Europe :: Slovakia

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## Introduction ::Slovakia

Background:
Slovakia's roots can be traced 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. Following the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) resulted in a strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who were under Austrian rule. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state 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 the country's leaders to liberalize communist rule 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, the country 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 euro zone on 1 January 2009.

## Geography ::Slovakia

Location:
Central Europe, south of Poland
Geographic coordinates:
48 40 N, 19 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 49,035 sq km country comparison to the world: 131 land: 48,105 sq km water: 930 sq km
Area - comparative:
about twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
total: 1,474 km border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 197 km, Hungary 676 km, Poland 420 km, Ukraine 90 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain:
rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
Natural resources:
brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
Land use:
arable land: 28.36% permanent crops: 0.41% other: 71.22% (2011)
Irrigated land:
1,720 sq km (2007)
Total renewable water resources:
50.1 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.69 cu km/yr (47%/51%/3%) per capita: 126.7 cu m/yr (2010)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys

## People and Society ::Slovakia

Nationality:
noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak
Ethnic groups:
Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Languages:
Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)
Population:
5,488,339 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 435,635/female 416,223) 15-24 years: 12.6% (male 354,390/female 338,536) 25-54 years: 45.1% (male 1,246,625/female 1,229,929) 55-64 years: 13.3% (male 344,605/female 384,967) 65 years and over: 13.4% (male 278,659/female 458,770) (2013 est.) population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 38.4 years male: 36.9 years female: 39.9 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.09% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Birth rate:
10.27 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Death rate:
9.69 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Net migration rate:
0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 71
Urbanization:
urban population: 54.7% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.06% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
BRATISLAVA (capital) 428,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
27.3 (2010 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
6 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 171
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.35 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 168 male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.24 years country comparison to the world: 80 male: 72.36 years female: 80.31 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.39 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
79.8% note: percent of women aged 15-44 (1997)
Health expenditures:
8.8% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 47
Physicians density:
3 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
Hospital bed density:
6.5 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Drinking water source:
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1% of population total: 0% of population (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
25.4% (2008) country comparison to the world: 54
Education expenditures:
4.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 109
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.6% (2004)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 33.2% country comparison to the world: 19 male: 33% female: 33.6% (2011)

## Government ::Slovakia

Country name:
conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska republika local short form: Slovensko
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Bratislava geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Constitution:
ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed September 1998; amended February 2001 note: the change in September 1998 allowed direct election of the president; the amendment of February 2001 allowed Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership
Legal system:
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 and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal system
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 4 April 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Robert KALINAK, Peter KAZIMIR, Miroslav LAJCAK (since 4 April 2012), Lubomir VAZNY (since 26 November 2012) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 March and 4 April 2009 (next to be held no later than April 2014); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Ivan GASPAROVIC reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 55.5%, Iveta RADICOVA 44.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 10 March 2012 (next to be held in 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - Smer-SD 44.4%, KDH 8.8%, OLaNO 8.6%, Most-Hid 6.9%, SDKU-DS 6.1%, SaS 5.9%, other 19.3%; seats by party - Smer-SD 83, KDH 16, OLaNO 16, Most-Hid 13, SDKU-DS 11, SaS 11
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of 78 judges - as of 2003 - organized into criminal, civil, commercial, and administrative divisions with 3- and 5-judge panels; Constitutional Court (consists of 13 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge candidates proposed by the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, a 17-member independent body to include the Supreme Court chief justice and presidential and governmental appointees; judges appointed by the president for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Council of the Republic and appointed by the president; judges appointed for 12-year terms subordinate courts: regional and district civil courts; Higher Military Court; military district courts; Court of Audit
Political parties and leaders:
parties in the Parliament: Bridge or Most-Hid [Bela BUGAR] Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Jan FIGEL] Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO] Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK] Ordinary People and Independent Personalities or OLaNO [Igor MATOVIC] Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party or SDKU-DS [Pavol FRESO] selected parties outside the Parliament: Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Ondrej DOSTAL] Nation and Justice - Our Party or NAS [Anna BELOUSOVOVA] Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Jozef DURICA] Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Jozsef BERENYI] People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR] People's Party - Our Slovakia or LSNS [Marian KOTLEBA] Slovak National Party or SNS [Andrej DANKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia or ZPS Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic Medical Trade Association or LOZ National Union of Employers or RUZ Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry or SOPK The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter KMEC chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore SEDGWICK embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338 FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia
National symbol(s):
double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks
National anthem:
name: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Lightning Over the Tatras) lyrics/music: Janko MATUSKA/traditional note: adopted 1993, in use since 1844; the anthem's music is based on the Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku"

