Home - Country listing - Field listing

Slovakia

Region: Europe

Flag Map Locator Anthem 5 Photos (online)

Introduction Geography People and Society Government Economy Energy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Introduction

Background
Slovakia's roots can be traced to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. Following the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) resulted in a strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who were under Austrian rule. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state allied with Nazi Germany. Following World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro zone on 1 January 2009.

Geography

Location
Central Europe, south of Poland
Geographic coordinates
48 40 N, 19 30 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total: 49,035 sq km
land: 48,105 sq km
water: 930 sq km
Area - comparative
about twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries
total: 1,474 km
border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 197 km, Hungary 676 km, Poland 420 km, Ukraine 90 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain
rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
Natural resources
brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
Land use
arable land: 28.36%
permanent crops: 0.41%
other: 71.22% (2011)
Irrigated land
1,720 sq km (2007)
Total renewable water resources
50.1 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
total: 0.69 cu km/yr (47%/51%/3%)
per capita: 126.7 cu m/yr (2010)
Natural hazards
NA
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
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

People and Society

Nationality
noun: Slovak(s)
adjective: Slovak
Ethnic groups
Slovak 80.7%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 2%, other and unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.)
Languages
Slovak (official) 78.6%, Hungarian 9.4%, Roma 2.3%, Ruthenian 1%, other or unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 8.2%, Greek Catholic 3.8%, other or unspecified 12.5%, none 13.4% (2011 est.)
Population
5,443,583 (July 2014 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 422,636/female 403,626)
15-24 years: 12.2% (male 341,500/female 322,287)
25-54 years: 45.2% (male 1,241,930/female 1,218,706)
55-64 years: 13.5% (male 347,438/female 388,461)
65 years and over: 13.4% (male 288,010/female 468,989) (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 39.6 %
youth dependency ratio: 21.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 18.5 %
potential support ratio: 5.4 (2014 est.)
Median age
total: 39.2 years
male: 37.5 years
female: 41 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate
0.03% (2014 est.)
Birth rate
10.01 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate
9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate
0.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 54.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.06% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
BRATISLAVA (capital) 434,000 (2011)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
6 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate
total: 5.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.69 years
male: 73.09 years
female: 80.52 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.39 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures
9% of GDP (2010)
Physicians density
3 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
Hospital bed density
6.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 99.9% of population
rural: 99.6% of population
total: 99.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population
rural: 0.4% of population
total: 0.3% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
25.4% (2008)
Education expenditures
4.2% of GDP (2010)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2004)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2012)
Mother's mean age at first birth
27.8 (2010 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 34%
male: 35%
female: 32.5% (2012)

Government

Country name
conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local long form: Slovenska republika
local short form: Slovensko
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Capital
name: Bratislava
geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 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
Administrative divisions
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
Independence
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
National holiday
Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Constitution
several previous (preindependence); latest passed by legislature 1 September 1992, signed 3 September 1992, effective 1 October 1992; amended several times, last in 2011 (2011)
Legal system
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; note - legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal system
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Andrej KISKA (since 15 June 2014)
head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 April 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Robert KALINAK, Peter KAZIMIR, Miroslav LAJCAK (since 4 April 2012), Lubomir VAZNY (since 26 November 2012)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 and 29 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2019); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Andrej KISKA elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Andrej KISKA 59.4%, Robert FICO 40.6%
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)
elections: last held on 10 March 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: percent of vote by party - Smer-SD 44.4%, KDH 8.8%, OLaNO 8.6%, Most-Hid 6.9%, SDKU-DS 6.1%, SaS 5.9%, other 19.3%; seats by party - Smer-SD 83, KDH 16, OLaNO 16, Most-Hid 13, SDKU-DS 11, SaS 11
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of 78 judges - as of 2003 - organized into criminal, civil, commercial, and administrative divisions with 3- and 5-judge panels; Constitutional Court (consists of 13 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge candidates proposed by the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, a 17-member independent body to include the Supreme Court chief justice and presidential and governmental appointees; judges appointed by the president for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Council of the Republic and appointed by the president; judges appointed for 12-year terms
subordinate courts: regional and district civil courts; Higher Military Court; military district courts; Court of Audit
Political parties and leaders
parties in the Parliament: Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Jan FIGEL]
Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO]
Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK]
Most-Hid or Bridge [Bela BUGAR]
Ordinary People and Independent Personalities or OLaNO [Igor MATOVIC]
Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party or SDKU-DS [Pavol FRESO]
selected parties outside the Parliament: Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Ondrej DOSTAL]
Nation and Justice - Our Party or NAS [Anna BELOUSOVOVA]
Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Jozef DURICA]
Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Jozsef BERENYI]
People's Party - Our Slovakia or LSNS [Marian KOTLEBA]
Slovak National Party or SNS [Andrej DANKO]
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
Medical Trade Association or LOZ
National Union of Employers or RUZ
Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry or SOPK
The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS
International organization participation
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter KMEC (since 17 September 2012)
chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054
FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore SEDGWICK (since 4 July 2010)
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava
telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338
FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861
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 double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius 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
National symbol(s)
double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks
National anthem
name: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Lightning Over the Tatras)
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"

