Slovakia's roots can be traced to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. Following the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) resulted in a strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who were themselves ruled by the Austrians. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the 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 and the euro area on 1 January 2009.

Central Europe, south of Poland

about twice the size of New Hampshire

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

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

brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land

air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests

landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys

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

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

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

5,483,088 (July 2012 est.)

10.38 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

9.64 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

BRATISLAVA (capital) 428,000 (2009)

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

1.38 children born/woman (2012 est.)

3 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

6.56 beds/1,000 population (2008)

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

parliamentary democracy

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

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

Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed September 1998; amended February 2001

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; note - legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal system

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

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

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

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

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side

double-barred cross (Cross of Lorraine) surmounting three peaks

Slovakia has made significant economic reforms since its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993. Reforms to the taxation, healthcare, pension, and social welfare systems helped Slovakia consolidate its budget and get on track to join the EU in 2004 after a period of relative stagnation in the early and mid 1990s and to adopt the euro in January 2009. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost entirely in foreign hands, and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom with business friendly policies. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in 2001-08 despite a general European slowdown. Foreign direct investment (FDI), especially in the automotive and electronic sectors, fueled much of the growth until 2008. Cheap and skilled labor, low taxes, a 19% flat tax for corporations and individuals, no dividend taxes, a relatively liberal labor code and a favorable geographical location are Slovakia's main advantages for foreign investors. The economy contracted 5% in 2009 primarily as a result of smaller inflows of FDI and reduced demand for Slovakia's exports before rebounding 4% in 2010 and 3.3% in 2011. Unemployment rose above 12% in 2010-11. The government of Prime Minister Iveta RADICOVA implemented reforms to curb corruption and improve government accountability - a major source of discontent with many Slovaks - and trimmed the budget deficit to 4.9% of GDP in 2011.

$128.5 billion (2011 est.)

$124.4 billion (2010 est.)

$119.4 billion (2009 est.)

$96.09 billion (2011 est.)

2.713 million (2011 est.)

23.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

33.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

-5.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

43.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

41% of GDP (2010 est.)

1.75% (31 December 2011 est.)

1.75% (31 December 2010 est.)

3.8% (31 December 2011 est.)

3.39% (31 December 2010 est.)

$37.49 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$35.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$56.88 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$51.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$72.98 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$66.62 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$4.736 billion (31 December 2011)

$4.15 billion (31 December 2010)

$4.672 billion (31 December 2009)

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

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

-$621.8 million (2011 est.)

-$3.166 billion (2010 est.)

$86.71 billion (2011 est.)

$67.82 billion (2010 est.)

machinery and electrical equipment 35.9%, vehicles 21%, base metals 11.3%, chemicals and minerals 8.1%, plastics 4.9% (2009 est.)

Germany 21.4%, Czech Republic 15.2%, Poland 7.9%, Hungary 7.8%, Austria 7.5%, France 6.7%, Italy 5.3% (2009 est.)

$72.03 billion (2011 est.)

$67.63 billion (2010 est.)

machinery and transport equipment 31%, mineral products 13%, vehicles 12%, base metals 9%, chemicals 8%, plastics 6% (2009 est.)

Germany 19.2%, Czech Republic 18.5%, Russia 11.4%, Hungary 7%, Poland 5.5%, Austria 4.6%, Italy 4.1%, China 4% (2009 est.)

$2.462 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$2.161 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$72.94 billion (30 November 2011 est.)

$59.33 billion (30 June 2010 est.)

$52.78 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$50.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$3.32 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$2.83 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

27.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)

28.76 billion kWh (2010 est.)

10.5 billion kWh (2011 est.)

10.9 billion kWh (2011 est.)

7.155 million kW (2009 est.)

37.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

25.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

22% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

2.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

5,781 bbl/day (2011 est.)

300 bbl/day (2009 est.)

114,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)

9 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

136,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)

83,910 bbl/day (2011 est.)

78,640 bbl/day (2009 est.)

25,630 bbl/day (2009 est.)

116 million cu m (2011 est.)

6.468 billion cu m (2011 est.)

7 million cu m (2011 est.)

6.743 billion cu m (2011 est.)

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

34.54 million Mt (2010 est.)

1.056 million (2011)

5.983 million (2011)

state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), operates 3 national TV stations and multiple national and regional radio networks; roughly 35 privately-owned TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 40% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; more than 20 privately-owned radio stations (2008)

1.387 million (2010)

4.063 million (2009)

gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2010)

172 km (on Danube River) (2009)

Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2010)

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women are eligible to serve (2010)

1.08% of GDP (2005 est.)

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

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