## Economy ::Slovakia

Economy - overview:
Slovakia has made significant economic reforms since its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993. Reforms to the taxation, healthcare, pension, and social welfare systems helped Slovakia consolidate its budget and get on track to join the EU in 2004 after a period of relative stagnation in the early and mid 1990s and to adopt the euro in January 2009. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost entirely in foreign hands, and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom with business friendly policies. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in 2001-08 despite a general European slowdown. Foreign direct investment (FDI), especially in the automotive and electronic sectors, fueled much of the growth until 2008. Cheap and skilled labor, low taxes, no dividend taxes, a relatively liberal labor code and a favorable geographical location are Slovakia's main advantages for foreign investors. The economy contracted 5% in 2009 primarily as a result of smaller inflows of FDI and reduced demand for Slovakia''s exports before rebounding in 2010-11, but growth slowed in 2012 due to weakening external demand. The government of Prime Minister Robert FICO in 2012 implemented tax increases on higher-earning individuals and corporations, effectively scrapping Slovakia''s flat tax to help meet budget deficit targets of 4.9% of GDP in 2012 and 3% of GDP in 2013.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$134.1 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $131.4 billion (2011 est.) $127.3 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$91.92 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 3.2% (2011 est.) 4.4% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$24,600 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $24,200 (2011 est.) $23,500 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 3.8% industry: 37% services: 59.2% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
2.724 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.5% industry: 27% services: 69.4% (December 2009)
Unemployment rate:
13.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 13.2% (2011 est.)
Population below poverty line:
21% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 22.4% (2009 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2005) country comparison to the world: 129 26.3 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Budget:
revenues: $30.41 billion expenditures: $34.4 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
33.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Public debt:
52.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 43.3% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover general Government Gross Debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds.
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 3.9% (2011 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 1.75% (31 December 2010 est.) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks from the euro area; Slovakia became a member of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on 1 January 2009
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.47% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 3.91% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$37.14 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $34.64 billion (31 December 2011 est.) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$52.73 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $52.99 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$68.47 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $68.04 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.736 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 87 $4.15 billion (31 December 2010) $4.672 billion (31 December 2009)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Industries:
metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
Industrial production growth rate:
6.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Current account balance:
$535.2 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 $52.86 million (2011 est.)
Exports:
$80.67 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 $78.5 billion (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment 35.9%, vehicles 21%, base metals 11.3%, chemicals and minerals 8.1%, plastics 4.9% (2009 est.)
Exports - partners:
Germany 22.4%, Czech Republic 14.6%, Poland 8.6%, Hungary 7.8%, Austria 7.1%, France 5.6%, Italy 4.9%, UK 4.1% (2012)
Imports:
$75.99 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $75.1 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 31%, mineral products 13%, vehicles 12%, base metals 9%, chemicals 8%, plastics 6% (2009 est.)
Imports - partners:
Germany 18.5%, Czech Republic 17.9%, Russia 9.9%, Austria 7.7%, Hungary 7.2%, Poland 6%, South Korea 4.3% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.519 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $2.462 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Debt - external:
$68.44 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $68.61 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$61.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $58.69 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$11.54 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $11.61 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7778 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 0.755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

## Energy ::Slovakia

Electricity - production:
27.7 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - consumption:
28.76 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - exports:
10.5 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Electricity - imports:
10.9 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 19
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
7.155 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
37.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
25.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
22% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
2.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Crude oil - production:
5,781 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 88
Crude oil - exports:
300 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Crude oil - imports:
114,100 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Crude oil - proved reserves:
9 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Refined petroleum products - production:
136,100 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
83,910 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Refined petroleum products - exports:
78,640 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Refined petroleum products - imports:
25,630 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - production:
116 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - consumption:
6.468 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - exports:
7 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - imports:
6.743 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - proved reserves:
14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
34.54 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

## Communications ::Slovakia

Telephones - main lines in use:
1.056 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 75
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.983 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 99
Telephone system:
general assessment: Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in cellular services domestic: analog system is now receiving digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger cities; 3 companies provide nationwide cellular services international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services (2011)
Broadcast media:
state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), operates 3 national TV stations and multiple national and regional radio networks; roughly 35 privately owned TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 40% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; more than 20 privately owned radio stations (2008)
Internet country code:
.sk
Internet hosts:
1.384 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 41
Internet users:
4.063 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 58

## Transportation ::Slovakia

Airports:
37 (2012) country comparison to the world: 108
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 9 (2012)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 8 (2012)
Heliports:
1 (2012)
Pipelines:
gas 6,774 km; oil 419 km (2013)
Railways:
total: 3,622 km country comparison to the world: 48 broad gauge: 99 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 3,473 km 1.435-m gauge (1,615 km electrified) narrow gauge: 50 km 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 43,761 km country comparison to the world: 83 paved: 38,085 km (includes 384 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,676 km (2008)
Waterways:
172 km (on Danube River) (2009) country comparison to the world: 100
Merchant marine:
total: 11 country comparison to the world: 109 by type: cargo 9, refrigerated cargo 2 foreign-owned: 11 (Germany 3, Ireland 1, Italy 2, Montenegro 1, Slovenia 1, Turkey 1, Ukraine 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bratislava, Komarno

## Military ::Slovakia

Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription in peacetime suspended in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,405,310 females age 16-49: 1,369,897 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,156,113 females age 16-49: 1,139,380 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 31,646 female: 30,219 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.08% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

## Transnational Issues ::Slovakia

Disputes - international:
bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued in 2006 between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy

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