Slovakia vs. Austria
Introduction
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. After the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, backlash to language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) encouraged the strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who fell administratively under the Austrian half of the empire. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. The new state was envisioned as a nation with Czech and Slovak branches. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state created by and allied with Nazi Germany. Following World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of Czechoslovakia's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro zone on 1 January 2009. | Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the EU in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. |
Geography
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Central Europe, south of Poland | Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia |
| Geographic coordinates | 48 40 N, 19 30 E | 47 20 N, 13 20 E |
| Map references | Europe | Europe |
| Area | total: 49,035 sq km land: 48,105 sq km water: 930 sq km | total: 83,871 sq km land: 82,445 sq km water: 1,426 sq km |
| Area - comparative | about one and a half times the size of Maryland; about twice the size of New Hampshire | about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania |
| Land boundaries | total: 1,587 km border countries (5): Austria 105 km, Czechia 241 km, Hungary 627 km, Poland 517 km, Ukraine 97 km | total: 2,524 km border countries (8): Czech Republic 402 km, Germany 801 km, Hungary 321 km, Italy 404 km, Liechtenstein 34 km, Slovakia 105 km, Slovenia 299 km, Switzerland 158 km |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | none (landlocked) |
| Climate | temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters | temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers |
| Terrain | rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south | mostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south; mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m mean elevation: 458 m | highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m mean elevation: 910 m |
| Natural resources | lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land | oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower |
| Land use | agricultural land: 40.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 28.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.8% (2018 est.) forest: 40.2% (2018 est.) other: 19.7% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 38.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.5% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 21.1% (2018 est.) forest: 47.2% (2018 est.) other: 14.4% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 869 sq km (2012) | 1,170 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | flooding | landslides; avalanches; earthquakes |
| Environment - current issues | air pollution and acid rain present human health risks and damage forests; land erosion caused by agricultural and mining practices; water pollution | some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe; water pollution; the Danube, as well as some of Austria's other rivers and lakes, are threatened by pollution |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection |
| Geography - note | landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys | note 1: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere note 2: the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) is the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, about 40 km south of Salzburg; ice caves are bedrock caves that contain year-round ice formations; they differ from glacial caves, which are transient and are formed by melting ice and flowing water within and under glaciers |
| Total renewable water resources | 50.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 77.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border | the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two-thirds of the populace lives in urban areas |
Demographics
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,436,066 (July 2021 est.) | 8,884,864 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 15.13% (male 423,180/female 400,128) 15-24 years: 10.06% (male 280,284/female 266,838) 25-54 years: 44.61% (male 1,228,462/female 1,198,747) 55-64 years: 13.15% (male 342,124/female 373,452) 65 years and over: 17.05% (male 366,267/female 561,120) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 14.01% (male 635,803/female 605,065) 15-24 years: 10.36% (male 466,921/female 451,248) 25-54 years: 41.35% (male 1,831,704/female 1,831,669) 55-64 years: 14.41% (male 635,342/female 641,389) 65 years and over: 19.87% (male 768,687/female 991,621) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 41.8 years male: 40.1 years female: 43.6 years (2020 est.) | total: 44.5 years male: 43.1 years female: 45.8 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | -0.08% (2021 est.) | 0.32% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 9.1 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 9.48 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 9.85 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | 0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 3.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 78.07 years male: 74.56 years female: 81.82 years (2021 est.) | total population: 82.07 years male: 79.42 years female: 84.85 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.45 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 1.5 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | <.1% (2018 est.) | 0.1% (2017 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak | noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian |
| Ethnic groups | Slovak 80.7%, Hungarian 8.5%, Romani 2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 7% (2011 est.) note: data represent population by nationality; Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 7-11% of Slovakia's population | Austrian 80.8%, German 2.6%, Bosnian and Herzegovinian 1.9%, Turkish 1.8%, Serbian 1.6%, Romanian 1.3%, other 10% (2018 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 1,200 (2018 est.) | 7,400 (2017 est.) |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 8.2%, Greek Catholic 3.8%, other or unspecified 12.5%, none 13.4% (2011 est.) | Catholic 57%, Eastern Orthodox 8.7%, Muslim 7.9%, Evangelical Christian 3.3%, other/none/unspecified 23.1% (2018 est.) note: data on Muslim is a 2016 estimate; data on other/none/unspecified are from 2012-2018 estimates |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <100 (2018 est.) | <100 (2017 est.) |
| Languages | Slovak (official) 78.6%, Hungarian 9.4%, Roma 2.3%, Ruthenian 1%, other or unspecified 8.8% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): Svetova Kniha Faktov, nenahraditelny zdroj zakladnej informacie. (Slovak) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in southern Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 est.) major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2018) | total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 16 years (2018) |
| Education expenditures | 3.9% of GDP (2017) | 5.4% of GDP (2017) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 53.8% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 59% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 437,000 BRATISLAVA (capital) (2021) | 1.945 million VIENNA (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Health expenditures | 6.7% (2018) | 10.3% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 3.42 physicians/1,000 population (2017) | 5.17 physicians/1,000 population (2017) |
| Hospital bed density | 5.8 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 7.4 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 20.5% (2016) | 20.1% (2016) |
| Mother's mean age at first birth | 27.2 years (2019 est.) | 29.7 years (2019 est.) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 47.6 youth dependency ratio: 23 elderly dependency ratio: 24.6 potential support ratio: 4.1 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 50.6 youth dependency ratio: 21.7 elderly dependency ratio: 28.9 potential support ratio: 3.5 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska republika local short form: Slovensko etymology: may derive from the medieval Latin word "Slavus" (Slav), which had the local form "Sloven", used since the 13th century to refer to the territory of Slovakia and its inhabitants | conventional long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich etymology: the name Oesterreich means "eastern realm" or "eastern march" and dates to the 10th century; the designation refers to the fact that Austria was the easternmost extension of Bavaria, and, in fact, of all the Germans; the word Austria is a Latinization of the German name |
| Government type | parliamentary republic | federal parliamentary republic |
| Capital | name: Bratislava geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name was adopted in 1919 after Czechoslovakia gained its independence and may derive from later transliterations of the 9th century military commander, Braslav, or the 11th century Bohemian Duke Bretislav I; alternatively, the name may derive from the Slovak words "brat" (brother) and "slava" (glory) | name: Vienna geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the origin of the name is disputed but may derive from earlier settlements of the area; a Celtic town of Vedunia, established about 500 B.C., came under Roman dominance around 15 B.C. and became known as Vindobona; archeological remains of the latter survive at many sites in the center of Vienna |
| Administrative divisions | 8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trencin, Trnava, Zilina | 9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna) |
| Independence | 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) | no official date of independence: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 6 January 1453 (Archduchy of Austria acknowledged); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established); 12 November 1918 (First Republic proclaimed); 27 April 1945 (Second Republic proclaimed) |
| National holiday | Constitution Day, 1 September (1992) | National Day (commemorates passage of the law on permanent neutrality), 26 October (1955) |
| Constitution | history: several previous (preindependence); latest passed by the National Council 1 September 1992, signed 3 September 1992, effective 1 October 1992 amendments: proposed by the National Council; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote of Council members; amended many times, last in 2020 | history: several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934, replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation, reinstated 1 May 1945 amendments: proposed through laws designated "constitutional laws" or through the constitutional process if the amendment is part of another law; approval required by at least a two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly and the presence of one half of the members; a referendum is required only if requested by one third of the National Council or Federal Council membership; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote; amended many times, last in 2020 |
| Legal system | civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; note - legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe | civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 16 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Zuzana CAPUTOVA (since 15 June 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Eduard HEGER (since 1 April 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Stefan HOLY, Veronika REMISOVA, Richard SULIK (all since 21 March 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 March and 30 March 2019 (next to be held March 2024); following National Council elections (every 4 years), the president designates a prime minister candidate, usually the leader of the party or coalition that wins the most votes, who must win a vote of confidence in the National Council election results: Zuzana CAPUTOVA reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Zuzana CAPUTOVA (PS) 58.4%, Maros SEFCOVIC (independent) 41.6% | chief of state: President Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (since 26 January 2017) head of government: Sebastian KURZ elected chancellor (since 2 January 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 24 April 2016 (first round), 22 May 2016 (second round, which was annulled), and 4 December 2016 (second round re-vote) (next election to be held in April 2022); chancellor appointed by the president but determined by the majority coalition parties in the Federal Assembly; vice chancellor appointed by the president on the advice of the chancellor election results: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN elected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Norbert HOFER (FPOe) 35.1%, Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent, allied with the Greens) 21.3%, Irmgard GRISS (independent) 18.9%, Rudolf HUNDSTORFER (SPOe) 11.3%, Andreas KHOL (OeVP) 11.1%, Richard LUGNER (independent) 2.3%; percent of vote in second round - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN 53.8%, Norbert HOFER 46.2% |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral National Council or Narodna Rada (150 seats; members directly elected in a single- and multi-seat constituencies by closed, party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 29 February 2020 (next to be held March 2024) election results: percent of vote by party - OLaNO-NOVA 25%, Smer-SD 18.3%, Sme-Rodina 8.2%, LSNS 8%, PS-SPOLU 7%, SaS 6.2%, Za Ludi 5.8%, other 21.5%; seats by party - OLaNO-NOVA 53, Smer-SD 38, Sme-Rodina 17, LSNS 17, SaS 13, Za Ludi 12, PS-SPOLU 0; composition - men 120, women 30, percent of women 20% | description: bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of: Federal Council or Bundesrat (61 seats; members appointed by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 seats in proportion to its population; members serve 5- or 6-year terms) National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) (e.g. 2019) elections: Federal Council - last appointed - NA National Council - last held on 29 September 2019 (next to be held in 2024); note - election was originally scheduled for 2022, but President VAN DER BELLEN called for an early election (e.g. 2019) election results: Federal Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 44, women 17, percent of women 27.9% National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP 37.5%, SPOe 21.2%, FPOe 16.2%, The Greens 13.9%, NEOS 8.1%, other 3.1%; seats by party - OeVP 71, SPOe 40, FPOe 31, The Greens 26, NEOS 15; composition - men 115, women 68, percent of women 37.2%; note - total Federal Assembly percent of women 34.8% (e.g. 2019) |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 80 judges organized into criminal, civil, commercial, and administrative divisions with 3- and 5-judge panels); Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of 13 judges organized into 3-judge panels) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge candidates nominated by the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, an 18-member self-governing body that includes the Supreme Court chief justice and presidential, governmental, parliamentary, and judiciary appointees; judges appointed by the president serve for life subject to removal by the president at age 65; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Council of the Republic and appointed by the president; judges serve 12-year terms subordinate courts: regional and district civil courts; Special Criminal Court; Higher Military Court; military district courts; Court of Audit; | highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 85 judges organized into 17 senates or panels of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof (consists of 20 judges including 6 substitutes; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof - 2 judges plus other members depending on the importance of the case) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges nominated by several executive branch departments and approved by the president; judges serve for life; Administrative Court judges recommended by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; terms of judges and members determined by the president subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (4); Regional Courts (20); district courts (120); county courts |
| Political parties and leaders | Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Alojz HLINA] Bridge or Most-Hid [Bela BUGAR] Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO] For the People or Za Ludi [Andrej KISKA] Freedom and Solidarity or SaS [Richard SULIK] Kotleba-People's Party Our Slovakia or LSNS [Marian KOTLEBA] Ordinary People and Independent Personalities - New Majority or OLaNO-NOVA [Igor MATOVIC] Party of the Hungarian Community or SMK [Jozsef MENYHART] Progressive Slovakia or PS [Michal TRUBAN] Slovak National Party or SNS [Andrej DANKO] Together or SPOLU [Miroslav BEBLAVY] We Are Family or Sme-Rodina [Boris KOLLAR] | Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Sebastian KURZ] Communist Party of Austria or KPOe [Mirko MESSNER] Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Herbert KICKI] The Greens [Werner KOGLER] NEOS - The New Austria [Beate MEINL-REISINGER] NOW-Pilz List (JETZT-Liste Pilz) or PILZ [Maria STERN] Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Pamela RENDI-WAGNER] |
