SLOVENIJA

SLOVENIA IN BRIEF SLOVENIA IN BRIEF Area: 20,273 km2 Population: 2,001,114 ( ) Capital city: Ljubljana Language: Slovene; also Italian and Hungarian in nationally mixed areas Currency: Slovenian tolar (SIT) Important dates: -Independence - 25 June Member of EU - 1 May 2004 The Republic of Slovenia lies at the heart of Europe, where the Alps face the Pannonian plains and the Mediterranean meets the mysterious Karst. To the north is Austria; Hungary is to the east; Croatia to the south and Italy to the west.

STATE President of the Republic: Dr Janez Drnovšek Prime Minister: Janez Janša Government: Prime Minister, 15 Ministers, 1 Minister without Portfolio National Assembly: 90 deputies (88 elected representatives of the parliamentary parties and one representative each from the Italian and Hungarian national communities). National Council: 40 elected representatives of employers, employees, farmers, tradesmen and the self- employed, as well as from the non-economic sector and local interest groups. Conventional long/short form: Republic of Slovenia, Slovenia Local long/short form: Republika Slovenija, Slovenija

THE COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE Area: 20,273 km 2 Length of borders: 1,382 km in total; with Austria, 330 km; with Italy, 280 km; with Hungary, 102 km; with Croatia, 670 km Length of coastline: 46.6 km Capital: Ljubljana Population: 1,964,036 (2002 census) Population density: 96.9 inh. per km2 Nationalities: (2002 census): Slovenian 1,631,363; Italian 2,258; Hungarian 6,243;

RELIGION The majority of Slovenes (almost 60%) are Roman Catholics, although there are around 38 other religious communities, spiritual groups, societies and associations registered in Slovenia. Other nationalities: 127,118 Other ethnic groups include Croats, Serbs, Bosnians (Muslims), Yugoslavs, Macedonians, Montenegrins and Albanians. The status and special rights of Gypsy communities living in Slovenia are determined by statute. Language: Slovene; also Italian and Hungarian in nationally mixed areas;

LANGUAGE The Slovenian language has played a special role in Slovenian history. It is still considered one of the foundations of national identity. In spite of various influences, it has preserved its special linguistic features - the most notable being the archaic dual form. This is the grammatical number used for two people or things in all inflected parts of speech.Slovenian language Some conversational phrases: Good morningDobro jutro (before 8 a.m.) Good nightLahko noč May I introduce myself Dovolite, da se predstavim

ECONOMY (1): Currency: Slovenian tolarSlovenian tolar (As Slovenia entered the ERM 2, central parity has been set at 239,640 SIT for 1 EUR). GDP per capita in 2004: EUR 12,979 Growth in GDP in 2004: 4.6% Inflation in 2004 (annual average): 3.6% Exports of goods and services in 2004: EUR 15.5 billion Imports of goods and services in 2004: EUR 15.7 billion Balance of trade in 2004:EUR -168 million

ECONOMY (2): Unemployment in 2004: 6.3% (surveyed unemployment level according to ILO standards) Persons in employment: Average monthly gross earnings: SIT= 1,165 € Minimum monthly gross earnings: SIT= 511 € On 1 May 2004, Slovenia became a member of the European Union. On 28 June 2004, Slovenia entered the Exchange Rate Mechanism ERM2.

SOCIAL SECURITY AND HEALTH CARE Health care is a public service provided through the public health service network. Indicators: per 10,000 population (2001) Number of doctors 21.8 Number of dentists 5.9 Number of nurses 71.5 Number of hospital beds 51.6 Indicators: total (2004) Number of residents in old people’s homes 13,800 Number of inmates in work units for the disabled 2,467 Average number of claimants of social security benefits 66,000 Source: Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs

SOCIAL SECURITY AND HEALTH CARE In the Republic of Slovenia the state is bound to make arrangements for compulsory health, pension, disability and other social insurance. Number of pensioners 2004: 523,854 Old age pension 58.4% Invalidity pension 18.4% Widow’s pension 3.2% Family pension 14.5% Farmer’s pension 1.0% State pension 3.1% Source: Institute of Pension and Disability Insurance of Slovenia

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