SKK

Exchange rates:

Slovak koruny (SKK) per US dollar - 24.919 (2007), 29.611 (2006), 31.018 (2005), 32.257 (2004), 36.773 (2003)

Communications
Slovakia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.151 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.068 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in cellular services domestic: analog system is now receiving digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger cities; 3 companies provide nationwide cellular services international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

3.12 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

80 (national broadcasting 6, regional 7, local 67) (2004)

Televisions:

2.62 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sk

Internet hosts:

717,744 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

2.35 million (2007)

Transportation
Slovakia

Airports:

35 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 7 (2007)

Heliports:

1 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 3,662 km broad gauge: 100 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 3,512 km 1.435-m gauge (1,588 km electrified) narrow gauge: 50 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 43,761 km paved: 38,085 km (includes 316 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,676 km (2006)

Waterways:

172 km (on Danube River) (2005)

Merchant marine:

total: 51 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 42, refrigerated cargo 4 foreign-owned: 47 (Bulgaria 6, Germany 3, Greece 2, Ireland 1, Israel 4, Italy 2, Poland 2, Russia 1, Slovenia 1, Syria 2, Turkey 10, Ukraine 12, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Bratislava, Komarno

Military
Slovakia

Military branches:

Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

17-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006; women are eligible to serve (2007)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,420,966 females age 16-49: 1,386,259 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,166,833 females age 16-49: 1,156,874 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 38,183 female: 36,388 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.87% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Slovakia

Disputes - international:

bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued in 2006 between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

@Slovenia

Introduction
Slovenia

Background:

The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography
Slovenia

Location:

Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between
Austria and Croatia

Geographic coordinates: