Slovenia
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Slovenia
Slovenia is a small country in Central Europe. Its official name is the Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija). The capital city is Ljubljana. The official language is Slovene (Hungarian and Italian in some parts). Slovenia borders Italy, Croatia, Hungary and Austria, as well as Adriatic Sea. Out of the Slavic nations it s the richest state.
Through the history, current territory of Slovenia was a part of several state formations, including the Roman Empire, the Frankish kingdom, the Habsburg monarchy or the First French Empire. Slovenia has been gaining its independence through several stages. On 29 October 1918 it became a part of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, independent from Austro Hungarian Empire. During World War Two, Slovenia was occupied and annexed by Germany, Italy and Hungary. On 3 October 1943 Slovenia received the status of a state within a larger federation. It became the founding member of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Finally on 25 June 1991 it proclaimed its independence from Yugoslavia.
The area of Slovenia is 20,273 square kilometers what makes it 153rd country in the world. Slovenia is touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean (the coastline is approximately 47 kilometres long). Most of the country is formed by elevated mountains and plateaus. The highest point (2,864 metres above sea level) is Mount Triglav. In the southwestern part of Slovenia there is Kras Plateau, a limestone region of underground rivers, gorges, and caves, between Ljubljana and the Mediterranean. Around half of the country is covered by forests. There are three types of climate: Continental in the northeast, a severe Alpine in the high mountain regions, and a sub-Mediterranean in the coastal region.
Administratively, Slovenia is divided to these parts: Slovenian Littoral (Primorska), Upper Carniola (Gorenjska), Inner Carniola (Notranjska), Lower Carniola (Dolenjska), Carinthia (Koroška, Lower Styria (Štajerska) and Prekmurje (Prekmurje). The country is further divided into 210 local municipalities, eleven of which have urban status.
Slovenia is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president elected by popular vote every five years. The Slovene Parliament is bicameral with the two unequal chambers. The National Assembly holds most of the power while the National Council has a very limited advisory and control powers. The executive branch is headed by the prime minister and the council of ministers or cabinet, who are elected by the National Assembly. Elections take place every four years.
The population of Slovenia is around 2,000,000 inhabitants (it was 2,054,199 estimated in 2009). The population density is nearly 100 inhabitants per square kilometer. 83 % of people are the Slovene; the biggest minorities are the Serbian, the Croatian and the Bosnian. The prevailing religion is Roman Catholic (57.8%).
Slovenia today is a developed, prosperous and stable country with a GDP per capita substantially higher than that of the other transitioning economies of Central Europe. There is however a big difference in prosperity between Western Slovenia and South Eastern Slovenia. Slovenia's trade is mostly oriented towards other EU countries. Industry and construction comprise over one-third of GDP. A big portion of the economy remains in state hands (foreign direct investment in Slovenia is one of the lowest in the EU). Taxes are relatively high and the labor market is seen by business interests as being inflexible. Unemployment rate in 2010 reached 8,4%. Euro is the currency in the country.
Slovenia has been a member of European Union since 1 May 2004. It is as well the member of Eurozone, the Schengen area, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, NATO, UNESCO, WTO, OESD and UN.
Slovenia offers tourists a wide variety of landscapes in a small space: Alpine, Mediterranean, Pannonian and Dinaric. To the most visited places belongs the capital city Ljubljana with many important Baroque and Vienna Secession buildings; Slovenia’s karst with several caves is also unique. Besides all other places and attractions, gambling tourism is very important in Slovenia. It is the country with the highest percentage of casinos per 1,000 inhabitants in the European Union. The casino Perla in Nova Gorica is considered the largest casino in Europe.
There are currently three public universities in Slovenia (University of Ljubljana, University of Maribor, University of Primorska) and one private (University of Nova Gorica).
The Slovene drive on right. The Internet TLD is .si and the international calling code is 386.
Through the history, current territory of Slovenia was a part of several state formations, including the Roman Empire, the Frankish kingdom, the Habsburg monarchy or the First French Empire. Slovenia has been gaining its independence through several stages. On 29 October 1918 it became a part of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, independent from Austro Hungarian Empire. During World War Two, Slovenia was occupied and annexed by Germany, Italy and Hungary. On 3 October 1943 Slovenia received the status of a state within a larger federation. It became the founding member of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Finally on 25 June 1991 it proclaimed its independence from Yugoslavia.
The area of Slovenia is 20,273 square kilometers what makes it 153rd country in the world. Slovenia is touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean (the coastline is approximately 47 kilometres long). Most of the country is formed by elevated mountains and plateaus. The highest point (2,864 metres above sea level) is Mount Triglav. In the southwestern part of Slovenia there is Kras Plateau, a limestone region of underground rivers, gorges, and caves, between Ljubljana and the Mediterranean. Around half of the country is covered by forests. There are three types of climate: Continental in the northeast, a severe Alpine in the high mountain regions, and a sub-Mediterranean in the coastal region.
Administratively, Slovenia is divided to these parts: Slovenian Littoral (Primorska), Upper Carniola (Gorenjska), Inner Carniola (Notranjska), Lower Carniola (Dolenjska), Carinthia (Koroška, Lower Styria (Štajerska) and Prekmurje (Prekmurje). The country is further divided into 210 local municipalities, eleven of which have urban status.
Slovenia is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president elected by popular vote every five years. The Slovene Parliament is bicameral with the two unequal chambers. The National Assembly holds most of the power while the National Council has a very limited advisory and control powers. The executive branch is headed by the prime minister and the council of ministers or cabinet, who are elected by the National Assembly. Elections take place every four years.
The population of Slovenia is around 2,000,000 inhabitants (it was 2,054,199 estimated in 2009). The population density is nearly 100 inhabitants per square kilometer. 83 % of people are the Slovene; the biggest minorities are the Serbian, the Croatian and the Bosnian. The prevailing religion is Roman Catholic (57.8%).
Slovenia today is a developed, prosperous and stable country with a GDP per capita substantially higher than that of the other transitioning economies of Central Europe. There is however a big difference in prosperity between Western Slovenia and South Eastern Slovenia. Slovenia's trade is mostly oriented towards other EU countries. Industry and construction comprise over one-third of GDP. A big portion of the economy remains in state hands (foreign direct investment in Slovenia is one of the lowest in the EU). Taxes are relatively high and the labor market is seen by business interests as being inflexible. Unemployment rate in 2010 reached 8,4%. Euro is the currency in the country.
Slovenia has been a member of European Union since 1 May 2004. It is as well the member of Eurozone, the Schengen area, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, NATO, UNESCO, WTO, OESD and UN.
Slovenia offers tourists a wide variety of landscapes in a small space: Alpine, Mediterranean, Pannonian and Dinaric. To the most visited places belongs the capital city Ljubljana with many important Baroque and Vienna Secession buildings; Slovenia’s karst with several caves is also unique. Besides all other places and attractions, gambling tourism is very important in Slovenia. It is the country with the highest percentage of casinos per 1,000 inhabitants in the European Union. The casino Perla in Nova Gorica is considered the largest casino in Europe.
There are currently three public universities in Slovenia (University of Ljubljana, University of Maribor, University of Primorska) and one private (University of Nova Gorica).
The Slovene drive on right. The Internet TLD is .si and the international calling code is 386.