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slovakiamore about slovakia

slovakia


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Slovakia 
 
  Slovakia:Geography 
 
  Location:  Central  Europe,  south  of  Poland 
 
  Map  references:  Ethnic  Groups  in  Eastern  Europe,  Europe 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  48,845  sq  km 
  land  area:  48,800  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  about  twice  the  size  of  New  Hampshire 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  1,355  km  Austria  91  km  Czech  Republic  215  km 
  Hungary  515  km  Poland  444  km  Ukraine  90  km 
 
  Coastline:  0  km  (landlocked) 
 
  Maritime  claims:  none;  landlocked 
 
  International  disputes:  Gabcikovo  Dam  dispute  with  Hungary;  unresolved 
  property  issues  with  Czech  Republic  over  redistribution  of  former 
  Czechoslovak  federal  property 
 
  Climate:  temperate;  cool  summers;  cold,  cloudy,  humid  winters 
 
  Terrain:  rugged  mountains  in  the  central  and  northern  part  and 
  lowlands  in  the  south 
 
  Natural  resources:  brown  coal  and  lignite;  small  amounts  of  iron  ore, 
  copper  and  manganese  ore;  salt 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  NA% 
  permanent  crops:  NA% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  NA% 
  forest  and  woodland:  NA% 
  other:  NA% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  NA  sq  km 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  air  pollution  from  metallurgical  plants  presents  human 
  health  risks;  acid  rain  damaging  forests 
  natural  hazards:  NA 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Air  Pollution,  Air 
  Pollution-Nitrogen  Oxides,  Air  Pollution-Sulphur  85,  Antarctic  Treaty, 
  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change,  Endangered  Species,  Environmental 
  Modification,  Hazardous  Wastes,  Nuclear  Test  Ban,  Ozone  Layer 
  Protection,  Ship  Pollution,  Wetlands;  signed,  but  not  ratified  -  Air 
  Pollution-Sulphur  94,  Antarctic-Environmental  Protocol,  Law  of  the  Sea 
 
  Note:  landlocked 
 
  Slovakia:People 
 
  Population:  5,432,383  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  23%  (female  609,795;  male  638,346) 
  15-64  years:  66%  (female  1,807,312;  male  1,778,712) 
  65  years  and  over:  11%  (female  364,610;  male  233,608)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  0.54%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  14.51  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  9.12  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  0  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  10  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  73.24  years 
  male:  69.15  years 
  female:  77.57  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  1.93  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Slovak(s) 
  adjective:  Slovak 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  Slovak  85.7%,  Hungarian  10.7%,  Gypsy  1.5%  (the  1992 
  census  figures  underreport  the  Gypsy/Romany  community,  which  could 
  reach  500,000  or  more),  Czech  1%,  Ruthenian  0.3%,  Ukrainian  0.3%, 
  German  0.1%,  Polish  0.1%,  other  0.3% 
 
  Religions:  Roman  Catholic  60.3%,  atheist  9.7%,  Protestant  8.4%, 
  Orthodox  4.1%,  other  17.5% 
 
  Languages:  Slovak  (official),  Hungarian 
 
  Literacy:  NA% 
 
  Labor  force:  2.484  million 
  by  occupation:  industry  33.2%,  agriculture  12.2%,  construction  10.3%, 
  communication  and  other  44.3%  (1990) 
 
  Slovakia:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Slovak  Republic 
  conventional  short  form:  Slovakia 
  local  long  form:  Slovenska  Republika 
  local  short  form:  Slovensko 
 
  Digraph:  LO 
 
  Type:  parliamentary  democracy 
 
  Capital:  Bratislava 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  4  departments  (kraje,  singular  -  kraj) 
  Bratislava,  Zapadoslovensky  Stredoslovensky  Vychodoslovensky 
 
  Independence:  1  January  1993  (from  Czechoslovakia) 
 
  National  holiday:  Anniversary  of  Slovak  National  Uprising,  August  29 
  (1944) 
 
  Constitution:  ratified  1  September  1992,  fully  effective  1  January 
  1993 
 
  Legal  system:  civil  law  system  based  on  Austro-Hungarian  codes;  has 
  not  accepted  compulsory  ICJ  jurisdiction;  legal  code  modified  to 
  comply  with  the  obligations  of  Organization  on  Security  and 
  Cooperation  in  Europe  (OSCE)  and  to  expunge  Marxist-Leninist  legal 
  theory 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state:  President  Michal  KOVAC  (since  8  February  1993); 
  election  last  held  8  February  1993  (next  to  be  held  NA  1998);  results 
  -  Michal  KOVAC  elected  by  the  National  Council 
  head  of  government:  Prime  Minister  Vladimir  MECIAR  (since  12  December 
  1994) 
  cabinet:  Cabinet;  appointed  by  the  president  on  recommendation  of  the 
  prime  minister 
 
  Legislative  branch:  unicameral 
  National  Council  (Narodni  Rada):  elections  last  held  30  September-1 
  October  1994  (next  to  be  held  by  October  1998);  results  -  HZDS  35%, 
  SDL  10.4%,  Hungarian  coalition  (Hungarian  Christian  Democrats, 
  Hungarian  Civic  Party,  Coexistence)  10.2%,  KDH  10.1%,  DU  8.6%,  ZRS 
  7.3%,  SNS  5.4%;  seats  -  (150  total)  governing  coalition  83  (HZDS  61, 
  ZRS  13,  SNS  9),  opposition  67  (SDL  18,  Hungarian  coalition  17,  KDH  17, 
  DU  15) 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  Movement  for  a  Democratic  Slovakia 
  (HZDS),  Vladimir  MECIAR  chairman;  Common  Choice/Party  of  the 
  Democratic  Left  (SDL),  Peter  WEISS,  chairman;  Hungarian  Christian 
  Democrats,  Vojtech  BUGAR;  Hungarian  Civic  Party;  Coexistence,  Miklos 
  DURAY,  chairman;  Christian  Democratic  Movement  (KDH),  Jan  CARNOGURSKY 
  Democratic  Union  (DU),  Jozef  MORAVCIK  chairman;  Association  of  Slovak 
  Workers  (ZRS),  Jan  LUPTAK,  chairman;  Slovak  National  Party  (SNS),  Jan 
  SLOTA,  chairman 
 
  Other  political  or  pressure  groups:  Green  Party;  Social  Democratic 
  Party  of  Slovakia;  Slovak  Christian  Union 
 
  Member  of:  Australia  Group  BIS,  CCC,  CE  (guest),  CEI,  CERN,  EBRD, 
  ECE,  FAO,  GATT,  IAEA,  IBRD,  ICAO,  ICFTU  ICRM,  IDA,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO, 
  IMF,  IMO,  INMARSAT  INTELSAT  (nonsignatory  user),  INTERPOL,  IOC,  IOM 
  (observer),  ISO,  ITU,  NACC,  NSG,  OSCE,  PCA,  PFP,  UN  UNAVEM  II 
  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNIDO  UNOMIL  UNOMUR  UNPROFOR  UPU,  WEU  (associate 
  partner),  WHO  WIPO,  WMO,  WTO,  ZC 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Branislav  LICHARDUS 
  chancery:  (temporary)  Suite  380,  2201  Wisconsin  Avenue  NW  Washington, 
  DC  20007 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  965-5161 
  FAX:  [1]  (202)  965-5166 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Theodore  E.  RUSSELL 
  embassy:  Hviezdoslavovo  Namestie  4,  81102  Bratislava 
  mailing  address:  use  embassy  street  address 
  telephone:  [42]  (7)  330-861,  333-338 
  FAX:  [42]  (7)  330-096 
 
  Flag:  three  equal  horizontal  bands  of  white  (top),  blue,  and  red 
  superimposed  with  the  Slovak  cross  in  a  shield  centered  on  the  hoist 
  side  the  cross  is  white  centered  on  a  background  of  red  and  blue 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  In  1994  macroeconomic  performance  improved  steadily  but 
  privatization  progressed  only  in  fits  and  starts.  Most  of  Slovakia's 
  IMF-approved  targets  were  met  by  an  interim  government  that  lasted  9 
  months.  Annual  inflation  fell  from  23%  in  1993  to  12%;  unemployment  at 
  14.6%  was  still  well  below  forecasts  of  17%;  and  the  budget  deficit 
  was  around  half  that  in  1993.  Slovakia's  nearly  $200  million  trade 
  surplus  also  compares  favorably  with  a  more  than  $800  million  deficit 
  in  1993.  Furthermore,  after  contracting  almost  25%  in  the  three  years 
  following  1990,  GDP  grew  4.3%  in  1994,  according  to  official 
  statistics.  Bratislava  in  June  qualified  for  a  $254  million  IMF 
  stand-by  loan  and  the  second  $90  million  tranche  of  its  Systemic 
  Transformation  Facility  and  in  December,  received  approval  for  a 
  European  Union  loan  worth  about  $160  million.  By  the  end  of  September 
  1994,  the  Central  Bank's  foreign  currency  reserves  had  tripled  since 
  the  end  of  1993.  Slovakia  continued  to  have  difficulty  attracting 
  foreign  investment,  however,  because  of  perceived  political 
  instability  and  halting  progress  in  privatization  The  interim 
  government  prepared  property  worth  nearly  $2  billion  for  the  second 
  wave  of  coupon  privatization  and  sold  participation  in  the  program  to 
  over  80%  of  Slovakia's  eligible  citizens.  Parties  controlling  the  new 
  Parliament  in  November  1994,  however,  put  the  second  wave  of  coupon 
  privatization  on  hold  and  suspended  sales  of  38  firms  until  the  new 
  government  could  evaluate  the  interim  government's  decisions  in  early 
  1995.  The  new  government's  targets  for  1995  include  GDP  growth  of  3%, 
  inflation  of  8%-10%,  unemployment  of  15%,  and  a  budget  deficit  under 
  3%  of  GDP.  Continuing  economic  recovery  in  western  Europe  should  boost 
  Slovak  exports  and  production,  but  Slovakia's  image  with  foreign 
  creditors  and  investors  could  suffer  setbacks  in  1995  if  progress  on 
  privatization  stalls  or  budget  deficits  mount  beyond  IMF-recommended 
  levels. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $32.8  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  4.3%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $6,070  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  12%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  14.6%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $4.4  billion 
  expenditures:  $4.8  billion,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $350 
  million  (1994  est.) 
 
  Exports:  $6.3  billion  (f.o.b.,  January-November  1994) 
  commodities:  machinery  and  transport  equipment;  chemicals;  fuels, 
  minerals,  and  metals;  agricultural  products 
  partners:  Czech  Republic  37.7%,  Germany  17.1%,  Hungary  5.3%,  Austria 
  5.3%,  Italy  4.6%,  Russia  4.0%,  Poland  2.6%,  Ukraine  1.8%,  US  1.6% 
  (January-September  1994) 
 
  Imports:  $6.1  billion  (f.o.b.,  January-November  1994) 
  commodities:  machinery  and  transport  equipment;  fuels  and  lubricants; 
  manufactured  goods;  raw  materials;  chemicals;  agricultural  products 
  partners:  Czech  Republic  29.9%,  Russia  19.0%,  Germany  13.2%,  Austria 
  5.8%,  Italy  4.3%,  US  2.6%,  Poland  2.4%,  Ukraine  1.9%,  Hungary  1.6% 
  (January-September  1994) 
 
  External  debt:  $4.2  billion  hard  currency  indebtedness  (1994  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  NA% 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  6,300,000  kW 
  production:  20.9  billion  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  3,609  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  metal  and  metal  products;  food  and  beverages;  electricity, 
  gas,  and  water;  coking,  oil  production,  and  nuclear  fuel  production; 
  chemicals  and  manmade  fibers;  machinery;  paper  and  printing; 
  earthenware  and  ceramics;  transport  vehicles;  textiles;  electrical  and 
  optical  apparatus;  rubber  products 
 
  Agriculture:  largely  self-sufficient  in  food  production;  diversified 
  crop  and  livestock  production,  including  grains,  potatoes,  sugar 
  beets,  hops,  fruit,  hogs,  cattle,  and  poultry;  exporter  of  forest 
  products 
 
  Illicit  drugs:  transshipment  point  for  Southwest  Asian  heroin  bound 
  for  Western  Europe 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  donor:  the  former  Czechoslovakia  was  a  donor  -  $4.2  billion  in 
  bilateral  aid  to  non-Communist  less  developed  countries  (1954-89) 
 
  Currency:  1  koruna  Sk  =  100  halierov 
 
  Exchange  rates:  koruny  Sk  per  US$1  -  31.14  (September  1994),  32.9 
  (December  1993),  28.59  (December  1992),  28.26  (1992),  29.53  (1991), 
  17.95  (1990),  15.05  (1989);  note  -  values  before  1993  reflect 
  Czechoslovak  exchange  rate 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Slovakia:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  3,660  km  (electrified  635  km) 
  broad  gauge:  102  km  1.520-m  gauge 
  standard  gauge:  3,511  km  1.435-m  gauge 
  narrow  gauge:  47  km  (35  km  1,000-m  gauge;  12  km  0.750-m  gauge)  (1994) 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  17,650  km  (1990) 
  paved:  NA 
  unpaved:  NA 
 
  Inland  waterways:  NA  km 
 
  Pipelines:  petroleum  products  NA  km  natural  gas  2,700  km 
 
  Ports:  Bratislava,  Komarno 
 
  Merchant  marine: 
  total:  2  cargo  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  4,160  GRT/6,163  DWT 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  37 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  3 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  2 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  2 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  4 
  with  unpaved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  2 
  with  unpaved  runways  1,524  to  2,438  m:  2 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  10 
  with  unpaved  runways  under  914  m:  11 
 
  Slovakia:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  NA  telephones 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  NA 
  international:  NA 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  NA  FM  NA  shortwave  NA 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  NA 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Slovakia:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Army,  Air  and  Air  Defense  Forces,  Civil  Defense,  Railroad 
  Units 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  1,443,719;  males  fit  for 
  military  service  1,107,453;  males  reach  military  age  (18)  annually 
  49,045  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  9.59  billion  koruny,  3.1%  of  GDP  (1994  est.); 
  note  -  conversion  of  defense  expenditures  into  US  dollars  using  the 
  current  exchange  rate  could  produce  misleading  results 
 
 
 




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