SLOVENIA

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: Slovenia is mountainous, much like Austria to the north and northern Italy to the west, and has heavily forested regions. The western third of the country lies within the Karst, a barren limestone plateau broken by depressions and ridges. The highest point, Mount Triglav, rises 2,863 m and forms part of the Julian Alps in the northwest. The Mura, Drava, and Sava rivers flow through the forested northeastern part of the country. In the southwest there is a small stretch of coastline, extending 47 km along the Gulf of Venice. Towns along the coastline enjoy a warm Mediterranean climate, while those in the mountains to the north often have harsh winters and rainy summers. The plateaus 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 tree and the chamois, thrive throughout the country. Coal is the most abundant natural resource in Slovenia; other resources include lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, and silver, as well as natural gas and petroleum.
ECONOMY: Prior to independence Slovenia was the most prosperous of the six Yugoslav republics. However, the wars that took place in the region during the early and mid-1990s seriously affected Slovenia’s economy. The gross domestic product per capita was $6,052 in 1992, a sharp decline from the pre-independence figure of $8,658 in 1990. 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. In recent years, economic leaders have made efforts to turn the economy around, implementing market and bank reforms and promoting privatization. The presence of a non-Communist government since 1990, along with the country’s sound infrastructure and skilled workforce, helped reverse the downward trend. The GDP began to grow in 1993, and by 1995 was increasing at 5 percent a year. Inflation slowed, and unemployment decreased to a rate lower than many countries of Western Europe. In 2004 the GDP had increased to $32.2 billion, or $16,120 per person. Industry constituted 37 percent of GDP in Slovenia in 2003. The country’s chief industries produce electrical equipment, processed food, textiles, paper and paper products, chemicals, and wood products. Agriculture accounts for 3 percent of GDP, with dairy farming and livestock dominating this sector. Major crops include cereals such as corn and wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, and fruits. Germany is by far Slovenia’s most important trading partner in both exports and imports. The other leading countries buying Slovenian goods are Croatia, Italy, France, and Austria. Exports include electrical machinery, road vehicles, chemicals and chemical products, footwear, and furniture. 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 percent over prewar levels. The largest number of visitors are from Italy, Germany, and Austria. Slovenia has an excellent transportation network. It contained 38,400 km of roads in 2003, and its largest cities are connected by railroads. There are also three major airports and a port at Koper on the Adriatic Sea. In October 1991 Slovenia released its own currency, the tolar, to replace the Yugoslav dinar. In early 1993 Slovenia joined the International Monetary Fund and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. In June 1996 Slovenia became an associate member of the European Union. In May 2004 Slovenia formally joined the organization as a full member.