Slovenská Republika

Political Status: Slovak Republic proclaimed upon separation of the constituent components of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (see article on Czech Republic) on January 1, 1993.

Area: 18,933 sq. mi. (49,035 sq. km).

Population: 5,633,777 (2012E—UN); 5,483,088 (2012E–U.S. Census).

Major Urban Centers (2005E): BRATISLAVA (423,000), Košice (234,000), Prešov (92,000).

Official Language: Slovak.

Monetary Unit: Euro (market rate November 5, 2012: 0.78 euro = $1US). The monetary unit was the koruna until Slovakia adopted the euro on January 1, 2009, at an exchange rate of 30.1260 koruny = 1 euro. (The official rate of the koruna on December 31, 2008, was 21.45 koruny = $1US.)

President: Ivan GAŠPAROVIČ; popularly elected (as the candidate of the People’s Union–Movement for Democracy) in runoff balloting on April 17, 2004, and inaugurated on ...