Map of Slovenia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
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Background: In 1918 the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new nation 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. Historical ties to Western Europe make Slovenia a candidate for future membership in the EU.


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Location: Southeastern Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia

Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 15 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 20,256 km²
Land: 20,256 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries
Total: 1,334 km
Border countries: (4) Austria 330 km; , Croatia 670 km; , Italy 232 km; , Hungary 102 km

Coastline: 46.6 km

Maritime claims: NA

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, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver

Land use
Arable land: 12%
Permanent crops: 3%
Permanent pastures: 28%
Forests and woodland: 51%
Other: 6% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 20 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes

Geography


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Population: 1,973,096 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: -0.06% (1997 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Slovene(s)
Adjective: Slovenian

Ethnic groups: Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%

Languages: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 70.8% (including 2% Uniate), Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, other 27.2%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 17% (male 173,932; female 165,167)
15-64 years: 70% (male 690,309; female 686,440)
65 years and over: 13% (male 92,926; female 164,322) (July 1997 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: -0.06% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 8.91 births/1000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 9.54 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.02 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 5.4 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.93 years
Male: 71.24 years
Female: 78.84 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: NA
Total population: 99%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
Conventional short form: Slovenia
Local long form: Republika Slovenije
Local short form: Slovenija

Government type: emerging democracy

Capital: Ljubljana

Administrative divisions: 136 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities* (obcine mestne, singular - obcina mestna) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Bled, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova-Tisina, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik-Trnovska Vas, Divaca, Dobrepolje, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grosuplje, Hodos Salovci, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola, Jesenice, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Koper*, Kozje, Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Maribor*, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podvelka-Ribnica, Postojna, Preddvor, Ptuj*, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne-Prevalje, Ribnica, Rogasevci, Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Semic, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki, Sostanj, Starse Store, Sveti Jurij, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velike Lasce, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice Vojnik, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Ziri, Zrece

Dependent areas

Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday: National Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991

Legal system: based on civil law system

International law organization participation

Citizenship

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990)
Head of government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992)
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 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); 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 NA November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
Election results: Milan KUCAN elected president; percent of vote - 63.9%; Janez DRNOVSEK elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 51%

Legislative branch: unicameral 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)
Elections: National Assembly - last held 10 November 1996 (next to be held Fall 2000)
Election results: percent of vote by party - LDS 27.01%, SLS 19.38%, SDS 16.13%, SKD 9.62%, ZLDS 9.03%, DeSUS 4.32%, SNS 3.22%; seats by party - LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 10, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1; note - seating as of January 1997 is as follows:LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 9, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1, independents 1
Note: the National Council or Drzavni Svet is an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws and ask to review any National Assembly decisions; in the election of 6 December 1992, 40 members were elected to represent local, professional, and socioeconomic interests (next election to be held in the fall of 1997)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Assembly on 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

International organization participation: CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC (observer), NAM (guest), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ernest PETRIC
In the us chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 667-5,363
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 667-4,563
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Victor JACKOVICH
From the us embassy: address NA, Ljubljana
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 61,000 Ljubljana; American Embassy, Ljubljana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20,521-7,140
From the us telephone: [386] (61) 301-427, 472, 485
From the us FAX: [386] (61) 301-401

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, there are three six-sided 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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Slovenia appears to be making a solid economic recovery, fulfilling the promise it showed at the time of Yugoslavia's breakup. Its per capita GDP is now the highest in Central and Eastern Europe and comparable to the levels in the poorer West European countries. Slovenia has benefited from strong ties to Western Europe and suffered comparatively small physical damage during Yugoslavia's breakup. The beginning was difficult, however. Real GDP fell 15% in 1991-92, while inflation soared to 200% in 1992. The turning point came in 1993, when real GDP grew 1%, unemployment leveled off, and inflation slowed dramatically. In 1994, real GDP rose 5.5%, tapering off to an estimated 3.5% in 1995 and an estimated 3% in 1996. The government gets good marks from foreign observers for fiscal policy - the budget deficit has not exceeded 1% of GDP in any year since 1991, and the current account balance has remained in surplus throughout the transition period, with the exception of 1995-96. The Slovene privatization program, which began in 1994, involves about 1,400 firms, but less than half have been privatized. Growth in the near term depends largely on economic revitalization in Western Europe which buys 70% of Slovenia's exports. Slovenia itself must press on with privatization, restructuring, the encouragement of foreign investment, and the maintenance of a stable tolar.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.8%
Industry: 33.2%
Services: 62% (1996)

Agriculture products: potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries: ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools

Industrial production growth rate: -1% (1996 est.)

Labor force
Total: 857,400
By occupation: NA%

Unemployment rate: 13% (1996 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $8.48 billion
Expenditures: $8.53 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1996 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports
Total value: $8.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment 31.4%, manufactured goods 50.7%, chemicals 10.5%, food 3.8% (1995)
Partners: Germany 28.9%, former Yugoslavia 16.5%, Italy 13.6%, France 8.6%, Austria 6.4%, US 3.3% (January-July 1996 est.)

Imports
Total value: $9.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment 33.8%, manufactured goods 30.4%, chemicals 12.1%, fuels and lubricants 6.6%, food 8.4% (1995)
Partners: Germany 22.3%, Italy 17.1%, former Yugoslavia 7.4%, France 9.2%, Austria 9.1%, US 3.2% (January-July 1996 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $4.3 billion (1996 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: tolars (SlT) per US$1 - 141.15 (December 1996), 135.36 (1996), 118.52 (1995), 128.81 (1994), 113.24 (1993), 81.29 (1992)


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 12 billion kWh (1994)

Electricity consumption
Per capita: 5,362 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system
Domestic: NA
International: NA

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $298 million (1996)
Percent of gdp: 1.5% to 1.7% (1996)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 14 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 10
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 5 (1996 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 4
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (1996 est.)

Airports with paved runways
Total: 10
Over 3047 m: 1
2438 to 3047 m: 1
15-24 to 2437 m: 1
914 to 1523 m: 2
Under 914 m: 5 (1996 est.)

Airports with unpaved runways
Total: 4
15-24 to 2437 m: 2
914 to 1523 m: 2 (1996 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines: crude oil 290 km; natural gas 305 km

Railways
Total: 1,201 km
Standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 499 km) (1994)

Roadways

Waterways: NA

Merchant marine
Total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 217,629 GRT/389,779 DWT (controlled by Slovenian owners)
Ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 5
Note: ships operate under the flags of Antigua and Barbuda, Liberia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Singapore; no ships remain under the Slovenian flag (1996 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: maritime border dispute with Croatia over direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; the border issue is currently under negotiation; Italy is negotiating with Slovenia over property and minority rights issues dating from World War II

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe and for precursor chemicals