Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenija
local short form: Slovenija
former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia

Capital:

Ljubljana. Population: 280,000 (official estimate 2009).

Location:

Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia

Area:

20,273 sq km (7,827 sq miles).
 

Description:
This compact and strategically important country is dominated by mountains, rivers and major north-south and east-west transit routes. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast and Croatia to the southeast, with a 47km (30-mile) Adriatic Sea coastline, where the main port is Koper.
 

Population:

2, 051,511 (official estimate 2009).
 

Languages:

Slovene, which is closely related to Croat and Czech. Most Slovenes speak German, Hungarian or Italian, with English as a second language
 

Climate:
Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters (snowfalls in the Alps). Mediterranean climate on the coast

Economy - overview:
Slovenia has always been a prosperous country, even before the disintegration of Yugoslavia that began in 1991. Its fertile land, strategic location and educated workforce have helped keep the GDP per capita substantially higher than that of other transitional economies of central Europe. It became the first 2004 entrant to the European Union to adopt the Euro.

Since gaining independence, Slovenia was doing very well, with inflation steadily decelerating. The country, however, was affected by the 2008-2009 recession, seeing the economy contract for the first time in 15 years and unemployment is now estimated to be at around 6.7% (2009). All eyes are on this new EU member state to see how it copes, but economists predict with its stable economic history it will weather the storm well

Economy:
Slovenia has always been a prosperous country, even before the disintegration of Yugoslavia that began in 1991. Its fertile land, strategic location and educated workforce have helped keep the GDP per capita substantially higher than that of other transitional economies of central Europe. It became the first 2004 entrant to the European Union to adopt the Euro.

Since gaining independence, Slovenia was doing very well, with inflation steadily decelerating. The country, however, was affected by the 2008-2009 recession, seeing the economy contract for the first time in 15 years and unemployment is now estimated to be at around 6.7% (2009). All eyes are on this new EU member state to see how it copes, but economists predict with its stable economic history it will weather the storm well
 

Industries:

ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools