Europe :: Slovenia
page last updated on January 29, 2013
Flag of Slovenia
Location of Slovenia
 
Map of Slovenia
Introduction ::Slovenia
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; it joined the eurozone in 2007.
Geography ::Slovenia
south Central Europe, Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia
46 07 N, 14 49 E
total: 20,273 sq km
country comparison to the world: 155
land: 20,151 sq km
water: 122 sq km
slightly smaller than New Jersey
total: 1,086 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 455 km, Hungary 102 km, Italy 199 km
46.6 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
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
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
lignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests
arable land: 8.53%
permanent crops: 1.43%
other: 90.04% (2005)
100 sq km (2003)
32.1 cu km (2005)
total: 0.9
per capita: 457 cu m/yr (2002)
flooding; earthquakes
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
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes
People and Society ::Slovenia
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 census)
Slovenian (official) 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4%, Italian (official, only in municipalities where Italian national communities reside), Hungarian (official, only in municipalities where Hungarian national communities reside) (2002 census)
Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)
1,996,617 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
0-14 years: 13.4% (male 138,116/ female 129,804)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 698,993/ female 688,642)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 135,229/ female 205,833) (2012 est.)
population pyramid:
total: 42.8 years
male: 41.1 years
female: 44.5 years (2012 est.)
-0.185% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
8.76 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
urban population: 50% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
LJUBLJANA (capital) 260,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
12 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 147
total: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 197
male: 4.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
total population: 77.48 years
country comparison to the world: 63
male: 73.83 years
female: 81.36 years (2012 est.)
1.31 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
9.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 42
2.473 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
4.7 beds/1,000 population (2008)
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
15% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 37
5.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 51
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2010 est.)
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 18 years (2008)
total: 13.6%
country comparison to the world: 84
male: 13.8%
female: 13.4% (2009)
Government ::Slovenia
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
parliamentary republic
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
200 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina)
municipalities: Ajdovscina, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sevnica, Sezana, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Salovci, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pr
urban municipalities: Celje, Koper-Capodistria, Kranj, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
adopted 23 December 1991; amended 14 July 1997 and 25 July 2000
civil law system
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal
chief of state: President Borut PAHOR (since 22 December 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister Janez JANSA (since 10 February 2012)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
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elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 November and a runoff on 2 December 2012 (next presidential election to be held in 2017); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually nominated to become prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly
election results: Borut PAHOR elected president; percent of vote - Borut PAHOR 67.4%, Danilo TURK 32.6%; Janez JANSA elected prime minister by National Assembly vote 51-39
bicameral Parliament consists of a National Council or Drzavni Svet (40 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve five-year terms; note - this is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly decision, and call national referenda) and the National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 40 members directly elected and 50 are elected on a proportional basis; note - the number of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election; the constitution mandates 1 seat each for Slovenia's Hungarian and Italian minorities; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held on 4 December 2011 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 28.6%, SDS 26.2%, SD 10.5%, LGV 8.4%, DeSUS 7%, SLS 6.9%, NSi 4.8%, other 7.6%; seats by party - PS 28, SDS 26, SD 10, LGV 8, DeSUS 6, SLS 6, NSi 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1
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)
Civic List Party or LGV [Gregor VIRANT]; Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS [Karl ERJAVEC]; Liberal Democracy of Slovenia or LDS [Iztok PODBREGAR]; New Slovenia or NSi [Ljudmila NOVAK]; Positive Slovenia or PS [Zoran JANKOVIC]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC]; Slovene People's Party or SLS [Radovan ZERJAV]; Slovene Youth Party or SMS [Darko KRANJC]; Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA]; Social Democrats or SD [Igor LUKSIC] (formerly ZLSD); ZARES [Gregor GOLOBIC]
Slovenian Roma Association [Jozek Horvat MUC]; various trade and public sector employee unions
other: Catholic Church
Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
chief of mission: Ambassador Roman KIRN
chancery: 2410 California Street N.W., Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 386-6601
FAX: [1] (202) 386-6633
consulate(s) general: Cleveland
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
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
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, derive from the medieval coat of arms of the Duchy of Carniola; 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) appears in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands
Mount Triglav
name: "Zdravljica" (A Toast)
lyrics/music: France PRESEREN/Stanko PREMRL
note: adopted 1989; the anthem was originally written in 1848; the full poem, whose seventh verse is used as the anthem, speaks of pan-Slavic nationalism
Economy ::Slovenia
Slovenia became the first 2004 European Union entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has experienced one of the most stable political and economic transitions in Central and Southeastern Europe. With the highest per capita GDP in Central Europe, Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe. Privatization has lagged since 2002, and the economy has one of highest levels of state control in the EU. Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed for somewhat greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and helped to lower unemployment. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the process for joining the OECD; it became a member in 2012. Despite its economic success, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia has lagged behind the region average, and taxes remain relatively high. Furthermore, the labor market is often seen as inflexible, and legacy industries are losing sales to more competitive firms in China, India, and elsewhere. In 2009, the global recession caused the economy to contract - through falling exports and industrial production - by 8%, and unemployment to rise. Although growth resumed in 2010, it dipped into negative territory in 2012 and the unemployment rate continued to rise, exceeding 12% in 2012.