| International organization participation | Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Radovan JAVORCIK (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 email address and website: emb.washington@mzv.sk https://www.mzv.sk/web/washington-en consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York | chief of mission: Ambassador Martin WEISS (since 6 January 2020) chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 email address and website: washington-ka@bmeia.gv.at https://www.austria.org/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York, Washington consulate(s): Chicago |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Bridget A. BRINK (since 20 August 2019) embassy: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava mailing address: 5840 Bratislava Place, Washington DC 20521-5840 telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338 FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861 email address and website: consulbratislava@state.gov https://sk.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant), Mario MESQUITA (since 12 July 2021) embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, 1090, Vienna mailing address: 9900 Vienna Place, Washington DC 20521-9900 telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0 FAX: [43] (1) 310-06-82 email address and website: ConsulateVienna@state.gov https://at.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia | three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red; the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest - national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191, following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner |
| National anthem | name: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Lightning Over the Tatras) lyrics/music: Janko MATUSKA/traditional note: adopted 1993, in use since 1844; music based on the Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku" | name: "Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn) lyrics/music: Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed) note: adopted 1947; the anthem is also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" (Land of the Mountains, Land by the River); Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which had been appropriated by Germany in 1922 and was thereafter associated with the Nazi regime; a gendered version of the lyrics was adopted by the Austrian Federal Assembly in fall 2011 and became effective 1 January 2012 |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) surmounting three peaks; national colors: white, blue, red | eagle, edelweiss, Alpine gentian; national colors: red, white |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovakia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Austria dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years |
Economy
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Slovakia's economy suffered from a slow start in the first years after its separation from the Czech Republic in 1993, due to the country's authoritarian leadership and high levels of corruption, but economic reforms implemented after 1998 have placed Slovakia on a path of strong growth. With a population of 5.4 million, the Slovak Republic has a small, open economy driven mainly by automobile and electronics exports, which account for more than 80% of GDP. Slovakia joined the EU in 2004 and the euro zone in 2009. The country's banking sector is sound and predominantly foreign owned. Slovakia has been a regional FDI champion for several years, attractive due to a relatively low-cost yet skilled labor force, and a favorable geographic location in the heart of Central Europe. Exports and investment have been key drivers of Slovakia's robust growth in recent years. The unemployment rate fell to historical lows in 2017, and rising wages fueled increased consumption, which played a more prominent role in 2017 GDP growth. A favorable outlook for the Eurozone suggests continued strong growth prospects for Slovakia during the next few years, although inflation is also expected to pick up. Among the most pressing domestic issues potentially threatening the attractiveness of the Slovak market are shortages in the qualified labor force, persistent corruption issues, and an inadequate judiciary, as well as a slow transition to an innovation-based economy. The energy sector in particular is characterized by unpredictable regulatory oversight and high costs, in part driven by government interference in regulated tariffs. Moreover, the government's attempts to maintain low household energy prices could harm the profitability of domestic energy firms while undercutting energy efficiency initiatives. | Austria is a well-developed market economy with skilled labor force and high standard of living. It is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's, but also the US', its third-largest trade partner. Its economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Austrian economic growth strengthen in 2017, with a 2.9% increase in GDP. Austrian exports, accounting for around 60% of the GDP, were up 8.2% in 2017. Austria's unemployment rate fell by 0.3% to 5.5%, which is low by European standards, but still at its second highest rate since the end of World War II, driven by an increased number of refugees and EU migrants entering the labor market. Austria's fiscal position compares favorably with other euro-zone countries. The budget deficit stood at a low 0.7% of GDP in 2017 and public debt declined again to 78.4% of GDP in 2017, after reaching a post-war high 84.6% in 2015. The Austrian government has announced it plans to balance the fiscal budget in 2019. Several external risks, such as Austrian banks' exposure to Central and Eastern Europe, the refugee crisis, and continued unrest in Russia/Ukraine, eased in 2017, but are still a factor for the Austrian economy. Exposure to the Russian banking sector and a deep energy relationship with Russia present additional risks. Austria elected a new pro-business government in October 2017 that campaigned on promises to reduce bureaucracy, improve public sector efficiency, reduce labor market protections, and provide positive investment incentives. