Slovakia

Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. The Slovaks then became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. After the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (known as "Magyarization") led to a public backlash that boosted Slovak nationalism and strengthened Slovak cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who fell administratively under the Austrian half of the empire. When the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved at the end 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, in the wake of Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland, the newly established Slovak Republic became a German client state for the remainder of World War II. <br><br>After World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, Warsaw Pact troops invaded and ended the efforts of Czechoslovakia'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, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004 and the euro zone in 2009.

Land

48,105 sq km

Total

49,035 sq km

Water

930 sq km

about 1.5 times the size of Maryland; about twice the size of New Hampshire

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

0 km (landlocked)

Europe

Highest point

Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m

Lowest point

Bodrok River 94 m

Mean elevation

458 m

48 40 N, 19 30 E

landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys

259 sq km (2022)

Border countries

Austria 105 km; Czechia 241 km; Hungary 627 km; Poland 517 km; Ukraine 97 km

number of neighbors

5

Total

1,587 km

Agricultural land

38% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 27.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 10.4% (2023 est.)

arable land

27.18%

Forest

40.3% (2023 est.)

Other

21.4% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.35%

Yes

Central Europe, south of Poland

Dunaj (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km<br><br><strong>note</strong> – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage

<em>(Black Sea)</em> Danube (795,656 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/uNSH2wW4bLoZVYJj7

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/14296

Europe

none (landlocked)

flooding

lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border

Central Europe

rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south

UTC+01:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

15.3% (male 444,033/female 408,902)

15-64 years

66.5% (male 1,834,359/female 1,867,158)

65 years and over

18.1% (2024 est.) (male 406,355/female 602,842)

Beer

4.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

4.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

10.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

2.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

9.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

49.2% (2023 est.)

11.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

58 per 1,000

adult male

131 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

27.3 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio

3.7 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

50.3 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

23 (2024 est.)

improved total

99.57%

Improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

11% national budget (2022 est.)

5 % of GDP

Slovak 83.8%, Hungarian 7.8%, Romani 1.2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 5.4% (2021 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent population by nationality; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 7–11% of Slovakia's population

0.77 (2025 est.)

7 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

14.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.1%

5.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Female

4.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

3 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Slovak (official) 81.8%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 1.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 est.)

Major-language sample(s)

<br>Svetova Kniha Faktov, nenahraditelny zdroj zakladnej informacie. (Slovak)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

number of languages

1

Female

81 years

Male

73.7 years

Total population

77.2 years (2024 est.)

441,000 BRATISLAVA (capital) (2023)

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

44.4 years

Male

41.3 years

Total

43.1 years (2025 est.)

27.2 years (2020 est.)

Adjective

Slovak

Noun

Slovak(s)

0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

20.5% (2016)

3.7 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

2,878,902

Male

2,684,747

Total

5,563,649 (2024 est.)

-0.07% (2025 est.)

Roman Catholic 55.8%, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession 5.3%, Greek Catholic 4%, Reformed Christian 1.6%, other 3%, none 23.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2021 est.)

improved total

83.43%

Improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Female

16 years (2023 est.)

Male

15 years (2023 est.)

Total

15 years (2023 est.)

0-14 years

1.09 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.67 male(s)/female

At birth

1.07 male(s)/female

Total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

26.3% (2025 est.)

Male

34.5% (2025 est.)

Total

30.3% (2025 est.)

1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

54% of total population (2023)

measles

94%

8 regions (<em>kraje</em>, singular - <em>kraj</em>); Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trencin, Trnava, Zilina

Daylight saving time

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

Etymology

the meaning is unclear but has medieval Slavic origins; the name was adopted in 1919 after Czechoslovakia gained its independence, replacing the name Pre&scaron;porok

Geographic coordinates

48 09 N, 17 07 E

Name

Bratislava

Time difference

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

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovakia

Dual citizenship recognized

no

Residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/sk.svg

Amendment process

proposed by the National Council; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote of Council members

History

several previous (pre-independence); latest passed by the National Council 1 September 1992, signed 3 September 1992, effective 1 October 1992

alternative spellings

SK, Slovak Republic, Slovenská republika

Conventional long form

Slovak Republic

Conventional short form

Slovakia

Etymology

the country takes its name from the local Slav ethnic group; the origin of the group's name is unclear, although early forms were used in Medieval Latin (Sclavus) and Byzantine Greek (Sklabos)

FIFA code

SVK

Local long form

Slovenska republika

local long form (slk)

Slovenská republika

Local short form

Slovensko

Chief of mission

Ambassador Gautam A. RANA (since 28 September 2022)