Economy

Economy - overview
Slovakia has made significant economic reforms since its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993. After a period of relative stagnation in the early and mid 1990s, reforms to the taxation, healthcare, pension, and social welfare systems helped Slovakia consolidate its budget, get on track to join the EU in 2004, and adopt the euro in January 2009. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost entirely in foreign hands, and the government has facilitated a foreign investment boom with business friendly policies. Foreign direct investment (FDI), especially in the automotive and electronic sectors, fueled much of the growth until 2008. Cheap, skilled labor, low taxes, no dividend taxes, a relatively liberal labor code, and a favorable geographical location are Slovakia's main advantages to foreign investors. Growth returned, following a contraction in 2009, but has remained sluggish in large part due to continued weakness in external demand. In 2012 the government of Prime Minister Robert FICO rolled back some of Slovakia's pro-growth reforms to help shore up public finances. Corruption and slow dispute resolution remain key factors constraining economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$133.4 billion (2013 est.)
$132.3 billion (2012 est.)
$129.6 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$96.96 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
0.8% (2013 est.)
2% (2012 est.)
3.2% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$24,700 (2013 est.)
$24,500 (2012 est.)
$24,000 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
Gross national saving
21.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
23% of GDP (2012 est.)
21.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 58%
government consumption: NA%
investment in fixed capital: NA%
investment in inventories: NA%
exports of goods and services: NA%
imports of goods and services: -90.2%
(2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 30.8%
services: 47% (2013 est.)
Agriculture - products
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Industries
metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals, synthetic fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
Industrial production growth rate
6.5% (2013 est.)
Labor force
2.727 million (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 27%
services: 69.4% (December 2009)
Unemployment rate
14.4% (2013 est.)
13.6% (2012 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 22.4% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line
21% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
26 (2005)
26.3 (1996)
Budget
revenues: $32.41 billion
expenditures: $35.72 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
33.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-3.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Public debt
55.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
52.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
note: data cover general Government Gross Debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds.
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.7% (2013 est.)
3.6% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate
1.75% (31 December 2011 est.)
1.75% (31 December 2010 est.)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks from the euro area; Slovakia became a member of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on 1 January 2009
Commercial bank prime lending rate
3.3% (31 December 2013 est.)
3.47% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$38.48 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$37.14 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 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
Stock of broad money
$59.89 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$56.57 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$72.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$68.47 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$4.611 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$NA (31 December 2011)
$4.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Current account balance
$3.315 billion (2013 est.)
$2.096 billion (2012 est.)
Exports
$82.7 billion (2013 est.)
$80.67 billion (2012 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 22.3%, Czech Republic 14.9%, Poland 8.8%, Hungary 7.8%, Austria 7%, France 5.6%, Italy 4.9%, UK 4.1% (2012)
Imports
$77.96 billion (2013 est.)
$75.99 billion (2012 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 18.6%, Czech Republic 18%, Russia 9.9%, Austria 8%, Hungary 6.8%, Poland 6%, South Korea 4.1% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.258 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$2.519 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Debt - external
$68.44 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$68.61 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$63.99 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$62.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$11.15 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$11.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.7634 (2013 est.)
0.7752 (2012 est.)
0.755 (2010 est.)
0.7198 (2009 est.)
0.6827 (2008 est.)

Energy

Electricity - production
24.39 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - consumption
26.27 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports
13.08 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports
13.88 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
7.855 million kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
42.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
23.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
20.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources
2.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production
9,277 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports
262.5 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports
108,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
9 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
129,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption
83,910 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports
70,520 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports
28,380 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production
105 million cu m (2012 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
6.468 billion cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - exports
45.43 billion cu m (2012 est.)
Natural gas - imports
50.18 billion cu m (2012 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
34.88 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use
975,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
6.095 million (2012)
Telephone system
general assessment: Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in cellular services
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
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 (2011)
Broadcast media
state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), operates 3 national TV stations and multiple national and regional radio networks; roughly 35 privately owned TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 40% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; more than 20 privately owned radio stations (2008)
Internet country code
.sk
Internet hosts
1.384 million (2012)
Internet users
4.063 million (2009)

Transportation

Airports
35 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 11 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Heliports
1 (2013)
Pipelines
gas 6,774 km; oil 419 km (2013)
Railways
total: 3,622 km
broad gauge: 99 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,473 km 1.435-m gauge (1,615 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 50 km 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge (2008)
Roadways
total: 43,916 km
paved: 38,238 km (includes 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,678 km (2010)
Waterways
172 km (on Danube River) (2012)
Merchant marine
total: 11
by type: cargo 9, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 11 (Germany 3, Ireland 1, Italy 2, Montenegro 1, Slovenia 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals
river port(s): Bratislava, Komarno (Danube)

Military

Military branches
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2010)
Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription in peacetime suspended in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2012)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 1,405,310
females age 16-49: 1,369,897 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 1,156,113
females age 16-49: 1,139,380 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 31,646
female: 30,219 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures
1.12% of GDP (2012)
1.1% of GDP (2011)
1.12% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 1,523 (2013)
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy

This country information was last updated on January 01, 1970.