2019 Edition

Background

Slovakia traces its roots 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. After the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, backlash to language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) encouraged the strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who fell administratively under the Austrian half of the empire. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. The new state was envisioned as a nation with Czech and Slovak branches. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state created by and 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 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 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 one and a half times the size of Maryland; about twice the size of New Hampshire

Climate

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

Highest Point

Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m

Lowest Point

Bodrok River 94 m

Mean Elevation

458 m

Environment Current Issues

air pollution and acid rain present human health risks and damage forests; land erosion caused by agricultural and mining practices; water pollution

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

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

869 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

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

Total

1,611 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

40.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

28.9% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0.4% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

10.8% (2011 est.)

Forest

40.2% (2011 est.)

Other

19.7% (2011 est.)

Location

Central Europe, south of Poland

Map References

Europe

Maritime Claims

none (landlocked)

Natural Hazards

flooding

Natural Resources

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

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0 14 Years

15.2% (male 424,921 /female 402,483)

15 24 Years

10.48% (male 293,573 /female 277,041)

25 54 Years

45.04% (male 1,239,670 /female 1,212,687)

55 64 Years

13.32% (male 345,114 /female 380,077)

65 Years And Over

15.97% (male 339,350 /female 530,124) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

9.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

7.1% (2016)

Death Rate

9.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

19.9 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

5 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

41.5 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

21.6 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

100% of population

Improved Total

100% of population

Improved Urban

100% of population

Unimproved Rural

0% of population

Unimproved Total

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0% of population

Education Expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic Groups

Slovak 80.7%, Hungarian 8.5%, Romani 2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 7% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

<.1% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<100 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

1,200 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

5.8 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

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

81.2 years

Male

73.9 years

Total Population

77.4 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

433,000 BRATISLAVA (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

42.7 years

Male

39.3 years

Total

41 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

27.6 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Slovak

Noun

Slovak(s)

Net Migration Rate

0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

20.5% (2016)

Physicians Density

2.46 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

5,445,040 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

-0.02% (2018 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

Improved Rural

98.2% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

98.8% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

99.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

1.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

1.2% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0.6% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

16 years (2016)

Male

14 years

Total

15 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.06 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.06 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.02 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.91 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.64 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.07 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.94 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.42 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

20.2% (2017 est.)

Male

18.1%

Total

18.9%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

53.7% of total population (2019)

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)

Citizenship

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

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by the National Council; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote of Council members; amended many times, last in 2017 (2017)

History

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

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Slovak Republic

Conventional Short Form

Slovakia

Etymology

related to the Slavic autonym (self-designation) "Slovenin," a derivation from "slovo" (meaning "word"), denoting "people who speak (the same language)" (i.e., people who understand each other)

Local Long Form

Slovenska republika

Local Short Form

Slovensko

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Bridget A. BRINK (since 20 August 2019)

Embassy

P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava

Fax

[421] (2) 5441-5148

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 Ivan KORCOK (since 17 September 2018)

Consulate's General

Los Angeles, 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 Zuzana CAPUTOVA (since 15 June 2014)

Election Results

Zuzana CAPUTOVA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Zuzana CAPUTOVA (PS) 58.4%, Maros SEFCOVIC (independent) 41.6%

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 on 16 March and 30 March 2019 (next to be held March 2024); following National Council elections (every 4 years), 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

Head Of Government

Prime Minister Peter PELLIGRINI (since 22 March 2018); Deputy Prime Ministers Richard RASI (since 22 March 2018), Laszlo SOLYMOS (since 22 March 2018), Gabriela MATECNA (since 29 November 2017)

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

Government Type

parliamentary republic

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 Courts

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;

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- and multi-seat constituencies by closed, party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - Smer-SD 28.3%, SaS 12.1%, OLaNO-NOVA 11%, SNS 8.6%, LSNS 8%, Sme-Rodina 6.6%, Most-Hid 6.5%, Siet 5.6%, other 13.3%; seats by party - Smer-SD 49, SaS 21, OLaNO-NOVA 19, SNS 15, LSNS 14, Sme-Rodina 11, Most-Hid 11, Siet 10; composition - men 120, women 30, percent of women 20% note - seats by party as of May 2019 - Smer-SD 48, SaS 20, OLaNO-NOVA 16, SNS 15, LSNS 13, Sme-Rodina 8, Most-Hid 13, independent 17; composition as of May 2019 - men 118, women 32, percent of women 21.3%

Elections

last held on 5 March 2016 (next to be held in March 2020)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Janko MATUSKA/traditional

Name

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

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 [Alojz HLINA] Bridge or Most-Hid [Bela BUGAR] Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO] Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK] Kotleba-People's Party Our Slovakia or LSNS [Marian KOTLEBA] Ordinary People and Independent Personalities - New Majority or OLaNO-NOVA [Igor MATOVIC] Party of the Hungarian Community or SMK [Jozsef MENYHART] Progressive Slovakia or PS [Michal TRUBAN] Slovak National Party or SNS [Andrej DANKO] Together or Spolu [Miroslav BEBLAVY] We Are Family or Sme-Rodina [Boris KOLLAR]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

