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Location
Central Europe.
Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Area
49,033 sq km (18,932 sq miles).
Population
5.4 million (official estimate 2005).
Population Density
110.1 per sq km.
Capital
Bratislava. Population: 446,000 (2005).
Geography
The Slovak Republic is situated in central Europe, sharing frontiers with the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Ukraine. Mountains, lowlands, canyons, lakes, cave formations, forests and meadows provide many examples of the Slovak Republic's year-round natural beauty. The Slovak Republic is a small country but its terrain varies impressively. Almost half of the country is taken up by the Carpathian Arc - a range of mountains stretching across the north. The smaller ranges include the Lesser Carpathians, White Carpathians, Malá (Lesser) Fatra, Vel'ká (Greater) Fatra, High and Low Tatras and the Slovenské rudohorie Mountains (Slovak Ore Mountains).
EU
Member since 2004.
Government
Republic since 1993.
Head of State
President Ivan Gasparovic since 2004.
Head of Government
Prime Minister Robert Fico since 2006.
Recent History
Dzurinda's centre-right Slovak Democratic and Christian Union party was defeated in the June 2006 general elections. The left-wing Smer party, led by Robert Fico, won nearly 30% of the vote and became the Slovak prime minister in July 2006 as part of an unlikely alliance with the nationalist Slovak National Party.
Language
The official language is Slovak. Hungarian, Ruthenian, Ukrainian and German are spoken by ethnic minorities.
Religion
The majority is Roman Catholic. Protestant churches comprise the remainder with Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist and Baptist denominations. There is also a Jewish minority. There is a Greek Orthodox minority in Eastern Slovak Republic.
Electricity
Generally 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are in use.
Social Conventions
Shaking hands is the customary form of greeting. Punctuality is appreciated on social occasions.