INTRODUCTION TO SLOVENIA

Geography:
Solvenia, country on the Balkan Peninsula, south of Austria and east of Italy.The total area is 20,253 sq km (7820 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Ljubljana.

Land and Resources
Slovenia is mountainous, with heavy forests. The climate varies from warm along the coast of the Adriatic Sea to moderate on the eastern plateaus. Coal is the most abundant natural resource; others include metals, natural gas, and petroleum.

Population:
The population of Slovenia is 1,973,096 (1997 estimate), most of whom are ethnic Slovenes, a Slavic group. Minority groups include Serbs, Croats, and various refugees from the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Education is compulsory, and almost all Slovenes can read. The official language is Slovenian. Most people in Slovenia are Roman Catholic.

Economy:
Formerly prosperous, Slovenia's economy has been affected significantly by independence, the change from Communist government in 1990, and the Balkan war of the following years. A sizable industrial base and skilled workforce have helped the country to cope with these upheavals. Manufactures include electronics, electrical machinery, processed metal, and motor vehicles. Agriculture is only a small part of the economy. Tourism is of increasing importance. The unit of currency is the tolar (135 tolars equal U.S.$1; 1996).