Page last updated on January 31, 2014
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.
Central Europe, south of Poland
total: 49,035 sq km
country comparison to the world: 131
land: 48,105 sq km
water: 930 sq km
about twice the size of New Hampshire
total: 1,474 km
border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 197 km, Hungary 676 km, Poland 420 km, Ukraine 90 km
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
arable land: 28.36%
permanent crops: 0.41%
other: 71.22% (2011)
total: 0.69 cu km/yr (47%/51%/3%)
per capita: 126.7 cu m/yr (2010)
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests
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
landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys
noun: Slovak(s)
adjective: Slovak
Slovak 80.7%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 2%, other and unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.)
Slovak (official) 78.6%, Hungarian 9.4%, Roma 2.3%, Ruthenian 1%, other or unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.)
Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 8.2%, Greek Catholic 3.8%, other or unspecified 12.5%, none 13.4% (2011 est.)
5,488,339 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 435,635/female 416,223)
15-24 years: 12.6% (male 354,390/female 338,536)
25-54 years: 45.1% (male 1,246,625/female 1,229,929)
55-64 years: 13.3% (male 344,605/female 384,967)
65 years and over: 13.4% (male 278,659/female 458,770) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 38.9 %
youth dependency ratio: 20.9 %
elderly dependency ratio: 18 %
potential support ratio: 5.6 (2013)
total: 38.4 years
male: 36.9 years
female: 39.9 years (2013 est.)
0.09% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
10.27 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
9.69 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
urban population: 54.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.06% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
BRATISLAVA (capital) 428,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
6 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 173
total: 6.35 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 167
male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 76.24 years
country comparison to the world: 80
male: 72.36 years
female: 80.31 years (2013 est.)
1.39 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
79.8%
note: percent of women aged 15-44 (1997)
9% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 44
3 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
6.4 beds/1,000 population (2010)
less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
25.4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 54
4.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 109
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2004)
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2011)
total: 34%
country comparison to the world: 21
male: 35%
female: 32.5% (2012)
conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local long form: Slovenska republika
local short form: Slovensko
name: Bratislava
geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 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
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
several previous (preindependence); latest passed by legislature 1 September 1992, signed 3 September 1992, effective 1 October 1992; amended several times, last in 2011 (2011)
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 and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal system
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004)
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)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 March and 4 April 2009 (next to be held in March 2014); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Ivan GASPAROVIC reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 55.5%, Iveta RADICOVA 44.5%
unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 10 March 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
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
highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of 78 judges - as of 2003 - 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
parties in the Parliament:
selected parties outside the Parliament:
Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter KMEC (since 17 September 2012)
chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054
FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438
consulate(s) general: New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore SEDGWICK (since 4 July 2010)
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava
telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338
FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861
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
double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks
name: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Lightning Over the Tatras)
lyrics/music: Janko MATUSKA/traditional
note: adopted 1993, in use since 1844; the anthem's music is based on the Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku"
Slovakia has made significant economic reforms since its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993. Reforms to the taxation, healthcare, pension, and social welfare systems helped Slovakia consolidate its budget and get on track to join the EU in 2004 after a period of relative stagnation in the early and mid 1990s and to adopt the euro in January 2009. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost entirely in foreign hands, and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom with business friendly policies. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in 2001-08 despite a general European slowdown. Foreign direct investment (FDI), especially in the automotive and electronic sectors, fueled much of the growth until 2008. Cheap and skilled labor, low taxes, no dividend taxes, a relatively liberal labor code, and a favorable geographical location are Slovakia's main advantages for foreign investors. The economy contracted 5% in 2009 primarily as a result of smaller inflows of FDI and reduced demand for Slovakia''s exports before rebounding in 2010-11, but growth slowed in 2012 due to weakening external demand. The government of Prime Minister Robert FICO in 2012 implemented tax increases on higher-earning individuals and corporations, effectively scrapping Slovakia''s flat tax to help meet budget deficit targets of 4.9% of GDP in 2012 and 3% of GDP in 2013.
$130.5 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$90.67 billion (2012 est.)
2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$24,100 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
23% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
household consumption: 57.3%
government consumption: 17.6%
investment in fixed capital: 21.5%
investment in inventories: -0.8%
exports of goods and services: 95.6%
imports of goods and services: -90.6%
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 37%
services: 59.2% (2012 est.)
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
10.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
2.724 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 27%
services: 69.4% (December 2009)
13.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 22.4% (2009 est.)
26 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 129
revenues: $30.41 billion
expenditures: $34.4 billion (2012 est.)
33.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
-4.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
52.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
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.
3.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
1.75% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
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
3.47% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$37.14 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 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
$52.73 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$68.47 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$4.736 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 87
$2.096 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$80.67 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
machinery and electrical equipment 35.9%, vehicles 21%, base metals 11.3%, chemicals and minerals 8.1%, plastics 4.9% (2009 est.)
Germany 22.3%, Czech Republic 14.9%, Poland 8.8%, Hungary 7.8%, Austria 7%, France 5.6%, Italy 4.9%, UK 4.1% (2012)
$75.99 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
machinery and transport equipment 31%, mineral products 13%, vehicles 12%, base metals 9%, chemicals 8%, plastics 6% (2009 est.)
Germany 18.6%, Czech Republic 18%, Russia 9.9%, Austria 8%, Hungary 6.8%, Poland 6%, South Korea 4.1% (2012)
$2.519 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$68.44 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$62.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$11.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
24.39 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
26.27 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
13.08 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
13.88 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
7.855 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
42.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
23.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
20.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
2.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
9,277 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
262.5 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
108,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
9 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 92
129,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
83,910 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
70,520 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
28,380 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
105 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
6.468 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
45.43 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
50.18 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 80
34.88 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
975,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 77
6.095 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 101
general assessment: Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in cellular services
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
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)
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)
1.384 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 41
4.063 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
35 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 111
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 11 (2013)
total: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m:
gas 6,774 km; oil 419 km (2013)
total: 3,622 km
country comparison to the world: 49
broad gauge: 99 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,473 km 1.435-m gauge (1,615 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 50 km 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge (2008)
total: 43,916 km
country comparison to the world: 83
paved: 38,238 km (includes 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,678 km (2010)
172 km (on Danube River) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 100
total: 11
country comparison to the world: 109
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)
river port(s): Bratislava, Komarno (Danube)
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2010)
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription in peacetime suspended in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2012)
males age 16-49: 1,405,310
females age 16-49: 1,369,897 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,156,113
females age 16-49: 1,139,380 (2010 est.)
male: 31,646
female: 30,219 (2010 est.)
1.12% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 284
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
stateless persons: 1,523 (2013)