Email address and website

<br>consulbratislava@state.gov<br><br>https://sk.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava

FAX

[421] (2) 5441-8861

Mailing address

5840 Bratislava Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-5840

Telephone

[421] (2) 5443-3338

Chancery

3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Andrej DROBA (since 16 December 2025)

Consulate(s) general

New York

Email address and website

<br>emb.washington@mzv.sk<br><br>https://www.mzv.sk/web/washington-en

FAX

[1] (202) 237-6438

Telephone

[1] (202) 237-1054

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

Chief of state

President Peter PELLEGRINI (since 15 June 2024)

Election results

<em><br>2024: </em>Peter PELLEGRINI elected president in the second round; percent of vote in second round Peter PELLEGRINI 53.1%; Ivan KORCOK 46.9%; percent of vote in first round - Ivan KORCOK (independent) 42.5%; Peter PELLEGRINI (Hlas-SD) 37%; Stefan HARABIN (independent) 11.7%, other 8.8%; <em><br><br>2019:</em> Zuzana CAPUTOVA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Zuzana CAPUTOVA (PS) 58.4%, Maros SEFCOVIC (independent) 41.6%

Election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following National Council elections, the president designates a prime minister candidate, usually the leader of the party or coalition that wins the most votes, who must win a vote of confidence in the National Council

Expected date of next election

2029

Head of government

Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 25 October 2023)

Most recent election date

23 March 2024, with a runoff on 6 April 2024

<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red; the national coat of arms (a red shield bordered in white, with a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius on top of three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset to the left<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> white, blue, and red are the pan-Slav colors

note

<strong>note:</strong> the pan-Slav colors were inspired by Russia's flag

The flag of Slovakia is composed of three equal horizontal bands of white, blue and red. The coat of arms of Slovakia is superimposed at the center of the field slightly towards the hoist side.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/sk.svg

parliamentary republic

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 80 judges organized into criminal, civil, commercial, and administrative divisions with 3- and 5-judge panels); Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of 13 judges organized into 3-judge panels)

Judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judge candidates nominated by the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, an 18-member self-governing body that includes the Supreme Court chief justice and presidential, governmental, parliamentary, and judiciary appointees; judges appointed by the president serve for life, subject to removal by the president at age 65; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Council of the Republic and appointed by the president; judges serve 12-year terms

Subordinate courts

regional and district civil courts; Special Criminal Court; Higher Military Court; military district courts; Court of Audit

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes

Chamber name

National Council (Národná rada)

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

September 2027

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

National Council (Narodna rada Slovenskej republiky)

Most recent election date

9/30/2023

Number of seats

150 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Smer - Social Democracy (Smer-SD) (42); Progressive Slovakia (PS) (32); Hlas (“Voice”) - SD (27); Coalition OĽaNO and Friends, 'For the People' and 'Christian Union' (16); Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) (12); Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) (11); Slovak National Party (SNS) (10)

Percentage of women in chamber

23.3%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

white, blue, red

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica (c); Levoča, Spišský Hrad, and the Associated Cultural Monuments (c); Vlkolínec (c); Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n); Bardejov Town (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Wooden Churches of the Slovak Carpathians (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes (Western Segment) (c)

Total World Heritage Sites

8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)

Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) over three peaks

Direction - Social Democracy or SMER-SD<br>Freedom and Solidarity or SaS<br>Progressive Slovakia or PS<br>Republic<br>Slovakia<br>The Slovak National Party or SNS<br>The Christian Democratic Movement or KDH<br>Voice - Social Democracy or HLAS-SD

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

wheat, sugar beets, maize, milk, barley, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, potatoes, soybeans, pork (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

4.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

19.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$46.056 billion (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$43.882 billion (2022 est.)

code

EUR

name

euro (EUR) [€]

$-6,503,081,482

Current account balance 2022

-$11.126 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$1.169 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$3.895 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

<p>high-income EU and eurozone economy; manufacturing and exports led by automotive sector;  growth supported by private consumption and public investment from EU funds, tempered by trade risks; increased taxes and withdrawal of energy subsidies contributing to rising but manageable inflation; strong labor demand and influx of foreign labor offsets aging workforce</p>

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

$120.48 billion

Exports 2022

$114.519 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$122.04 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$120.355 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, vehicle parts/accessories, video displays, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 20%, Czechia 10%, Hungary 7%, USA 6%, Poland 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$5.01 billion

Exports of goods and services

91.3% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

20% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

58.4% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-89.8% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

21.1% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

-1.3% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

2% (2024 est.)

Industry

28.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

60% (2024 est.)

