Okno Group's Slovakia facts

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Slovak flag Slovak Republic

General Background

Population: 5,432,383 (July 1995, est.)

Area: 49,036 square miles

Capital: Bratislava (population 441,500)

Other cities: Kosice (235,000), Nitra (90,000), Presov (88,000), Banska Bystrica (85,000), Zilina (84,000), Trnava (72,000), Martin (60,000), Trencin (57,000), Poprad (53,000), Zvolen (46,000)

Language: Slovak (official), Hungarian

Religions: Roman Catholic (60.3%), atheist (9.7%), Protestant (8.4%), Orthodox (4.1%)

Economy and Economic Data

GDP per capita: US$6,070 (1994)

Currency: Slovak koruna (30.82 = US$1)
Average wage: $234 per month

Major industries: metalurgy, food, electricity, oil production and nuclear fuel production, chemicals and manmade fibers, machinery, transport vehicles, textiles

Agriculture: diversified crops and livestock; grain, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit, hogs, cattle and poultry

Natural resources: brown coal, natural gas, antimony ores, mercury, iron ores, copper and manganese ores, salt

Government

Parlilamentary republic -- the president and prime minister are chosen by parliament.

Head of State: President Michal Kovac (since 8 February 1993)

Prime Minister: Vladimir Meciar (Movement for a Democratic Slovakia) (since 12 December 1994)

Parliament: unicameral parliament with 150 seats

Government coalition:

Elections: last held October 1994; next elections due October 1998

Treaties and Agreements in Force

European Union: Associate member agreement

OECD: no

Central European Free Trade Agreement: yes

World Trade Organization: yes

GATT: yes

EFTA:

Most-Favored-Nation status with United States: yes

General System of Preferences with United States: yes

International environmental agreements: Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands. Signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Recent policy developments in Slovakia

Articles related to Slovakia in the East/West Letter

"The More Private, the Better: the Politics of Privatization in Slovakia" by Phil Barta in October/November 1995.
"Two Steps Back: Meciar Moves Quickly after Slovak Election Victory" by Phil Barta in November/December 1994.
"Slovakia's Uncertain Future: Election Results Produce Instability" by Phil Barta in September/October 1994.
"Slovaks Oust Meciar, Change Course: Suspect privatizations under review" [Political Bulletin] in March/April 1994.
"Reform Speeds up in East Europe: Privatization update, part I" by Lynda Maillet in January/February 1994.
"Why Not One Europe?: Central Europe & the European Community" by Phil Barta in July/August 1993.
"Czechoslovakia's 'Velvet Divorce': Czechs and Slovaks Unhappy with the Split" by Phil Barta in Fall 1992.
"Promising Signs in Czechoslovakia: CSFR at the Crossroads" by Thomas Sigel in Summer 1992.
"Cleaning Up is Hard to Do: Foreign Investment & the Environment in Eastern Europe" by Lynda Maillet in Spring 1992.
"The Voucher System in Action: Privatization in Czechoslovakia" by Lynda Maillet in Spring 1992.

Links to other Slovak-related web sites