Slovenia, Central European State; 49,035 km2, 5.4 million residents (2019).Slovakia, which became independent in 1993, borders in the north to Poland, in the east to Ukraine, in the south to Hungary and in the west to Austria and the Czech Republic. The capital is Bratislava (417,400 residents, 2014).
Country facts
- Slovenská Republika / Slovak Republic
- Country abbreviation: SK
- Area: 49 035 km2
- Population (2019): 5.4 million residents
- Capital: Bratislava
- Main language: Slovak
- State: Republic
- Head of State: Zuzana Čaputová (President)
- Head of Government: Peter Pellegrini
- Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 19 547
- GNI per capita (2018): US $ 18,330
- Currency unit: euro
- Currency code: EUR
- Country number (telephony): 421
- Internet domain name: so-called
- Time difference compared to Sweden: 0
- National Day: September 1 (Constitution Day, 1992)
- Independence Day: January 1, 1993
Nature
- Land use: forest (40%), agricultural land (40%), other (20%)
- Highest mountain: Gerlachovský Štít (2,663 meters above sea level)
Population
- Population density (2019): 116 residents per km2
- Natural population growth (2019): 0.1%; birth rate 11 ‰, death rate 10 ‰
- Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (16%), 15-64 (68%), 65- (16%)
- Life expectancy (2019): men 74 years, women 80 years
- Infant mortality (2019): 5 per 1,000 live births
- Population forecast 2050: 5 million residents
- HDI (2017): 0.855 (place 38 of 189)
- Urbanization rate (2019): 54%
- Most populous cities (2015): Bratislava (419,700 residents), Košice (239,500)
Business
- Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (4%), industry (35%), service (61%)
- Export (2017): USD 80,800 million
- Main export products: machinery, vehicles, metals
- Main exporting countries: Germany, Czech Republic, Poland
- Imports (2017): US $ 80 070 million
- Main import products: machinery, vehicles, minerals
- Main importing countries: Germany, Czech Republic, Austria
- Railway network (2016): 3,600 km
Slovakia is dominated by the Western Carpathians; several parallel chains with intermediate valleys and streams meet the northern and middle parts of the country. In the south there are elements of lowland. The country has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. The strong topography gives rise to local variations.
According to the constitution, the executive power is formally divided between the president and the government. The National Council, which has 150 members, holds the legislative power. It is elected in general, direct elections for a period of four years. The president is elected for a five-year term.
Slovakia, which had an old and oversized industry, constituted the weakest resource and industry in terms of the former Czechoslovakia. Since independence in 1993, the country has enjoyed positive economic growth and is now considered to be one of the strongest economies among the new EU countries. Privatization of state-owned companies and banks and profiling as a low-wage and low-cost country – including introduced a 19 percent unit tax on income, goods and services – has in recent years attracted foreign investment into the country. Large industrial companies, mainly the manufacture of cars, home electronics, steel and aluminum, are of great importance to the economy. Slovakia is today the world’s largest car manufacturer per inhabitant.