Slovakia

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there are 22 private broadcast stations and 1 public (state) broadcast station

Radios

915,000 (1995 est.)

Telephone system

domestic: NA international: NA

Telephones

1,362,178 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

56 private broadcast stations, 1 public (state) broadcast station (1995 est.)

Televisions

1.2 million (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; hogs, cattle, poultry; forest products

Budget

revenues: $5.3 billion expenditures : $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

Currency

1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov

Debt - external

$4.6 billion hard currency indebtedness (1995 est.)

Economic aid

NA

Economy - overview

Since the establishment of the Slovak Republic on 1 January 1993, Slovakia has continued the difficult transformation from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented economy. Macroeconomic performance improved steadily in 1994-96, but privatization progressed only in fits and starts. Strong export performance boosted GDP growth to 4.8% in 1994 after a four-year decline. GDP surged to 7.4% growth in 1995 and should be only slightly less in 1996, the fastest growth in Central and Eastern Europe. Unemployment fell to about 12% in 1996 and inflation dropped from 26% in 1993 to 5.5% in 1996, the lowest in the region. Foreign debt of $4.6 billion also is the lowest in the region and the second lowest per capita. Private activity now makes up roughly two-thirds of GDP. Positive international financial performance has led Standard & Poor's to raise its rating of the National Bank of Slovakia's foreign currency debt to just one step below investment grade. Although Slovak economic performance continues to be impressive, many warning signs of possible danger ahead have been raised. Aggregate demand has surged in the form of increased personal and government consumption. At the same time that the budget deficit is growing, the money supply has been rapidly increasing, which could apply upward pressure on inflation. The trade and current account deficits both are mounting as imports soar and exports sag. Perhaps most troubling, Slovakia continues to have difficulty attracting foreign investment because of perceived political problems and halting progress on restructuring and privatization. The government projects 6.4% growth in 1997 and 5% in 1998. Continuing economic recovery in western Europe should boost exports and production, but Slovakia's image with foreign creditors and investors could suffer setbacks in 1997 if progress on privatization and restructuring stalls.

Electricity - capacity

7.12 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

4,400 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

23.6 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates

koruny (Sk) per US$1 - 31.50 (January 1997), 30.654 (1996), 29.713 (1995), 32.045 (1994), 30.770 (1993), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991); note - values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rate

Exports

total value: $8.1 billion (January-November 1996) commodities : machinery and transport equipment 18.7%; chemicals 13.4%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 13.1%; raw materials 5.0% (1995) partners: EU 37.4%, Central Europe Free Trade Agreement 44.3% (Czech Republic 35.2%), FSU 7.1% (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $42.8 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 5.4% industry: 39.9% services: 54.7% (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value : $9.6 billion (f.o.b., January-November 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 29.0%; fuels 18.0%; intermediate manufactured goods 17.6%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 8.0% (1995) partners: EU 34.7%, Central Europe Free Trade Agreement 32.9% (Czech Republic 27.5%), FSU 19.5% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate

2.8% (1996 est.)

Industries

metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, and nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products

Inflation rate - consumer price index

5.5% (1996 est.)

Labor force

total: 2.538 million by occupation : industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8.0%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)

Unemployment rate

12% (1996 est.)

Area

total: 48,845 sq km land: 48,800 sq km water: 45 sq km

Area - comparative

about twice the size of New Hampshire

Climate

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m highest point: Gerlachovka 2,655 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests

Environment - international agreements

party to : Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Geographic coordinates

48 40 N, 19 30 E

Geography - note

landlocked

Irrigated land

800 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,355 km border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km

Land use

arable land: 31% permanent crops : 3% permanent pastures: 17% forests and woodland: 41% other: 8% (1993 est.)

Location

Central Europe, south of Poland

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

4 departments (kraje, singular - kraj) Bratislava, Zapadoslovensky, Stredoslovensky, Vychodoslovensky note: an article in the Slovakian press mentions there are 8 departments named Bratislava, Banska Bystrica, Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trnava, Trencin, and Zilina

Constitution

ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993

Country name

conventional long form : Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska Republika local short form: Slovensko

Data code

LO

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph R. JOHNSON embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address : use embassy street address telephone: [42] (7) 533-0861, 533-3338

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Branislav LICHARDUS chancery: (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone : [1] (202) 965-5160

Executive branch

chief of state: President Michal KOVAC (since 8 February 1993) head of government : Prime Minister Vladimir MECIAR (since 12 December 1994) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by National Council for a five-year term; election last held 8 February 1993 (next to be held March 1998); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Michal KOVAC elected president; percent of parliamentary vote - NA

FAX

[1] (202) 965-5166

FAX

[42] (7) 533-5439

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTAES, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Parliament

Legal system

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Legislative branch

unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovensky Repubiky (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 September-1 October 1994 (next to be held by October 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - HZDS 35%, SDL 10.4%, Hungarian coalition (Hungarian Christian Democrats, Hungarian Civic Party, Coexistence) 10.2%, KDH 10.1%, DU 8.6%, ZRS 7.3%, SNS 5.4%; seats by party - governing coalition 83 (HZDS 61, ZRS 13, SNS 9), opposition 67 (SDL 18, Hungarian coalition 17, KDH 17, DU 15)

National capital

Bratislava

National holiday

Slovak Constitution Day, 1 September (1992); Anniversary of Slovak National Uprising, 29 August (1944)

Political parties and leaders

Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR, chairman]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Jozef MIGAS, chairman]; Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement or MKDH [Vojtech BUGAR]; Hungarian Civic Party or MOS [Laszlo A. NAGY, president]; Coexistence [Miklos DURAY, chairman]; Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Jan CARNOGURSKY, chairman]; Democratic Union or DU [Jozef MORAVCIK, chairman]; Association of Slovak Workers or ZRS [Jan LUPTAK, chairman]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA, chairman]; Slovak Green Alternative or SZA [Zora LAZAROVA, chairwoman]; Farmers' Party of Slovakia or RSS [Pavel DELINGA, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovakia or SSDS [Jaroslav WOLF, chairman]; Party of Greens in Slovakia or SZS [Jozef POKORNY, chaiman]; Democratic Party or DS [Jan LANGOS, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Party of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen of Slovakia; Christian Social Union; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG; Association of Employers of Slovakia; Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Reserve Force (Home Guards)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$423 million (1996)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.7% (1996)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,462,052 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males : 1,118,955 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 48,245 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21% (male 588,511; female 563,090) 15-64 years : 68% (male 1,802,132; female 1,831,119) 65 years and over: 11% (male 233,476; female 369,337) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

10.37 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

9.58 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.7%, Gypsy 1.5% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which could reach 500,000 or more), Czech 1%, Ruthenian 0.3%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.3%

Infant mortality rate

10 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

Slovak (official), Hungarian

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.91 years male : 69.11 years female: 76.9 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

NA

Nationality

noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak

Net migration rate

0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

5,387,665 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

0.12% (1997 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.34 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary; unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property

Illicit drugs

minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish bound for Western Europe SLOVENIA

Airports

37 (1994 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total : 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (1994 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 25 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m : 10 under 914 m: 11 (1994 est.)

Highways

total: 17,868 km paved: 17,654 km (including 198 km of expressways) unpaved: 214 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,010 GRT/22,039 DWT (1996 est.)

Pipelines

petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km

Ports and harbors

Bratislava, Komarno

Railways

total: 3,660 km broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge : 3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1424 km electrified) narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1995)

Waterways

172 km on the Danube