Country Summary
Introduction
Background
Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. In 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Geography
Area
total: 49,035 sq km
land: 48,105 sq km
water: 930 sq km
Climate
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Natural resources
lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
People and Society
Population
5,431,252 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups
Slovak 83.8%, Hungarian 7.8%, Romani 1.2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 5.4% (2021 est.)
Languages
Slovak (official) 81.8%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 1.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 55.8%, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession 5.3%, Greek Catholic 4%, Reformed Christian 1.6%, other 3%, none 23.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2021 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.1% (2022 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Bratislava
Executive branch
chief of state: President Zuzana CAPUTOVA (since 15 June 2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Eduard HEGER (since 1 April 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Stefan HOLY, Veronika REMISOVA, Richard SULIK (all since 21 March 2020)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Council or Narodna Rada (150 seats; members directly elected in a single- and multi-seat constituencies by closed, party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, EU-member European economy; major electronics and automobile exporter; new anticorruption and judiciary reforms; low unemployment; low regional innovation; strong financial sector
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$165.57 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$30,300 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
wheat, maize, sugar beet, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, sunflower seed, soybeans, pork
Industries
automobiles; metal and metal products; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals, synthetic fibers, wood and paper products; machinery; earthenware and ceramics; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products; food and beverages; pharmaceutical
Exports
$89.92 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 22%, Czechia 11%, Poland 7%, France 7%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, video displays, broadcasting equipment, tires, refined petroleum (2019)
Imports
$87.95 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
Germany 18%, Czechia 18%, Poland 8%, Hungary 7%, Russia 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, broadcasting equipment, crude petroleum, natural gas, insulated wiring (2019)
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Page last updated: Tuesday, May 31, 2022
