2015 Edition

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.

Area

land

48,105 sq km

total

49,035 sq km

water

930 sq km

Area - comparative

about twice the size of New Hampshire

Climate

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m

lowest point

Bodrok River 94 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

126.7 cu m/yr (2010)

total

0.69 cu km/yr (47%/51%/3%)

Geographic coordinates

48 40 N, 19 30 E

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

Irrigated land

1,720 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

border countries (5)

Austria 105 km, Czech Republic 241 km, Hungary 627 km, Poland 541 km, Ukraine 97 km

total

1,611 km

Land use

arable land 28.9%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 10.8%

agricultural land

40.1%

forest

40.2%

other

19.7% (2011 est.)

Location

Central Europe, south of Poland

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

50.1 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

15.14% (male 422,297/female 402,154)

15-24 years

11.78% (male 330,116/female 311,144)

25-54 years

45.17% (male 1,241,594/female 1,217,885)

55-64 years

13.56% (male 349,304/female 388,904)

65 years and over

14.35% (male 299,097/female 482,532) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

9.91 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

9.74 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

19.5%

potential support ratio

5.1% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

40.8%

youth dependency ratio

21.3%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

Slovak 80.7%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 2%, other and unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.)

Health expenditures

8.2% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.02% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

4.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

5.91 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.27 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Slovak (official) 78.6%, Hungarian 9.4%, Roma 2.3%, Ruthenian 1%, other or unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.71 years (2015 est.)

male

73.3 years

total population

76.88 years

Major urban areas - population

BRATISLAVA (capital) 401,000 (2015)

Median age

female

41.4 years (2015 est.)

male

37.9 years

total

39.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Slovak

noun

Slovak(s)

Net migration rate

0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27.4% (2014)

Physicians density

3.32 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

5,445,027 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.02% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 8.2%, Greek Catholic 3.8%, other or unspecified 12.5%, none 13.4% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99.4% of population

rural: 98.2% of population

total: 98.8% of population

urban: 0.6% of population

rural: 1.8% of population

total: 1.2% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2012)

male

14 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

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

0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.62 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.39 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

32.5% (2012 est.)

male

35%

total

34%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.31% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

53.6% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

48 09 N, 17 07 E

name

Bratislava

time difference

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

Constitution

several previous (preindependence); latest passed by National Council 1 September 1992, signed 3 September 1992, effective 1 October 1992; amended several times, last in 2009; note - amendments relating to same sex marriages were passed by the National Council in 2014 but failed to meet the required percentage of voters in a February 2015 referendum (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Slovak Republic

conventional short form

Slovakia

local long form

Slovenska republika

local short form

Slovensko

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Theodore SEDGWICK (since 4 July 2010)

embassy

Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava

FAX

[421] (2) 5441-8861

mailing address

P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava

telephone

[421] (2) 5443-3338

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Peter KMEC (since 17 September 2012)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 237-6438

telephone

[1] (202) 237-1054

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Andrej KISKA (since 15 June 2014)

election results

Andrej KISKA elected president; percent of vote in second round - Andrej KISKA (independent) 59.4%, Robert FICO (Smer-SD) 40.6%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held in 2 rounds on 15 and 29 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2019); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president

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)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of 84 judges - as of 2015 - 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

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Council or Narodna Rada (150 seats; members directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

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

elections

last held on 10 March 2012 (next to be held in 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Janko MATUSKA/traditional

name

"Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Lightning Over the Tatras)

note

adopted 1993, in use since 1844; music based on the Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku"

National holiday

Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

National symbol(s)

double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks; national colors: white, blue, red

Political parties and leaders

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]

Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Ondrej DOSTAL]

Nation and Justice - Our Party or NAS [Anna BELOUSOVOVA]

Network or Siet [Radoslav PROCHAZKA]

New Majority or NOVA [Daniel LIPSIC]

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 or AZZZ

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products

Budget

expenditures

$39.36 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$36.45 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.3% (10 September 2014)

0.75% (13 November 2013)

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

3.2% (31 December 2014 est.)

3.34% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$58.62 million (2014 est.)

