note - the number of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election; the constitution mandates one seat each for Slovenia's Hungarian and Italian minorities; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Drzavni Svet (40 seats; this is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly decisions, and call national referenda; members - representing social, economic, professional, and local interests - are indirectly elected to five-year terms by an electoral college)

election results

percent of vote by party - SDS 29.1%, LDS 22.8%, ZLSD 10.2%, NSi 9%, SLS 6.8%, SNS 6.3%, DeSUS 4.1%, other 11.7%; seats by party - SDS 29, LDS 23, ZLSD 10, NSi 9, SLS 7, SNS 6, DeSUS 4, Hungarian and Italian minorities 1 each

elections

National Assembly - last held 3 October 2004 (next to be held October 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.29 years (2006 est.)

male

72.63 years

total population

76.33 years

Literacy

definition

NA

female

99.6% Government Slovenia

male

99.7%

total population

99.7%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 17-49

483,959 (2005 est.)

males age 17-49

496,929

Manpower fit for military service

females age 17-49

397,167 (2005 est.)

males age 17-49

405,593

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 17-49

12,178 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

12,816

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

42.2 years (2006 est.)

male

39 years

total

40.6 years

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

26 (Antigua and Barbuda 6, Bahamas 1, Cyprus 4, Georgia 1, Liberia 2, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 1) (2006)

Military branches

Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$370 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.7% (FY00) Transnational Issues Slovenia

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2003 (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Nationality

adjective

Slovenian

noun

Slovene(s)

Natural gas - consumption

1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

flooding and earthquakes

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

53,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

7.83 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 2,526 km; oil 11 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Jelko KACIN]; New Slovenia or NSi [Andrej BAJUK]; Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA]; Slovenian Democratic Pensioners' Party or DeSUS [Karl ERJAVEC]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC]; Slovene People's Party or SLS [Janez PODOBNIK]; Slovene Youth Party or SMS [Darko KRANJC]; Social Democrats or SD [Borut PAHOR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

2,010,347 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

10%

Population growth rate

-0.05% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Koper Military Slovenia

Public debt

29% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 10, FM 230, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios

805,000 (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

1,229 km 1.435-m gauge (504 km electrified) (2005)

total

1,229 km

Religions

Catholic 57.8%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 2.4%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$8.761 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

38,451 km (including 483 km of expressways) (2004)

total

38,451 km

Sex ratio

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female

Suffrage

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

Telephone system

domestic

100% digital (2000)

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 386

Telephones - main lines in use

816,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.759 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

31 (2006)

Televisions

710,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.6% (2006 est.)