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $178.513 billion (2019 est.) $174.47 billion (2018 est.) $168.134 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $498.78 billion (2019 est.) $491.803 billion (2018 est.) $479.433 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 2.4% (2019 est.) 3.9% (2018 est.) 3.04% (2017 est.) | 1.42% (2019 est.) 2.58% (2018 est.) 2.4% (2017 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $32,730 (2019 est.) $32,032 (2018 est.) $30,911 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $56,188 (2019 est.) $55,631 (2018 est.) $54,496 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 3.8% (2017 est.) industry: 35% (2017 est.) services: 61.2% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 1.3% (2017 est.) industry: 28.4% (2017 est.) services: 70.3% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 11.9% (2018 est.) | 13.3% (2018 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 19.3% (2015 est.) | lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.5% (2012 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.6% (2019 est.) 2.5% (2018 est.) 1.3% (2017 est.) | 1.5% (2019 est.) 2% (2018 est.) 2% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 2.511 million (2020 est.) | 3.739 million (2020 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 3.9% industry: 22.7% services: 73.4% (2015) | agriculture: 0.7% industry: 25.2% services: 74.1% (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 5% (2019 est.) 5.42% (2018 est.) | 7.35% (2019 est.) 7.7% (2018 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 25.2 (2016 est.) 26.1 (2014) | 29.7 (2017 est.) 30.5 (2014) |
| Budget | revenues: 37.79 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 38.79 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 201.7 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 204.6 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | automobiles; metal and metal products; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals, synthetic fibers, wood and paper products; machinery; earthenware and ceramics; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products; food and beverages; pharmaceutical | construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and paper, electronics, tourism |
| Industrial production growth rate | 2.7% (2017 est.) | 6.5% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | wheat, maize, sugar beet, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, sunflower seed, soybeans, pork | milk, maize, sugar beet, wheat, barley, potatoes, pork, triticale, grapes, apples |
| Exports | $113.964 billion (2019 est.) $113.092 billion (2018 est.) $107.518 billion (2017 est.) | $270.888 billion (2019 est.) $263.145 billion (2018 est.) $249.312 billion (2017 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | cars and vehicle parts, video displays, broadcasting equipment, tires, refined petroleum (2019) | cars, packaged medical supplies, vehicle parts, medical vaccines/cultures, flavored water (2019) |
| Exports - partners | Germany 22%, Czechia 11%, Poland 7%, France 7%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5%, United Kingdom 5% (2019) | Germany 28%, United States 7%, Italy 6%, Switzerland 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $107.88 billion (2019 est.) $105.67 billion (2018 est.) $100.689 billion (2017 est.) | $253.276 billion (2019 est.) $247.225 billion (2018 est.) $235.385 billion (2017 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | cars and vehicle parts, broadcasting equipment, crude petroleum, natural gas, insulated wiring (2019) | cars, vehicle parts, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, packaged medical supplies (2019) |
| Imports - partners | Germany 18%, Czechia 18%, Poland 8%, Hungary 7%, Russia 5% (2019) | Germany 39%, Italy 7%, Czechia 5% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $115.853 billion (2019 est.) $114.224 billion (2018 est.) | $688.434 billion (2019 est.) $686.196 billion (2018 est.) |
| Exchange rates | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 50.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 51.8% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general Government Gross Debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by Government entities, including sub-sectors of central, state, local government, and social security funds | 78.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 83.6% of GDP (2016 est.) note: this is general government gross debt, defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year; it covers the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises the sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds; as a percentage of GDP, the GDP used as a denominator is the gross domestic product in current year prices |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $3.622 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.892 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $21.57 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $23.36 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$3.026 billion (2019 est.) -$2.635 billion (2018 est.) | $12.667 billion (2019 est.) $5.989 billion (2018 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $105.388 billion (2019 est.) | $445.025 billion (2019 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Fitch rating: A (2020) Moody's rating: A2 (2012) Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2015) | Fitch rating: AA+ (2015) Moody's rating: Aa1 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2012) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 75.6 (2020) Starting a Business score: 84.8 (2020) Trading score: 100 (2020) Enforcement score: 66.1 (2020) | Overall score: 78.7 (2020) Starting a Business score: 83.2 (2020) Trading score: 100 (2020) Enforcement score: 75.5 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 39.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 48.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -0.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 16.1% male: 14% female: 19.7% (2019 est.) | total: 8.5% male: 9.2% female: 7.8% (2019 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 54.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 19.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 96.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -92.9% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 52.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 19.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.6% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 54.2% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -50.7% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 21.3% of GDP (2019 est.) 22.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 21.8% of GDP (2017 est.) | 28.5% of GDP (2019 est.) 26.9% of GDP (2018 est.) 26.3% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 25.32 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 60.78 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 26.64 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 64.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 10.6 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 19.21 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 13.25 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 26.37 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 200 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 13,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 111,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 146,600 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 1,022 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 9 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 41.2 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 6.513 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 104.8 million cu m (2017 est.) | 1.274 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 4.672 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 9.486 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 5.437 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 4.984 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 14.02 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 7.644 million kW (2016 est.) | 24.79 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 36% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 25% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 24% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 43% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 27% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 31% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 131,300 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 186,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 85,880 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 268,000 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 81,100 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 49,960 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 38,340 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 135,500 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 675,297 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12.41 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 3,722,128 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42.17 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 7,399,534 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135.96 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 10.726 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121.53 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .sk | .at |
| Internet users | total: 4,391,969 percent of population: 80.66% (July 2018 est.) | total: 7,712,665 percent of population: 87.71% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: a modern telecom system; one operator has near monopoly of fixed-line market; competition in mobile- and fixed-broadband market; broadband growth in recent years; competition among DSL, cable, and fiber platforms; FttP growth in cities; operator launched 1Gb/s cable broadband service in 3 cities and 200,000 premises in 2019; EU funding for development and improvement of e-government and online services; regulator prepared groundwork for 5G services in 2020 (2021) (2020)domestic: four companies have a license to operate cellular networks and provide nationwide cellular services; a few other companies provide services but do not have their own networks; fixed-line 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular 136 per 100 teledensity (2019) international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services; connects to DREAM cable (2017) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: mature telecom market benefitting from effective competition; government and regulator are focused on improving telecom infrastructure; program to provide a national gigabit service by 2030 based on 5G networks; fixed-line broadband market is dominated by DSL sector, while cable broadband enjoys steady share of connections; fiber penetration remains low pending build out network infrastructure; EU-funded projects develop infrastructure to enable an 'Internet of Services; Vienna is a smart city; importer of broadcasting equipment from Vietnam and China (2021) (2020)domestic: developed and efficient; 41 per 100 fixed-line for households, 174 per 100 for companies; 120 per 100 mobile-cellular; broadband: 138 per 100 on smartphones; 62 per 100 fixed broadband, 54 per 100 mobile broadband (2019) international: country code - 43; earth stations available in the Astra, Intelsat, Eutelsat satellite systems (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 1,585,092 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29.12 (2019 est.) | total: 2.519 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28.54 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), operates 2 national TV stations and multiple national and regional radio networks; roughly 50 privately owned TV stations operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 40% of households are connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; 32 privately owned radio stations | worldwide cable and satellite TV are available; the public incumbent ORF competes with three other major, several regional domestic, and up to 400 international TV stations; TV coverage is in principle 100%, but only 90% use broadcast media; Internet streaming not only complements, but increasingly replaces regular TV stations (2019) |
