Slovakia (GPS: 48 40 N, 19 30 E) is located in Central Europe, south of Poland. The country’s area measurements are total: 49,035 sq km; land: 48,105 sq km, water: 930 sq km. This sovereign state is about twice the size of New Hampshire. The total irrigated land is 869 sq km (2012).
One of the essential features of Slovakia: Landlocked – enclosed or nearly enclosed by land. Most of the country is rugged and mountainous. The Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys.
It’s significant, and at the same time, the principal city, Bratislava’s GPS coordinates are 48 09 N 17 07 E. Bratislava’s local time is 6 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time. The capital’s time difference: UTC+1, note; Daylight saving time: +1hr begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October.
Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th-century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. After the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, the backlash to language and education policies favoring Hungarian (Magyarization) encouraged the strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who fell administratively under the Austrian half of the empire. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. The new state was envisioned as a nation with Czech and Slovak branches. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state created by and allied with Nazi Germany.
Following World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of Czechoslovakia’s leaders to liberalize the communist regime and create “socialism with a human face,” ushering in a period of repression known as “normalization.” The peaceful “Velvet Revolution” swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent “velvet divorce” into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the eurozone on 1 January 2009.
Slovakia’s names conventional long form: the Slovak Republic, traditional short form: Slovakia, local extended state: Slovenska Republika, local short form: Slovensko, etymology: related to the Slavic autonym (self-designation) “Slovenin,” a derivation from “slovo” (word), denoting “people who speak (the same language)” (i.e., people who understand each other). Related to the Slavic autonym (self-designation), “Slovenin,” a derivation from “slovo” (meaning “word”), denoting “people who speak (the same language)” (i.e., people who understand each other).
Slovakia’s terrain is typically rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south. The country’s mean elevation: 458 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m, highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m.
The general climate in the country; temperate: cool summers: cold, cloudy, humid winters.
The total number of border countries is 5, Austria 105 km, Czech Republic 241 km, Hungary 627 km, Poland 541 km, Ukraine 97 km are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Slovakia’s coastline is 0 km (landlocked country), while its marital claims are: none. Waterways: 172 km (on Danube River) (2012). Land use: agricultural land: 40.1%; arable land 28.9%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 10.8%; forest: 40.2%; other: 19.7% (2011 estimate).
The population in Slovakia 5,445,040 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 53.6% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: BRATISLAVA (capital) 401,000 (2015), while Slovakia has a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border. Their spoken languages are: Slovak (official language) 78.6%, Hungarian 9.4%, Roma 2.3%, Ruthenian 1%, other or unspecified 8.8% (2011 estimate).
Main religions in Slovakia are Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 8.2%, Greek Catholic 3.8%, other or unspecified 12.5%, none 13.4% (2011 estimate). The nation uses a civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; note – legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe. It is a(n) parliamentary republic, National holiday(s) Constitution Day, 1 September (1992).
Economic overview for the country: Slovakia’s economy suffered from a slow start in the first years after its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993, due to the country’s authoritarian leadership and high levels of corruption, but economic reforms implemented after 1998 have placed Slovakia on a path of strong growth. With a population of 5.4 million, the Slovak Republic has a small, open economy driven mainly by automobile and electronics exports, which account for more than 80% of GDP. Slovakia joined the EU in 2004 and the eurozone in 2009. The country’s banking sector is sound and predominantly foreign-owned. Slovakia has been a regional FDI champion for several years, attractive due to a relatively low-cost yet skilled labor force and a favorable geographic location in the heart of Central Europe.
Exports and investment have been critical drivers of Slovakia’s robust growth in recent years. The unemployment rate fell to historic lows in 2017, and rising wages fueled increased consumption, which played a more prominent role in 2017 GDP growth. A favorable outlook for the Eurozone suggests continued strong growth prospects for Slovakia during the next few years, although inflation is expected to pick up. Among the most pressing domestic issues potentially threatening the attractiveness of the Slovak market are shortages in the qualified labor force, persistent corruption issues, and an inadequate judiciary, as well as a slow transition to an innovation-based economy. In particular, the energy sector is characterized by unpredictable regulatory oversight and high costs, in part driven by government interference in regulated tariffs. Moreover, the government’s attempts to maintain low household energy prices could harm domestic energy firms’ profitability while undercutting energy efficiency initiatives.
Natural resources of Slovakia: lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper, and manganese ore; salt; arable land.
Main export partners for Slovakia, Europe are Germany 22.7%, Czech Republic 12.5%, Poland 8.5%, Austria 5.7%, Hungary 5.7%, France 5.6%, UK 5.5%, Italy 4.5% (2015) for vehicles and related parts 27%, machinery and electrical equipment 20%, nuclear reactors and furnaces 12%, iron and steel 4%, mineral oils and fuels 5% (2015 estimate), while the main import partners for the country are: Germany 19.4%, Czech Republic 17.4%, Austria 9.1%, Hungary 6.3%, Poland 6.3%, South Korea 5.5%, Russia 5.2%, China 4.1% (2015) for machinery and electrical equipment 20%, vehicles and related parts 14%, nuclear reactors and furnaces 12%, fuel and mineral oils 9% (2015 estimate).
When you visit this country in Europe, consider the natural hazards in Slovakia: N/A, while infectious diseases are N/A. Also, note that Slovakia faces the following environmental issues: Air pollution and acid rain present human health risks and damage forests, Land erosion caused by agricultural and mining practices, water pollution.
You may also be interested in the countries next to Slovakia around its total: 1,611 km border, like Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine.
