Quick Facts
Bratislava castle from the Danube
Is this your first time learning about Slovakia? We suggest the F.A.Q.
Official Country Name: Slovenska Republika (The Slovak Republic)
Other Names: Slovensko (Slovak, Czech), Slovakia (English), Slovaquie (French), Slowakei (German), Slovacchia (Italian), Eslovaquia (Spanish)
Abbreviations: SK (2 letter ISO official ), SVK (Olympic 3 letter official)
National Flag
National Flag:
Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak emblem (a cross Lorraine atop 3 hills in a shield; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue) centered on the hoist side.
To learn more about the Slovak Flag and Emblem click here
Maps:Where is Slovakia?
(European Map)
General Map
(Local map including the Czech Republic)
Geophysical Maps
(Includes elevations)
Major Road Maps
(Detailed map of Slovakia)
Political Maps
(Regions with demographics)
Historical Maps
(13th and 18th Century maps)
Official Emblem of the Republic
Official Seal of the Republic
Official National Anthem of the Slovak Republic:
Nad Tatrou sa blyska (Lightning over the Tatras)
Listen to and read about the national anthem here
Key Addresses: (click here for Governmental(including ministries and embassies) and Institutional Addresses in the Slovak Republic)
Constitution: (click here to view the complete constitution of the Slovak Republic)
Geographic boundary coordinates: Patince (47 43' 55" of the North Latitude), Oravska Polhora (49 36' 54" of the North Latitude), Zahorska Ves (16 50' 04" of the East Longitude), Nova Sedlica (22 34' 20" of the East Longitude)
Area: 49 030 square kilometers
Maximum length: 428 km (Zahorska Ves - Nova Sedlica)
Maximum width: 195 km (Sturovo - Skalite)
Elevation above sea level: 95 m (Bodrog) - 2656 m (Gerlach)
Population: 5 268 935 (1995)
Population density: 107.5/sq.km
Nationalities: Slovak (85.6%), Hungarian (10.8%), Romany (1.8%), Czech (1.2%), Ruthenian (0.3%), Ukrainian (0.3%), German (0.1%), Polish (0.1%),Other (0.2%)
Religion: Roman-Catholic (60.3%), Greek-Catholic (3.4%), Protestant (6.2%), Reformist (1.6%), Orthodox (0.6%), Without any confession (9.7%),No data (18.2%)
Capital: Bratislava
Bordering countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, The Ukraine
President: Ivan Gasparovic
Prime minister: Robert Fico (from July 2006)
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Independence: January 1, 1993 (from The Czecho-Slovak Federation, previously Czechoslovakia)
Constitution: January 1, 1993
Monetary unit: Euro (prior to January 1, 2009 Slovenska koruna - Slovak crown)
Click here to see samples of the currency
Click here for a currency convertor
Chief crops: wheat, rye, corn, potatoes, sugar beets
Livestock: cattle, pigs, chickens, sheep, goats
Major industries: car manufacturing, engineering, chemicals, oil refining, plastics
Natural resources: antimony ore, mercury, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc
Climate: temperate summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain and Environment: Slovakia boasts rugged mountains in its central and northern regions. The High Tatra alpine range houses Gerlachovsky stit, the highest peak at 8762 feet (2655 meters). The southern region is made up of fertile lowlands. There is, however, air pollution and acid rain. The extent of environmental danger posed by the controversial Gabcikovo dam (which diverts water from the Danube river) remains an issue of debate.