CapitalBratislava
Population5,563,649
Area49,035 km²
GDP per capita$40,300
LanguagesSlovak, Hungarian, Roma, other, unspecified
Currencyeuros
Life Expectancy77.2 yr
Governmentparliamentary republic
Introduction
Background
Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. The Slovaks then became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. After the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (known as "Magyarization") led to a public backlash that boosted Slovak nationalism and strengthened Slovak cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who fell administratively under the Austrian half of the empire. When the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved at the end of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939, in the wake of Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland, the newly established Slovak Republic became a German client state for the remainder of World War II.
After World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, Warsaw Pact troops invaded and ended the efforts of Czechoslovakia's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful Velvet Revolution swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004 and the euro zone in 2009.
Geography
Area
land
48,105 sq km
water
930 sq km
total
49,035 sq km
Climate
temperate climate; cool summer seasons; cold, overcast, and humid winters
Terrain
mountainous terrain in the central and northern regions, with plains in the southern area
Land use
other
21.4% (2023 est.)
forest
40.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
38% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 27.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Location
Central Europe, located to the south of Poland
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
lowest point
Bodrok River 94 m
highest point
Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
mean elevation
458 m
Irrigated land
259 sq km (2022)
Map references
Europe
Land boundaries
total
1,587 km
border countries
Austria 105 km; Czech Republic 241 km; Hungary 627 km; Poland 517 km; Ukraine 97 km
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
flooding
Geography - note
landlocked; predominantly characterized by rugged, mountainous landscapes; the northern Tatra Mountains feature numerous picturesque lakes and valleys
Natural resources
lignite, minor quantities of iron ore, copper, and manganese ore; salt; cultivable land
Area - comparative
approximately 1.5 times larger than Maryland; around twice the size of New Hampshire
Geographic coordinates
48 40 N, 19 30 E
Population distribution
relatively uniform population distribution across most areas; a slightly denser population in the west near the Czech border
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
(Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Dunaj (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
People & Society
Languages
Languages
Slovak (official) 81.8%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 1.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 est.)
major-language sample(s)
Svetova Kniha Faktov, nenahraditelny zdroj zakladnej informacie. (Slovak)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Roman Catholic 55.8%, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession 5.3%, Greek Catholic 4%, Reformed Christian 1.6%, other 3%, none 23.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2021 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.98 male(s)/female
total population
0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.67 male(s)/female
Birth rate
9.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
11.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
41.3 years
total
43.1 years (2025 est.)
female
44.4 years
Population
male
2,684,747
total
5,563,649 (2024 est.)
female
2,878,902
Nationality
noun
Slovak(s)
adjective
Slovak
Tobacco use
male
34.5% (2025 est.)
total
30.3% (2025 est.)
female
26.3% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
54% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
15.3% (male 444,033/female 408,902)
15-64 years
66.5% (male 1,834,359/female 1,867,158)
65 years and over
18.1% (2024 est.) (male 406,355/female 602,842)
Ethnic groups
Slovak 83.8%, Hungarian 7.8%, Romani 1.2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 5.4% (2021 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
50.3 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
23 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
3.7 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
27.3 (2024 est.)
Physician density
3.7 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
14.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
5.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
11% national budget (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
total
5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
-0.07% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.77 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
a relatively uniform distribution across most of the nation; with a somewhat higher concentration in the western region near the Czech border
Life expectancy at birth
male
73.7 years
female
81 years
total population
77.2 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
4.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
2.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
10.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
4.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
441,000 BRATISLAVA (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
20.5% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
27.2 years (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
49.2% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
15 years (2023 est.)
total
15 years (2023 est.)
female
16 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
moderate climate; mild summers; frigid, overcast, moist winters
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks
Novohrad-Nógrád (encompasses Hungary) (2023)
total global geoparks and regional networks
1
Land use
other
21.4% (2023 est.)
forest
40.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
38% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 27.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
54% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
2.296 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
13.2% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
atmospheric contamination and acid precipitation; soil degradation due to farming and mining activities; aquatic contamination
Total water withdrawal
municipal
306.21 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial
224.562 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural
32.851 million cubic meters (2022)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
30.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
8.368 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
9.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
12.112 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
16.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
50.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Government
Flag
description: consists of three equal horizontal stripes of white (top), blue, and red; the national emblem (a red shield framed in white, topped by a white double-barred cross representing St. Cyril and St. Methodius, set against three blue hills) is positioned centrally over the stripes but slightly to the left
meaning: the colors white, blue, and red represent pan-Slavism
Capital
name
Bratislava
etymology
the precise significance remains ambiguous but traces back to medieval Slavic heritage; the designation was adopted in 1919, coinciding with Czechoslovakia's independence, replacing the former name Prešporok
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, commences on the last Sunday of March; concludes on the last Sunday of October
geographic coordinates
48 09 N, 17 07 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovakia
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several prior versions (pre-independence); the most recent was enacted by the National Council on 1 September 1992, signed on 3 September 1992, and became effective on 1 October 1992
amendment process
introduced by the National Council; the passage necessitates a minimum of three-fifths majority from Council members
Country name
etymology
the nation's name derives from the local Slavic ethnic group; the etymology of the group’s name is uncertain, though early forms appeared in Medieval Latin (Sclavus) and Byzantine Greek (Sklabos)
local long form
Slovenska republika
local short form
Slovensko
conventional long form
Slovak Republic
conventional short form
Slovakia
Independence
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Legal system
a civil law framework founded on Austro-Hungarian legal codes
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (composed of the court's president, vice president, and about 80 judges organized into criminal, civil, commercial, and administrative divisions with panels of 3 and 5 judges); the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic (made up of 13 judges organized into panels of 3 judges)
subordinate courts
regional and district civil courts; Special Criminal Court; Higher Military Court; military district courts; Court of Audit
judge selection and term of office
candidates for the position of Supreme Court judge are nominated by the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, an 18-member self-governing body that includes the chief justice of the Supreme Court as well as appointees from the presidential, governmental, parliamentary, and judicial branches; judges appointed by the president serve for life, with the possibility of removal by the president at the age of 65; judges of the Constitutional Court are nominated by the National Council of the Republic and appointed by the president for terms of 12 years
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
chief of state
President Peter PELLEGRINI (since 15 June 2024)
election results
2024: Peter PELLEGRINI was elected president in the second round; vote percentage in the second round: Peter PELLEGRINI 53.1%; Ivan KORCOK 46.9%; vote percentage in the first round - Ivan KORCOK (independent) 42.5%; Peter PELLEGRINI (Hlas-SD) 37%; Stefan HARABIN (independent) 11.7%, others 8.8%;
2019: Zuzana CAPUTOVA was elected president in the second round; vote percentage - Zuzana CAPUTOVA (PS) 58.4%, Maros SEFCOVIC (independent) 41.6%
head of government
Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 25 October 2023)
most recent election date
23 March 2024, with a runoff on 6 April 2024
election/appointment process
the president is directly elected through an absolute-majority popular vote, potentially requiring two rounds, for a term of 5 years (eligible for re-election); after National Council elections, the president appoints a prime minister candidate, typically the leader of the party or coalition that secures the most votes, who must then gain a vote of confidence in the National Council
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
National color(s)
white, blue, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica (c); Levoča, Spišský Hrad, and the Associated Cultural Monuments (c); Vlkolínec (c); Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n); Bardejov Town (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Wooden Churches of the Slovak Carpathians (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes (Western Segment) (c)
Political parties
Direction - Social Democracy or SMER-SD
Freedom and Solidarity or SaS
Progressive Slovakia or PS
Republic
Slovakia
The Slovak National Party or SNS
The Christian Democratic Movement or KDH
Voice - Social Democracy or HLAS-SD
Legislative branch
chamber name
National Council (Národná rada)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
150 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
National Council (Narodna rada Slovenskej republiky)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
9/30/2023
expected date of next election
September 2027
percentage of women in chamber
23.3%
parties elected and seats per party
Smer - Social Democracy (Smer-SD) (42); Progressive Slovakia (PS) (32); Hlas (“Voice”) - SD (27); Coalition OĽaNO and Friends, 'For the People' and 'Christian Union' (16); Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) (12); Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) (11); Slovak National Party (SNS) (10)
National anthem(s)
title
"Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Storm Over the Tatras)
history
adopted in 1993; the anthem is based on an 1843 Slovak folk tune "Kopala studienku" (She Was Digging a Well)
lyrics/music
Janko MATUSKA/traditional
National symbol(s)
double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) situated over three peaks
Administrative divisions
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trencin, Trnava, Zilina
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 237-6438
chancery
3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 237-1054
chief of mission
Ambassador Andrej DROBA (since 16 December 2025)
consulate(s) general
New York
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.mzv.sk/web/washington-en
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[421] (2) 5441-8861
embassy
P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava
telephone
[421] (2) 5443-3338
mailing address
5840 Bratislava Place, Washington DC 20521-5840
chief of mission
Ambassador Gautam A. RANA (since 28 September 2022)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://sk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$43.882 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures
$46.056 billion (2022 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$114.519 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$122.04 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$120.355 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$121.473 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$119.739 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$120.29 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
automobiles; metal and metal products; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals, synthetic fibers, wood and paper products; machinery; earthenware and ceramics; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products; food and beverages; pharmaceuticals
