Slovenia
Republic of SloveniaRepublika Slovenija
parliamentary republicIndependence 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Slovenia as the 2012 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 158 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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
South Central Europe, Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia
20 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-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
Geography - note
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes
People and Society
30 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2012 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2002 census)
Religions(2002 census)
Languages
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)
Sex ratio
- 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.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Government
Parliamentary republic; President Borut PAHOR (since 22 December 2012); Prime Minister Janez JANSA (since 10 February 2012)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 90 seatsone dot, one seat
Percent 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
Capital
- 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
Administrative divisions
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- 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; (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 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
Legislative branch
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
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
- 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]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Slovenian Roma Association [Jozek Horvat MUC]; various trade and public sector employee unions; other: Catholic Church
International organization participation
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
- 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
Diplomatic representation from the US
- 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
Flag description
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
National anthem
- 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 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.
39 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2012 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Economy - overview
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.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
28.4 (2008) · 23.8 (2004) country comparison to the world: 119
Public debt
53.2% of GDP (2012 est.) · 46.9% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 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
Central bank discount rate
1.5% (31 December 2012) · 1.75% (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 124 note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate
5.2% (31 December 2012 est.) · 5.82% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Stock of narrow money
$16.03 billion (31 December 2011 est.) · $16.12 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 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
$26.52 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $25.62 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
Stock of domestic credit
$49.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $48.54 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Current account balance
$297.6 million (2012 est.) · $2.505 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.154 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $991.3 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Debt - external
$61.23 billion (30 June 2011) · $51.57 billion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 55
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$17.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $16.71 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$9.755 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $9.405 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) · 0.7185 (2011 est.) · 755 (2010 est.) · 0.7198 (2009 est.) · 0.6827 (2008 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 3.4 million kW(2010 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
17.42 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- well-developed telecommunications infrastructure
- domestic:
- combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 150 telephones per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 386
Broadcast media
- 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)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 1,228 km
country comparison to the world: 84
- standard gauge:
- 1,228 km 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified) (2007)
Roadways
- total:
- 38,925 km
country comparison to the world: 91
- paved:
- 38,925 km (includes 658 km of expressways) (2008)
Merchant marine
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
Military
Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)
6 fieldsMilitary service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2003 (2012)
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;
- 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
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 2012. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/slovenia/2012.