世界各国

Slovakia

Introduction to Slovakia

In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-ruled 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.

Government

Capital:

Bratislava 

Independence:

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) 

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 1 September (1992) 

Economy

Economy overview:

Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The DZURINDA government made excellent progress during 2001-03 in macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands, and foreign investment has picked up. Slovakia's economy exceeded expectations in 2001-03, despite the general European slowdown. Unemployment, at an unacceptable 15% in 2003, remains the economy's Achilles heel. The government faces other strong challenges in 2004, especially cutting the budget deficit, containing inflation, and strengthening the health care system. 

GDP:

purchasing power parity - $72.29 billion (2004 est.) 

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.9%
industry: 47.9%
services: 46.2% (2004 est.)

Agriculture products:

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products 

Industries:

metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products 

Transportation

Waterways:

172 km (on Danube River) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 6,769 km; oil 449 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Bratislava, Komarno

Merchant marine:

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 41,891 GRT/63,185 DWT
by type: bulk 4, cargo 4
foreign-owned: Bulgaria 3, Estonia 1, Greece 1, India 1, Liberia 1, Panama 1 (2003 est.)

Airports:

34 (2003 est.)