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Europe / Central Europe · Card 047
Flag shown for Slovakia

Slovakia

Slovakia is a country in Central Europe. Its capital is Bratislava.

Find Slovakia

BratislavaSlovakiaHungaryCzech RepublicAustria
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital
Bratislava
Language guide
Languages spoken & official status
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Population
5.4 million2025 · World Bank
Area
49,037 km²18,933.28 square miles
Independence
1993

Slovakia in context

Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Bratislava; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & environment

Landscape

Slovakia is a landlocked country with mountain ranges across much of the north and centre and lower plains toward the south. Valleys separate the ranges and provide routes for settlement and transport. The Danube forms part of the southern boundary.

The High Tatras contain steep peaks and glacial lakes. The Slovak Karst, farther southeast, includes limestone plateaus, caves and underground drainage. These contrasting landscapes reflect different rocks and processes within the same country.

Climate & seasons

Summers are generally mild to warm, while winters are cold. The northern and central mountains are colder than the southern lowlands.

Mountain & karst habitats

Forests occupy many slopes, with alpine vegetation at higher elevations. In limestone areas, water may move underground rather than in visible streams. Rain and seasonal snowmelt connect these uplands with lower river systems.

Flag shown for Slovakia

Flag

Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red; the national coat of arms (a red shield bordered in white, with a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius on top of three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset to the left

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Languages

Public and official use

Slovak is the official language. Czech is closely related and is widely understood.

Community and regional languages

Hungarian is an important minority language, especially in the south. Romani, Rusyn, Ukrainian and other languages are also spoken. Minority-language use in public administration depends on local legal conditions.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

History & independence

Slovakia became part of Czechoslovakia in 1918 after centuries within the Kingdom of Hungary. The 1989 Velvet Revolution ended communist rule. A negotiated dissolution of Czechoslovakia created an independent Slovakia on 1 January 1993.

  1. Slovakia becomes part of Czechoslovakia

  2. Slovakia becomes independent

  3. Slovakia adopts the euro

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Economy

Main activities

Vehicle manufacturing and other industrial exports play a major role. Electronics, machinery and services also contribute. Slovakia uses the euro and is closely linked to European production networks.

Industry and production

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; pharmaceutical

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Population & economic trends

Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.

Population, 1970–2025

Millions of people
5.42025 · millions of people
0.003.06.04.519705.019805.319905.420005.420105.520205.42025

Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.

Sources: World Bank · Population

View data table
Population: source values and plotted units
Year People Millions of people
1970 4,538,223 4.538
1980 4,979,815 4.980
1990 5,299,187 5.299
2000 5,388,720 5.389
2010 5,391,428 5.391
2020 5,458,827 5.459
2025 5,413,813 5.414

Real GDP, 1990–2025

Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
108.12025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
0.00100.0200.019902000201020202025

Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.

Sources: World Bank · Real GDP

View data table
Real GDP: source values and plotted units
Year Constant 2015 US$ Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
1990 45,559,569,013 45.560
1991 38,919,807,326 38.920
1992 36,303,816,918 36.304
1993 36,994,071,827 36.994
1994 39,289,750,245 39.290
1995 41,585,644,561 41.586
1996 44,130,510,843 44.131
1997 46,551,440,141 46.551
1998 48,332,548,393 48.333
1999 48,103,809,190 48.104
2000 48,483,456,227 48.483
2001 49,901,675,269 49.902
2002 52,105,958,758 52.106
2003 54,636,588,084 54.637
2004 57,581,226,217 57.581
2005 61,315,329,711 61.315
2006 66,788,144,153 66.788
2007 74,013,706,024 74.014
2008 77,983,340,267 77.983
2009 73,690,093,872 73.690
2010 78,694,079,821 78.694
2011 80,710,556,385 80.711
2012 81,977,043,068 81.977
2013 82,553,606,913 82.554
2014 84,789,118,562 84.789
2015 89,178,548,717 89.179
2016 90,915,584,912 90.916
2017 93,529,165,483 93.529
2018 97,328,432,250 97.328
2019 99,543,529,164 99.544
2020 96,969,818,857 96.970
2021 102,454,294,897 102.454
2022 103,012,252,413 103.012
2023 105,188,526,684 105.189
2024 107,227,789,781 107.228
2025 108,093,566,997 108.094

Human development

The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.

HDI · 20230.880Very High human developmentRank 44 of 193 · 2025 report

Human Development Index over time

19900.698
20000.774
20100.851
20200.867
20230.880
78.3 yearsLife expectancy at birth
13.1 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+

The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.

Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025

Government

Parliamentary republic. National Council (Narodna rada Slovenskej republiky) has one chamber (a unicameral legislature).

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Knowledge check

Three questions about Slovakia.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

Which city is identified as the capital of Slovakia?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.

BratislavaSlovakiaHungaryCzech RepublicAustria