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| Background: |
In 1918 the
Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new
nation, renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II,
Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia,
which though communist, distanced itself from Moscow's
rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power of the
majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing
their independence in 1991. Historical ties to Western
Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy make
Slovenia a leading candidate for future membership in the
EU and NATO. |
| Location: |
Southeastern
Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Austria and Croatia |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
46 00 N, 15 00
E |
| Area: |
total:
20,253 sq km
land: 20,253 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly
smaller than New Jersey |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
1,165 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 501
km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km |
| Climate: |
Mediterranean
climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot
summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to
the east |
| Terrain: |
a short coastal
strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent
to Italy and Austria, mixed mountain and valleys with
numerous rivers to the east |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest
point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m |
| Natural
resources: |
lignite coal,
lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
12%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 7% (1996 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
20 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
flooding and
earthquakes |
| Environment
- current issues: |
Sava River
polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of
coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals;
forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating
at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid
rain |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol |
| Geography
- note: |
despite its
small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of
Europe's major transit routes |
| Population: |
1,930,132 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
16.09% (male 159,428; female 151,134)
15-64 years: 69.61% (male 681,333; female
662,170)
65 years and over: 14.3% (male 101,354;
female 174,713) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
0.14% (2001
est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
9.32
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
9.98
deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
2.11 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
4.51
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 75.08 years
male: 71.2 years
female: 79.17 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
1.28 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.02% (1999
est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
200 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
less than 100
(1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Slovene 88%,
Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Bosniak 1%, Yugoslav 0.6%, Hungarian
0.4%, other 5% (1991) |
| Religions: |
Roman Catholic
68.8%, Uniate Catholic 2%, Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist
4.3%, other 22.9% |
| Languages: |
Slovenian 91%,
Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3% |
| Literacy: |
definition:
NA
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA% |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenija
local short form: Slovenija |
| Government
type: |
parliamentary
democratic republic |
| Administrative
divisions: |
136
municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban
municipalities* (mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina
) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Bled, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec,
Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova-Tisina, Celje*, Cerklje
na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Crensovci, Crna na
Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik-Trnovska Vas, Divaca,
Dobrepolje, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dol pri
Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja
Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad,
Gornji Petrovci, Grosuplje, Hodos Salovci, Hrastnik,
Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna
Gorica, Izola, Jesenice, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal,
Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Koper*, Kozje,
Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko,
Lenart, Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer,
Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Luce, Lukovica,
Majsperk, Maribor*, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica,
Miren-Kostanjevica, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice,
Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*,
Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran,
Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podvelka-Ribnica, Postojna, Preddvor,
Ptuj*, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob
Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne-Prevalje, Ribnica, Rogasevci,
Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Semic, Sencur, Sentilj,
Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan,
Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska
Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob
Paki, Sostanj, Starse, Store, Sveti Jurij, Tolmin,
Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velike Lasce,
Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vrhnika, Vuzenica,
Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Ziri, Zrece
note: there may be 45 more municipalities |
| Independence: |
25 June 1991
(from Yugoslavia) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence
Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991) |
| Constitution: |
adopted 23
December 1991, effective 23 December 1991 |
| Legal
system: |
based on civil
law system |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of
age; universal (16 years of age, if employed) |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April
1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Janez
DRNOVSEK (since 15 October 2000);
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by
the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote
for a five-year term; election last held 24 November 1997
(next to be held NA 2002); following National Assembly
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader
of a majority coalition is usually nominated to become
prime minister by the president and elected by the
National Assembly; election last held 15 October 2000
(next to be held NA October 2004)
election results: Milan KUCAN elected
president; percent of vote - Milan KUCAN 56.3%, Janez
PODOBNIK 18%; Janez DRNOVSEK elected prime minister;
percent of National Assembly vote - NA |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral
National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats, 40 are
directly elected and 50 are selected on a proportional
basis; note - the numbers of directly elected and
proportionally elected seats varies with each election;
members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 15
October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party -
LDS 36%, SDS 16%, ZLSD 12%, SLS/SKD 10%, NSI 9%, SMS 4%,
SNS 4%, DeSUS 5%, other 4%; seats by party - LDS 34, SDS
14, ZLDS 11, SLS/SKD 9, NSI 8, SMS 4, SNS 4, DeSUS 4,
other 2
note: the National Council or Drzavni Svet is
an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may
propose laws and ask to review any National Assembly
decisions; in the election of NA November 1997, 40 members
were elected to represent local, professional, and
socioeconomic interests (next election to be held in the
fall of 2002) |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court
(judges are elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the Judicial Council); Constitutional
Court (judges elected for nine-year terms by the National
Assembly and nominated by the president) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Democratic
Party of Retired (Persons) of Slovenia or DeSUS [Janko
KUSAR]; Liberal Democratic or LDS [Janez DRNOVSEK,
chairman]; New Slovenia or NSI [Andrej BAJUK, chairman];
Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC, chairman];
Slovene People's Party or SLS (Slovenian People's Party or
SLS and Slovenian Christian Democrats or SKD merged in
April 2000) [Franc ZAGOZEN, chairman]; Slovene Youth Party
or SMS [leader NA]; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or
SDS [Janez JANSA, chairman]; United List of Social
Democrats (former Communists and allies) or ZLSD [Borut
PAHOR, chairman] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
ABEDA, ACCT
(observer), BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTAET, UNTSO,
UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Davorin KRACUN
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general: New York
consulate(s): Cleveland |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Nancy ELY-RAPHEL
embassy: Presernova 31, SI-1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: P. O. Box 254, Presernova
31, 1000 Ljubljana; American Embassy Ljubljana, Department
of State, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555 |
| Flag
description: |
three equal
horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the
Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav,
Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue
background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue
lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three
six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle which
are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje,
the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and
early 15th centuries); the seal is located in the upper
hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue
bands |
| Economy
- overview: |
Although
Slovenia enjoys one of the highest GDPs per capita among
the transition economies of Central Europe, it needs to
speed up the privatization process and the dismantling of
restrictions on foreign investment. About 45% of the
economy remains in state hands, and the level of foreign
direct investment inflows as a percent of GDP is the
lowest in the region. Analysts are predicting between 4.0%
and 4.2% growth for 2001. Export growth is expected to
slow in 2001 and 2002 as EU markets soften. Inflation rose
from 6.1% to 8.9% in 2000 and remains a matter of concern. |
| GDP: |
purchasing
power parity - $22.9 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
4.5% (2000
est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing
power parity - $12,000 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
4%
industry: 35%
services: 61% (1999 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
3.2%
highest 10%: 20.7% (1995) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
8.9% (2000
est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture
NA%, industry NA%, services NA% |
| Unemployment
rate: |
7.1% (1997
est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$8.11 billion
expenditures: $8.32 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.) |
| Industries: |
ferrous
metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum reduction
and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics
(including military electronics), trucks, electric power
equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine
tools |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
6.2% (2000) |
| Electricity
- production: |
12.451 billion
kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
34.44%
hydro: 29.58%
nuclear: 35.98%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
10.024 billion
kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
2.2 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
645 million kWh
(1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
potatoes, hops,
wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry |
| Exports: |
$8.9 billion
(f.o.b., 2000) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
manufactured
goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food |
| Exports
- partners: |
Germany 31%,
Italy 14%, Croatia 8%, Austria 7%, France 6% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$9.9 billion
(f.o.b., 2000) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and
transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels
and lubricants, food |
| Imports
- partners: |
Germany 21%,
Italy 17%, France 11%, Austria 8%, Croatia 4%, Hungary,
Russia (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$6.2 billion
(2000) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
ODA, $5 million
(1993) |
| Exchange
rates: |
tolars per US
dollar - 225.93 (January 2001), 222.66 (2000), 181.77
(1999), 166.13 (1998), 159.69 (1997), 135.36 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
722,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
1 million
(2000) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: NA
domestic: 100% digital (2000)
international: NA |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 17, FM 160,
shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
48 (2001) |
| Televisions: |
710,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.si |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
11 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
460,000 (1999) |
| Railways: |
total:
1,201 km
standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (489
km electrified) (2001) |
| Highways: |
total:
19,586 km
paved: 17,745 km (including 249 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 1,841 km (1998 est.) |
| Pipelines: |
crude oil 290
km; natural gas 305 km |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Izola, Koper,
Piran |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Slovenian Army
(includes Air and Naval Forces) |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
19 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 523,336 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 416,237 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
14,513 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$370 million
(FY00) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.7% (FY00) |
| Disputes
- international: |
progress with
Croatia on discussions of adjustments to land boundary,
but problems remain in defining maritime boundary in Gulf
of Piran; Austria has minor dispute with Slovenia over
nuclear power plants and post-World War II treatment of
German-speaking minorities |
| Illicit
drugs: |
minor transit
point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for
Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals |
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