Slovakia is a country located in the east of the European continent, bordering the Czech Republic (to the west), Poland (to the north), Ukraine (to the east), Hungary (to the south), Austria (to the west).
The country was part of Czechoslovakia, and with the peaceful fragmentation of the territory between Czechs and Slavs, in January 1993, two autonomous states were created: Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The Carpathian Mountains occupy most of the Slovakian territory, forming a natural barrier between the plains of Poland (to the north) and those of Hungary (to the south).
The fertile lands of the Danube River valley are used for growing cereals, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers and fruits. The industrial sector has been strengthened through foreign investments and an intense privatization process, providing industrial and economic development in the country. The main segments of the industry are: electronics, chemical engineering, automotive, mechanical engineering and information technology. However, the unemployment rate remains high, in 2008, 10% of the national workforce was unemployed.
Coat of Arms of Slovakia
Data from Slovakia:
Territorial extension: 49,035 km².
Location: Europe.
Capital: Bratislava.
Climate: Temperate continental.
Government: Parliamentary Republic.
Administrative division: 8 regions.
Language: Slovak (official), Hungarian, Czech, regional languages.
Religion: Christianity, 84.8% (Catholics, 72.2%, Protestants, 9.3%, others, 3.3%), no religion, 11.5%, atheism, 3.7%.
Population: 5,405,743 inhabitants. (Men: 2,622,335; Women: 2,783,408).
Ethnic Composition: Slovaks 86%, Hungarians 11%, Roma 2%, others 1%.
Demographic density: 110 inhabitants/km².
Average annual population growth rate: 0.1%.
Population residing in urban areas: 56.62%.
Population residing in rural areas: 43.38%.
Undernourished population: less than 5%.
Life expectancy at birth: 74.4 years.
Households with access to drinking water: 100%.
Households with access to a health network: 100%.
Human Development Index (HDI): 0.818 (very high).
Currency: Euro (replaced Slovak Krona in 2009).
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): US$95 billion.
GDP per capita: US$13,702.
External relations: World Bank, IMF, OECD, WTO, UN, NATO, EU.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team
countries - geography - Brazil School
