Location: Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and CroatiaPopulation: 2,011,070 (July 2005 est.)
Total Area: 20,273 sq km - slightly smaller than New Jersey
Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower, forests
Environment - current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain.
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands. Signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants.
National holiday: Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June
Economy - brief overview: Slovenia, with its historical ties to Western Europe, enjoys a GDP per capita substantially higher than that of the other transitioning economies of Central Europe. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. Privatization of the economy proceeded at an accelerated pace in 2002-05. Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed for greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and have helped to lower unemployment. Further measures to curb inflation are still needed. Corruption and the high degree of coordination between government, business, and central bank policy were issues of concern in the run-up to Slovenia's 1 May 2004 accession to the European Union.Budget: revenues: $16.02 billion. expenditures: $16.73 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.)
Labor force: 920,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 6%, industry 40%, services 55% (2002)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries: ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Oil - production: 11.05 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - imports: NA
Oil - exports: NA
Exports: $18.53 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 18.3%, Italy 11.6%, Austria 11.5%, France 7.4%, Croatia 7.3%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.8% (2004)
Imports: $19.62 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 19.9%, Italy 17%, Austria 14.9%, France 10.2% (2004)
Government departments:
Government of the Republic of Slovenia
Media:
The Slovenia Times
STA Slovenian Press Agency
Travel Information:
Slovenia Travel Information Lonely Planet Destination Guide
Other useful links:
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
Doing Business in Slovenia - Doing Business - The World Bank Group
News headlines
Slovenia: Transport and communications TMCnet.com (Press Release) 22:23 10-Mar-06
SLOVENIA: Slovenia's KD Investments to Launch 2 Mutual Funds SEEurope 09:17 10-Mar-06
Slovenia plans 3G tender for H1 Telecom Paper 10:27 9-Mar-06
