Slovenia

Slovenia Background

The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria until 1918 when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power of the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Slovenia Information

• Population: 2,011,473 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian
• Location:: Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
• Religions:: Roman Catholic (Uniate 2%) 70.8%, Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist 4.3%, other 22.9%
• Ethnic Groups:: Slovene 92%, Croat 1%, Serb 0.5%, Hungarian 0.4%, Bosniak 0.3%, other 5.8% (1991)
• Land Boundaries:: total: 1,334 km border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km
• Area: total: 20,273 sq km water: 122 sq km land: 20,151 sq km
• Coast Line: 46.6 km
• Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
• Terrain: a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
• Maritime Claims: NA
• Land Use: arable land: 8.6% permanent crops: 1.49% other: 89.91% (2001)
• Environmental 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
• Natural Resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower, forests
• Highways: total: 20,177 km paved: 20,157 km (including 427 km of expressways) unpaved: 20 km (2000)
• Railways: total: 1,201 km standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (499 km electrified) (2003)
• Ports & Harbours: Izola, Koper, Piran
• Airports: 14 (2003 est.)