Land and Resources

Slovenia is mountainous, much like Austria to the north and northern Italy to the west, and has heavily forested regions. The eastern third of the republic lies within the Karst, a barren limestone plateau broken by depressions and ridges. The highest point in the country, Mount Triglav, rises 2,863 m (9,393 ft) and forms part of the Julian Alps in the northwestern region of the republic. The Mura, Drava, and Sava rivers flow through the forested northeastern region of the republic. A 46.6 km (27.96 mi) stretch of coastline along the Adriatic Sea serves as the country's southwestern border.

Towns along the coast enjoy a warm Mediterranean climate, while those in the mountains to the north often have harsh winters and rainy summers. The plateaux to the east, where Ljubljana is situated, have a more moderate continental climate, with warm to hot summers and cold winters.

Two national symbols, the linden, or lime tree, and the chamois, thrive throughout the republic. Brown coal, or lignite, is the most abundant natural resource in Slovenia (production 1992; 5.56 million metric tons); other resources include lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, and silver, as well as natural gas and oil.

Population

The population of Slovenia at the 1991 census was 1,965,986, giving an average population density of 97 people per sq km (251 per sq mi). Slovenes, a Slavic ethnic group, constitute about 88 per cent of the republic's population. Ethnic Serbs (about 2 per cent), Croats (about 3 per cent), and various other ethnic groups (about 7 per cent) constitute the remainder of Slovenia's population. In addition, in the early 1990s Slovenia was home to some 60,000 refugees from the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Slovenes speak Slovene, the republic's official language. Unlike other Slavic cultures, Slovenes have been influenced by Italian, German, and Austrian cultures for nearly a millennium. Despite more than 70 years of affiliation with Yugoslavia, Slovene culture exhibits many similarities to Germanic and Italian cultures. Slovene is written in the Roman alphabet—unlike Serbian and most other Slavic languages, which are written in the Cyrillic alphabet—and has many dialects. In addition, most people in Slovenia are Roman Catholic.

Almost half of all Slovenes live in urban areas, particularly in the cities of Ljubljana (population, 1991, 321,057), Maribor (150,616), and Kranj (72,299), the republic's three largest cities. The remainder live in rural areas throughout the republic, many in alpine villages, where skiing is one of the most popular forms of recreation. In the cities Slovenes enjoy concerts, operas, and art galleries.

The Slovene government requires that all children receive eight years of primary education and four years of secondary education. In the early 1990s there were about 220,900 children enrolled in primary schools, and 94,400 secondary school students. Almost all Slovenians over the age of ten can read and write, and, although not obligatory by law, most students receive post-secondary or higher levels of education. In the late 1980s there were 27 institutions of higher education with about 3,200 students. There are two universities: the University of Ljubljana (founded 1595) and the University of Marabor (1975).

Economy

Prior to independence, Slovenia was the most prosperous of the six Yugoslav republics. The prolonged war in the region, however, has seriously affected Slovenia's economy. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was US$6,052 in 1992, a sharp decline from the preindependence amount of US$8,658 in 1990. Industrial output also steadily decreased during this period, dropping 13.2 per cent between 1991 and 1992. Trade with other countries and tourism were also limited by the war, and the large population of war refugees was a further drain on the economy. The government and the Bank of Slovenia (central bank) have implemented a variety of measures to turn the economy around, including market and bank reforms and the privatization of state-owned companies. The privatization programme, introduced in the 1992/1993 financial year, is being implemented in two stages. Small businesses are being privatized first, with their capital transferred initially to an investment fund which acts as an intermediary. In October 1991 the republic released its own currency, the tolar, to replace the Yugoslav dinar (113.79 tolar equal US$1; 1995). These reform measures, combined with the republic's sound infrastructure and skilled workforce, have helped reverse the downward trend. Industrial production grew 4.7 per cent in 1993, and inflation stood at 1 per cent in April of the same year. Unemployment has also begun to decline; by the end of 1994, it stood at 14.2 per cent.

Industry in Slovenia contributes about 56 per cent of GDP. The republic's chief industries include electronics, electrical machinery, metal processing and metallurgy, and motor vehicles. Agriculture accounts for only 4.5 per cent of GDP, with dairy farming and livestock dominating this sector. Major crops include maize, potatoes, cabbages, sugar beet, and wheat. Viticulture is also important; almost 22,000 hectares (54,363 acres) are under vineyards. Slovenia's most important trading partners are Germany, Croatia, Italy, France, Austria, and the United States. Exports include raw materials, semifinished goods, machinery, electric motors, processed foods, clothing, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The leading imports are raw materials, semifinished goods, machinery, and foodstuffs. In early 1993 the republic joined the International Monetary Fund and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (since renamed the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe). Economic contacts have been revived with Austria and Italy, and new relations have been established with Iran, China, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. A cooperation pact has been signed with the European Union (EU), and Slovenia is actively seeking membership; talks on associate membership opened in March 1995, after Italy suspended objections linked to a long-running dispute over the confiscation of Italian property during the 1940s. Tourism is also a major source of revenue, with popular resorts at Lake Bled and in the mountains. Revenues from tourism rebounded in 1994 to increase by 8 per cent over prewar levels.

Slovenia has an excellent transport network. It included 14,794 km (9,193 mi) of roads in the early 1990s, 84 per cent of which are paved, and about 1,200 km (745 mi) of railways which link its largest cities. There are also three major airports, including Brnik international airport at Ljubljana and a port at Koper on the Adriatic Sea. Some 12 million kWh of electricity were produced annually in the early 1990s; output was divided roughly equally between nuclear, thermal, and hydroelectric facilities. In March 1995 Slovenia and Croatia agreed to divide ownership of the one nuclear power station, at Krsko, equally between them.

Government

An emerging democracy, the republic of Slovenia and its government have adopted many elements of democratic governments. On December 23, 1991, the government adopted a new constitution. It guarantees universal suffrage for all Slovenians of at least 18 years of age (Slovenians of at least 16 years of age may vote if they are employed), freedom of religion, and freedom of the press, among other civil rights. The republic has a multiparty system. Among the leading parties in the 1992 elections were the Liberal Democratic party (LDP), the Christian Democratic party, the United League (UL; former Communists), the Slovenian National party, the Slovene People's party, the Social Democratic party, and the Green Alliance (ZS). In March 1994, the LDP, the dominant party in the governing coalition, merged with the UL, the ZS, and the Democrats, to form the Liberal Democracy (party) of SloveniaThe parliament consists of the 90-member National Assembly, which makes the republic's laws, and the 40-member State Council, which may only propose laws or request reconsideration of a vote in the assembly. Assembly members are elected for four-year terms by proportional representation and Council members for five-year terms by interest groups. The prime minister, the true head of government, is elected to a four-year term by the assembly, while the president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.

Slovenia's judicial system comprises eight trial courts, four appellate courts, and a Supreme Court. The National Assembly appoints all judges, including the justices of the republic's Supreme Court. Slovenia has an extensive network of social service programmes sponsored by the government, including low-cost medical coverage and retirement pensions.

The republic employs an army (1994) of approximately 13,000 active-duty soldiers, with a reserve force of about 85,000. Conscription begins at age 18 and lasts seven months. Slovenia is a member of the Council of Europe, the Central European Initiative, and the United Nations. The republic has also signed defence accords with Austria and Hungary.