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This page was last updated on 18 January, 2007


Map of Slovenia



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Slovenia Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
46 07 N, 14 49 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 20,273 sq km
land: 20,151 sq km
water: 122 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,382 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Hungary 102 km, Italy 280 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
46.6 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
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
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower, forests
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 8.53%
permanent crops: 1.43%
other: 90.04% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
flooding and earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes
   People    Slovenia Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,010,347 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 40.6 years
male: 39 years
female: 42.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
-0.05% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 76.33 years
male: 72.63 years
female: 80.29 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
280 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Slovenian 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4% (2002 census)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6%
   Government    Slovenia Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
adopted 23 December 1991
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22 December 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Janez JANSA (since 9 November 2004)
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 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)
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
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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)
elections: National Assembly - last held 3 October 2004 (next to be held October 2008)
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
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), 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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel ZBOGAR
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general: Cleveland, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
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
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$46.08 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$37.64 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$22,900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 34.7%
services: 62.9% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
914,000 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 39.1%
services: 56.1% (2004)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.6% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
10%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 21.4% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
28.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.4% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $15.9 billion
expenditures: $16.35 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
29% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting; electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14.46 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.67 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
7.094 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
6.314 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.83 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
53,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$-789.2 million (2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$21.85 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 19.8%, Italy 12.7%, Croatia 9.3%, France 8.1%, Austria 8.1% (2005)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$23.59 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Germany 19.5%, Italy 18.6%, Austria 12%, France 7.1%, Croatia 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8.761 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$27.63 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
ODA, $484 million (2004-06)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
tolar (SIT)
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
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
tolars per US dollar - 190.465 (2006), 192.71 (2005), 192.38 (2004), 207.11 (2003), 240.25 (2002)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Slovenia Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
816,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.759 million (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: NA
domestic: 100% digital (2000)
international: country code - 386
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 17, FM 160, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
48 (2001)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.si
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
61,735 (2006)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.09 million (2005)
   Transportation    Slovenia Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
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 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 2,526 km; oil 11 km (2006)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,229 km
standard gauge: 1,229 km 1.435-m gauge (504 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 38,451 km
paved: 38,451 km (including 483 km of expressways) (2004)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Koper
   Military    Slovenia Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2003 (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 17-49: 496,929
females age 17-49: 483,959 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 17-49: 405,593
females age 17-49: 397,167 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 12,816
females age 17-49: 12,178 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.7% (FY00)
   Transnational Issues    Slovenia Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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; 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
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals

This page was last updated on 18 January, 2007


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