Slovakia
Slovak RepublicSlovenska republika
parliamentary democracy
Slovakia as the 2013 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 166 fields, one of 33 editions from 1993 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Central Europe, south of Poland
20 fieldsLand useshare of 49,035 sq km
Natural resources
- brown coal and lignite;
- small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore;
- salt;
- arable land
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 0.69 cu km/yr (47%/51%/3%)
- per capita:
- 126.7 cu m/yr (2010)
Environment - current issues
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests
Environment - international agreements
- 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
Geography - note
- landlocked;
- most of the country is rugged and mountainous;
- the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys
People and Society
34 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2013 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2013 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2001 census)
Religions(2001 census)
Languages
Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)
Sex ratio
- 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.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Government
Parliamentary democracy; President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004); Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 April 2012)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 150 seats, elected 10 March 2012one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Slovak Republic
- conventional short form:
- Slovakia
- local long form:
- Slovenska republika
- local short form:
- Slovensko
Capital
- 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
Administrative divisions
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
Constitution
- 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)
Legal system
- 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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- 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; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- 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 no later than April 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%
Legislative branch
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
Judicial branch
- 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
Political parties and leaders
- parties in the Parliament:
- Bridge or Most-Hid [Bela BUGAR]; Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Jan FIGEL]; Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO]; Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK]; Ordinary People and Independent Personalities or OLaNO [Igor MATOVIC]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party or SDKU-DS [Pavol FRESO]
- selected parties outside the Parliament:
- Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Ondrej DOSTAL]; Nation and Justice - Our Party or NAS [Anna BELOUSOVOVA]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Jozef DURICA]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Jozsef BERENYI]; People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR]; People's Party - Our Slovakia or LSNS [Marian KOTLEBA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Andrej DANKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- 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
- Medical Trade Association or LOZ
- National Union of Employers or RUZ
- Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry or SOPK
- The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS
International organization participation
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
- 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:
- Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- 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
Flag description
- 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
National symbol(s)
double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks
Economy
Slovakia has made significant economic reforms since its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2012 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
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.
Gross national saving
23% of GDP (2012 est.) · 21.8% of GDP (2011 est.) · 18.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
Agriculture - products
- grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit;
- pigs, cattle, poultry;
- forest products
Industries
- 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
Distribution of family income - Gini index
26 (2005) · 26.3 (1996) country comparison to the world: 129
Public debt
52.1% of GDP (2012 est.) · 43.3% of GDP (2011 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.
Central bank discount rate
1.75% (31 December 2011 est.) · 1.75% (31 December 2010 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
Commercial bank prime lending rate
3.47% (31 December 2012 est.) · 3.91% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
Stock of narrow money
$37.14 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $34.64 billion (31 December 2011 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
Stock of broad money
$52.73 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $52.99 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Stock of domestic credit
$68.47 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $68.04 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
Current account balance
$2.096 billion (2012 est.) · $52.86 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Exports - commodities
machinery and electrical equipment 35.9%, vehicles 21%, base metals 11.3%, chemicals and minerals 8.1%, plastics 4.9% (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment 31%, mineral products 13%, vehicles 12%, base metals 9%, chemicals 8%, plastics 6% (2009 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.519 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $2.462 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Debt - external
$68.44 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $68.61 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$62.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $58.69 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$11.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $11.61 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.78 (2012 est.) · 0.72 (2011 est.) · 0.76 (2010 est.) · 0.72 (2009 est.) · 0.68 (2008 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 7.855 million kW(2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
42.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
23.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
20.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Electricity - from other renewable sources
2.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - proved reserves
14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 80
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
34.88 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- 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)
Broadcast media
- 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)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 11 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- 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)
Roadways
- total:
- 43,916 km
country comparison to the world: 83
- paved:
- 38,238 km (includes 417 km of expressways)
- unpaved:
- 5,678 km (2010)
Military
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2010)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2010)
Military service age and obligation
- 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service;
- conscription in peacetime suspended in 2006;
- women are eligible to serve (2012)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 1,405,310
- females age 16-49:
- 1,369,897 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
- 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
Illicit drugs
- transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe;
- producer of synthetic drugs for regional market;
- consumer of ecstasy
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Slovakia.” The World Factbook 2013. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/slovakia/2013.