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Background:
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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. In a March 2003 referendum
on NATO and EU membership, Slovenes voted 90% in favor of
joining the EU and 66% in favor of joining NATO. Slovenia is
scheduled to accede to both organizations in the early months
of 2004.
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Location:
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Central
Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Austria and Croatia |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total:
20,273 sq km
water: 122 sq km
land: 20,151 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than New Jersey |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
1,334 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy
232 km, Hungary 102 km |
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Coastline:
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46.6
km |
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Climate:
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Mediterranean
climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot
summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the
east |
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Terrain:
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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 |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m |
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Natural resources:
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lignite
coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower,
forests |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 11.48%
permanent crops: 2.68%
other: 85.84% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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20 sq
km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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flooding
and earthquakes |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent
Organic Pollutants |
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Geography - note:
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despite
its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of
Europe's major transit routes |
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Population:
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2,011,473
(July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 14.3% (male 147,506; female 139,435)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 716,057; female 704,734)
65 years and over: 15.1% (male 115,391; female 188,350)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
39.8 years
male: 38.3 years
female: 41.3 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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-0.01%
(2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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8.9
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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10.15
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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1.12
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 75.93 years
male: 72.18 years
female: 79.92 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less
than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Slovene
92%, Croat 1%, Serb 0.5%, Hungarian 0.4%, Bosniak 0.3%, other
5.8% (1991) |
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic (Uniate 2%) 70.8%, Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist
4.3%, other 22.9% |
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Languages:
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Slovenian
92%, Serbo-Croatian 6.2%, other 1.8% |
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Literacy:
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definition:
NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local short form: Slovenija
local long form: Republika Slovenija |
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Government type:
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parliamentary
democratic republic |
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Capital:
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Ljubljana |
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Administrative divisions:
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182
municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban
municipalities* (mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina )
Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled,
Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice,
Brezovica, Cankova, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica,
Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj,
Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna,
Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik-Dobronak, Dolenjske
Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd,
Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona, Gornji
Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica,
Hodos-Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig,
Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola-Isola, Jesenice,
Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje,
Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Koper-Capodistria*, Kostel, Kozje,
Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko,
Lenart, Lendava-Lendva, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer,
Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce,
Lukovica, Majsperk, Maribor*, Markovci, Medvode, Menges,
Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica,
Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje,
Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*,
Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran-Pirano,
Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Polzela, Postojna,
Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Ptuj*, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece,
Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem,
Razkrizje, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogasovci, Rogaska
Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic,
Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri
Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica,
Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje
pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica,
Solcava, Sostanj, Starse, Store, Sveta Ana, Sveti Andraz v
Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin,
Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce,
Velenje*, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava,
Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje
ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica,
Zuzemberk, Zrece
note: there may be 45 more municipalities |
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Independence:
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25 June 1991
(from Yugoslavia) |
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National holiday:
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Independence
Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991) |
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Constitution:
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adopted 23
December 1991, effective 23 December 1991 |
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Legal system:
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based on civil
law system |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal (16 years of age, if employed) |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22 December 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Anton ROP (since 11
December 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime
minister and elected by the National Assembly
election results: Janez DRNOVSEK elected president;
percent of vote - Janez DRNOVSEK 56.5%, Barbara BREZIGAR
43.5%; Anton ROP elected prime minister; National Assembly
vote - 63 to 24
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; election last held 10 November and 1 December
2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2007); following National
Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to become
prime minister by the president and elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 6 December 2002 (next National
Assembly elections to be held NA October 2004) |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
Parliament consisting of a National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor
(90 seats; 40 are directly elected and 50 are selected on a
proportional basis; note - the numbers of directly elected and
proportionally elected seats varies with each election;
members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
and the National Council or Drzavni Svet (this is primarily an
advisory body organized on corporatist principles with limited
legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to review any
National Assembly decisions, and call national referenda; in
the election of 2002, 40 members were selected to represent
local, professional, and socioeconomic interests; members are
indirectly elected to five-year terms by an electoral college)
election results: percent of vote by party - LDS 36%,
SDS 16%, ZLSD 12%, SLS/SKD 10%, NSi 9%, SMS 4%, SNS 4%, DeSUS
5%, other 4%; seats by party - LDS 34, SDS 13, ZLSD 11, SLS
10, NSi 8, SMS 4, SNS 4, DeSUS 4, Hungarian and Italian
minorities 1 each
elections: National Assembly - last held 15 October
2000 (next to be held NA October 2004) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court
(judges are elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the Judicial Council); Constitutional Court
(judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly
and nominated by the president) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic Party
of Retired (Persons) of Slovenia or DeSUS [Anton ROUS];
Liberal Democratic or LDS [Anton ROP]; New Slovenia or NSi [Andrej
BAJUK]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC];
Slovene People's Party or SLS [Franc BUT]; Slovene Youth Party
or SMS [Dominic CERNJAK]; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia
or SDS [Janez JANSA]; United List of Social Democrats or ZLSD
[Borut PAHOR] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Davorin KRACUN
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20036
consulate(s) general: New York and Cleveland
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, Department
of State, 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555 |
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Economy - overview:
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Slovenia,
with its historical ties to Western Europe, enjoys a GDP per
capita substantially higher than that of the other
transitioning economies of Central Europe. In March 2004,
Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from
borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank.
Privatization of the economy proceeded at an accelerated pace
in 2002-3, and the budget deficit dropped from 3.0% of GDP in
2002 to 1.6% in 2003. Despite the economic slowdown in Europe
in 2001-03, Slovenia maintained 3% growth. Structural reforms
to improve the business environment allow for greater foreign
participation in Slovenia's economy and help to lower
unemployment. Further measures to curb inflation are also
needed. Corruption and the high degree of coordination between
government, business, and central bank policy are issues of
concern in the run-up to Slovenia's scheduled 1 May 2004
accession to the European Union. |
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GDP:
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purchasing
power parity - $36.89 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.5%
(2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing
power parity - $18,300 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
3.1%
industry: 32.7%
services: 64.2% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA%
(2001 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5.6%
(2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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876,100
(2003) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture
NA%, industry NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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11.2%
(2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$9.9 billion
expenditures: $10.5 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2003 est.) |
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Industries:
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ferrous
metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting,
electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric
power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine
tools |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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0.2%
(2003) |
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Electricity - production:
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13.69
billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 35.2%
hydro: 27.3%
other: 0.7% (2001)
nuclear: 36.8% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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13.83
billion kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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20
bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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53,300
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu
m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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1.04
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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potatoes,
hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry |
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Exports:
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$11.98
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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manufactured
goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food |
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Exports - partners:
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Germany
24.7%, Italy 12.1%, Croatia 8.7%, Austria 7.1%, France 6.7%,
Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.5% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$12.63
billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery
and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels
and lubricants, food |
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Imports - partners:
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Germany
19.2%, Italy 17.9%, France 10.2%, Austria 8.3% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$12.8
billion (2003) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA,
$62 million (2000 est.) |
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Currency:
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tolar
(SIT) |
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Currency code:
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SIT |
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Exchange rates:
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tolars
per US dollar - 207.1 (2003), 240.25 (2002), 242.75 (2001),
222.66 (2000), 181.77 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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1,010,200 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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1,667,200 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: NA
domestic: 100% digital (2000)
international: country code - 386 |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 17, FM 160,
shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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48 (2001) |
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Internet country code:
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.si |
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Internet hosts:
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35,791 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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750,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
1,201 km
standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (499 km
electrified) (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
20,177 km
paved: 20,157 km (including 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 20 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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NA |
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Pipelines:
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gas 2,526 km; oil
11 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Izola, Koper,
Piran |
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Airports:
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14 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Slovenian Army
(includes Air and Naval Forces) |
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Military manpower - military age:
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19 years of age
(2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 525,983 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 417,875 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males:
13,315 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$370 million
(FY00) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.7% (FY00) |
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Disputes - international:
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the
Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which
would have ceded most of Piran Bay and maritime access to
Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains
controversial, has not been ratified, and has been complicated
by Croatia's declaration of an ecological-fisheries zone in
the Adriatic Sea |
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Illicit drugs:
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minor transit
point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western
Europe, and for precursor chemicals |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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