Introduction
Background
Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia, followed soon after by the Hungarian Kingdom and, in 1859, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, the Empire dissolved, and 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
total: 5,563,649
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
-0.08% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Bratislava
Executive branch
chief of state: President Peter PELLEGRINI (since 15 June 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 25 October 2023)
Legislative branch
summary: unicameral National Council (150 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Radovan JAVORČÍK (since 18 January 2021)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Gautam A. RANA (since 28 September 2022)
Economy
Economic overview
high-income EU- and eurozone-member economy; manufacturing and exports led by automotive sector; weakening of anti-corruption laws may impact foreign investment and status of EU funds; influx of foreign labor offsets aging workforce; widening fiscal deficit from social spending and EU-financed public investments
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$213.053 billion (2023 est.)
$209.705 billion (2022 est.)
$205.856 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$39,300 (2023 est.)
$38,600 (2022 est.)
$37,800 (2021 est.)
Exports
$121.238 billion (2023 est.)
$114.678 billion (2022 est.)
$109.565 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 20%, Czechia 11%, Hungary 9%, Poland 7%, France 6% (2022)
Exports - commodities
cars, vehicle parts/accessories, video displays, broadcasting equipment, electricity (2022)
Imports
$118.869 billion (2023 est.)
$120.622 billion (2022 est.)
$109.265 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
Czechia 18%, Germany 15%, Poland 9%, Russia 7%, Austria 7% (2022)
Imports - commodities
vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, cars, electricity (2022)
Page last updated: Monday, September 16, 2024