$57.93 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$59.25 billion (2011 est.)
$58.89 billion (2010 est.)
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$45.42 billion (2012 est.)
-2.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
0.6% (2011 est.)
1.2% (2010 est.)
$28,600 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$29,300 (2011 est.)
$29,200 (2010 est.)
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 27.6%
services: 69.7% (2012 est.)
932,300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 35%
services: 62.8% (2009)
12.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
11.8% (2011 est.)
12.3% (2008)
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.6% (2004)
28.4 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 119
23.8 (2004)
16.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
revenues: $20.5 billion
expenditures: $22.59 billion (2012 est.)
45.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
-4.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
53.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
46.9% of GDP (2011 est.)
note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds
2.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
1.8% (2011 est.)
1.5% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 124
1.75% (31 December 2011)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
5.2% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
5.82% (31 December 2011 est.)
$16.03 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$16.12 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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
$26.52 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$25.62 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$49.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$48.54 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$6.326 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 74
$9.428 billion (31 December 2010)
$11.77 billion (31 December 2009)
potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry
3.2% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$297.6 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$2.505 million (2011 est.)
$28.42 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$29.59 billion (2011 est.)
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food
Germany 19.9%, Italy 11.9%, Austria 7.7%, Croatia 6.4%, France 5.7%, Hungary 4% (2011)
$29.83 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$31.05 billion (2011 est.)
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food
Germany 16.4%, Italy 16%, Austria 10.2%, Croatia 4.5%, France 4.1%, China 4.1% (2011)
$1.154 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$991.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$61.23 billion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 55
$51.57 billion (30 June 2010)
$17.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$16.71 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$9.755 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$9.405 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.7838 (2012 est.)
0.7185 (2011 est.)
755 (2010 est.)
0.7198 (2009 est.)
0.6827 (2008 est.)
calendar year
Energy ::Slovenia
15.61 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
11.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
10.14 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
8.014 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
3.4 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
42.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
21.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
34.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
1.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
5 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
NA bbl
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
52,930 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
11,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
60,270 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
7 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
1.06 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
1.053 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
(1 January 2012 est.)
17.42 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Communications ::Slovenia
872,800 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 84
2.168 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 138
general assessment: well-developed telecommunications infrastructure
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 150 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 386
public TV broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV), operates a system of national and regional TV stations; 35 domestic commercial TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 60% of households are connected to multi-channel cable TV; public radio broadcaster operates 3 national and 4 regional stations; more than 75 regional and local commercial and non-commercial radio stations (2007)
.si
415,581 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 54
1.298 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
Transportation ::Slovenia
16 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 142
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2012)
total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2012)
gas 840 km; oil 5 km (2010)
total: 1,228 km
country comparison to the world: 84
standard gauge: 1,228 km 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified) (2007)
total: 38,925 km
country comparison to the world: 91
paved: 38,925 km (includes 658 km of expressways) (2008)
(there is some transport on the Drava River) (2012)
registered in other countries: 24 (Cyprus 5, Liberia 7, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 6, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Slovakia 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 90
Koper
Military ::Slovenia
Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2003 (2012)
males age 16-49: 477,592
females age 16-49: 464,301 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 392,075
females age 16-49: 380,077 (2010 est.)
male: 9,818
female: 9,395 (2010 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Transnational Issues ::Slovenia
the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Piran Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute; Slovenia also protests Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia
minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals