Introduction
Background
The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia was one of the republics in the restored Yugoslavia, which, though communist, soon distanced itself from the Soviet Union and spearheaded the Non-Aligned Movement. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a growing economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's postcommunist transition. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone and the Schengen Area in 2007.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
south Central Europe, Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates
46 07 N, 14 49 E
Map references
Europe
Land boundaries
total: 1,211 km
border countries (4): Austria 299 km; Croatia 600 km; Hungary 94 km; Italy 218 km
Coastline
46.6 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
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 southwestern coastal strip of Karst topography on the Adriatic; an alpine mountain region lies adjacent to Italy and Austria in the north; mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
Elevation
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 492 m
Natural resources
lignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests
Land use
agricultural land: 22.8% (2018 est.)
arable land: 8.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 13.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 62.3% (2018 est.)
other: 14.9% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
39 sq km (2020)
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; pockets in the mountainous northwest exhibit less density than elsewhere
Natural hazards
flooding; earthquakes
Geography - note
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups
Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 est.)
Languages
Slovene (official) 87.7%, Croatian 2.8%, Serbo-Croatian 1.8%, Bosnian 1.6%, Serbian 1.6%, Hungarian 0.4% (official, only in municipalities where Hungarian national communities reside), Italian 0.2% (official, only in municipalities where Italian national communities reside), other or unspecified 3.9% (2002 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Svetovni informativni zvezek - neobhoden vir osnovnih informacij. (Slovene)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 1%, unaffiliated 3.5%, no response or unspecified 22.8%, none 10.1% (2002 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.55% (male 156,499/female 148,987)
15-64 years: 62.73% (male 685,750/female 631,553)
65 years and over: 22.72% (2023 est.) (male 208,832/female 268,169)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 55.5
youth dependency ratio: 23.6
elderly dependency ratio: 31.9
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 45.9 years (2023 est.)
male: 44.6 years
female: 47.5 years
comparison ranking: total 12
Population distribution
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; pockets in the mountainous northwest exhibit less density than elsewhere
Urbanization
urban population: 56.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
286,000 LJUBLJANA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
29 years (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 1.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 1.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 227
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 82 years (2023 est.)
male: 79.2 years
female: 85 years
comparison ranking: total population 34
Gross reproduction rate
0.78 (2023 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: NA
total: 99.5% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
9.5% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
3.28 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density
4.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 99% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 1% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 11.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 4.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 5.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 10
Tobacco use
total: 22% (2020 est.)
male: 24.4% (2020 est.)
female: 19.6% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 73
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
46.4% (2023 est.)
Literacy
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 18 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2020)
Environment
Environment - current issues
air pollution from road traffic, domestic heating (wood buring), power generation, and industry; water pollution; biodiversity protection
Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Land use
agricultural land: 22.8% (2018 est.)
arable land: 8.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 13.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 62.3% (2018 est.)
other: 14.9% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 56.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 14.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 12.63 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 2.1 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 926,000 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 430,034 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 46.4% (2015 est.)
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 170 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 830 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 3.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
31.87 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenija
local short form: Slovenija
former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia
etymology: the country's name means "Land of the Slavs" in Slovene
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Ljubljana
geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 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
etymology: likely related to the Slavic root "ljub", meaning "to like" or "to love"; by tradition, the name is related to the Slovene word "ljubljena" meaning "beloved"
Administrative divisions
200 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 12 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina)
municipalities: Ajdovscina, Ankaran, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal ob Soci, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Store, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberk
urban municipalities: Celje, Koper, Kranj, Krsko, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje
Independence
25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday
Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution
history: previous 1974 (preindependence); latest passed by Parliament 23 December 1991
amendments: proposed by at least 20 National Assembly members, by the government, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required if agreed upon by at least 30 Assembly members; passage in a referendum requires participation of a majority of eligible voters and a simple majority of votes cast; amended several times, last in 2016
Legal system
civil law system
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovenia; both parents if the child is born outside of Slovenia
dual citizenship recognized: yes, for select cases
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years, the last 5 of which have been continuous
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Natasa PIRC MUSAR (since 23 December 2022); note - PIRC MUSAR is Slovenia's first female president
