Slovenia
Republic of SloveniaRepublika Slovenija
parliamentary democratic republicIndependence 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Slovenia as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 124 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 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.
Geography
Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
18 fieldsLand useshare of 20,273 sq km
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
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 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2002 census)
Religions(2002 census)
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:
- 0.62 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democratic republic; President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22 December 2002); Prime Minister Janez JANSA (since 9 November 2004)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislaturepercent of vote
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
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
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), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, 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.
43 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
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 2002-04. Despite lackluster performance in Europe in 2001-04, Slovenia maintained moderate growth. Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed for greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and have helped to lower unemployment.
Further measures to curb inflation are still needed. Corruption and the high degree of coordination between government, business, and central bank policy were issues of concern in the run-up to Slovenia's 1 May 2004 accession to the European Union. In mid-2004 Slovenia agreed to adopt the euro by 2007 and, therefore, must keep its debt levels, budget deficits, interest rates, and inflation levels within the EU's Maastrict criteria.
Industries
ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food
Exchange rates
tolars per US dollar - 192.38 (2004), 207.11 (2003), 240.25 (2002), 242.75 (2001), 222.66 (2000)
Communications
8 fieldsTransportation
8 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Military
Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)
7 fieldsMilitary service age and obligation
17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2003 (2004)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - 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 unratified and in dispute;
- as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia must implement the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia
Illicit drugs
minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Slovenia.” The World Factbook 2005. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/slovenia/2005.