Country Profile: Slovakia

Slovakia, located in Central Europe, is a landlocked country bordered by Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Ukraine. With a population of approximately 5.56 million, it has a diverse cultural heritage influenced by historical ties to both Hungary and the Czech Republic. The economy is classified as a high-income EU and eurozone economy, primarily driven by the automotive sector and supported by EU public investment. Slovakia operates as a parliamentary republic, with governance characterized by a democratic political system.

Geography

Slovakia encompasses an area of 49,035 square kilometers, characterized by its rugged mountainous terrain and cool temperate climate. The country is entirely landlocked, with no coastline, and features the Tatra Mountains in the north and lowlands in the south.

Elevation: Highest point at Gerlachovsky Stit (2,655 m) and lowest at Bodrok River (94 m).
Land boundaries: Total of 1,587 km, with Hungary being the longest at 627 km.
Natural resources: Includes lignite, small amounts of iron ore, and arable land comprising 38%.

People and Society

Slovakia's population is estimated at 5,563,649, with a demographic breakdown of approximately 83.8% Slovak, 7.8% Hungarian, and 1.2% Romani. The official language is Slovak, spoken by 81.8% of the population. The country has a median age of 42.8 years, reflecting an aging population.

Urbanization: 54% of the population lives in urban areas (2023).
Life expectancy: 77.2 years (2024).
Birth rate: 10 births per 1,000 population (2024).

Economy

Slovakia's economy is marked as a high-income economy within the EU, with a significant focus on manufacturing, particularly in the automotive sector. Consumer spending and EU-funded public investment have bolstered growth, while inflation has risen moderately due to increased taxes and the withdrawal of energy subsidies.

GDP (PPP): Estimated at $218.762 billion (2024).
Unemployment rate: Projected at 5.3% (2024).
Exports: Approx. $120.355 billion (2024).

Government

Slovakia is governed as a parliamentary republic with a President and a National Council. The current President is Peter Pellegrini, who took office on June 15, 2024, while the Prime Minister is Robert Fico, in office since October 25, 2023. The National Council consists of 150 members elected every four years.

Last election: National Council elections held on September 30, 2023.
Suffrage: Universal at age 18.
Legal system: Based on civil law system drawn from Austro-Hungarian codes.

Military and Security

The Slovak Armed Forces are responsible for the country's defense, with approximately 17,000 active military personnel as of 2025. Slovakia is a member of both NATO and the EU and has committed to increasing military expenditures to 2% of GDP by 2025.

Military deployments: Involvement in peacekeeping in Cyprus and Latvia (NATO).
Military service age: Open to men and women aged 18-30 for voluntary service.
Equipment: Mainly Soviet-era, with gradual modernization to NATO standards.

Energy

Slovakia has made significant investments in energy, primarily focusing on nuclear and renewable sources. The total installed capacity for electricity generation stands at 8.138 million kW (2023).

Electricity generation: 63.7% from nuclear sources.
Coal production: Estimated at 2.315 million metric tons (2023).
Total energy consumption per capita: 127.582 million Btu (2023).

Environment

Slovakia faces various environmental challenges, including air pollution and water quality issues, linked to industrial practices. The country is party to multiple international environmental agreements, reflecting its commitment to addressing these issues.

Forests cover: Approximately 40.3% of the land area (2023).
Urban population: Increased by a growth rate of 0.17% annually (2020-2025).
Carbon dioxide emissions: Total emissions estimated at 30.087 million metric tonnes (2023).

Transportation

Slovakia boasts a comprehensive transport network that includes railways and airports, contributing to its connectivity in Central Europe.

Airports: A total of 116 airports projected by 2025.
Railways: Extending 3,627 km, of which 1,585 km are electrified.
Civil aircraft registration country code: OM.

Communications

The communications infrastructure in Slovakia is well-developed, with a high percentage of Internet users and mobile subscriptions.

Internet users: Approximately 90% of the population (2024).
Mobile cellular subscriptions: Estimated at 7.63 million (2023).
Broadband fixed subscriptions: Total of 1.83 million (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	5,563,649	2024 estimate
Area	49,035 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$218.762 billion	2024 estimate
Energy consumption per capita	127.582 million Btu/person	2023 estimate
Birth rate	10 births/1,000 population	2024 estimate
Unemployment rate	5.3%	2024 estimate
Life expectancy	77.2 years	2024 estimate