$1.402 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$106.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$114 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

25.3 (2012)

25.7 (2011)

Economy - overview

Slovakia has made significant economic reforms since its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993. With a population of 5.4 million, the Slovak Republic has a small, open economy, with exports, at about 92% of GDP, serving as the main driver of GDP growth. Slovakia joined the European Union (EU) in 2004 and the Eurozone in 2009. The country’s banking sector is sound. Slovakia has led the region garnering FDI, because of its relatively low-cost, highly-skilled labor force, reasonable tax rates, and favorable geographic location in the heart of Central Europe. However, recent increases in corporate taxes, as well as changes to the Labor Code, slow dispute resolution, and ongoing corruption potentially threaten the attractiveness of the Slovak market. Moreover, the energy sector is characterized by high costs, unpredictable regulatory oversight, and growing government interference.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.7489 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

0.78 (2012 est.)

0.7185 (2011 est.)

0.755 (2010 est.)

Exports

$85.94 billion (2014 est.)

$85.22 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

vehicles and related parts 25%, machinery and electrical equipment 21%, nuclear reactors and furnaces 12%, iron and steel 5%, mineral oils and fuels 5% (2014 est.)

Exports - partners

Germany 23.3%, Czech Republic 13.6%, Poland 8.8%, Hungary 6.6%, Austria 6.5%, UK 5.4%, France 5.2%, Italy 4.8% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

91.9%

government consumption

18.5%

household consumption

56.7%

imports of goods and services

-87.8%

investment in fixed capital

21.1%

investment in inventories

-0.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.4%

industry

22.5%

services

74.1% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$28,200 (2014 est.)

$27,500 (2013 est.)

$27,100 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2014 est.)

1.4% (2013 est.)

1.6% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$99.97 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$152.6 billion (2014 est.)

$149 billion (2013 est.)

$146.9 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

21.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

22.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

22% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26% (2013 est.)

lowest 10%

4.4%

Imports

$79.78 billion (2014 est.)

$79.78 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 19%, vehicles and related parts 13%, nuclear reactors and furnaces 12%, fuel and mineral oils 11% (2014 est.)

Imports - partners

Germany 19%, Czech Republic 16.9%, Austria 9.3%, Russia 7.9%, Poland 6.2%, Hungary 6.2%, South Korea 4.2%, China 4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.1% (2014 est.)

1.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

2.363 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3.5%

industry

25.9%

services

70.6% (2014)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$5.172 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.04 billion (31 December 2013)

$4.611 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Population below poverty line

20.5% (2012 est.)

Public debt

54.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

54.6% of GDP (2013 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.

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.878 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.176 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$64.13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$62.69 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$13.09 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$12.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$69.76 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$67.46 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$53.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$72.07 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$45.57 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$42.37 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

note

see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 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

Taxes and other revenues

36.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

13.2% (2014 est.)

14.2% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

29.27 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

201.4 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

106,800 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

5,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

9 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

28.68 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

11.86 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

43.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

22% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

24.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

9.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

12.93 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

8.074 million kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

28.59 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

5.1 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

15 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

5.579 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

95 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

136,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

175,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

303,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

9,522 bbl/day (2013 est.)

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 users

percent of population

82.7% (2014 est.)

total

4.5 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 22, shortwave 1 (2008)

Telephone system

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

general assessment

a modern telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth of 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)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

920,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

117 (2014 est.)

total

6.4 million

Television broadcast stations

37 (2008)

Airports

35 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

3

over 3,047 m

2

total

21

under 914 m

11 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

5 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

9

total

14

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

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)

total

11

Pipelines

gas 6,774 km; oil 419 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

river port(s)

Bratislava, Komarno (Danube)

Railways

broad gauge

99 km 1.520-m gauge

narrow gauge

50 km 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

3,475 km 1.435-m gauge (1,616 km electrified)

total

3,624 km

Roadways

total

54,869 km (includes local roads, national roads, and 420 km of highways) (2012)

Waterways

172 km (on Danube River) (2012)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,369,897 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,405,310

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,139,380 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,156,113

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

30,219 (2010 est.)

male

31,646

Military branches

Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2010)

Military expenditures

1.02% of GDP (2014)

1% of GDP (2013)

1.12% of GDP (2012)

1.1% of GDP (2011)

1.12% of GDP (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)

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

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

1,523 (2014)