SLOVAKIAMore about Slovakia Information about travelling to SlovakiaSlovakia is located in Central Europe, south of Poland |
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Facts about Slovakia
General info about Slovakia
The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I allowed the Slovaks to join the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the Eurozone on 1 January 2009.
Languages spoken Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census) What about drugs? transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy Ethnic division Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census) HIV/AIDS prevalence rate less than 0.1% (2001 est.) Climate temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters Resources brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land Economy 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 to consolidate its budget and get on track to join the EU in 2004 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 such as labor market liberalization and a 19% flat tax. Foreign investment in the automotive sector has been strong. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in 2001-08 despite the general European slowdown. Unemployment, at an unacceptable 18% in 2003-04, dropped to 7.4% in 2008 but remains the economy's Achilles heel. Despite its 2006 pre-election promises to loosen fiscal policy and reverse the previous DZURINDA government's pro-market reforms, FICO's cabinet has thus far been careful to keep a lid on spending in order to meet euro adoption criteria and has focused on regulating energy and food prices instead. Environment air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests Cities in Slovakiabanovce banska bystrica banska stiavnica bardejov bojnice bratislava brezno brezova pod bradlom bytca cadca cierna nad tisou detva dobsina dolny kubin dunajska streda galanta gbely gelnica giraltovce handlova hlohovec holic hrinova humenne hurbanovo ilava kezmarok kolarovo komarno kosice kremnica krompachy krupina kysucke nove mesto leopoldov levice lipany liptovsky hradok liptovsky mikulas lucenec malacky martin medzev medzilaborce michalovce modra moldava nad bodvou myjava namestovo nemsova nitra nova bana nova dubnica novaky nove zamky partizanske pezinok podolinec poltar poprad povazska bystrica presov prievidza puchov rajec revuca rimavska sobota roznava ruzomberok sabinov sahy samorin secovce senec senica skalica sladkovicovo sliac snina sobrance spisska bela spisska nova ves spisske podhradie stara tura strazske stropkov stupava sturovo surany svaty jur svidnik svit svodin tisovec tlmace trebisov trencianske teplice trencin trnava trstena turcianske teplice turzovka tvrdosin vrable vranov vrbove vrutky zarnovica zeliezovce zilina zlate moravce zvolen |
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The Cheers Travel World / Slovakia travel