38.79 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

37.79 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2016

0%

31 December 2017

0%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

2.7%

31 December 2017

2.44%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$1.309 billion

2017

-$2.005 billion

Debt External

31 March 2015

$74.19 billion

31 March 2016

$75.04 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2014

26.1

2015

23.7

Economy Overview

Slovakia’s economy suffered from a slow start in the first years after its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993, due to the country’s authoritarian leadership and high levels of corruption, but economic reforms implemented after 1998 have placed Slovakia on a path of strong growth. With a population of 5.4 million, the Slovak Republic has a small, open economy driven mainly by automobile and electronics exports, which account for more than 80% of GDP. Slovakia joined the EU in 2004 and the euro zone in 2009. The country’s banking sector is sound and predominantly foreign owned.Slovakia has been a regional FDI champion for several years, attractive due to a relatively low-cost yet skilled labor force, and a favorable geographic location in the heart of Central Europe. Exports and investment have been key drivers of Slovakia’s robust growth in recent years. The unemployment rate fell to historical lows in 2017, and rising wages fueled increased consumption, which played a more prominent role in 2017 GDP growth. A favorable outlook for the Eurozone suggests continued strong growth prospects for Slovakia during the next few years, although inflation is also expected to pick up.Among the most pressing domestic issues potentially threatening the attractiveness of the Slovak market are shortages in the qualified labor force, persistent corruption issues, and an inadequate judiciary, as well as a slow transition to an innovation-based economy. The energy sector in particular is characterized by unpredictable regulatory oversight and high costs, in part driven by government interference in regulated tariffs. Moreover, the government’s attempts to maintain low household energy prices could harm the profitability of domestic energy firms while undercutting energy efficiency initiatives.

Exchange Rates

2013

0.7634

2014

0.885

2015

0.9214

2016

0.903

2017

0.885

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$75.53 billion

2017

$80.8 billion

Exports Commodities

vehicles and related parts 27%, machinery and electrical equipment 20%, nuclear reactors and furnaces 12%, iron and steel 4%, mineral oils and fuels 5% (2015 est.)

Exports Partners

Germany 20.7%, Czech Republic 11.6%, Poland 7.7%, France 6.3%, Italy 6.1%, UK 6%, Hungary 6%, Austria 6% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

96.3% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

19.2% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

54.7% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-92.9% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

21.2% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

1.2% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

3.8% (2017 est.)

Industry

35% (2017 est.)

Services

61.2% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$95.96 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$31,000

2016

$32,000

2017

$33,100

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$168.2 billion

2016

$173.8 billion

2017

$179.7 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

3.9%

2016

3.3%

2017

3.4%

Gross National Saving

2015

22.5% of GDP

2016

21.1% of GDP

2017

20.6% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

19.3% (2015 est.)

Lowest 10

3.3%

Imports

2016

$72.51 billion

2017

$80.07 billion

Imports Commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 20%, vehicles and related parts 14%, nuclear reactors and furnaces 12%, fuel and mineral oils 9% (2015 est.)

Imports Partners

Germany 19.1%, Czech Republic 16.3%, Austria 10.3%, Poland 6.5%, Hungary 6.4%, South Korea 4.5%, Russia 4.5%, France 4.3%, China 4.2% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

2.7% (2017 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

2016

-0.5%

2017

1.3%

Labor Force

2.758 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

3.9%

Industry

22.7%

Services

73.4% (2015)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2014

$4.732 billion

31 December 2015

$4.634 billion

31 December 2016

$4.567 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

12.3% (2015 est.)

Public Debt

2016

51.8% of GDP

2017

50.9% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$2.892 billion

31 December 2017

$3.622 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$45.63 billion

31 December 2017

$56.46 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$15.06 billion

31 December 2017

$21.29 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$54.03 billion

31 December 2017

$69.92 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$70.84 billion

31 December 2017

$85.56 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$45.63 billion

31 December 2017

$56.46 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

39.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

9.7%

2017

8.1%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

34.86 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

1,022 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

111,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Production

200 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

9 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

26.64 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

10.6 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

36% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

24% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

27% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

13.25 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

7.644 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

25.32 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

4.672 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

4.984 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

104.8 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

85,880 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

81,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

38,340 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

131,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

26 (2017 est.)

Total

1,404,751

Broadcast Media

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

Internet Country Code

.sk

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

80.5% (July 2016 est.)

Total

4,382,558

Telephone System

Domestic

four companies have a license to operate cellular networks and provide nationwide cellular services (cellular operators); a few other companies provide services but do not have their own networks; fixed-line 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular 131 per 100 teledesity (2018)

General Assessment

a modern telecommunications system; near monopoly of fixed-line market; competition in mobile and fixed broadband market; poor mobile virtual network operator (MVNO); regulatory preparing for 5G; broadband growth in recent years; competition among DSL, cable and fibre platforms; wireless broadband options from mobile network operators; FttP growth in cities (2018)

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 (2017)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

14 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

758,842

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

131 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

7,117,753

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

19 (2019)

Under 914 M

9

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

10

Total

15 (2019)

Under 914 M

5

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

OM (2016)

Heliports

1 (2019)

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

11,100 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

23 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

4 (2015)

Pipelines

2270 km gas transmission pipelines, 6278 km high-pressure gas distribution pipelines, 27023 km mid- and low-pressure gas distribution pipelines (2016), 510 km oil (2015)

Ports And Terminals

Bratislava, Komarno (Danube)

Railways

Broad Gauge

99 km 1.520-m gauge (2016)

Narrow Gauge

46 km 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge (2016)

Standard Gauge

3,435 km 1.435-m gauge (1,587 km electrified) (2016)

Total

3,580 km (2016)

Roadways

56,926 km (includes local roads, national roads, and 464 km of highways) (2016)

Waterways

172 km (on Danube River) (2012)

Military And Security Forces

Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, and a Joint Training and Support Command. (2019)

Military Expenditures

2015

1.12% of GDP

2016

1.12% of GDP

2017

1.1% of GDP

2018

1.22% of GDP

2019

1.74% of GDP

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 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 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

1,523 (2018)