Slovenia
A Central European country with a mountainous landscape, a short Adriatic coastline, and a history shaped by Slavic settlement and diverse empires.
Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, and Croatia to the south and southeast; its southwestern boundary consists of a 46.6 km coastline on the Adriatic Sea. The country is mostly mountainous and forested, covering 20271 km2, with a population of approximately 2.1 million people. Slovene is the official language. Slovenia has a predominantly temperate continental climate, with the exception of the Slovene Littoral and the Julian Alps. Ljubljana, the capital and largest city, is geographically situated near the centre of the country. Other larger urban centers include Maribor, Ptuj, Kranj, Celje, Koper, Novo Mesto, Velenje, Nova Gorica, Sežana, Murska Sobota, and Jesenice.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Ljubljana
- Region
- Central Europe
- Languages
- Slovene
- Currency
- Euro
- Continent
- Europe
- Government
- Parliamentary Republic
Lore & Background
The region has a long history of settlement. The Proto-Illyrian tribes settled the area during the Early Bronze Age, stretching from present-day Albania to the city of Trieste, while the Slavic tribes (the ancestors of the modern Slovenes) arrived in the 5th century AD. The present day territory has been part of many different states, including the Roman Empire, the Western Roman Empire, the Carolingian Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Republic of Venice, the Habsburg Empire, Napoleonic France, the Austrian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in December 1918; in 1929, the Kingdom became known as Yugoslavia. In 1941, during World War II, Slovenia's territory was partitioned by Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Horthyist Hungary and the Independent State of Croatia. Following the end of World War II in 1945, Slovenia was established as one of the six constituent republics that made up the Socialist Federation of Yugoslavia. Modern Slovenia was formed in June 1991, when the country declared independence from Yugoslavia, and after the brief Ten-Day War became an independent sovereign state.
Reader's Guide
Slovenia is a developed country, with a high-income economy characterized by a mixture of both traditional industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture, and modern sectors, such as information technology and financial services. The economy is highly dependent on foreign trade, with exports accounting for a significant portion of the country's GDP. Slovenia is a member of the Council of Europe, the European Union, the United Nations, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and other associations in the global community.
Did You Know?
- The name Slovenia etymologically means 'land of the Slavs'.
- A pierced cave bear bone from Divje Babe cave, dating from 43100 ± 700 BP, is possibly the oldest musical instrument discovered in the world.
- The Ljubljana Marshes Wooden Wheel is the oldest wooden wheel in the world.
- The historic Battle of the Frigidus took place in the Vipava Valley in 394.
More in European Nations & Regions
Elsewhere in World Atlas
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced