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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.sk

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

717,744 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

2.35 million (2007)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

1.151 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

6.068 million (2007)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

80 (national broadcasting 6, regional 7, local 67) (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $34.34 billion expenditures: $35.99 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

4.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

7.99% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Slovak koruna (SKK)

Current account balance [time series]

-$3.998 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$36.63 billion (31 December 2007)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

26 (2005)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The DZURINDA government made excellent progress during 2001-04 in macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands, and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom with business friendly policies such as labor market liberalization and a 19% flat tax. Foreign investment in the automotive sector has been strong. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in 2001-07 despite the general European slowdown. Unemployment, at an unacceptable 18% in 2003-04, dropped to 8.6% in 2007 but remains the economy's Achilles heel. Slovakia joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and will be the second of the new EU member states to adopt the euro in 2009 if it continues to meet euro adoption criteria in 2008. Despite its 2006 pre-election promises to loosen fiscal policy and reverse the previous DZURINDA government's pro-market reforms, FICO's cabinet has thus far been careful to keep a lid on spending in order to meet euro adoption criteria. The FICO government is pursuing a state-interventionist economic policy, however, and has pushed to regulate energy and food prices.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

26 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

11.85 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

12.73 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

26.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Slovak koruny (SKK) per US dollar - 24.919 (2007), 29.611 (2006), 31.018 (2005), 32.257 (2004), 36.773 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$57.53 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

vehicles 25.9%, machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%, base metals 14.6%, chemicals and minerals 10.1%, plastics 5.4% (2004)

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 21.4%, Czech Republic 12.6%, France 6.7%, Italy 6.4%, Poland 6.2%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5.8%, UK 4.8% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$74.99 billion (2007 est.)

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

$110.2 billion (2007 est.)

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

agriculture: 2.6% industry: 33.5% services: 63.9% (2007 est.)

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

$20,200 (2007 est.)

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

10.4% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 20.9% (1996)

Imports [time series]

$58.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment 41.1%, intermediate manufactured goods 19.3%, fuels 12.3%, chemicals 9.8%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 10.2% (2003)

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 22.1%, Czech Republic 17.3%, Russia 9.2%, Hungary 6.7%, Austria 5.1%, Poland 4.9%, South Korea 4.7% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

17.2% (2007 est.)

Industries [time series]

metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, 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]

2.8% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

25.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.654 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 5.8%, industry 29.3%, construction 9%, services 55.9% (2003)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$5.574 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

6.216 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

180 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

6.268 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

128 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

82,860 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

72,240 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

134,100 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

12,770 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

9 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Public debt [time series]

35.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$18.98 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$1.509 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$45.25 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$41.76 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$26.17 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$21.11 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

8.4% (2007 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m

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-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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

48 40 N, 19 30 E

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

1,830 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

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; arable land

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

50.1 cu km (2003)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Vincent OBSITNIK 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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter BURIAN 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 [time series]

chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 July 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Dusan CAPLOVIC, Robert KALINAK, Stefan HARABIN, Jan MIKOLAJ (since 4 July 2006) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 April and 17 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2009); 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: Ivan GASPAROVIC elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 59.9%, Vladimir MECIAR 40.1%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; 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 Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 17 June 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - Smer 29.1%, SDKU 18.4%, SMK 11.7%, SNS 11.7%, LS-HZDS 8.8%, KDH 8.3%, other 12%; seats by party - Smer 50, SDKU 31, SMK 20, SNS 19, LS-HZDS 16, KDH 14

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

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

Parties in the Parliament: Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Pavol HRUSOVSKY]; Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Pal CSAKY]; People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union or SDKU-DS [Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA]; Parties outside the Parliament: Agrarian Party of the Provinces or ASV [Jozef VASKEBA]; Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Peter TATAR]; Free Forum [Zuzana MARTINAKOVA]; Hope or NADEJ [Alexandra NOVOTNA]; Left-wing Bloc or LB [Jozef KALMAN]; Mission 21 - New Christian Democracy or MISIA 21 [Ivan SIMKO]; Movement for Democracy or HZD [Jozef GRAPA]; New Citizens Alliance or ANO [Pavol RUSKO]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Ladislav KOZMON]; Prosperita Slovenska or PS [Frantisek A. ZVRSKOVEC]; Slovak Communist Party or KSS [Vladimir DADO]; Slovak National Coalition or SLNKO [Vitazoslav MORIC]; Slovak People's Party or SLS [Jozef SASIK]; Union of the Workers of Slovakia or ZRS [Jan LUPTAK]

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

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; National Union of Employers or RUZ; Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry or SOPK; The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I allowed the Slovaks to join the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,420,966 females age 16-49: 1,386,259 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,166,833 females age 16-49: 1,156,874 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 38,183 female: 36,388 (2008 est.)

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

Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.87% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

17-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2007)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.1% (male 448,083/female 427,643) 15-64 years: 71.7% (male 1,947,112/female 1,961,788) 65 years and over: 12.3% (male 250,787/female 419,994) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.64 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.9% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 6.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.17 years male: 71.23 years female: 79.32 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.6% (2001 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 36.5 years male: 34.8 years female: 38.2 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak

Net migration rate [time series]

0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

5,455,407 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.143% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

35 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 20 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: 10 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 51 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 42, refrigerated cargo 4 foreign-owned: 47 (Bulgaria 6, Germany 3, Greece 2, Ireland 1, Israel 4, Italy 2, Poland 2, Russia 1, Slovenia 1, Syria 2, Turkey 10, Ukraine 12, UK 1) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Bratislava, Komarno

Railways [time series]

total: 3,662 km broad gauge: 100 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 3,512 km 1.435-m gauge (1,588 km electrified) narrow gauge: 50 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 43,761 km paved: 38,085 km (includes 316 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,676 km (2006)

Waterways [time series]

172 km (on Danube River) (2005)