Background: Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. The Slovaks then became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. After the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (known as 'Magyarization') led to a public backlash that boosted Slovak nationalism and strengthened Slovak cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who fell administratively under the Austrian half of the empire. When the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved at the end of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939, in the wake of Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland, the newly established Slovak Republic became a German client state for the remainder of World War II. After World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, Warsaw Pact troops invaded and ended the efforts of Czechoslovakia's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create 'socialism with a human face,' ushering in a period of repression known as 'normalization.' The peaceful Velvet Revolution swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent 'velvet divorce' into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004 and the euro zone in 2009.

Area
Total: 49,035 km²
Land: 48,105 km²
Water: 930 km²
Comparative: about 1.5 times the size of Maryland; about twice the size of New Hampshire

Land boundaries
Total: 1,587 km
Border countries (5): (5) Austria 105 km; Czechia 241 km; Hungary 627 km; Poland 517 km; Ukraine 97 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south

Elevation
Highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
Lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
Mean elevation: 458 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 38% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 27.2% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Forest: 40.3% (2023 est.)
Other: 21.4% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 259 km² (2022)

Major rivers: Dunaj (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Natural hazards: flooding

Geography
Note: landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys

Population
Total: 5,563,649 (2024 est.)
Male: 2,684,747
Female: 2,878,902
Distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border
Growth rate: -0.08% (2024 est.)

Languages: Slovak (official) 81.8%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 1.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; Svetova Kniha Faktov, nenahraditelny zdroj zakladnej informacie. (Slovak); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Roman Catholic 55.8%, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession 5.3%, Greek Catholic 4%, Reformed Christian 1.6%, other 3%, none 23.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2021 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.3% (male 444,033/female 408,902)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,834,359/female 1,867,158)
65 years and over: 18.1% (2024 est.) (male 406,355/female 602,842)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 50.3 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 23 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 27.3 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.7 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 42.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 41.3 years
Female: 44.4 years

Population growth rate: -0.08% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 10 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border

Urbanization
Urban population: 54% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 441,000 BRATISLAVA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 73.7 years
Female: 81 years

Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.3% (2024 est.); 5.9% (2023 est.); 6.2% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Bratislava
Geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 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: the meaning is unclear but has medieval Slavic origins; the name was adopted in 1919 after Czechoslovakia gained its independence, replacing the name Prešporok

Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trencin, Trnava, Zilina

Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Peter PELLEGRINI (since 15 June 2024)
Head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 25 October 2023)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following National Council elections, the president designates a prime minister candidate, usually the leader of the party or coalition that wins the most votes, who must win a vote of confidence in the National Council
Most recent election date: 23 March 2024, with a runoff on 6 April 2024
2024: Peter PELLEGRINI elected president in the second round; percent of vote in second round Peter PELLEGRINI 53.1%; Ivan KORCOK 46.9%; percent of vote in first round - Ivan KORCOK (independent) 42.5%; Peter PELLEGRINI (Hlas-SD) 37%; Stefan HARABIN (independent) 11.7%, other 8.8%;
2019: Zuzana CAPUTOVA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Zuzana CAPUTOVA (PS) 58.4%, Maros SEFCOVIC (independent) 41.6%
Expected date of next election: 2,029

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Council (Narodna rada Slovenskej republiky)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Chamber name: National Council (Národná rada)
Number of seats: 150 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 9/30/2023
Parties elected and seats per party: Smer - Social Democracy (Smer-SD) (42); Progressive Slovakia (PS) (32); Hlas (“Voice”) - SD (27); Coalition OĽaNO and Friends, 'For the People' and 'Christian Union' (16); Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) (12); Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) (11); Slovak National Party (SNS) (10)
Percentage of women in chamber: 23.3%
Expected date of next election: September 2,027

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red; the national coat of arms (a red shield bordered in white, with a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius on top of three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset to the left

National anthem
Title: 'Nad Tatrou sa blyska' (Storm Over the Tatras)
Lyrics/music: Janko MATUSKA/traditional
History: adopted 1993; music based on an 1843 Slovak folk song 'Kopala studienku' (She Was Digging a Well)

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 2.1% (2024 est.); 2.2% (2023 est.); 0.4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 2.1% (2024 est.); 2.2% (2023 est.); 0.4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 58.4% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 20% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 21.1% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -1.3% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 91.3% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -89.8% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2% (2024 est.)
Industry: 28.5% (2024 est.)
Services: 60% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: automobiles; metal and metal products; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals, synthetic fibers, wood and paper products; machinery; earthenware and ceramics; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products; food and beverages; pharmaceutical

Industrial production growth rate: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 2.779 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.3% (2024 est.); 5.9% (2023 est.); 6.2% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 5.3% (2024 est.); 5.9% (2023 est.); 6.2% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $43.882 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $46.056 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 19.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $120.355 billion (2024 est.); $122.04 billion (2023 est.); $114.519 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, video displays, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $120.29 billion (2024 est.); $119.739 billion (2023 est.); $121.473 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment, cars, plastic products, insulated wire (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 8.138 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 24.18 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 14.078 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 10.671 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.233 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 63.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 13.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 5.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 2.315 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 6.066 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.658 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 19 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 90,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 9 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 46.585 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 4.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 4.56 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 30.087 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 9.607 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 12.112 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 8.368 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 127.582 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 505,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 7.63 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 90% (2024 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1.83 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2025 est.); 2% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Airports: 116 (2025)

Heliports: 2 (2025)

Railways
Total: 3,627 km (2020) 1,585 km electrified