Area: total: 48,845 sq km ,land: 48,800 sq km, water: 45 sq km

Population: 5,447,502 (July 2007 est.)

Government: Parliamentary democracy
Capital City: Bratislava
People: Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1% other and unspecified 1.8%
Language(s): Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6%
Religion(s): Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13%

Currency: Slovak koruna (SKK)

Slovakia is one of the successful transitional countries in Eastern Europe. Established after the nation seceded amiably from Czech Republic in 1993 (the two countries were formerly known as Czechoslovakia), its stable polity and liberal market economy belie its previous 41-year communist rule.

Slovakia benefited from eight years’ reform under the centre-right coalition led by Mikulas Dzurinda (1998-2004) whose reform package won praise from international organizations, and oversaw EU and Nato entry. Bratislava become a favourite destination for foreign investors.

Known as the little big country, relatively large differences in elevation are characteristic of Slovakia. Central and northern Slovakia is more mountainous; the Carpathian bow extends across these regions. The south and east of the country lie in the lowlands, an important agricultural area in Slovakia. The most important river is the Danube, which connects the capital Bratislava with two European metropolises – Vienna and Budapest

The Slovak Republic is located in a moderate zone with characteristic changes of season. The average daily temperature is -2ºC in winter and 21ºC in summer. The coldest month is January; the warmest are July and August. Snow remains on the ground an average of 130 days per year in the highest elevations.