Home > General information

General information

State administration

The Slovak Republic was founded January 1, 1993 as a democratic state with the parliamentary form of government. The president of the republic is elected directly from the citizens and remains in office for 5 years.The National Assembly (the parliament) is the legislative power, its is 150 members are elected for a 4 years term. The suprem body of the executive power is the government with the chairman at its head.

The President

Ivan Gasparovic, elected on 17th April 2004

web site

Prime Minister

Robert Fico, from 2006

Official language

slovak

Surface

49.035 km2

Location

Slovakia is lies in Central Europe. The central and northern Slovakia is a mountainous region. The southern and eastern Slovakia is a lowland region, being an important agricultural area of the country.

Time Zone

1 hr ahead of GMT, the summer time which lasts from March to December is 2 hrs ahead of GMT, as in all European countries.

Borders

Ukraine 95.8 km, Poland 508.2 km, Austria 115.3 km, Hungary 630.9 km, Czech Republic 261.3 km.

Climate

Slovakia has a moderate climate, with cold and rigid winters, and with moderate and rainy summers. The lowest annual temperature is in mountain (at Lomnicky Peak; -3,7°C). The warmest zone is the Podunajska Lowland. (10.3°C).

Population

The Slovak Republic has 5.379.455 of inhabitants (2001) of whom 51,4% they are women.

The population that lives in Slovacchia so is subdivided: Slovak nationality 85,7%, Hungarian minority 10,6%, Czech 1,1%, Roma 1,6%, Ruthenian 0,3%, Ukrainian, 0,3%, Poles and Germans.

The capital

Bratislava (451.616 inhabitants)

Religion

68,9% of the population is roman catholic, 6,9% are protestants of Augsburg confession, 4,1% greek-catholic, 2% calvinist, 0.5% orthodox.

State holidays

1 January - New Year's Day, and Anniversary of the Establishment of the Slovak Republic in 1993

5 July - St. Cyril and Methodius' Day

29 August - Anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising

1 September - The Day of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic

17 November - The day of the struggle against the totalitarianism

Festive days

6 January - Three Magi, Orthodox Christmas

Good Friday, Easter Monday

1 May - Labour Day

8 May - Victory against Fascism Day

15 September - Our Lady of Sorrows, Patron Saint of Slovakia

1 November - All Saints Day

24 December - Christmas Eve

25 December - Christmas Day

26 December - Boxing Day

Currency

Slovakia adopted the euro on 1 January 2009, replacing its previous currency, the Slovak koruna.

Traffic regulation:

On the main roads the speed limit is 90 km/h. On the highway the speed limit is 130 km/h, in the cities and villages it is 50 km/h. Children until 12 years of age must not be seated on front seat. The safety belts have to be fastened on the front seat and back-seat also in towns. To the requisite equipment of vehicle belong a medicine-chest, towing-rope, accident triangle, spare tire.

Town destinations

Bratislava - Wien 60 km

Bratislava - Prague 350 km

Bratislava - Zilina 210 km

Bratislava - Banska Bystrica 213 km

Banska Bystrica - Kosice 237 km

Banska Bystrica - Poprad 140 km

Zilina - Kosice 265 km

Important telephone numbers:

SOS, emergency calls 112

Police 112

Ambulance/Rescue 112, 16155

Fire/Rescue 112

road service (ASA Slovakia) 18 124

Telephone:

Direct international telephone connection is possible with numerous countries in the world. IDD is possible. Calls in Slovakia – SR country code: +421 and the area code of the given city/region (e.g. Bratislava 02)

Calls abroad – use code: 00 + the appropriate country code + local area code + telephone/fax number.