Form of Government: Republic
Area: 20 271 sq km
Population: 2 108 977 inhab. (estimate 2021)
Density: 104.04 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 47° - 45° N; long. 13° - 17° E
Capital: Ljubljana (capital) 285 604 inhab. (2021);
Currency: euro (100 cents)
Human development index: 0.917 (rank: 22)
President: Borut Pahor (SD), since 22 December 2012, re-elected 12 November 2017
Prime Minister: Janez Janša (SDS), elected 13 March 2020
National Assembly: seats (August 2021 update): SDS (Slovenian Democratic Party, conservative), 26; LMŠ (List of Marjan Šarec, centre-left), 14; SD (Social Democrats), 12; The Left, 8; NSi (New Slovenia), 7; SMC (Modern Centre Party, liberal), 5; SAB (Party of Alenka Bratušek), 5; DeSUS (Democratic Party of Pensioners), 4; Slovenian National Party, 3; Italian and Hungarian minorities, 2; others, 4
Internet: www.stat.si (Statistical Office of the Rep. of Slovenia)
Member of Council of Europe, EBRD, EU, NATO, OAS observer, OECD, OSCE, UN, WTO
Slovenia

International license plate code SLO
International dialling code 00386
Travel vaccinations requirement none
Electricity (Voltage) 230
Driving side rigth
Internet code .si
GMT +1
DST +2
DST duration (start-end) late March-late October
Annual average temperature (°C) Ljubljana 10.6
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Ljubljana 0/21
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Ljubljana 7/1
Annual average precipitation (mm) Ljubljana 1355
Days of rainfall (annual average) Ljubljana 118

Slovenia has held the presidency of the Council of the European Union since 1 July 2021. In recent months, the Janša (SDS) government has been at the centre of controversy in the EU, especially for attacking the freedom of the press and for the delay in appointing prosecutors to the new European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).
Geography.
Slovenia is bordered to the north by Austria, to the north-east by Hungary, to the south and south-east by Croatia and to the west by Italy. To the south-west it faces the Adriatic Sea. The country is mostly mountainous. The principal rivers are the Sava, the Drava and the Mura. The climate is alpine in the mountains and continental inland and Mediterranean on the strip of Mediterranean coastline.
Government
Formerly part of the Socialist republic of Yugoslavia, Slovenia declared itself an independent state on 25 June 1991 and was internationally recognized on the 15 January 1992. The declaration of independence created a serious military crisis, following the involvement of troops from Federal Yugoslavia. The crisis was, however, soon resolved with the withdrawal of federal troops in October 1991. Since the 1992 elections, top positions in the government have been held by an alternating succession of right-wing, left-wing and liberal politicians. The country joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 and adopted the Euro on 1 January 2007. On 21 December 2007 Slovenia became a Schengen country and the historic Italo-Slovenian border between the Italian city of Gorizia and the Karst Plateau was opened up. The dissolution of the former Yugoslavia left several questions unanswered between the different republics which had formed part of it. The dispute with Croatia over the border line in the Bay of Piran is still reason for tension after Croatia refused to apply the Hague’s arbitration verdict. In 2018, Slovenia turned to the EU Court of Justice, which however ruled (31 January 2020) that it had no jurisdiction in the matter, to be resolved bilaterally.
According to the 1991 Constitution, the President of the Republic is elected by direct suffrage for a five-year term and can only be re-elected once. There are two houses of parliament: the National Assembly is made up of 90 members elected for four years (among which are representatives of the Italian and Hungarian minorities) and the Council of State which consists of 40 members elected for a five-year term by indirect suffrage (representing local organizations and social and economic institutions).
The President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister, who must be approved by the Parliament.
Defence and justice.
With the abolition of military service in 2003, Slovenian armed forces have become a professional army. The legal system is based on that of Continental Europe.
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Ljubljana | 285 604 | inhab. | 2021 |
Maribor | 97 019 | inhab. | 2021 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 9.3 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 9.9 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Foreigners, total | 168 651 | units | 2021 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Slovene | 83.1 | % | 2002 |
other | 10.6 | % | 2002 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 57.8 | % | 2002 |
other | 27.4 | % | 2002 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Hungarian |
Italian |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 14.8 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 14.1 | % | 2020 |
Economy
Economic situation.
The economy has been affected by the pandemic: the GDP fell by 5.5% (2020). Estimates for 2021 (+3.7%) are expected to bring growth due to investments made by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 87.94 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 99.23 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 1 029 300 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 46.1 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 5$ | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 52.9 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 15 359.6 | M LCU | 2020 |
Revenues | 11 378.3 | M LCU | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 4.079 | % | 2020 |
industry | 33.882 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 2.303 | % | 2020 |
industry | 32.976 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 6.472 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 1 311.111 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
Primary sector.
Agriculture is quite limited as there is little land appropriate for farming cereal crops, nevertheless potatoes, sugar beet and various fruits are grown (especially grapes). Livestock farming is reasonably well developed (cattle and pigs).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 11.732 | % | 2018 |
forests | 61.802 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 102.48 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cereals, total | 642.25 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 65.96 | 1000 t | 2019 |
roots and tubers, total | 65.96 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asparagus | 0.58 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cabbages | 23.79 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 1.437 | 1000 t | 2018 |
beans, green | 1.98 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grapes | 105.2 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
olives | 3.96 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
rapeseed | 9.45 | 1000 t | 2019 |
soybeans | 4.24 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
hops | 2.57 | 1000 t | 2019 |
sugar beet | 11.28 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
apples | 54.27 | 1000 t | 2019 |
apricots | 0.92 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
almonds | 0.001 | 1000 t | 2018 |
hazelnuts | 0.25 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mushrooms | 1$ | 1000 t | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 21.14 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
maize | 38.88 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 2.8 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 0.82 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 0.26 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 0.634 | 1000 ha | 2018 |
beans, green | 0.36 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grape | 15.57 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
olive | 1.37 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
rapeseed | 3.25 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
soybeans | 1.43 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
hops | 1.62 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
sugar beet | 0.18 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
apples | 2.27 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
apricots | 0.08 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
almonds | 0.01 | 1000 ha | 2018 |
hazelnuts | 0.15 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 4 528 717 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 483.07 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 483.07 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 240.14 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 109.832 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 24.056 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
equines, total | 21.917 | 1000 heads | 2018 |
horses | 21.917 | 1000 heads | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 4 198 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 1.746 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
butter | 2.4 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cheese | 16.1 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 866.3 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 357.6 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
Secondary sector.
Lignite is the main mining resource. More than a third of Slovenia’s power comes from the Krško nuclear plant (shared with Croatia). New reactors are being studied. Industry is quite varied, the main sectors are chemicals (sulfuric acid, caustic soda and tannin), metal-working (aluminium at Kidričevo, lead at Mežica, zinc at Celje), iron and steel (at Jesenice, Štore and Ravne) and machinery (at Novo mesto).
The most advanced and competitive sectors are telecommunications and pharmaceuticals. There are important paper mills and production of furniture, foodstuffs and textiles is noteworthy.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coal, total | 3 143 | 1000 t | 2019 |
lignite | 3 143 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bentonite | 0.099 | 1000 t | 2019 |
salt | 2$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
limestone | 4 470 | 1000 t | 2018 |
pumice | 8.6 | 1000 t | 2019 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- nuclear | 5 532.98 | M kWh | 2019 |
- thermal | 4 725.38 | M kWh | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 1 452.6 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- hydro | 1 163 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 15 208.57 | M kWh | 2019 |
total installed capacity | 3 797.6 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
aluminium | 80$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
lead | 12$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cars | 141 714 | no. | 2020 |
motor vehicles | 141 714 | no. | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
air conditioners | 623 | no. | 2019 |
computers | 7 025 | no. | 2012 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bitumen | 555.2 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fertilizers | 1.2 | 1000 t | 2012 |
paints | 7.7 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cotton fabrics | 2.3 | M m² | 2012 |
cotton yarn | 1.2 | 1000 t | 2007 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
footwear | 1 554 164 | pairs | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 142.915 | 1000 t | 2018 |
maize oil | 2.325 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mechanical pulp | 92$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
newsprint | 158.017 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 680 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 429.3 | M US$ | 2016 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 700.739 | M US$ | 2018 |
Trade
Tertiary sector.
The main trading partners are Germany and Italy. There is a stock exchange in Ljubljana.
Main exports (M US$ - 2017) electrical and electronic equipment 3 477, machinery 3 118, cars 2 996, pharmaceuticals 2 770, iron and steel 1 638, vehicles and parts thereof 1 544, plastics 1 265, aluminium 1 024, furniture and accessories 900, petroleum products 893, timber 790, chemicals 680, paper 648, technical and electro-medical appliances 638, electric energy 410, dyes 395, tyres 336, tools and implements 267, cosmetics 266, synthetic and artificial fibres and yarns 261
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
manufactures | 84.442 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
fuels | 5.297 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Germany | 6 758 | M US$ | 2020 |
Switzerland | 4 545 | M US$ | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Germany | 5 130 | M US$ | 2020 |
Switzerland | 4 635 | M US$ | 2020 |
Tourism
Tourism. The main attractions are the seaside resorts (Koper and Piran), winter sports resorts (Kranjska Gora), spas (Radenci and Rogaška Slatina) and karst cave system (Postojna).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 1 640 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 4 702 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Civil aviation, km flown | 13 700 000 | km flown | 2004 |
Civil aviation, passengers carried | 869.6 | 1000 units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Broadband subscribers | 302.089 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Computers | 425.1 | per 1000 pop. | 2008 |
Social and welfare
Education and research.
Education is compulsory and free between the ages of 6 and 15. In the Hungarian-Slovenian area education is bilingual, in the Slovenian-Italian area it can be either in Slovenian or in Italian.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 17.596 | years | 2018 |
Gradautes, percentage | 33.283 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 129 123 | units | 2018 |
Students, secondary level | 147 003 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Social protection spending | 38.056 | % of total expenses | 2019 |
Social protection spending | 21.112 | % of GDP | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 4.43 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
Physicians | 3.18 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | -0.1 | % of adults | 2018 |
HIV, total | 0.01 | % | 2001 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Museums | 91$ | units | 2019 |
Museums, visitors | 2 800 899 | units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 2.04 | % of GDP | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 100 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clothing, footwear | 5.4 | % | 2019 |
education | 1.3 | % | 2019 |