from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Slovenia
Introduction
Background: The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of
World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and
Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was
named 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 by 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.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic
Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Geographic 46 07 N, 14 49 E
coordinates:
Map Europe
references:
Area: total: 20,273 sq km
land: 20,151 sq km
water: 122 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than New Jersey
comparative:
Land total: 1,382 km
boundaries: border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km,
Hungary 102 km, Italy 280 km
Coastline: 46.6 km
Maritime NA
claims:
Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate
with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the
plateaus and valleys to the east
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
Elevation lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Natural lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver,
resources: hydropower, forests
Land use: arable land: 8.53%
permanent crops: 1.43%
other: 90.04% (2005)
Irrigated 30 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural flooding and earthquakes
hazards:
Environment - Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste;
current pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic
issues: chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution
(originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and
resulting acid rain
Environment - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,
international Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
agreements: 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
Geography - despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country
note: controls some of Europe's major transit routes
People
Population: 2,010,347 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 13.8% (male 143,079/female 135,050)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 714,393/female 702,950)
65 years and over: 15.7% (male 121,280/female 193,595)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 40.6 years
male: 39 years
female: 42.2 years (2006 est.)
Population -0.05% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 8.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 10.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
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: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 3.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 76.33 years
expectancy at male: 72.63 years
birth: female: 80.29 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 280 (2001 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 100 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups: Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other
or unspecified 12% (2002 census)
Religions: Catholic 57.8%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%,
Muslim 2.4%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified
23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)
Languages: Slovenian 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or
unspecified 4.4% (2002 census)
Literacy: definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6%
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenija
local short form: Slovenija
former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist
Republic of Slovenia
Government parliamentary republic
type:
Capital: name: Ljubljana
geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in
March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative 182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11
divisions: 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
Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
holiday:
Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if
employed)
Executive chief of state: President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22
branch: December 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Janez JANSA (since 9
November 2004)
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 (eligible for a second 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 9 November
2004 (next National Assembly elections to be held
October 2008)
election results: Janez DRNOVSEK elected president;
percent of vote - Janez DRNOVSEK 56.5%, Barbara
BREZIGAR 43.5%; Janez JANSA elected prime minister;
National Assembly vote - 57 to 27
Legislative bicameral Parliament consisting of a National Assembly
branch: 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 (40 seats; this is primarily an
advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may
propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly
decisions, and call national referenda; members -
representing social, economic, professional, and local
interests - are indirectly elected to five-year terms
by an electoral college)
elections: National Assembly - last held 3 October 2004
(next to be held October 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - SDS 29.1%,
LDS 22.8%, ZLSD 10.2%, NSi 9%, SLS 6.8%, SNS 6.3%,
DeSUS 4.1%, other 11.7%; seats by party - SDS 29, LDS
23, ZLSD 10, NSi 9, SLS 7, SNS 6, DeSUS 4, Hungarian
and Italian minorities 1 each
Judicial Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National
branch: 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)
Political Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of Slovenia or
parties and DeSUS [Karl ERJAVEC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS
leaders: [Jelko KACIN]; New Slovenia or NSi [Andrej BAJUK];
Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA];
Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC]; Slovene
People's Party or SLS [Janez PODOBNIK]; Slovene Youth
Party or SMS [Darko KRANJC]; Social Democrats or SD
[Borut PAHOR]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC,
organization EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
participation: ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM
(guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel ZBOGAR
representation chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general: Cleveland, New York
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas B. ROBERTSON
representation embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
from the US: mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, US
Department of State, 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington,
DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555
Flag three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and
description: 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
Economy
Economy - With its small transition economy and population of
overview: approximately two million, Slovenia is a model of
economic success and stability for its neighbors in the
former Yugoslavia. The country, which joined the EU in
2004, has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated
work force, and an excellent central location. It
enjoys a GDP per capita substantially higher than any
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. Slovenia plans to adopt the
euro by 2007 and has met the EU's Maastricht criteria
for inflation. Despite its economic success, Slovenia
faces growing challenges. Much of the economy remains
in state hands and foreign direct investment (FDI) in
Slovenia is one of the lowest in the EU on a per capita
basis. Taxes are relatively high, the labor market is
often seen as inflexible, and legacy industries are
losing sales to more competitive firms in China, India,
and elsewhere. The current center-right government,
elected in October 2004, has pledged to accelerate
privatization of a number of large state holdings and
is interested in increasing FDI in Slovenia. In late
2005, the government's new Committee for Economic
Reforms was elevated to cabinet-level status. The
Committee's program includes plans for lowering the tax
burden, privatizing state-controlled firms, improving
the flexibility of the labor market, and increasing the
government's efficiency.
GDP $43.27 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $35.21 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 4% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $21,500 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 2.8%
composition by industry: 36.9%
sector: services: 60.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 920,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 6%
by occupation: industry: 40%
services: 55% (2002)
Unemployment 10.1% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 3.9%
income or highest 10%: 23% (1998)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 28.4 (1998)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 2.5% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 24.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $16.02 billion
expenditures: $16.73 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: 28.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes;
products: cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries: ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc
smelting; electronics (including military electronics),
trucks, electric power equipment, wood products,
textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Industrial 3.2% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 13.23 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 35.2%
production by hydro: 27.3%
source: nuclear: 36.8%
other: 0.7% (2001)
Electricity - 12.47 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 5.811 billion kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 5.975 billion kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 11.05 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 52,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 1.1 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 1.04 billion cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Current $-361.2 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $18.53 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
commodities: chemicals, food
Exports - Germany 19.9%, Italy 12.7%, Croatia 9.4%, Austria 8.1%,
partners: France 8.1% (2005)
Imports: $19.62 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
commodities: chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food
Imports - Germany 19.5%, Italy 18.6%, Austria 12%, France 7.2%,
partners: Croatia 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of $8.16 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $18.97 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - ODA, $62 million (2000 est.)
recipient:
Currency tolar (SIT)
(code):
Currency code: SIT
Exchange tolars per US dollar - 192.71 (2005), 192.38 (2004),
rates: 207.11 (2003), 240.25 (2002), 242.75 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 816,400 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 1.759 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: NA
system: domestic: 100% digital (2000)
international: country code - 386
Radio AM 17, FM 160, shortwave 0 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 805,000 (1997)
Television 48 (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 710,000 (1997)
Internet .si
country code:
Internet 61,735 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 11 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 1.09 million (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 14 (2006)
Airports - total: 6
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 8
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 2,526 km; oil 11 km (2006)
Railways: total: 1,229 km
standard gauge: 1,229 km 1.435-m gauge (504 km
electrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 38,400 km
paved: 38,400 km (including 477 km of expressways)
(2003)
Merchant registered in other countries: 26 (Antigua and Barbuda
marine: 6, Bahamas 1, Cyprus 4, Georgia 1, Liberia 2, Malta 3,
Marshall Islands 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5,
Singapore 1) (2006)
Ports and Koper
terminals:
Military
Military Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)
branches:
Military 17 years of age for voluntary military service;
service age conscription abolished in 2003 (2004)
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 17-49: 496,929
available for females age 17-49: 483,959 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 17-49: 405,593
for military females age 17-49: 397,167 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 12,816
reaching females age 17-49: 12,178 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $370 million (FY00)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1.7% (FY00)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary
international: agreement, which would have ceded most of Piran Bay and
maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to
Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute; as a member
state that forms part of the EU's external border,
Slovenia must implement the strict Schengen border
rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through
southeastern Europe while encouraging close
cross-border ties with Croatia
Illicit drugs: minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian
heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor
chemicals