Slovenia (GPS: 46 07 N, 14 49 E) is located in South-Central Europe, the Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia. The country’s area measurements are total: 20,273 sq km; land: 20,151 sq km, water: 122 sq km. This sovereign state is slightly smaller than New Jersey. The total irrigated land is 60 sq km (2012).
One of Slovenia’s essential features: Despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe’s major transit routes.
It’s significant, and simultaneously, the principal city, Ljubljana’s GPS coordinates, is 46 03 N 14 31 E. Ljubljana’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.
The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter’s dissolution at World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats to form a new multinational state named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia was one of the republics in restored Yugoslavia, which, though communist, soon distanced itself from the Soviet Union and spearheaded the Non-Aligned Movement. Dissatisfied with the majority of Serbs’ exercise of power, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a growing economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia’s postcommunist transition. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; It joined the eurozone and the Schengen zone in 2007.
Slovenia’s names conventional long form: the Republic of Slovenia, conventional short form: Slovenia, local long form: Republika Slovenija, local short form: Slovenija, former: The people’s Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia, 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).
Slovenia’s terrain is typically a short southwestern coastal strip of Karst topography on the Adriatic; an alpine mountain region lies adjacent to Italy and Austria in the north; mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east. The country’s mean elevation: 492 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: the Adriatic Sea 0 m, highest point: Triglav 2,864 m.
The general climate in the country; Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east.
The total number of border countries is 4, Austria 299 km, Croatia 600 km, Hungary 94 km, Italy 218 km are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Slovenia’s coastline is 46.6 km, while its marital claims are: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles. Waterways: (some transport on the Drava River) (2012). Land use: agricultural land: 22.8%; arable land 8.4%; permanent crops 1.3%; permanent pasture 13.1%; forest: 62.3%; other: 14.9% (2011 estimate).
The population in Slovenia 2,102,126 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 49.6% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: LJUBLJANA (capital) 279,000 (2014), while Slovenia has a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; pockets in the mountainous northwest exhibit less density than elsewhere. Their spoken languages are Slovenian (official language) 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4%, Italian (official language, only in municipalities where Italian national communities reside), Hungarian (official language, only in municipalities where Hungarian national communities reside) (2002 census). Main religions in Slovenia are Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census). The nation uses a civil law system. It is a(n) parliamentary republic, National holiday(s) Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991).
Economic overview for the country: With excellent infrastructure, a well-educated workforce, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe, Slovenia has one of the highest per capita GDPs in Central Europe, despite having suffered a protracted recession in the 2008-2009 period in the wake of the global financial crisis. Slovenia became the first 2004 EU entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has experienced a stable political and economic transition. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin joining the OECD; It became a member in 2012.
From 2014 to 2016, export-led growth, fueled by demand in broader European markets, pushed annual GDP growth above 2.3%. Growth reached 5.0% in 2017 and is projected to near or get 5% in 2018. What used to be stubbornly high unemployment fell below 5.5% in early 2018, driven by strong exports and increasing consumption that boosted labor demand. Continued fiscal consolidation through increased tax collection and social security contributions will likely result in a balanced government budget in 2019. Prime Minister Cerar’s government took office in September 2014, pledging to press ahead with commitments to privatize a select group of state-run companies, rationalize public spending, and further stabilize the banking sector. However, efforts to privatize Slovenia’s largely state-owned banking sector have primarily stalled amid concerns about an ongoing dispute over Yugoslav-era foreign currency deposits.
Natural resources of Slovenia: lignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests.
Main export partners for Slovenia, Europe are Germany 19.1%, Italy 10.6%, Austria 8%, Croatia 6.8%, Slovakia 4.7%, Hungary 4.4%, France 4.2% (2015) for manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food, while the main import partners for the country are: Germany 16.5%, Italy 13.6%, Austria 10.2%, China 5.5%, Croatia 5.1%, Turkey 4% (2015) for machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food.
When you visit this country in Europe, consider the natural hazards in Slovenia: Flooding, earthquakes, while infectious diseases are N/A. Also, note that Slovenia faces the following environmental issues: Air pollution from road traffic, domestic heating (wood burning), power generation and industry, water pollution, Biodiversity protection.
You may also be interested in the countries next to Slovenia around its total: 1,211 km border, like Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy.