Changes

*Ethnic groups (2001): Slovaks 85.8%, Hungarians 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Czechs 0.8%, Ruthenians 0.4%, Ukranians 0.2%, other 1.4%. Unofficial estimates place the Roma population between 6%-10%.  

*Ethnic groups (2001): Slovaks 85.8%, Hungarians 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Czechs 0.8%, Ruthenians 0.4%, Ukranians 0.2%, other 1.4%. Unofficial estimates place the Roma population between 6%-10%.  

*Religions (2001): Roman Catholic 69%, Protestant 9%, Greek Catholic 4%, Orthodox 0.9%, other 0.6%, unknown 3.5%, 13% report no affiliation.  

*Religions (2001): Roman Catholic 69%, Protestant 9%, Greek Catholic 4%, Orthodox 0.9%, other 0.6%, unknown 3.5%, 13% report no affiliation.  

*Languages: Slovak (official), Hungarian, Ruthenian, Romany, and Ukrainian. Education: Literacy--99%.  

*Languages: Slovak (official), Hungarian, Ruthenian, Romany, and Ukrainian. Education: Literacy—99%.  

*Health: Life expectancy (2001)--78 yrs. females; 70 yrs. males.  

*Health: Life expectancy (2001)--78 yrs. females; 70 yrs. males.  

*Work force (2.1 million in 2001): Industry, construction, commerce--61%; financial, commercial, health services--18%; government and education--15%; agriculture--6%.  

*Work force (2.1 million in 2001): Industry, construction, commerce—61%; financial, commercial, health services—18%; government and education—15%; agriculture—6%.  

Despite its modern European economy and society, Slovakia has a significant rural element. About 45% of Slovaks live in villages of less than 5,000 people, and 14% in villages of less than 1,000.  

Despite its modern European economy and society, Slovakia has a significant rural element. About 45% of Slovaks live in villages of less than 5,000 people, and 14% in villages of less than 1,000.  

===Principal Government Officials===

===Principal Government Officials===

*President--Andrej Kiska

*President—Andrej Kiska

*Prime Minister--Róbert Fico

*Prime Minister—Róbert Fico

*Minister of Foreign Affairs--Jan Kubis  

*Minister of Foreign Affairs—Jan Kubis  

*Ambassador to the United Nations--Peter Burian  

*Ambassador to the United Nations—Peter Burian  

*Ambassador to NATO--Igor Slobodnik  

*Ambassador to NATO—Igor Slobodnik  

*Ambassador to the European Union--Maros Sefcovic  

*Ambassador to the European Union—Maros Sefcovic  

===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign Relations===

*Unemployment (May 2007): 8.3%.

*Unemployment (May 2007): 8.3%.

*Natural resources: Antimony, mercury, iron, copper, lead, zinc, magnesite, limestone, lignite, uranium (not yet in production).  

*Natural resources: Antimony, mercury, iron, copper, lead, zinc, magnesite, limestone, lignite, uranium (not yet in production).  

*Agriculture: Products--grains, potatoes, poultry, cattle, hogs, sugar, beets, hops, fruit, forest products.  

*Agriculture: Products—grains, potatoes, poultry, cattle, hogs, sugar, beets, hops, fruit, forest products.  

*Industry: Types--iron and steel, chemicals, automobiles, light industry, food processing, back-office support, engineering, building materials.  

*Industry: Types—iron and steel, chemicals, automobiles, light industry, food processing, back-office support, engineering, building materials.  

*Trade (2006): Exports--$41.5 billion: vehicles, iron and steel, machinery and energy equipment, plastics, fiber optics. Imports (2006)--$44.6 billion: mineral fuels and oils, machinery, audio/video equipment, vehicles. Partners-- Germany 23.7%, Czech Republic 14.1%, Italy 6.5%, Poland 6.2%, Austria 6%, Hungary 5.8%, France 4.3%, Netherlands 4.2%.  