Labor force
2.779 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2022
64.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
1.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
0.876 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
0.924 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
high-income economy within the EU and eurozone; manufacturing and exports predominantly driven by the automotive industry; growth is bolstered by private consumption and public investment funded by the EU, while trade risks pose challenges; increasing taxes and the removal of energy subsidies contribute to rising yet manageable inflation; strong demand for labor and an influx of foreign workers help mitigate the effects of an aging workforce
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
6.2% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
5.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
5.3% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 20%, Czechia 10%, Hungary 7%, USA 6%, Poland 6% (2023)
Imports - partners
Germany 16%, Czechia 14%, Poland 8%, China 7%, Hungary 6% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$38,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$39,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$40,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
0.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
wheat, sugar beets, maize, milk, barley, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, potatoes, soybeans, pork (2023)
Exports - commodities
cars, vehicle parts/accessories, video displays, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports - commodities
vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment, cars, plastic products, insulated wire (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$11.126 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$1.169 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$3.895 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
19.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$141.776 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
58.4% (2023 est.)
government consumption
20% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
-1.3% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
21.1% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
91.3% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-89.8% (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line
13.7% (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
19.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
4.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
12.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
10.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.8% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
0.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$209.794 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$214.343 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$218.762 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
20.1% (2024 est.)
total
18.2% (2024 est.)
female
15% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$10.28 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$11.288 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$14.452 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
28.5% (2024 est.)
services
60% (2024 est.)
agriculture
2% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.8% (2022 est.)
highest 10%
18.2% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
24.1 (2022 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
3.658 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production
2.315 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
6.066 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
19 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
9 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
90,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Electricity
exports
14.078 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
10.671 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
24.18 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
8.138 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
1.233 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
imports
4.56 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
46.585 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
4.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors
5 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production
61.3% (2023 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
2.3GW (2025 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction
1 (2025)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
3 (2025)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
127.582 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear
63.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
13.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
5.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
90% (2024 est.)
Broadcast media
The state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), operates 2 national television channels; approximately 50 privately owned national, regional, and local television stations; around 40% of households have access to multi-channel cable or satellite television; several RTVS national and regional radio networks; and 32 privately owned radio broadcasting stations.
Internet country code
.sk
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
505,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
9 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
7.63 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
132 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
1.83 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
33 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Airports
116 (2025)
Railways
total
3,627 km (2020) 1,585 km electrified
Heliports
2 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
OM
Military & Security
Military - note
The Slovak Armed Forces are tasked with external defense and the execution of Slovakia's obligations regarding European and international security. Since 2004, Slovakia has been a member of both the European Union and NATO. A primary objective of the Slovak military is to meet its security commitments to NATO, which entails the modernization and procurement of NATO-compatible equipment, participation in training exercises, and provision of forces for security operations, including NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic region. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Slovakia commenced hosting a multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the initiative to strengthen Eastern Europe's defenses. Additionally, Slovakia is involved in peacekeeping missions under the auspices of the EU and UN.
The Slovak Air Force possesses a limited number of fighter aircraft and receives support from NATO’s air policing mission over Slovak airspace, which includes fighter jets from Czechia and Poland. In 2022, Slovakia entered into a defense agreement with the United States, permitting the US to utilize two Slovak military air bases (2025).
Military deployments
200 Cyprus (UNFICYP); up to 150 Latvia (NATO) (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2021
1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2025
2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Ground Forces (Slovenské Pozemné Sily), Air Forces (Slovenské Vzdušné Sily), Special Operations Forces (Sily Pre Speciálne Operácie)
Ministry of Interior: Slovak Police Force (SPF or Policajný Zbor) (2025)
Military service age and obligation
The minimum age for voluntary military service is 18 for both men and women; individuals aged 18 to 65 can volunteer for military reserves (2026).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military's arsenal comprises a combination of domestically manufactured, Soviet-era, and contemporary NATO-compatible weapons sourced from suppliers such as Germany and the United States (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
The active-duty military personnel count is approximately 17,000 (2025).
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
144,349 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
65 (2024 est.)
