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Physical geography
Rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south.
Local timeBratislava ·
Europe / Central Europe · Card 047
Slovakia
Slovakia is a country in Central Europe. Its capital is Bratislava.
Find Slovakia
● 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.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Bratislava
- Languages
- Slovak
- 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 mapGeography & languages
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Languages
Languages used in public life include Slovak.
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Location
Central Europe, south of Poland.
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
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.
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Slovakia becomes part of Czechoslovakia
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Slovakia becomes independent
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Slovakia adopts the euro
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
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people5.42025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| 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 dollars108.12025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
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
| 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).
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.