$141.776 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$25,993

25 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

24.1 (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$136.35 billion

$23,560

20 % of GDP

Highest 10%

18.2% (2022 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.8% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$120.82 billion

Imports 2022

$121.473 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$119.739 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$120.29 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment, cars, plastic products, insulated wire (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 16%, Czechia 14%, Poland 8%, China 7%, Hungary 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

0.3% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

automobiles; metal and metal products; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals, synthetic fibers, wood and paper products; machinery; earthenware and ceramics; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products; food and beverages; pharmaceutical

2.76%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

12.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.8% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

2.779 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

2.75 million persons

agriculture

2.16%

industry

34.53%

services

63.31%

13.7% (2021 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

64.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

$260.98 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$209.794 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$214.343 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$218.762 billion (2024 est.)

1.94%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.4% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

2.1% (2024 est.)

$48,132

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$38,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$39,500 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$40,300 (2024 est.)

$2.95 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

1.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

$14.45 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$10.28 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$11.288 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$14.452 billion (2024 est.)

40 % of GDP

19 % of GDP

19.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

5.36%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

6.2% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.9% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.3% (2024 est.)

Female

15% (2024 est.)

Male

20.1% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

18.2% (2024 est.)

Consumption

6.066 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

3.658 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Production

2.315 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

19 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

24.18 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

4,674 kWh

Exports

14.078 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

10.671 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

8.138 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

1.233 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

5.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

16.81%

Hydroelectricity

13.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear

63.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

renewable

23.56%

Solar

2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

3,055 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

127.582 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

4.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

4.56 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

46.585 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

2.3GW (2025 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

3 (2025)

Number of nuclear reactors under construction

1 (2025)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

5 (2025)

Percent of total electricity production

61.3% (2023 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

9 million barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

90,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Total petroleum production

7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

17.9%

per 100 inhabitants

33 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

33 (2023 est.)

Total

1.83 million (2023 est.)

state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), has 2 national TV stations; roughly 50 privately owned national, regional, and local TV stations; about 40% of households connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; multiple RTVS national and regional radio networks; 32 privately owned radio stations

.sk

Percent of population

90% (2024 est.)

### ##

+421

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

505,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

138 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

132 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

7.63 million (2023 est.)

passengers carried

1,925 passengers

registered carrier departures

17 departures

116 (2025)

OM

Right

2 (2025)

Total

3,627 km (2020) 1,585 km electrified

SK

armored vehicles

tanks

the Slovak military is responsible for external defense and fulfilling Slovakia’s commitments to European and international security; Slovakia has been a member of both the EU and NATO since 2004; a key focus of the Slovak military is fulfilling the country’s security responsibilities to NATO, including modernizing and acquiring NATO-compatible equipment, participating in training exercises, and providing forces for security missions such as NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic States; since 2022, Slovakia has hosted a multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the NATO effort to boost the defenses of Eastern Europe since the Russian invasion of Ukraine; Slovakia also contributes to EU and UN peacekeeping missions<br><br>the Slovak Air Force has only a handful of fighter aircraft and is assisted by NATO’s air policing mission over Slovakia, which includes fighter aircraft from Czechia and Poland; in 2022, Slovakia signed a defense agreement with the US that allows the US to use two Slovak military air bases (2025)

Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Ground Forces (Slovenské Pozemné Sily), Air Forces (Slovenské Vzdušné Sily), Special Operations Forces (Sily Pre Speciálne Operácie)<br><br>Ministry of Interior: Slovak Police Force (SPF or Policajný Zbor) (2025)

active duty personnel

18,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the SPF has sole responsibility for internal and border security

percent of total labor force

0.67 %

approximately 17,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

200 Cyprus (UNFICYP); up to 150 Latvia (NATO)&nbsp; (2025)

the military's inventory is a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more modern/NATO-compatible armaments from suppliers such as Germany and the US (2025)

2 % of GDP

current USD

$2,849,224,738

Military Expenditures 2021

1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

2% of GDP (2025 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

4.30 %

percent of GDP

2.01 % of GDP

minimum age is 18 for voluntary service for men and women; citizens 18-65 can volunteer for the military reserves (2026)

PowerIndex score

1.3911

Refugees

144,349 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

65 (2024 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke

9.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

8.368 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

12.112 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

30.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

air pollution and acid rain; land erosion from agricultural and mining practices; water pollution

Global geoparks and regional networks

Novohrad-N&oacute;gr&aacute;d (includes Hungary) (2023)

Total global geoparks and regional networks

1

Party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

Antarctic-Environmental Protection

16.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

38 % of total land area

8 % of total

50.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

4 % of internal resources

Agricultural

32.851 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial

224.562 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal

306.21 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

2.296 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13.2% (2022 est.)