SLOVAKIA

Government Type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

Bratislava

Flag Description

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side

Area

total: 48,845 sq km
land: 48,800 sq km
water: 45 sq km

Boundaries

total: 1,524 km
border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 677 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 97 km

Administrative Divisions

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

Major Language

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

Major Religion

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

Population

5,447,502 (July 2007 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Population Growth Rate

0.147% (2007 est.)

Net Migration Rate

0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 years: 16.4% (male 456,105/female 435,154)
15-64 years: 71.5% (male 1,938,846/female 1,955,382 )
65 years and over: 12.2% (male 247,728/female 414,287) (2007 est.)

Unemployment Rate

10.2% (2006 est.)

Inflation Rate

4.4% (2006 est.)

GDP Per Capita

$17,700 (2006 est.)

Main Exports

vehicles 25.9%, machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%, base metals 14.6%, chemicals and minerals 10.1%, plastics 5.4% (2004)

Monetary Unit

Slovak koruna (SKK)

UN exchange rate: 1 USD = 24.04 SKK (June 2007)

Press

Current Weather

Slovakia