Country Information
Official name: Slovak Republic (SR)
State formation date: 1st January 1993
Establishment: republic
Political system: parliamentary democracy (150 members of parliament
elected for 4 years)
President: Ivan Gašparovič (since 2004), elected for 5 years
Prime Minister: Robert Fico (since 2006)
State symbols: national coat of arms/ emblem, national flag, state seal
and national anthem „Nad Tatrou sa blýska“
Membership in international organisations: EU (since 1st May 2004), NATO, UN, UNESCO, OECD, OBSE, CERN, WHO, INTERPOL, etc.
International codes: SK, SVK, bar code 858
Area: 49 035 km2
Location: Central Europe (17° - 22° E, 47° - 49° N)
The mid and the North of the country is mountainous (Carpathian curve), for the South and East are typical lowlands (important agricultural areas). The most important Slovak river the Danube connects the capital city of the SR Bratislava with two capital cities of the neighbour countries - Vienna and Budapest.
Time: Central European time (+ 1 hour from GMT)
Summer time/daylight- saving time from March to November is + 2 hours from GMT
Elevation: the highest point is Gerlach Peak (2655 m), the lowest point is the Bodrog river (95 m).
Climate: Moderate climatic zone, with changing four seasons, average temperature in winter -2°C (the coldest month January, the coldest area High Tatras), in summer 21°C (the warmest months July and August, the warmest area Danubian Lowland). In some mountain ranges the snow remains in average 130 days per year.
Border countries: Hungary (679 km), Poland (597,5 km), Czech Republic (265 km), Austria (127,2 km), Ukraine (98 km)
Administrative divisions: 8 self-governing regions (Bratislavsky, Trnavsky, Trenciansky, Nitriansky, Zilinsky, Banskobystricky, Presovsky, Kosicky), 79 districts, 138 towns, 2891 municipalities (including towns)
Capital city: Bratislava (population 428 672 as of 31.12.2005)
Population: 5 389 180 (of which 51,5 % female) as of 31.12.2005
Population density: 110/km2
Official language: Slovak
Nationalities / Ethnic groups: Slovak (85,8%), Hungarian (9,7%), Roma (Gipsy) (1,7%), Czech (0,8%), Ruthenian, Ukrainian, German, Polish and other (2%)
Religion:
- believers approximately 84,1% of which:
Roman Catholic (68,9%), Evangelic (6,9%), Greek-Catholic (4,1%), Reformed Christians (2%), other (2,2%)
- other, unspecified 2,2%
- without confession about 13,7%
Currency: Slovak crown (ISO code SKK, local acronym Sk), 1 SKK=100 hallers, from 1.1.2009 the EURO should be used
National holidays (are at the same time days off):
1st January - Day of Slovak Republics Establishment
5th July - St. Cyril and Metod Day
29th August - Slovak National Uprising anniversary
1st September - Day of Slovak Republics Constitution
17th November - Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day
Days off:
6th January - Epiphany (The Three Magi)
Good Friday
Easter Monday
1st May - Labour Day
8th May - Day of victory over fascism
15th September - Lady of Sorrows Day / Blessed Virgin Mary
1st November - All Saints Day
24th December - Christmas Eve
25th December - Christmas Day
26th December - St. Stephens Day