*Trade (2006): Exports--$41.5 billion: vehicles, iron and steel, machinery and energy equipment, plastics, fiber optics. Imports (2006)--$44.6 billion: mineral fuels and oils, machinery, audio/video equipment, vehicles. Partners—Germany 23.7%, Czech Republic 14.1%, Italy 6.5%, Poland 6.2%, Austria 6%, Hungary 5.8%, France 4.3%, Netherlands 4.2%.  

*Foreign investment (1989-2006, OECD data): Cumulative-$17.3 billion USD, FDI inflow $4.2 billion USD in 2006 (highest-ever FDI inflows). Sources of direct foreign investment-Netherlands 19.5%, Germany 18.2%, Austria14.8%, Italy 12.4%, Hungary 6.1%, UK 5.3%, Czech republic 4.1%, Republic of Korea 3.6%, USA 3.3% (9th largest investor)**, Cyprus 2.7%.. Sectors of direct foreign investment - industrial production, financial services, energy production and distribution, wholesale and retail trade, transportation and telecommunications.  

*Foreign investment (1989-2006, OECD data): Cumulative-$17.3 billion USD, FDI inflow $4.2 billion USD in 2006 (highest-ever FDI inflows). Sources of direct foreign investment-Netherlands 19.5%, Germany 18.2%, Austria14.8%, Italy 12.4%, Hungary 6.1%, UK 5.3%, Czech republic 4.1%, Republic of Korea 3.6%, USA 3.3% (9th largest investor)**, Cyprus 2.7%.. Sectors of direct foreign investment - industrial production, financial services, energy production and distribution, wholesale and retail trade, transportation and telecommunications.  

On November 17, 1989, a series of public protests, known as the "Velvet Revolution," began and led to the downfall of communist rule in Czechoslovakia. Dissident groups, such as Charter 77 in the Czech Republic and Public Against Violence in Slovakia, united to form a transitional government and assist with the first democratic elections since 1948. Several new parties emerged to fill the political spectrum.  

On November 17, 1989, a series of public protests, known as the "Velvet Revolution," began and led to the downfall of communist rule in Czechoslovakia. Dissident groups, such as Charter 77 in the Czech Republic and Public Against Violence in Slovakia, united to form a transitional government and assist with the first democratic elections since 1948. Several new parties emerged to fill the political spectrum.  

After the 1992 elections, Vladimir Meciar's Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), based on its appeal on fairness to Slovak demands for autonomy, emerged as the leading party in Slovakia. In June 1992, the Slovak parliament voted to declare sovereignty and the federation dissolved peacefully on January 1, 1993. Meciar's party--the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS)-- ruled Slovakia the first 5 years as an independent state. His authoritarian style as Prime Minister created international concerns about the democratic development of Slovakia. In the 1998 elections, Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) received about 27% of the vote, but went into the opposition, unable to find coalition partners.  

After the 1992 elections, Vladimir Meciar's Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), based on its appeal on fairness to Slovak demands for autonomy, emerged as the leading party in Slovakia. In June 1992, the Slovak parliament voted to declare sovereignty and the federation dissolved peacefully on January 1, 1993. Meciar's party—the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS)-- ruled Slovakia the first 5 years as an independent state. His authoritarian style as Prime Minister created international concerns about the democratic development of Slovakia. In the 1998 elections, Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) received about 27% of the vote, but went into the opposition, unable to find coalition partners.  

A reform-oriented coalition formed a government led by Mikulas Dzurinda, the chairman of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU). The first Dzurinda government made political and economic reforms that enabled Slovakia to enter the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), close virtually all chapters in European Union (EU) negotiations, and make the country a strong candidate for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) accession. However, the popularity of the governing parties declined sharply, and several new parties gained relatively high levels of support in public opinion polls.  

A reform-oriented coalition formed a government led by Mikulas Dzurinda, the chairman of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU). The first Dzurinda government made political and economic reforms that enabled Slovakia to enter the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), close virtually all chapters in European Union (EU) negotiations, and make the country a strong candidate for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) accession. However, the popularity of the governing parties declined sharply, and several new parties gained relatively high levels of support in public opinion polls.