 Definition  Field Listing  Rank
Order
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Background: |
The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman
Empire and Austria until 1918 when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and
Croats in forming a new multinational state, renamed 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 of 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. Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Location: |
Central
Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and
Croatia |
|
Geographic coordinates: |
46 07 N, 14
49 E |
|
Map references: |
Europe
|
|
Area: |
total:
20,273 sq km
land: 20,151 sq km
water: 122 sq
km |
|
Area - comparative: |
slightly
smaller than New Jersey |
|
Land boundaries: |
total: 1,334 km
border countries: Austria 330
km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km |
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Coastline: |
46.6 km
|
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Maritime claims: |
NA |
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Climate: |
Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with
mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to
the east |
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Terrain: |
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 |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest
point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864
m |
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Natural resources: |
lignite
coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower, forests
|
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Land use: |
arable
land: 8.6%
permanent crops: 1.49%
other:
89.91% (2001) |
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Irrigated land: |
20 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards: |
flooding and
earthquakes |
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Environment - current issues: |
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: |
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 |
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Geography - note: |
despite its
small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's
major transit routes Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Population: |
2,011,473
(July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure: |
0-14
years: 14.3% (male 147,506; female 139,435)
15-64
years: 70.6% (male 716,057; female 704,734)
65 years and
over: 15.1% (male 115,391; female 188,350) (2004 est.) |
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Median age: |
total: 39.8 years
male: 38.3 years
female: 41.3 years (2004 est.) |
|
Population growth rate: |
-0.01% (2004
est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
8.9
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
|
Death rate: |
10.15
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
1.12
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
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: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
total:
4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live
births
female: 3.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
|
|
Life expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 75.93 years
male: 72.18 years
female: 79.92 years (2004 est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
1.23 children
born/woman (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
less than
0.1% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
280 (2001
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 100
(2001 est.) |
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Nationality: |
noun:
Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian |
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Ethnic groups: |
Slovene 92%,
Croat 1%, Serb 0.5%, Hungarian 0.4%, Bosniak 0.3%, other 5.8% (1991)
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Religions: |
Roman
Catholic (Uniate 2%) 70.8%, Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist 4.3%,
other 22.9% |
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Languages: |
Slovenian
92%, Serbo-Croatian 6.2%, other 1.8% |
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Literacy: |
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Country name: |
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long
form: Republika Slovenija
local short form: Slovenija
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Government type: |
parliamentary democratic republic |
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Capital: |
Ljubljana
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Administrative divisions: |
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 |
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Independence: |
25 June 1991
(from Yugoslavia) |
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National holiday: |
Independence
Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991) |
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Constitution: |
adopted 23
December 1991, effective 23 December 1991 |
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Legal system: |
based on
civil law system |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of
age; universal (16 years of age, if employed) |
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Executive branch: |
chief of
state: President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22 December 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Anton ROP (since 11
December 2002)
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; 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 6 December 2002 (next National Assembly elections to be held NA
October 2004)
election results: Janez DRNOVSEK elected
president; percent of vote - Janez DRNOVSEK 56.5%, Barbara BREZIGAR
43.5%; Anton ROP elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 63
to 24 |
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Legislative branch: |
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 numbers of directly elected and proportionally
elected seats varies with each election; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the National Council or
Drzavni Svet (this is primarily an advisory body organized on
corporatist principles with limited legislative powers; it may
propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly decisions, and
call national referenda; in the election of 2002, 40 members were
selected to represent local, professional, and socioeconomic
interests; members are indirectly elected to five-year terms by an
electoral college)
elections: National Assembly - last
held 15 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - LDS 36%, SDS
16%, ZLSD 12%, SLS/SKD 10%, NSi 9%, SMS 4%, SNS 4%, DeSUS 5%, other
4%; seats by party - LDS 34, SDS 13, ZLSD 11, SLS 10, NSi 8, SMS 4,
SNS 4, DeSUS 4, Hungarian and Italian minorities 1 each |
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Judicial branch: |
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) |
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Political parties and leaders: |
Democratic
Party of Retired (Persons) of Slovenia or DeSUS [Anton ROUS];
Liberal Democratic or LDS [Anton ROP]; New Slovenia or NSi [Andrej
BAJUK]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC]; Slovene
People's Party or SLS [Franc BUT]; Slovene Youth Party or SMS
[Dominic CERNJAK]; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDS [Janez
JANSA]; United List of Social Democrats or ZLSD [Borut PAHOR] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
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International organization participation: |
ACCT
(observer), BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (new member), FAO, IADB,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Davorin KRACUN
chancery: 1525 New
Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1]
(202) 667-5363
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general: New York and Cleveland |
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG
embassy: Presernova
31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: American Embassy
Ljubljana, Department of State, 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC
20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX:
[386] (1) 200-5555 |
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Flag description: |
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 Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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Economy - overview: |
Slovenia,
with its historical ties to Western Europe, enjoys a GDP per capita
substantially higher than that of the other transitioning economies
of Central Europe. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first
transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner
at the World Bank. Privatization of the economy proceeded at an
accelerated pace in 2002-03, and the budget deficit dropped from
3.0% of GDP in 2002 to 1.6% in 2003. Despite the economic slowdown
in Europe in 2001-03, Slovenia maintained 3% growth. Structural
reforms to improve the business environment allow for greater
foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and help to lower
unemployment. Further measures to curb inflation are also needed.
Corruption and the high degree of coordination between government,
business, and central bank policy are issues of concern in the
run-up to Slovenia's scheduled 1 May 2004 accession to the European
Union. |
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GDP: |
purchasing
power parity - $36.82 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
2.3% (2003
est.) |
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GDP - per capita: |
purchasing
power parity - $19,000 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 3%
industry: 39.7%
services: 57.3% (2003 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed): |
23.3% of GDP
(2003) |
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Population below poverty line: |
NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest
10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 23% (1998) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini
index: |
28.4 (1998)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
5.6% (2003
est.) |
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Labor force: |
875,000
(2003) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture
NA, industry NA, services NA |
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Unemployment rate: |
11.2% (2003
est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $11.46 billion
expenditures: $11.85
billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.) |
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Public debt: |
31.9% of GDP
(2003) |
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Agriculture - products: |
potatoes,
hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry
|
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Industries: |
ferrous
metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting,
electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power
equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
1.4% (2003)
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Electricity - production: |
13.69 billion
kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption: |
13.83 billion
kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports: |
3 billion
kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports: |
4.1 billion
kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production: |
20 bbl/day NA
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption: |
53,300
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - exports: |
NA (2001)
|
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Oil - imports: |
NA (2001)
|
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Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2001
est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption: |
1.04 billion
cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2001
est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports: |
1.04 billion
cu m (2001 est.) |
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Current account balance: |
$15.1 million
(2003) |
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Exports: |
$11.98
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities: |
manufactured
goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food |
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Exports - partners: |
Germany
19.4%, Italy 13.1%, Austria 11%, France 8.1%, Croatia 7.4%, Bosnia
and Herzegovina 4.6% (2003 est.) |
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Imports: |
$12.63
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities: |
machinery
and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and
lubricants, food |
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Imports - partners: |
Germany
20.3%, Italy 19.5%, Austria 12.8%, France 10.2% (2003 est.) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: |
$8.598
billion (2003) |
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Debt - external: |
$11.33
billion (2003) |
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Economic aid - recipient: |
ODA, $62
million (2000 est.) |
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Currency: |
tolar (SIT)
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Currency code: |
SIT |
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Exchange rates: |
tolars per
US dollar - 207.099 (2003), 240.248 (2002), 242.749 (2001), 222.656
(2000), 181.769 (1999) |
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Fiscal year: |
calendar
year Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
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Railways: |
total:
1,201 km
standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (499 km
electrified) (2003) |
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Highways: |
total:
20,177 km
paved: 20,157 km (including 427 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 20 km (2000) |
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Pipelines: |
gas 2,526
km; oil 11 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors: |
Izola,
Koper, Piran |
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Airports: |
14 (2003
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
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 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to
1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2003 est.) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
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