Transportation
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | total: 3,580 km (2016) standard gauge: 3,435 km 1.435-m gauge (1,587 km electrified) (2016) narrow gauge: 46 km 1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge (2016) broad gauge: 99 km 1.520-m gauge (2016) | total: 5,800 km (2017) standard gauge: 5,300 km 1.435-m gauge (3,826 km electrified) (2016) |
| Roadways | total: 56,926 km (includes local roads, national roads, and 464 km of highways) (2016) | total: 137,039 km (2018) paved: 137,039 km (includes 2,232 km of expressways) (2018) |
| Waterways | 172 km (on Danube River) (2012) | 358 km (2011) |
| Pipelines | 2270 km gas transmission pipelines, 6278 km high-pressure gas distribution pipelines, 27023 km mid- and low-pressure gas distribution pipelines (2016), 510 km oil (2015) | 1888 km gas, 594 km oil, 157 km refined products (2017) |
| Ports and terminals | river port(s): Bratislava, Komarno (Danube) | river port(s): Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna (Danube) |
| Airports | total: 35 (2013) | total: 50 (2020) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 19 (2019) over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 9 | total: 24 (2017) over 3,047 m: 1 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017) under 914 m: 13 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 15 (2019) 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 5 | total: 28 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013) under 914 m: 24 (2013) |
| Heliports | 1 (2019) | 1 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 45 | number of registered air carriers: 11 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 130 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 12,935,505 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 373.51 million mt-km (2018) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | OM | OE |
Military
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Slovenské Pozemné Sily), Air Forces (Slovenské Vzdusné Sily), Special Operations Forces (Sily Pre Speciálne Operácie) (2021) | Austrian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Forces, Cyber Forces, Special Forces (2021) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription in peacetime suspended in 2004; women are eligible to serve (2019) | registration requirement at age 17, the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service (6 months), or optionally, alternative civil/community service (9 months); males 18 to 50 years old in the militia or inactive reserve are subject to compulsory service; in a January 2012 referendum, a majority of Austrians voted in favor of retaining the system of compulsory military service (with the option of alternative/non-military service) instead of switching to a professional army system (2015) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 2% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.71% of GDP (2019) 1.23% of GDP (2018) 1.11% of GDP (2017) 1.12% of GDP (2016) | 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2019) 0.7% of GDP (2018) 0.8% of GDP (2017) 0.7% of GDP (2016) |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic have approximately 13,000 active duty personnel (6,000 Land Forces; 4,000 Air Forces; 3,000 other, including staff, special operations, and support forces) (2020) | the Austrian Armed Forces have approximately 23,000 total active duty personnel (13,000 Land Forces; 2,500 Air Force; 7,500 other, support forces) (2021) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the inventory of the Slovakian military consists mostly of Soviet-era platforms; since 2010, it has imported limited quantities of equipment from China, Czechia, Italy, Russia, and the US (2020) | the Austrian military's inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons systems from European countries and the US; since 2010, Germany and Italy are the leading suppliers of armaments to Austria; the Austrian defense industry produces a range of equipment and partners with other countries (2020) |
| Military deployments | 240 Cyprus (UNFICYP); up to 150 Latvia (NATO) (Jan 2021) | 300 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 320 Kosovo (NATO); 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (March 2021) |
Transnational Issues
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group negotiations continued between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia has implemented strict Schengen border rules | none |
| Illicit drugs | transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy | transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons | stateless persons: 1,532 (2020) | refugees (country of origin): 51,955 (Syria), 37,276 (Afghanistan), 8,664 (Russia), 8,568 (Iraq), 7,636 (Somalia), 6,393 (Iran) (2019) stateless persons: 3,267 (2020) |
Environment
| Slovakia | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 17.54 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 32.42 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.43 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 12.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 61.45 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 6.34 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 293.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 231.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 31.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 720 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 2.695 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 77.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.22% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.07% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.784 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 135,941 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7.6% (2015 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.836 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,240,918 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.7% (2015 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
