Slovenia

Republic of SloveniaRepublika Slovenija

parliamentary democratic republicIndependence 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

Slovenia as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 124 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalLjubljana
Position46 07 N, 14 49 E
Area20,273 sq km
LocationCentral Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
2004

Every edition of Slovenia

Populationas each edition published it
2.01 million July 2004 est. · 1.96m in 1992
Population growth% a year
-0.01% 2004 est. · 0.23% in 1993
Median ageyears
39.8 years 2004 est. · 38.6 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
75.93 years 2004 est. · 74 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.23 children per woman 2004 est. · 1.68 in 1993
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 2004 est. · 8.3 in 1993
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$19,000 2003 est. · $10,700 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.3% 2003 est. · -10% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria until 1918 when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, renamed 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 of 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

Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia

18 fields

Land useshare of 20,273 sq km

arable land 8.6%permanent crops 1.49%other 89.91% (2001)irrigated 20 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
20,273sq km
land: 20,151 sq kmwater: 122 sq kmslightly smaller than New Jersey
Coastline
46.6km
Maritime claims: NA
Highest point
2,864m
Triglavlowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
Land boundaries
1,334km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km

Location

Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia

Geographic coordinates

46 07 N, 14 49 E

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

Natural resources

lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower, forests

Natural hazards

flooding and earthquakes

Environment - current issues

  • 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

Environment - international agreements

party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto 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 - note

despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes

People

19 fields
Population
2,011,473
(July 2004 est.)growth rate: -0.01% (2004 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2004 est.)

Birth
8.9Death
10.15Net migration
1.12

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2004 est.)75.93
72.18 · 79.92Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)4.5
5.11 · 3.84
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)99.7%
99.7% · 99.6%Median age years (2004 est.)39.8
38.3 · 41.3
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: NA

Ethnic groups(1991)

Slovene 92%Croat 1%Serb 0.5%Hungarian 0.4%Bosniak 0.3%other 5.8% (1991)

Religions

Roman Catholic (Uniate 2%) 70.8%Lutheran 1%Muslim 1%atheist 4.3%other 22.9%

Age structure

0-14 years:
14.3% (male 147,506; female 139,435)
15-64 years:
70.6% (male 716,057; female 704,734)
65 years and over:
15.1% (male 115,391; female 188,350) (2004 est.)

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:
0.61 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.23 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Slovene(s)
adjective:
Slovenian

Languages

Slovenian 92%, Serbo-Croatian 6.2%, other 1.8%

Government

Parliamentary democratic republic; President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22 December 2002); Prime Minister Janez JANSA (since 9 November 2004)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

29.1%
SDS 29.1%LDS 22.8%ZLSD 10.2%NSi 9%SLS 6.8%SNS 6.3%DeSUS 4.1%other 11.7%National Assembly - last held 3 October 2004 (next to be held October 2008)

Legislaturepercent of vote

SDS 29.1%LDS 22.8%ZLSD 10.2%NSi 9%SLS 6.8%SNS 6.3%DeSUS 4.1%other 11.7%

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 type

parliamentary democratic republic

Capital

Ljubljana

Administrative divisions

182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 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 holiday

Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Constitution

adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22 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;
  • 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 branch

bicameral Parliament consisting of a National Assembly 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 (this is primarily an advisory body organized on corporatist principles with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly decisions, and call national referenda; members 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 branch

  • 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)

Political parties and leaders

  • Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of Slovenia or DeSUS [Anton ROUS];
  • Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Anton ROP];
  • New Slovenia or NSi [Andrej BAJUK];
  • Slovene 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];
  • United List of Social Democrats or ZLSD [Borut PAHOR]

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Samuel ZBOGAR
chancery:
1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 667-5363
FAX:
[1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general:
New York and Cleveland

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Thomas B. ROBERTSON
embassy:
Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address:
American Embassy Ljubljana, Department of State, 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone:
[386] (1) 200-5500
FAX:
[386] (1) 200-5555

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and 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

Slovenia, with its historical ties to Western Europe, enjoys a GDP per capita substantially higher than that of the other transitioning economies of Central Europe.

44 fields
Real growth rate
2.3%
(2003 est.)industrial production growth: 1.4% (2003)
Unemployment rate
11.2%
(2003 est.)
Public debt
31.9%of GDP
(2003)

GDP - composition by sector(2003 est.)

agriculture 3%industry 39.7%services 57.3% (2003 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

23.2%
Germany
19.3%
13.2%
Italy
18.3%
5.7%
France
10%
9%
Croatia
7.3%
Austria
8.6%
4.2%
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Exports $11.98 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)Imports $12.63 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)(2003)

Budget

Revenues
$11.46 billionExpenditures
$11.85 billion (2003 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of NA

Electricity

Electricity production
13.69 billion (2001)Electricity consumption
13.83 billion (2001)Electricity exports
3 billion (2001)Electricity imports
4.1 billion (2001)

Economy - overview

Slovenia, with its historical ties to Western Europe, enjoys a GDP per capita substantially higher than that 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.

Privatization of the economy proceeded at an accelerated pace in 2002-03, and the budget deficit dropped from 3.0% of GDP in 2002 to 1.6% in 2003. Despite the economic slowdown in Europe in 2001-03, Slovenia maintained 3% growth. Structural reforms to improve the business environment allow for greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and help to lower unemployment.

Further measures to curb inflation are also needed. Corruption and the high degree of coordination between government, business, and central bank policy are issues of concern in the run-up to Slovenia's scheduled 1 May 2004 accession to the European Union.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $36.82 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.3% of GDP (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
3.9%
highest 10%:
23% (1998)

Labor force

875,000 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA

Agriculture - products

potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; 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

Oil - production

20 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

53,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.04 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.04 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance

$15.1 million (2003)

Exports

$11.98 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports

$12.63 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food

Debt - external

$11.33 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $62 million (2000 est.)

Currency

tolar (SIT)

Exchange rates

tolars per US dollar - 207.099 (2003), 240.248 (2002), 242.749 (2001), 222.656 (2000), 181.769 (1999)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
1,739,100
(2003)
Internet users
45,491
(2004)
Fixed lines
812,300
(2003) · country code .si

Telephone system

general assessment:
NA
domestic:
100% digital (2000)
international:
country code - 386

Radio broadcast stations

AM 17, FM 160, shortwave 0 (1998)

Internet users

750,000 (2002)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
1
2,438 to 3,047 m
1
1,524 to 2,437 m
2
2
914 to 1,523 m
2
1
under 914 m
4
Paved 6Unpaved 8

Networkskm

Highways
20,177Railways
1,201
Highways: paved: 20,157 km (including 427 km of expressways) · unpaved: 20 km (2000) · Railways: standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (499 km electrified) (2003)

Railways

total:
1,201 km
standard gauge:
1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (499 km electrified) (2003)

Highways

total:
20,177 km
paved:
20,157 km (including 427 km of expressways)
unpaved:
20 km (2000)

Pipelines

gas 2,526 km; oil 11 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Izola, Koper, Piran

Airports

14 (2003 est.)

Military

Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)

7 fields

Military branches

Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2004 (2004)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 525,983 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 417,875 (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

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 controversial, has not been ratified, and has been complicated by Croatia's declaration of an ecological-fisheries zone in the Adriatic Sea

Illicit drugs

minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals

Central Intelligence Agency. “Slovenia.” The World Factbook 2004. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/slovenia/2004.

How to cite ← 2003 edition 2005 edition →