head of government: Prime Minister Robert GOLOB (since 1 June 2022)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term); election last held on 23 October 2022 with a runoff on 13 November (next to be held in 2027); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually nominated prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly
election results:
2022: Natasa PIRC MUSAR elected president in second round: percent of vote in first round - Anze LOGAR (SDS) 34%, Natasa PIRC MUSAR (independent) 26.9%, Milan BRGLEZ (SD) 15.5%, Vladimir PREBILIC (independent) 10.6%, Sabina SENCAR (Resni.ca) 5.9%, Janez CIGLER KRALJ (NSi) 4.4%, other 2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Natasa PIRC MUSAR 53.9%, Anze LOGAR 46.1%; Robert GOLOB (GS) elected prime minister on 25 May 2022, National Assembly vote - 54-30
2017: Borut PAHOR reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Borut PAHOR (independent) 47.1%, Marjan SAREC (Marjan Sarec List) 25%, Romana TOMC (SDS) 13.7%, Ljudmila NOVAK (NSi) 7.2%, other 7%; percent of vote in second round - Borut PAHOR 52.9%, Marjan SAREC 47.1%
Legislative branch
description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
National Council (State Council)or Drzavni Svet (40 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve 5-year terms); note - the Council is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers
National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 88 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 2 directly elected in special constituencies for Italian and Hungarian minorities by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections:
National Council - last held on 24 November 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
National Assembly - last held on 24 April 2022 (next to be held in 2026)
election results:
National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition (as of January 2023) - men 33, women 7, percent of women 17.5%
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - GS 34.5%, SDS 23.5%, NSi 6.9%, SD 6.7%, Levica 4.4%, other 24%; seats by party - GS 41, SDS 27, NSi 8, SD 7, Levica 5; composition (as of January 2023) - men 56, women 34, percent of women 37.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women 31.5%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 37 judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor and social security, administrative, and registry departments); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and vice president appointed by the National Assembly upon the proposal of the Minister of Justice based on the opinions of the Judicial Council, an 11-member independent body elected by the National Assembly from proposals submitted by the president, attorneys, law universities, and sitting judges; other Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly from candidates proposed by the Judicial Council; Supreme Court judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly from nominations by the president of the republic; Constitutional Court president selected from among its own membership for a 3-year term; other judges elected for single 9-year terms
subordinate courts: county, district, regional, and high courts; specialized labor-related and social courts; Court of Audit; Administrative Court
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS [Ljubo JASNIC]
Freedom Movement or GS [Robert GOLOB] (formerly Greens Actions Party or Z.DEJ)
List of Marjan Sarec or LMS [Marjan SAREC]
New Slovenia - Christian Democrats or NSi [Matej TONIN]
Party of Alenka Bratusek or SAB [Alenka BRATUSEK] (formerly Alliance of Social Liberal Democrats or ZSD and before that Alliance of Alenka Bratusek or ZaAB)
Resni.ca [Zoran STEVANOVICH]
Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA] (formerly the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDSS)
Slovenian National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC Plemeniti]
Social Democrats or SD [Tanja FAJON]
The Left or Levica [Luka MESEC] (successor to United Left or ZL)
International organization participation
Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Iztok MIROŠIČ (since 15 September 2023)
chancery: 2410 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 386-6611
FAX: [1] (202) 386-6633
email address and website:
sloembassy.washington@gov.si
http://www.washington.embassy.si/
consulate(s) general: Cleveland (OH)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jamie L. HARPOOTLIAN (since 17 February 2022)
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555
email address and website:
LjubljanaACS@state.gov
https://si.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, derive from the medieval coat of arms of the Duchy of Carniola; 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 prominent Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries) appears in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands
National symbol(s)
Mount Triglav; national colors: white, blue, red
National anthem
name: "Zdravljica" (A Toast)
lyrics/music: France PRESEREN/Stanko PREMRL
note: adopted in 1989 while still part of Yugoslavia; originally written in 1848; the full poem, whose seventh verse is used as the anthem, speaks of pan-Slavic nationalism
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Škocjan Caves (n); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija (c); The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana (c)
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, fast-growing EU-member economy; high human capital; key health infrastructure investments; high government spending; key Croatian investments; high-technology and manufacturing sectors; growing financial hub
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$84.4 billion (2021 est.)
$77.996 billion (2020 est.)
$81.519 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 97
Real GDP per capita
$40,000 (2021 est.)
$37,100 (2020 est.)
$39,000 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 49
GDP (official exchange rate)
$54.16 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.92% (2021 est.)
-0.05% (2020 est.)
1.63% (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 159
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: A (2019)
Moody's rating: A3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2019)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.)
industry: 32.2% (2017 est.)
services: 65.9% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 91; industry 66; agriculture 179
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 52.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 82.3% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -72.6% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, maize, wheat, grapes, barley, potatoes, poultry, apples, beef, pork
Industries
ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting; electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 13.9% (2021 est.)
male: 12.7%
female: 15.5%
comparison ranking: total 125
Population below poverty line
12% (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food: 14.6% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 5.1% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.8%
highest 10%: 20.1% (2016)
Budget
revenues: $23.735 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $23.456 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
73.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
78.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the central, state, local government, and social security funds
comparison ranking: 51
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
$2.372 billion (2021 est.)
$4.058 billion (2020 est.)
