Economic overview: Slovakia continues a difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The economic downturn in 1999 was fueled by large budget and balance of payments deficits, soaring external debt, and widespread corruption. Even though GDP growth was only 2.2% in 2000, this year was marked by such positive developments as attracting foreign direct investment of $1.5 billion, export growth, restructuring and privatization in the banking sector, entry in the OECD and the beginning of the fight against corruption. The government faces challenging tasks in 2001, including maintaining a balanced state budget, continuing privatization, and reducing unemployment. See topb2bwebsites.com to know more about Slovakia in 2004. GDP: at purchasing power parity – $ 55.3 billion (1999 est.). Real GDP growth rate: 2.2% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $10,200 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 4.5%; industry: 29.3%; services: 66.2% (1999 est.). Proportion of the population below the poverty line: no data available. Percentage distribution of family income or consumption: per 10% of the poorest families: 5.1%; by the top 10% of families: 18.2% (1992). Inflation rate at consumer prices: 12.2% (2000 est.). Labor force: 3 million people (1999). Employment structure: industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8%, transport and communications 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994). Unemployment rate: 17% (2000 est.). Budget: revenues: $5.2 billion; expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures – NA (1999 est.). Spheres of economy: production of metals and metal products; food products and drinks; power generation, extraction of gas, coke, oil, production of nuclear fuel; production of chemicals and artificial fibers, machinery, paper and printing industries; production of pottery and ceramics; release of vehicles; production of textiles, electrical and optical instruments, rubber products. Growth in industrial production: 9.3% (2000 est.). Electricity generation: 22.582 billion kWh (1999) Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 37.56%; hydropower: 18.27%; nuclear fuel: 44.17%; others: 0% (1999 est.). Electricity consumption: 21.471 billion kWh (1999 est.) Electricity export: 930 million kWh (1999 est.). Electricity imports: 1.4 million kWh (1999 est.). Agricultural products: cereals, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruits; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest. Exports: $12 billion (free on board, 2000 est.) Export articles: machinery and transport equipment 39.4%; semi-finished industrial products 27.5%, various manufactured goods 13%; chemicals 8% (1999). Export partners: EU 59.7% (Germany 27.8%, Austria 8%, Italy 8.9%), Czech Republic 18.1% (1999). Imports: $12.8 billion (free on board, 2000 est.) Import items: machinery and transport equipment 37.7%; industrial semi-finished products 18%; fuel 13%; chemicals 11%; various manufactured goods 9.5% (1999). Import partners: EU 51.4% (Germany 26%, Italy 7.1%), Czech Republic 16.6%, Russia 11.9% (1999). External debt: $10.3 billion (2000 est.) Economic aid recipient: $421.9 million (1995) Economic aid donor: Currency: Slovak koruna. Currency code: SKK. Exchange rate: SKK/USD – 48.09 (March 2001), 46.395 (2000), 41.363 (1999), 35.233 (1998), 33.616 (1997), 30.654 (1996). Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 1.935 million (1998). Mobile cell phones: 736,662 (April 1999). Telephone system: the modernization and privatization program makes telephone services more accessible, reducing the waiting time for new subscribers to connect, and generally improves the quality of service; domestic: analogue system predominates, digital equipment is currently being installed and the system is being expanded by laying fiber optic cables, especially in large cities; mobile cellular communication operates; international: there are 3 international exchanges – 1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will expand access to international communications. Broadcast stations: AM -15, FM -78, shortwave – 2 (1998). Radio receivers: 3.12 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 38 (and 864 repeaters) (1995). Televisions: 2.62 million (1997) Internet country code: sk Internet service providers: 6 (2000). Number of users: 700,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: total: 3,660 km; broad gauge: 102 km (1.520 m gauge); standard gauge: 3,507 km (1.435 m gauge) (1,505 km electrified; 1,011 km double track); narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km with 1.000 m gauge; 5 km with 0.750 m gauge) (1998). Roads: total: 17,710 km; paved: 17,533 km (including 288 km of expressways); unpaved: 177 km (1998 est.). Waterways: 172 km on the Danube. Pipelines: for oil products – no data; for natural gas – 2,700 km. Ports and harbors: Bratislava, Komarno. Merchant navy: in total: 3 vessels (displacement of 1,000 tons or more) with a total displacement of 15,041 gross register tons / 19,517 long tons of gross tonnage; ships-of-different-types: cargo ships – 3 (2000 est.). Airports: 35 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 18; over 3,047 m: 1; from 2438 to 3047 m:3; from 1524 to 2437 m:3; from 914 to 1523 m:3; less than 914 m: 8 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 17; from 2438 to 3047 m:1; from 914 to 1523 m:9; less than 914 m: 7 (2000 est.).
Armed forces
Branches of the armed forces: ground forces, air force and air defense, territorial defense forces, civil defense forces. Enlistment age: 18 years old. Total Military Manpower: Male 15 to 49: 1,487,093 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: males aged 15 to 49: 1,136,811 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: male: 45,502 (2001 est.). Military spending in dollar terms: $380 million (2000) Military spending as part of GDP: 1.71%
International Issues
International Issues International Disputes: A dispute with Hungary over the construction of a dam at Gabczykovo has been submitted to the International Court of Justice. Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin from Southwest Asia bound for Western Europe.
