Slovenia Education

 

Geography People Communications Transportation Related Articles Geography Location: Southeastern Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 15 00 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 20,253 sq km land: 20,253 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey Land boundaries: total: 1,334 km border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km Coastline: 46.6 km Maritime claims: NA Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east Terrain: a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Triglav 2,864 m Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 54% other: 7% (1996 est.) Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes Environment - current issues: 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 Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol [back to top]

Background: In 1918 the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new nation, 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. Historical ties to Western Europe make Slovenia a candidate for future membership in the EU. People Population: 1,927,593 (July 2000 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 162,932; female 154,513) 15-64 years: 69% (male 678,502; female 660,637) 65 years and over: 15% (male 98,739; female 172,270) (2000 est.) Population growth rate: 0.12% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 9.35 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 9.9 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 1.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.86 years male: 70.97 years female: 78.97 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.28 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Slovene(s) adjective: Slovenian Ethnic groups: Slovene 88%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Bosniak 1%, Yugoslav 0.6%, Hungarian 0.4%, other 5% (1991) Religions: Roman Catholic 70.8% (including Uniate 2%), Lutheran 1%, Muslim 1%, atheist 4.3%, other 22.9% Languages: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3% Literacy: definition: NA total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA% [back to top] Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 700,000 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 57,342 (1999) Telephone system: domestic: 70% digital; full digital switching scheduled for 2000 international: NA Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 160, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 805,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 23 (plus about 400 low-power repeaters) (1997) Televisions: 710,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (1999) [back to top] Transportation Railways: total: 1,201 km standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 489 km) (1999) Highways: total: 19,586 km paved: 17,745 km (including 249 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,841 km (1998 est.) Waterways: NA Pipelines: crude oil 290 km; natural gas 305 km Ports and harbors: Izola, Koper, Piran Airports: 14 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways: 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 (1999 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (1999 est.)