$3.23 billion (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 41
Exports
$51.634 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$41.823 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$45.516 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
comparison ranking: 60
Exports - partners
Germany 18%, Italy 11%, Croatia 8%, Austria 7%, France 5%, Switzerland 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
packaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, electrical lighting/signaling equipment, electricity (2019)
Imports
$47.665 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$36.804 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$40.809 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
comparison ranking: 66
Imports - partners
Germany 14%, Italy 12%, Austria 8%, Switzerland 8%, China 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities
packaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, electricity (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.267 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$1.311 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$1.015 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 129
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)
0.885 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 4.062 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 13.447 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 9.123 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 7.12 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 848 million kWh (2020 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 117; imports 33; exports 22; consumption 85; installed generating capacity 96
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 36.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 32% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1 (2023)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 0
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0.69GW (2023)
Percent of total electricity production: 36.9% (2021)
Percent of total energy produced: 40.6% (2021)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 0
Coal
production: 3.175 million metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 3.502 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 335,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 371 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 54,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 4.899 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
consumption: 904.439 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.)
imports: 903.108 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
13.553 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.08 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 7.967 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 1.506 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 99
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 695,444 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 82
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 2,607,268 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 146
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Slovenia’s telecom sector is dominated by four operators; the mobile market has four MNOs and a small number of MVNOs, operating in a country with a potential market of just over two million people; the regulator in recent years has addressed the need for mobile operators to have more spectrum, so enabling them to improve the quality and range of services; a multi-spectrum auction was concluded in mid-2021, aimed at supporting 5G services; the broadband market continues to be dominated by a small number of players; DSL lost its dominance some years ago, being taken over by fiber as subscribers are migrated to new fiber-based networks; fiber accounted for almost half of all fixed broadband connections by March 2022 (2022)
domestic: fixed-line is 33 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 123 per 100 teledensity (2021)
international: country code - 386 (2016)
Broadcast media
public TV broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV), operates a system of national and regional TV stations; 35 domestic commercial TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 60% of households are connected to multi-channel cable TV; public radio broadcaster operates 3 national and 4 regional stations; more than 75 regional and local commercial and non-commercial radio stations
Internet users
total: 1.869 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 89% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 136
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 651,604 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 84
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,094,762 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 540,000 (2018) mt-km
Airports - with paved runways
9
civil airports: 3
military airports: 0
joint use (civil-military) airports: 1
other airports: 5
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
7
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Pipelines
1,155 km gas, 5 km oil (2018)
Roadways
total: 38,985 km (2012)
paved: 38,985 km (2012) (includes 769 km of expressways)
comparison ranking: total 90
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Koper
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Slovenian Armed Forces (Slovenska Vojska, SV): structured as a combined force with air, land, maritime, special operations, combat support, and combat service support elements
Ministry of Interior: National Police (2023)
Military expenditures
1.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2021)
1% of GDP (2020)
1.1% of GDP (2019)
comparison ranking: 98
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 6,000 active-duty troops (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet-era and smaller quantities of more modern, mostly Western equipment; in recent years, it has imported limited amounts of equipment from a few European countries and the US (2023)
Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; must be a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia; recruits sign up for 3-, 5-, or 10-year service contracts; conscription abolished in 2003 (2023)
note: as of 2023, women comprised about 16% of the military's full-time personnel
Military deployments
200 Kosovo (NATO); 100 Slovakia (NATO) (2023)
note: in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Slovenia, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe
Military - note
the Slovenian Armed Forces (Slovenska Vojska or SV) are a small and professional military responsible for the defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory, deterring external threats, and contributing to European security and other international peacekeeping missions; the SV is also active in civil-military cooperation, such as the maintenance of local infrastructure; Slovenia has been a member of the EU and NATO since 2004, and one of the SV’s key missions is fulfilling the country’s commitments to NATO, including equipment modernization, participating in training exercises, and contributing to NATO missions; the SV provides troops to NATO’s efforts to enhance its presence in the Baltics (Latvia) and Eastern Europe (Slovakia); it has also participated in other international security missions with small numbers of personnel in such places as Africa, southern Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Middle East
the SV was formally established in 1993 as a reorganization of the Slovenia Defense Force; the Defense Force, along with the Slovenian police, comprised the majority of the forces that engaged with the Yugoslav People’s Army during the Ten-Day War after Slovenia declared its independence in 1991; the modern SV is configured as a joint force with land, naval, air, and special forces components; the SV is led by a General Staff with a joint-service Forces Command controlling the operational elements; the principal land combat units are two infantry brigades, but they may be organized as battlegroups or other response forces based on their mission; the naval component has two patrol boats; the SV air component has no fighter aircraft, and NATO allies Hungary and Italy provide air policing for Slovenia (2023)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Slovenia-Austria: none identified
Slovenia-Croatia: since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Croatia and Slovenia have each claimed sovereignty over Piran Bay and four villages, and Slovenia has objected to Croatia's claim of an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic Sea; in 2009, however Croatia and Slovenia signed a binding international arbitration agreement to define their disputed land and maritime borders, which led Slovenia to lift its objections to Croatia joining the EU; in June 2017, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a ruling on the border, but Croatia had withdrawn from the proceedings in 2015 and refused to implement it; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia
Slovenia-Hungary: none identified
Slovenia-Italy: none identified
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 10,515 (Ukraine) (as of 4 December 2023)
stateless persons: 10 (2020)
note: 6174,747 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-October 2023)
Illicit drugs
minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals