Slovenia

• a short southwestern coastal strip of Karst topography on the Adriatic;
• an alpine mountain region lies adjacent to Italy and Austria in the north;
• mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east

• a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations;
• pockets in the mountainous northwest exhibit less density than elsewhere

• air pollution from road traffic, domestic heating (wood buring), power generation, and industry;
• water pollution;
• biodiversity protection

noun:

Slovene(s)

adjective:

Slovenian

0-14 years:

14.8% (male 159,700 /female 151,351)

15-24 years:

9.1% (male 98,856 /female 92,407)

25-54 years:

41.71% (male 458,826 /female 417,875)

55-64 years:

14.26% (male 149,714 /female 150,045)

65 years and over:

20.14% (male 180,080 /female 243,272) (2018 est.)

total dependency ratio:

48.7 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio:

21.9 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio:

26.8 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio:

3.7 (2015 est.)

total:

44.2 years (2018 est.)

male:

42.7 years

female:

46 years

• a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations;
• pockets in the mountainous northwest exhibit less density than elsewhere

at birth:

1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1.1 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.74 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

total:

1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male:

1.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

1.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

81.2 years (2018 est.)

male:

78.3 years

female:

84.2 years

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

etymology:

related to the Slavic autonym (self-designation) "Slovenin," a derivation from "slovo" (meaning "word"), denoting "people who speak (the same language)" (i.e., people who understand each other)

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

etymology:

by tradition, the name is related to the Slovene word "ljubljena" meaning "beloved"

• 201 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina) municipalities:
  • Ajdovscina,
  • Ankaran,
  • 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 pri Litiji, Sostanj, Store, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberk;
• urban municipalities:
  • Celje,
  • Koper-Capodistria,
  • Kranj,
  • Ljubljana,
  • Maribor,
  • Murska Sobota,
  • Nova Gorica,
  • Novo Mesto,
  • Ptuj,
  • Slovenj Gradec,
  • Velenje

history:

previous 1974 (preindependence); latest passed by Parliament 23 December 1991

amendments:

• proposed by at least 20 National Assembly members, by the government, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters;
• passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly;
• referendum required if agreed upon by at least 30 Assembly members;
• passage in a referendum requires participation of a majority of eligible voters and a simple majority of votes cast;
• amended several times, last in 2015 (2016)

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovenia; both parents if the child is born outside of Slovenia

dual citizenship recognized:

yes, for select cases

residency requirement for naturalization:

10 years, the last 5 of which have been continuous

chief of state:

President Borut PAHOR (since 22 December 2012)

head of government:

• Prime Minister Marjan SAREC (since 13 September 2018);
• note - Miro CERAR resigned on 14 March 2018;
• an early parliamentary election was held on 3 June 2018, but President PAHOR did not nominate a new prime minister because no party had majority support in the parliament;
• parliament nominated and then approved Marjan SAREC as prime minister-designate on 17 August 2018

cabinet:

Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly

elections/appointments:

• president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term);
• election last held on 22 October with a runoff on 12 November 2017 (next election to be held by November 2022);
• following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually nominated prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly

election results:

• Borut PAHOR is reelected president in second round;
• percent of vote in first round - Borut PAHOR (independent) 47.1%, Marjan SAREC (Marjan Sarec List) 25%, Romana TOMC (SDS) 13.7%, Ljudmila NOVAK (NSi) 7.2%, other 7%;
• percent of vote in second round - Borut PAHOR 52.9%, Marjan SAREC 47.1%;
• Marjan SAREC (LMS) elected prime minister;
• National Assembly vote - 55-31

highest courts:

• Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 37 judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor and social security, administrative, and registry departments);
• Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges)

judge selection and term of office:

• Supreme Court president and vice president appointed by the National Assembly upon the proposal of the Minister of Justice based on the opinions of the Judicial Council, an 11-member independent body elected by the National Assembly from proposals submitted by the president, attorneys, law universities, and sitting judges;
• other Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly from candidates proposed by the Judicial Council;
• Supreme Court judges serve for life;
• Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly from nominations by the president of the republic;
• Constitutional Court president selected from among its own membership for a 3-year term;
• other judges elected for single 9-year terms

subordinate courts:

• county, district, regional, and high courts;
• specialized labor-related and social courts;
• Court of Audit;
• Administrative Court

• Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS [Karl ERJAVEC]
• List of Marjan Sarec or LMS [Marjan SAREC]
• Modern Center Party or SMC [Miro CERAR]
• New Slovenia or NSi [Matej TONIN]
• Party of Alenka Bratusek or Stranka AB [Alenka BRATUSEK] (formerly Alliance of Social Liberal Democrats or ZSD and before that Alliance of Alenka Bratusek or ZaAB)
• Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA]
• Slovenian National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC Plemeniti]
• Social Democrats or SD [Dejan ZIDAN]
• The Left or Levica [Luka MESEC] (successor to United Left or ZL)

chief of mission:

Ambassador Lynda C. BLANCHARD (since 29 August 2019)

telephone:

[386] (1) 200-5500

embassy:

Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana

mailing address:

American Embassy Ljubljana, US Department of State, 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140

FAX:

[386] (1) 200-5555

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 prominent 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

name:

"Zdravljica" (A Toast)

lyrics/music:

France PRESEREN/Stanko PREMRL

note: adopted in 1989 while still part of Yugoslavia; originally written in 1848; the full poem, whose seventh verse is used as the anthem, speaks of pan-Slavic nationalism

• ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting;
• electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools

agriculture:

5.5%

industry:

31.2%

services:

63.3% (2017 est.)

lowest 10%:

3.8%

highest 10%:

20.1% (2016)

general assessment:

• well-developed telecommunications infrastructure;
• four mobile network operators;
• regulatory intervention has improved;
• trials for use of 5G;
• unbundles fiber infrastructure;
• FttP to 90% of population by 2020 (2018)

domestic:

fixed-line 36 per 100 and mobile-cellular 124 per 100 teledensity (2018)

international:

country code - 386 (2016)

• 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

number of registered air carriers:

2 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 35 (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

1,130,637 (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:

1,349,442 mt-km (2015)

total:

1,229 km (2014)

standard gauge:

1,229 km 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified) (2014)

total:

38,985 km (2012)

paved:

38,985 km (includes 769 km of expressways) (2012)

total:

8

by type:

other 8 (2018)

• since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Piran Bay and four villages, and Slovenia has objected to Croatia's claim of an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea;
• in 2009, however Croatia and Slovenia signed a binding international arbitration agreement to define their disputed land and maritime borders, which led Slovenia to lift its objections to Croatia joining the EU;
• in June 2017 the arbitration panel issued a ruling on the border that Croatia has not implemented;
• 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;
• Slovenia continues to impose a hard border Schengen regime with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013 but has not yet fulfilled Schengen requirements