Background: 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.

Geographic coordinates: 46 07 N 14 49 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 20,273 km²
Rank: 155
Land: 20,151 km²
Water: 122 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries
Total: 1086 km
Border countries: (4) Austria 330 km; Croatia 455 km; Hungary 102 km; Italy 199 km

Coastline: 46.6 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

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

Natural resources: lignite coal lead zinc building stone hydropower forests

Land use
Arable land: 8.53%
Permanent crops: 1.43%
Other: 90.04% (2005)

Irrigated land: 100 km² (2008)

Total renewable water resources: 32.1 km³ (2005)

Natural hazards: flooding; earthquakes

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

Population: 2,000,092 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 146
Growth rate: -0.163% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 209
Below poverty line: 12.3% (2008)

Nationality
Noun: Slovene
Adjective: Slovenian

Ethnic groups: Slovene 83.1% Serb 2% Croat 1.8% Bosniak 1.1% other or unspecified 12% (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)

Religions: Catholic 57.8% Muslim 2.4% Orthodox 2.3% other Christian 0.9% unaffiliated 3.5% other or unspecified 23% none 10.1% (2002 census)

Age structure
0-14 years: 13.4%
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 703,374/female 692,640)
65 years and over: 16.8% (male 132,069/female 203,068) (2011 est.)

Median age
Total: 42.4 years
Male: 40.7 years
Female: 44.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.163% (2011 est.)
Rank: 209

Birth rate: 8.85 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 212

Death rate: 10.87 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 40

Net migration rate: 0.39 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 65

Urbanization
Urban population: 50% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.066 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 4.17 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 197
Male: 4.71 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 3.58 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.3 years
Rank: 62
Male: 73.64 years
Female: 81.2 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 208

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 2.473 physicians/1000 population (2008)
Rank: 54

Hospital bed density: 4.7 beds/1000 population (2008)
Rank: 44

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 156
People living with hivaids: fewer than 1000 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 140
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 132

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 15% (2001)
Rank: 37

Education expenditures: 5.2% of GDP (2007)
Rank: 51

Literacy
Definition: NA
Total population: 99.7%
Male: 99.7%
Female: 99.6% (2000 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 17 years
Male: 16 years
Female: 18 years (2008)

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 republic

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 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

Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday: Independence Day/Statehood Day 25 June (1991)

Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991 amended 14 July 1997 and 25 July 2000

Legal system: civil law system

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age 16 if employed; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Danilo TURK
Head of government: Prime Minister Borut PAHOR (since 7 November 2008)
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 (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 October and 11 November 2007 (next to be held on 8 October 2012); 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: Danilo TURK elected president; percent of vote - Danilo TURK 68.2% Alojze PETERLE 31.8%; Borut PAHOR elected prime minister by National Assembly vote

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 [Katarina KRESAL]; 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 [Borut PAHOR] (formerly ZLSD); ZARES [Gregor GOLOBIC]

International organization participation: Australia Group BIS CE CEI EAPC EBRD ECB EIB EMU ESA (cooperating state) EU FAO IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC 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 SECI 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
In the us chancery: 2,410 California Street N.W. Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 386-6,601
In the us fax: [1] (202) 386-6,633
In the us consulate general: Cleveland New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI
From the us embassy: Presernova 31 1000 Ljubljana
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana US Department of State 7,140 Ljubljana Place Washington DC 20,521-7,140
From the us telephone: [386] (1) 200-5,500
From the us fax: [386] (1) 200-5,555

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 symbols: Mount Triglav

National anthem
Name: 'Zdravljica'
Lyricsmusic: 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 overview: Slovenia became the first 2004 European Union entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has become a model of economic success and stability for the region. 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 have 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 December 2007 Slovenia was invited to begin the accession process for joining the OECD. 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 world recession caused the economy to contract - through falling exports and industrial production - by more than 8% and unemployment to rise above 9%. Although growth resumed in 2010 the unemployment rate continued to rise topping 10%.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 90
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 167

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 50
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.4%
Industry: 31.2%
Services: 66.4% (2010 est.)

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 automobiles electric power equipment wood products textiles chemicals machine tools

Industrial production growth rate: 6.4% (2010 est.)
Rank: 67

Labor force: 935,500 (2010 est.)
Rank: 144
By occupation agriculture: 2.2%
By occupation industry: 35%
By occupation services: 62.8% (2009)

Unemployment rate: 9.2% (2009 est.)
Rank: 116

Population below poverty line: 12.3% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.4%
Highest 10: 24.6% (2004)

Distribution of family income gini index: 23.8 (2004)
Rank: 124

Budget
Revenues: $19.64 billion
Expenditures: $22.16 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -5.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 149

Taxes and other revenues: 41% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 38

Public debt: 31.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 88

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.9% (2009 est.)
Rank: 58

Central bank discount rate: 1.75% (31 December 2009)
Rank: 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: 5.908% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 151

Stock of narrow money: $10.63 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 72
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: $26.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 78

Stock of domestic credit: $52.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 63

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 65

Current account balance: -$634.9 million (2009 est.)
Rank: 115

Exports: $22.53 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 66
Commodities: manufactured goods machinery and transport equipment chemicals food
Partners: Germany 19.2% Italy 12.5% Austria 7.4% France 6.8% Croatia 6.4% Hungary 4.4% (2010)

Imports: $23.5 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 63
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment manufactured goods chemicals fuels and lubricants food
Partners: Germany 16.2% Italy 15.5% Austria 10.6% France 4.8% Croatia 4.6% China 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.08 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 133

Debt external: $51.57 billion (30 June 2010)
Rank: 54

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $15.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 75

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $7.901 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 54

Exchange rates:
Note: on 1 January 2007 Slovenia adopted the euro as legal tender

Electricity
Production: 13 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Production rank: 84
Consumption: 14.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 77
Exports: 9.197 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 3.041 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 122
Consumption: 890 million m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 90
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 176
Imports: 890 million m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 61
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 189

Telephones
Main lines in use: 913,600 (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 81
Mobile cellular: 2.122 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 136

Telephone 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 television broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV) operates a system of national and regional TV stations; 35 domestic commercial television stations operating nationally regionally and locally; about 60% of households are connected to multi-channel cable TV systems; public radio broadcaster operates 3 national and 4 regional stations; more than 75 regional and local commercial and non-commercial radio stations (2007)

Internet
Country code: .si
Hosts: 137,494 (2010)
Hosts rank: 72
Users: 1.298 million (2009)
Users rank: 92

Military expenditures: 1.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 89

Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2003 (2010)

Airports: 16 (2010)
Rank: 143
With paved runways total: 7
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: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 9
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 5 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 840 km; oil 5 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 1228 km
Rank: 83
Standard gauge: 1228 km 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways
Total: 38,925 km
Rank: 92
Paved: 38,925 km (includes 658 km of expressways) (2009)

Waterways: (there is some transport on the Drava River) (2010)

Merchant marine
Registered in other countries: 25 (2010)
Rank: 92

Ports and terminals: Koper

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 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