2008 Edition

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.

Area

total: 20,273 sq km land: 20,151 sq km water: 122 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-Nitrogen Oxides, 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: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.9 per capita: 457 cu m/yr (2002)

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

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,086 km border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 455 km, Hungary 102 km, Italy 199 km

Land use

arable land: 8.53% permanent crops: 1.43% other: 90.04% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

flooding and earthquakes

Natural resources

lignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests

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 renewable water resources

32.1 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.6% (male 140,686/female 132,778) 15-64 years: 70.1% (male 709,689/female 697,862) 65 years and over: 16.3% (male 127,313/female 199,383) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

8.99 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

10.51 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

6% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

280 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.73 years male: 73.04 years female: 80.66 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: NA total population: 99.7% male: 99.7% female: 99.6%

Median age

total: 41.4 years male: 39.8 years female: 42.9 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian

Net migration rate

0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

2,007,711 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.088% (2008 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

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: the Government of Slovenia has reported 210 municipalities

Capital

name: Ljubljana geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution

adopted 23 December 1991

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia conventional short form: Slovenia local long form: Republika Slovenija local short form: Slovenija former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Yousif B. GHAFARI 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

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mariam MOZGAN chancery: 2410 California Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 386-6601

Executive branch

chief of state: President Danilo TURK (since 22 December 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Borut PAHOR (since 7 November 2008) 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 21 October and 11 November 2007 (next to be held in the fall of 2012); 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 on 9 November 2004 (next National Assembly elections to be held in October 2008) election results: Danilo TURK elected president; percent of vote - Danilo TURK 68.2%, Alojze PETERLE 31.8%; Janez JANSA elected prime minister by National Assembly vote - 57 to 27 in 2004

FAX

[1] (202) 386-6633 consulate(s) general: Cleveland, New York

[386] (1) 200-5555

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 in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

International organization participation

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, Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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)

Legal system

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of a National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 40 members are directly elected and 50 are elected on a proportional basis; note - the number of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election; the constitution mandates 1 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; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve five-year terms; note - this is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly decision, and call national referenda) elections: National Assembly - last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held 8 October 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - SD 30.5%, SDS 29.3%, ZARES 9.4%, DeSUS 7.5%, SNS 5.5%, SLS+SMS 5.2%, LDS 5.2%, other 7.4%; seats by party - SD 29, SDS 28, ZARES 9, DeSUS 7, SNS 5, SLS+SMS 5, LDS 5, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1

National holiday

Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Political parties and leaders

Liberal Democracy of Slovenia or LDS [Katarina KRESAL]; New Slovenia or NSi [Andrej BAJUK]; Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA]; Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS [Karl ERJAVEC]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC]; Slovene People's Party or SLS [Bojan SROT]; Slovene Youth Party or SMS [Darko KRANJC]; Social Democrats or SD [Borut PAHOR] (formerly ZLSD); ZARES [Gregor Golobic]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Democratic Party of Slovenian Pensioners or DeSUS (protecting the rights of the older generation); Slovenian Roma Association [Jozek Horvat MUC] other: Catholic Church

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: $19.17 billion expenditures: $19.04 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.82% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

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

Currency code

SIT

Current account balance

-$2.181 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$40.42 billion (30 June 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

24 (2005)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $484 million (2004-06)

Economy - overview

Slovenia, which on 1 January 2007 became the first 2004 European Union entrant to adopt the euro, is a model of economic success and stability for the region. With the highest per capita GDP in Central Europe, Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe. Privatization has lagged since 2002, and the economy has one of highest levels of state control in the EU. Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed for somewhat 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. In December 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the accession process for joining the OECD. Despite its economic success, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia has lagged behind the region average, and taxes remain relatively high. Furthermore, the labor market is often seen as inflexible, and legacy industries are losing sales to more competitive firms in China, India, and elsewhere.

Electricity - consumption

13.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

5.894 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

6.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

14.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 35.2% hydro: 27.3% nuclear: 36.8% other: 0.7% (2001)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), tolars per US dollar - 190.85 (2006), 192.71 (2005), 192.38 (2004), 207.11 (2003) note: Slovenia adopted the euro as its currency on 1 January 2007

Exports

$27.06 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Exports - partners

Germany 18.7%, Italy 12.5%, Croatia 8%, Austria 7.5%, France 5.9%, Russia 4.4% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.1% industry: 34.4% services: 63.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$28,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.1% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$46.08 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$56.19 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 21.4% (1998)

Imports

$29.39 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 18.1%, Italy 17.1%, Austria 11.7%, France 5%, Croatia 4.6% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

9.5% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

28.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

925,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 2.5% industry: 36% services: 61.5% (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$15.18 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

1.105 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.073 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - production

4 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

54,310 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

4,535 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

59,110 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

5 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.9% (2004)

Public debt

23.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.682 billion (30 September 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$6.127 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$10.41 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$9.347 billion note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders (31 December 2006)

Stock of quasi money

$12.69 billion (31 December 2006)

Unemployment rate

7.7% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.si

Internet hosts

75,984 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

11 (2000)

Internet users

1.3 million (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 10, FM 230, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios

805,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: well-developed telecommunications infrastructure domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 140 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 386

Telephones - main lines in use

857,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.928 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

31 (2006)

Televisions

710,000 (1997)

Airports

14 (2007)

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 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 29 (Antigua and Barbuda 6, Bahamas 1, Cyprus 4, Liberia 3, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 840 km; oil 11 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Koper

Railways

total: 1,229 km standard gauge: 1,229 km 1.435-m gauge (504 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways

total: 38,562 km paved: 38,562 km (includes 579 km of expressways) (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 494,496 females age 16-49: 481,180 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 406,951 females age 16-49: 395,444 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 10,516 female: 9,934 (2008 est.)

Military branches

Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)

Military expenditures

1.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2003 (2007)

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 has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia

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 18 December, 2008