Slovakia

General Information

Official Name: Slovak Republic
Area: 49.030 Km2
Political Division: 8 administrative regions (Kraj)
Capital: Bratislava
Population: 5.407.956 inhabitants
Population Density: 110.2 (inhab./Km2)
Currency: Slovak Koruna
Language: Slovak (official)
Ethnic groups: Slovaks (85,7%); Hungarian (10,6%); Gypsy/Roma(1,6%); Czech, Moravian (1,1%); Ruthenian and Ukrainian(0,6%); other (0,4%)
Religion: Roman Catholic (60.3%); atheist (9,7%) Protestant (7,9%); other (18%)
Income per capita: 2.250$
Natural Resources: Brown coal and lignite; manganese ore; copper ore; small amounts of iron ore; salt
Main exports commodities: Machinery and transport equipment (37%); intermediate manufactured goods (30%); manufactured goods (13%); chemicals (9%); raw materials (4%)

Geopolitical Situation

Slovakia is a landlocked country, situated in Central Europe with a mainly rugged terrain (almost 80% is elevated at 750 meters or higher). Toward the north are the Carpathian Mountains, which separate the country from Poland. Broad river valleys divide the Western Carpathians from a mountain range including the Tatras Mountains among which the country’s highest peak, Mt. Gerlachovka (2.655 metros), is found. There are two hydrological basins; the largest flows into the Black Sea and includes the Danube River, which crosses the country’s capital and its tributaries, the Morova and the Vah, among others. Slovakia has a surface area of 48.845 Km2. and borders with the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Ukraine.

Bilateral Relations

On January 1, 1993, the National Government proceeded to acknowledge the new Slovak Republic. In this sense, both countries have their diplomatic representations, with regard to concurrent Ambassadors, in Vienna and Mexico respectively.