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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Radios [time series]

915,000 (1995 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: NA international: NA

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

1,362,178 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

41 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

1.2 million (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $5.4 billion expenditures: $6.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$10.7 billion (1997)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$421.9 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Slovakia, continuing the difficult transition from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented economy, begins 1999 with clouds on the horizon: GDP growth is slowing sharply; budget and current account deficits are too large; external debt is growing uncomfortably fast; unemployment is high and rising; corrupt insider deals persist; and demand is weakening for Slovakia's key primary goods exports, especially as Russia and Ukraine slump and as EU growth slows. International credit rating agencies have downgraded Slovak debt to below investment grade. The new government intends to address the economy's ills by giving priority to joining the OECD and EU, cutting government wage and infrastructure spending, boosting some taxes and regulated prices, expanding privatization to companies formerly considered strategic, restructuring the financial section, encouraging foreign investment, and reenergizing the social partnership with labor and employers. Government officials believe as long as two years may be needed before its structural reforms improve economic performance. In 1999, the government expects GDP growth to slow from 5% in 1998 to 2%, inflation to rise from 6% to 10%, and unemployment to rise from less than 14% to 15% or 16%, but hopes to bring the budget deficit down to no more than 2% of GDP and the current account deficit down to 5% to 6% of GDP.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

26.353 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

2.607 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

3.15 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

25.81 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 35.57% hydro: 20.81% nuclear: 43.62% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

koruny (Sk) per US$1--36.207 (January 1999), 35.233 (1998). 33.616 (1997), 30.654 (1996), 29.713 (1995), 32.045 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$10.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and transport equipment 37%; intermediate manufactured goods 30%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 13%; chemicals 9%; raw materials 4% (1998)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

EU 56% (Germany 29%), Czech Republic 20%, Austria 7%, Poland 7% (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$44.5 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 4.8% industry: 33.4% services: 61.8% (1997)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$8,300 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

5% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 5.1% highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$12.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and transport equipment 40%; intermediate manufactured goods 18%; fuels 11%; chemicals 11%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 10% (1998)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

EU 50% (Germany 26%), Czech Republic 18%, Russia 10%, Italy 6% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.7% (1997)

Industries [time series]

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 prices) [time series]

7.4% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

3.32 million (1997)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

14% (1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

about twice the size of New Hampshire

Climate [time series]

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

48 40 N, 19 30 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

800 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

Central Europe, south of Poland

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Bratislava

Constitution [time series]

ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph R. JOHNSON embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: use embassy street address

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Martin BUTORA chancery: (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President (vacant); note--President NOVAC retired at the end of his term; the government has announced its intention to hold direct presidential election in early 1999; in the meantime the prime minister takes over the president's duties head of government: Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since 30 October 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by National Council secret ballot that must yield a three-fifths majority for a five-year term; election last held NA March 1998 but no candidate was able to win a three-fifths majority required by law (next to be held NA 1999); 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: presidency vacant

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Council; Constitutional Court

Legal system [time series]

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 [time series]

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 25-26 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--HZDS 27%, SDK 16.3%, SDL 14.7%, SMK 9.1%, SNS 9.1%, SOP 8%; seats by party--governing coalition 93 (SDK 42, SDL 23, SMK 15, SOP 13), opposition 57 (HZDS 43, SNS 14)

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Movement for a Democratic Slovakia Hungarian Coalition or SMK (includes MKDH, MOS, and Coexistence) LUPTAK, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovakia or SSDS chairman]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

After centuries under foreign rule, mainly by Hungary, the Slovaks joined with their neighbors to form the new nation of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a communist nation within Soviet-ruled Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989, and Czechoslovakia once more was an independent country turning toward the West. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia has experienced more difficulty than the Czech Republic in developing a modern market economy.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$436 million (1998)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2.1% (1998)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,478,729 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,130,482 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 45,919 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 20% (male 551,847; female 528,236) 15-64 years: 69% (male 1,837,788; female 1,861,305) 65 years and over: 11% (male 237,710; female 379,307) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

9.48 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Slovak (official), Hungarian

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.46 years male: 69.71 years female: 77.4 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

Nationality [time series]

noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak

Net migration rate [time series]

0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

5,396,193 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.04% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.2 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary is before the International Court of Justice; unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal property

Illicit drugs [time series]

minor, but increasing, transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish bound for Western Europe

Transportation

Airports [time series]

15 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 10 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 38,000 km paved: 37,500 km (including 280 km of expressways) unpaved: 500 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,041 GRT/19,517 DWT (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bratislava, Komarno

Railways [time series]

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) (1996)

Waterways [time series]

172 km on the Danube