Slovakia

SLOVAKIA

Information about travelling to Slovakia

Slovakia is located in Central Europe, south of Poland

Facts about Slovakia
Population5,455,407 (July 2008 est.
CapitalBratislava
Time zoneUTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begin
Location Central Europe, south of Poland

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 Slovakia

banovce     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    


Airports in Slovakia
IvankaBTS
ZilinaILZ
BarcaKSC
LucenecLUE
PresovPOV
PiestanyPZY
SliacSLD


Beer in Slovakia (0.33l)
Banovce Nad Bebravou~ 0.5 EUR
Banska Bystrica~ 0.5 EUR
Bratislava~ 0.6 EUR
Bratislava~ 0.6 EUR
Dolna Marikova~ 0.4 EUR
Handlova~ 0.5 EUR
Kosice~ 0.3 EUR
Nitra~ 0.5 EUR
Nova Ves Nad Zitavou~ 0.3 EUR
Poprad~ 0.5 EUR
Presov~ 0.5 EUR
Prievidza~ 0.4 EUR
Puchov~ 0.6 EUR
Rajecke Teplice~ 0.5 EUR
Trnava~ 0.5 EUR
Vyskovce Nad Iplom~ 0.3 EUR
Zilina~ 0.5 EUR

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