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Description Slovenia by rbd.me
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The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
WebCam
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Location
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Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
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Area - comparative
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slightly smaller than New Jersey
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Natural resources Slovenia
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lignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests
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Population Slovenia
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2,003,136 (July 2010 est.)
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Religions Slovenia
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Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)
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Languages
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Slovenian 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4% (2002 census)
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Education Slovenia expenditures
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6% of GDP (2005)
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Government Slovenia type
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parliamentary republic
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Independence
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25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
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Slovenia Economy - overview
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Slovenia became the first 2004 European Union entrant to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2007) and has become a model of economic success and stability for the region. With the highest per capita GDP in Central Europe, Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe. Privatization has lagged since 2002, and the economy has one of highest levels of state control in the EU. Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed for somewhat greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and have helped to lower unemployment. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. In December 2007, Slovenia was invited to begin the accession process for joining the OECD. Despite its economic success, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia has lagged behind the region average, and taxes remain relatively high. Furthermore, the labor market is often seen as inflexible, and legacy industries are losing sales to more competitive firms in China, India, and elsewhere. In 2009, the world recession caused the economy to contract - through falling exports and industrial production - by more than 7%, and unemployment to rise above 9%.
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Investment Slovenia
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23.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
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Industries Slovenia
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potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry
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Airports Slovenia
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.si
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