Slovenia
In the north of the Balkan Peninsula, the Slovenian people, an offshoot of the Slavic ethnic group, settled in the 6th century A.D., but only a few territories in Europe have been under so many foreign dominions as this one. Indeed, this part of the continent was succeeded by the Roman Empire and then the kingdoms of Herulians, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Avars, Sorbians, Franks, Magyars, Bohemians, finally the Habsburg Empire and, with its collapse, the Republic of Yugoslavia.
After World War II, Italy ceded Istria.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia expressly provided for the right of each member state to unilaterally withdraw from the Federation.
This right was exercised in 1991 with the declaration of independence, followed by a brief war with Serbia that ended with the recognition of Slovenia as a sovereign state.
For centuries a meeting place of Latin, Germanic and Slavic cultures, it is still in a strategic position between the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe.
Such a location also makes it, through neighbouring Serbia, exposed to immigration directed towards central and northern Europe and mainly from Russia, as well as from the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa.
Relations with Italy, although in the everlasting memory of the “foibe” carried out by Tito’s militias on Slovenian territory, but not by the Slovenian people, are based on constructive cooperation.
The average age is 44.3 years. Contributing to this high percentage is a decrease in births to 16,800 in 2023, the lowest rate ever recorded.
The prevailing religion is Catholicism.
It has been a NATO member since 29 March 2004.
It joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 and the Euro currency area on 1 January 2007.
During the Cold War, Slovenia’s economy made it the richest of the Yugoslav republics, with a GDP that, despite its modest size, amounted to about a fifth of the entire Federation.
The mechanical engineering, electronics, IT and tourism industries are particularly strong.
The main importing countries of Slovenian products in 2023 were, in descending order, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Croatia and Austria.
The main exporting countries to the Slovenian market in 2023 were, in descending order, Switzerland, China, Germany, Italy and Austria.
The public debt was 70.5% of GDP in 2023.
The inflation rate was 3.3% year-on-year in April 2024.
It is one of the NATO countries lagging furthest behind on its financial commitments to the Alliance. Military expenditure amounts to 1.26% of GDP.
A country rich in fossil energy resources with 20 lignite mines, which provided 40 per cent of the Federation’s coal production when it was part of Yugoslavia.
These mines, due to their low profitability, have since been closed except for one, which is still operating near the town of Velenje.
Nonetheless, nuclear power has developed, whose main site is in Krsko, built in 1983 and located about 120 km from the Italian border, which covers 20% of Slovenia’s energy needs.
A leakage of radioactive material due to the obsolescence of the nuclear reactor led to a temporary shutdown of the nuclear power plant in October 2023 and the government’s subsequent decision to hold a referendum on the construction of a second reactor.
There are also 51,000 solar installations for energy self-sufficiency in homes.
A further allocation of EUR 271 million over three years for renewable energy was decided by the government in June 2024.
| Head of state | Nataša Pirc Musar |
| Head of Government | Robert Golob |
| Institutional Form | Parliamentary republic |
| Capital | Ljubljana |
| Legislative Power | Bicameral Assembly, National Council or Drzavni Svet (40 seats), National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats) |
| Judicial Power | Supreme Court (37 judges); Constitutional Court (7 judges) |
| Ambassador to Italy | Matjaž Longar |
| Total Area kmq | 20.273 km2 |
| Land | 20.151 km2 |
| Weather | Mediterranean climate on the coast; continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east |
| Natural resources | Lignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests |
| Economic summary | Slovenia has some of the highest growth rates in the European area despite dealing with high public spending. Notables are the substantial investments in the manufacturing sector and in high technology |
| GDP | €61 billion (2023) |
| Pro-capite GDP (Purchasing power parity) | €32.297 (2023) |
| Exports | €54,60 billion (2023) |
| Export partner | Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Austria (2022) |
| Imports | €55,70 billion (2023) |
| Import partner | Switzerland, China, Italy, Germany, Austria (2022) |
| Trade With Italy | €11.848 mln (2023) |
| Population | 2.097.893 (2024) |
| Population Growth | -0,1% (2024) |
| Ethnicities | Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 est.) |
| Languages | Slovene (official), Croatian, Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Hungarian (official, only in municipalities where Hungarian nationals reside), Italian (official, only in municipalities where Italian nationals reside), other or unspecified (2002 est.) |
| Religions | Catholic 69%, Orthodox 4%, Muslim 3%, Christian 1%, other 3%, atheist 14%, non-believer/agnostic 4%, refused to answer 2% (2019 est.) |
| Urbanization | 56,1% (2023) |
| Literacy | 99,7 (2015) |
In the north of the Balkan Peninsula, the Slovenian people, an offshoot of the Slavic ethnic group, settled in the 6th century A.D., but only a few territories in Europe have been under so many foreign dominions as this one. Indeed, this part of the continent was succeeded by the Roman Empire and then the kingdoms of Herulians, Ostrogoths, Lombards, Avars, Sorbians, Franks, Magyars, Bohemians, finally the Habsburg Empire and, with its collapse, the Republic of Yugoslavia.
After World War II, Italy ceded Istria.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia expressly provided for the right of each member state to unilaterally withdraw from the Federation.
This right was exercised in 1991 with the declaration of independence, followed by a brief war with Serbia that ended with the recognition of Slovenia as a sovereign state.
For centuries a meeting place of Latin, Germanic and Slavic cultures, it is still in a strategic position between the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe.
Such a location also makes it, through neighbouring Serbia, exposed to immigration directed towards central and northern Europe and mainly from Russia, as well as from the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa.
Relations with Italy, although in the everlasting memory of the “foibe” carried out by Tito’s militias on Slovenian territory, but not by the Slovenian people, are based on constructive cooperation.
The average age is 44.3 years. Contributing to this high percentage is a decrease in births to 16,800 in 2023, the lowest rate ever recorded.
The prevailing religion is Catholicism.
It has been a NATO member since 29 March 2004.
It joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 and the Euro currency area on 1 January 2007.
During the Cold War, Slovenia’s economy made it the richest of the Yugoslav republics, with a GDP that, despite its modest size, amounted to about a fifth of the entire Federation.
The mechanical engineering, electronics, IT and tourism industries are particularly strong.
The main importing countries of Slovenian products in 2023 were, in descending order, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Croatia and Austria.
The main exporting countries to the Slovenian market in 2023 were, in descending order, Switzerland, China, Germany, Italy and Austria.
The public debt was 70.5% of GDP in 2023.
The inflation rate was 3.3% year-on-year in April 2024.
It is one of the NATO countries lagging furthest behind on its financial commitments to the Alliance. Military expenditure amounts to 1.26% of GDP.
A country rich in fossil energy resources with 20 lignite mines, which provided 40 per cent of the Federation’s coal production when it was part of Yugoslavia.
These mines, due to their low profitability, have since been closed except for one, which is still operating near the town of Velenje.
Nonetheless, nuclear power has developed, whose main site is in Krsko, built in 1983 and located about 120 km from the Italian border, which covers 20% of Slovenia’s energy needs.
A leakage of radioactive material due to the obsolescence of the nuclear reactor led to a temporary shutdown of the nuclear power plant in October 2023 and the government’s subsequent decision to hold a referendum on the construction of a second reactor.
There are also 51,000 solar installations for energy self-sufficiency in homes.
A further allocation of EUR 271 million over three years for renewable energy was decided by the government in June 2024.
