Terrain
Rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
Climate
Temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
People
Nationality: Slovak(s)
Population: 5,488,339 (July 2013 est.)
Languages: Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)
Religions
Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)
Economy
Slovakia has made significant economic reforms since its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993. Reforms to the taxation, healthcare, pension, and social welfare systems helped Slovakia consolidate its budget and get on track to join the EU in 2004 after a period of relative stagnation in the early and mid 1990s and to adopt the euro in January 2009.
Living Conditions
Life expectancy for Slovaks averages seventy-one years of age. There is a serious housing shortage in Slovakia. Most city dwellers live in modest-sized apartments built during the communist era. Varied types of housing are found in rural Slovakia. These range from two-room detached dwellings to two-story apartment buildings with up to six units. Indoor plumbing has been standard in rural areas for the past thirty years. Common building materials are concrete blocks and bricks.
Government
Parliamentary democracy
US Military Presence/Support
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (1:07)