Slovakia

Broadcast media

state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), operates 3 national TV stations and multiple national and regional radio networks; roughly 35 privately-owned TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 40% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; more than 20 privately-owned radio stations (2008)

Internet country code

.sk

Internet hosts

1.384 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 41

Internet users

4.063 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 58

Telephone system

general assessment: Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in cellular services domestic: analog system is now receiving digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger cities; 3 companies provide nationwide cellular services international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services

Telephones - main lines in use

1.056 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 75

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.983 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 99

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $31.39 billion expenditures: $35.85 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 1.75% (31 December 2010 est.) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks from the euro area; Slovakia became a member of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on 1 January 2009

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 3.7% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$535.2 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 $52.86 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$72.94 billion (30 November 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $59.33 billion (30 June 2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26 (2005) country comparison to the world: 131 26.3 (1996)

Economy - overview

Slovakia has made significant economic reforms since its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993. Reforms to the taxation, healthcare, pension, and social welfare systems helped Slovakia consolidate its budget and get on track to join the EU in 2004 after a period of relative stagnation in the early and mid 1990s and to adopt the euro in January 2009. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost entirely in foreign hands, and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom with business friendly policies. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in 2001-08 despite a general European slowdown. Foreign direct investment (FDI), especially in the automotive and electronic sectors, fueled much of the growth until 2008. Cheap and skilled labor, low taxes, no dividend taxes, a relatively liberal labor code and a favorable geographical location are Slovakia's main advantages for foreign investors. The economy contracted 5% in 2009 primarily as a result of smaller inflows of FDI and reduced demand for Slovakia's exports before rebounding in 2010-11, but growth slowed in 2012 due to weakening external demand. The government of Prime Minister Robert FICO in 2012 implemented tax increases on higher-earning individuals and corporations, effectively scrapping Slovakia's flat tax to help meet budget deficit targets of 4.9% of GDP in 2012 and 3% of GDP in 2013.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

Exports

$77.82 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 $78.5 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 35.9%, vehicles 21%, base metals 11.3%, chemicals and minerals 8.1%, plastics 4.9% (2009 est.)

Exports - partners

Germany 21.4%, Czech Republic 15.1%, Poland 7.9%, Hungary 7.8%, Austria 7.5%, France 6.7%, Italy 5.2% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$91.19 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$132.4 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $129 billion (2011 est.) $124.8 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.8% industry: 36.4% services: 59.8% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$24,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $23,700 (2011 est.) $23,000 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 3.3% (2011 est.) 4.2% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 22.4% (2009 est.)

Imports

$74.29 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 $75.1 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 31%, mineral products 13%, vehicles 12%, base metals 9%, chemicals 8%, plastics 6% (2009 est.)

Imports - partners

Germany 19.3%, Czech Republic 18.5%, Russia 11.4%, Hungary 7%, Poland 5.5%, Austria 4.6%, Italy 4.1%, China 4% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

6.9% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 3.9% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Labor force

2.724 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 3.5% industry: 27% services: 69.4% (December 2009)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.736 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 85 $4.15 billion (31 December 2010) $4.672 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

21% (2002)

Public debt

48.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 43.3% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover general Government Gross Debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds.

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.676 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $2.462 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$52.73 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $52.99 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$4.309 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $4.209 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$53.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $51.29 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$63.87 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $67.93 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$35.31 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $36.49 billion (31 December 2011 est.) note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Slovak koruny in circulation prior to Slovakia joining the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); 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

Taxes and other revenues

34.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Unemployment rate

12.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 13.2% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

34.54 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Crude oil - exports

300 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Crude oil - imports

114,100 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Crude oil - production

5,781 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Crude oil - proved reserves

9 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - consumption

28.76 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity - exports

10.5 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Electricity - from fossil fuels

37.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

22% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

25.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - imports

10.9 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Electricity - installed generating capacity

7.155 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Electricity - production

27.7 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Natural gas - consumption

6.468 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Natural gas - exports

7 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Natural gas - imports

6.743 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - production

116 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Natural gas - proved reserves

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Refined petroleum products - consumption

83,910 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Refined petroleum products - exports

78,640 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Refined petroleum products - imports

25,630 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Refined petroleum products - production

136,100 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Area

total: 49,035 sq km country comparison to the world: 131 land: 48,105 sq km water: 930 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: Gerlachovsky Stit 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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.04 per capita: 193 cu m/yr (2003)

Geographic coordinates

48 40 N, 19 30 E

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

Irrigated land

1,660 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,474 km border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 197 km, Hungary 676 km, Poland 420 km, Ukraine 90 km

Land use

arable land: 29.23% permanent crops: 2.67% other: 68.1% (2005)

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; arable land

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

50.1 cu km (2003)

Administrative divisions

8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky

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

Constitution

ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed September 1998; amended February 2001 note: the change in September 1998 allowed direct election of the president; the amendment of February 2001 allowed Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore SEDGWICK embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338 FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter KMEC chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 April 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Robert KALINAK, Peter KAZIMIR, Miroslav LAJCAK (since 4 April 2012), Lubomir VAZNY (since 26 November 2012) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 March and 4 April 2009 (next to be held no later than April 2014); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Ivan GASPAROVIC reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 55.5%, Iveta RADICOVA 44.5%

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council)

Legal system

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; note - legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal system

Legislative branch

unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 10 March 2012 (next to be held in 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - Smer-SD 44.4%, KDH 8.8%, OLaNO 8.6%, Most-Hid 6.9%, SDKU-DS 6.1%, SaS 5.9%, other 19.3%; seats by party - Smer-SD 83, KDH 16, OLaNO 16, Most-Hid 13, SDKU-DS 11, SaS 11

National anthem

name: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Lightning Over the Tatras) lyrics/music: Janko MATUSKA/traditional note: adopted 1993, in use since 1844; the anthem's music is based on the Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku"

National holiday

Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

National symbol(s)

double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks

Political parties and leaders

parties in the Parliament: Bridge or Most-Hid [Bela BUGAR]; Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Jan FIGEL]; Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO]; Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK]; Ordinary People and Independent Personalities or OLaNO [Igor MATOVIC]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party or SDKU-DS [Pavol FRESO] selected parties outside the Parliament: Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Ondrej DOSTAL]; Nation and Justice - Our Party or NAS [Anna BELOUSOVOVA]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Jozef DURICA]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Jozsef BERENYI]; People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR]; People's Party - Our Slovakia or LSNS [Marian KOTLEBA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Andrej DANKO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia or ZPS; Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic; Medical Trade Association or LOZ; National Union of Employers or RUZ; Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry or SOPK; The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Slovakia's roots can be traced to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. Following the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) resulted in a strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who were under Austrian rule. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close 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 Slovakia became an independent state allied with Nazi Germany. Following World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under Communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country'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, the country underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro zone on 1 January 2009.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,405,310 females age 16-49: 1,369,897 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,156,113 females age 16-49: 1,139,380 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 31,646 female: 30,219 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2010)

Military expenditures

1.08% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women are eligible to serve (2010)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.6% (male 436,477/ female 416,907) 15-64 years: 71.4% (male 1,951,791/ female 1,960,899) 65 years and over: 13.1% (male 269,446/ female 447,568) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

10.38 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Death rate

9.64 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 114

Ethnic groups

Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Health expenditures

8.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 46

Hospital bed density

6.56 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 167 male: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.03 years country comparison to the world: 81 male: 72.14 years female: 80.12 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.6% (2004)

Major cities - population

BRATISLAVA (capital) 428,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 171

Median age

total: 38 years male: 36.5 years female: 39.5 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak

Net migration rate

0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14.3% (2002) country comparison to the world: 39

Physicians density

3 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

5,483,088 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Population growth rate

0.104% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Religions

Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1% of population total: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.38 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 27.3% country comparison to the world: 19 male: 27.9% female: 26.6% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 55% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued in 2006 between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy

Airports

37 (2012) country comparison to the world: 109

Airports - with paved runways

total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 9 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 8 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 11 country comparison to the world: 112 by type: cargo 9, refrigerated cargo 2 foreign-owned: 11 (Germany 3, Ireland 1, Italy 2, Montenegro 1, Slovenia 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 2) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Bratislava, Komarno

Railways

total: 3,622 km country comparison to the world: 48 broad gauge: 99 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 3,473 km 1.435-m gauge (1,615 km electrified) narrow gauge: 50 km 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 43,761 km country comparison to the world: 83 paved: 38,085 km (includes 384 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,676 km (2008)

Waterways

172 km (on Danube River) (2009) country comparison to the world: 100