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 themselves ruled by the Austrians. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro area on 1 January 2009.

Central Europe, south of Poland

about twice the size of New Hampshire

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

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

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

air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests

landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys

5,477,038 (July 2011 est.)

10.48 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

9.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

BRATISLAVA (capital) 428,000 (2009)

1.37 children born/woman (2011 est.)

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population (2008)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 99% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 1% of population

total: 0% of population (2008)

Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)

Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)

parliamentary democracy

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)

ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed September 1998; amended February 2001

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

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)

Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council); Special Court (judges elected by a council of judges and appointed by president)

Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia or ZPS; Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic; National Union of Employers or RUZ; Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry or SOPK; Slovenska Pospolitost; The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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 Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side

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 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. Unemployment, at an unacceptable 18% in 2003-04, dropped to 7.7% in 2008 but remains the economy's Achilles heel. Foreign direct investment (FDI) accounted for much of the growth until 2008. Cheap and skilled labor, low taxes, a 19% flat tax for corporations and individuals, no dividend taxes, a relatively liberal labor code and a favorable geographical location are Slovakia's main advantages for foreign investors. Foreign investment in the automotive and electronic sectors has been especially strong. To maintain a stable operating environment for investors, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development advised the Slovak government to refrain from intervening in important sectors of the economy. However, Bratislava's approach to mitigating the economic slowdown has included substantial government intervention and the option to nationalize strategic companies. RADICOVA's government, in power since July 2010, has allowed the budget deficit to rise slightly, to 7.4% of GDP in 2010. GDP fell nearly 5% in 2009 before gaining back 4% in 2010, and unemployment rose above 12% in 2010, as the global recession impacted many segments of the economy.

$120.2 billion (2010 est.)

$115.5 billion (2009 est.)

$121.3 billion (2008 est.)

$87.45 billion (2010 est.)

2.673 million (2010 est.)

22.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

41% of GDP (2010 est.)

35.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

1% (31 December 2010)

3% (31 December 2008)

$34.37 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$34.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$52.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$52.68 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$65.09 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$64.25 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$4.672 billion (31 December 2009)

$5.079 billion (31 December 2008)

$6.971 billion (31 December 2007)

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

25.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)

28.75 billion kWh (2009 est.)

8.891 billion kWh (2008 est.)

9.412 billion kWh (2008 est.)

4,114 bbl/day (2009 est.)

79,930 bbl/day (2009 est.)

75,110 bbl/day (2008 est.)

144,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

9 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

103 million cu m (2009 est.)

6.493 billion cu m (2009 est.)

15 million cu m (2009 est.)

6.974 billion cu m (2009 est.)

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

$-1.93 billion (2010 est.)

$-2.819 billion (2009 est.)

$64.18 billion (2010 est.)

$55.32 billion (2009 est.)

machinery and electrical equipment 35.9%, vehicles 21%, base metals 11.3%, chemicals and minerals 8.1%, plastics 4.9% (2009 est.)

Germany 20.1%, Czech Republic 12.9%, France 7.8%, Poland 7.2%, Hungary 6.3%, Italy 6.1%, Austria 5.8%, UK 4.8% (2009 est.)

$62.43 billion (2010 est.)

$53.67 billion (2009 est.)

machinery and transport equipment 31%, mineral products 13%, vehicles 12%, base metals 9%, chemicals 8%, plastics 6% (2009 est.)

Germany 16.8%, Czech Republic 12.3%, Russia 9%, South Korea 6.8%, China 5.8%, Hungary 5.3%, Poland 4% (2009 est.)

$1.16 billion (31 January 2010 est.)

$59.33 billion (30 June 2010 est.)

$52.53 billion (31 December 2008)

$52.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$50.26 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$2.643 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$2.743 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Slovak koruny (SKK) per US dollar -

1.022 million (2009)

5.498 million (2009)

state-owned public broadcaster, Slovak Television (STV), operates 3 national TV stations; roughly 35 privately-owned television broadcast stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 40% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems; channels from the Czech Republic and Hungary are widely viewed; state-owned public radio operates multiple national and regional networks; more than 20 privately-owned radio stations (2008)

1.133 million (2010)

4.063 million (2009)

gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2010)

172 km (on Danube River) (2009)

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 abolished in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2010)

1.87% of GDP (2005 est.)

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

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy