Map of Slovenia
Slovenia is a country in Europe with its capital at Ljubljana, home to about 2.13 million people across 20,271 km². The interactive map below plots 2 cities and towns, 3 rivers, 1 mountain summits and 2 ports recorded for Slovenia in YearMaps.
- Population
- 2.13 million
- Area
- 20,271 km²
- Capital
- Ljubljana
- Continent
- Europe
Interactive Map of Slovenia
Centred on Ljubljana at 46.0553° N, 14.5150° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Slovenia
Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to its west, Austria to its north, Hungary to its northeast, and Croatia to its south and southeast; its southwestern boundary consists of a 46.6-kilometre (29.0 mi) coastline on the Adriatic Sea. The country is mostly mountainous and forested, covering 20,271 square kilometres (7,827 sq mi). Its population is approximately 2.1 million people. Slovene is the official language. Slovenia has a predominantly temperate continental climate, with the exception of the Slovene Littoral and the Julian Alps. Ljubljana, the capital and largest city, is geographically situated near the centre of the country. Other urban centers include Maribor, Ptuj, Kranj, Celje, Koper, Novo Mesto, Velenje, Nova Gorica, Sežana, Murska Sobota, and Jesenice.
The region has a long history of settlement. Proto-Illyrian tribes settled the area during the Early Bronze Age, stretching from present-day Albania to the city of Trieste, while the Slavic tribes (the ancestors of modern Slovenes) arrived in the 5th century AD. The present territory has been part of many different states, including the Roman Empire, the Western Roman Empire, the Carolingian Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Republic of Venice, the Habsburg Empire, Napoleonic France, the Austrian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in December 1918; in 1929, the Kingdom became known as Yugoslavia. In 1941, during World War II, Slovenia's territory was partitioned by Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Horthyist Hungary, and the Independent State of Croatia. Following World War II, in 1945 Slovenia was established as one of six constituent republics that made up the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Modern Slovenia emerged in June 1991, when the country declared independence from Yugoslavia. After the brief Ten-Day War, it became a sovereign state.
Slovenia is a developed country, with a high-income economy characterized by a mixture of traditional industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture, and modern sectors, such as information technology and financial services. The economy is highly dependent on trade, with exports accounting for a significant portion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Slovenia is a member of the Council of Europe, the European Union, the United Nations, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and other associations in the global community.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Slovenia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Slovenia
The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, Slovenia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which was renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia joined Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia as one of the constituent republics in the new Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). In 1990, Slovenia held its first multiparty elections, as well as a referendum on independence. Serbia responded with an economic blockade and military action, but after a short 10-day war, Slovenia declared independence in 1991. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone and the Schengen Area in 2007.
- Location
- South Central Europe, Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia.
- Climate
- Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east.
- Terrain
- A short southwestern coastal strip of Karst topography on the Adriatic; an alpine mountain region lies adjacent to Italy and Austria in the north; mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east.
- Highest point
- Triglav 2,864 m.
- Lowest point
- Adriatic Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 46.6 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 1,211 km; border countries: Austria 299 km; Croatia 600 km; Hungary 94 km; Italy 218 km.
- Natural resources
- Lignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 30.4% (2023 est.); arable land: 8.9% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 2.7% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.); forest: 61.8% (2023 est.); other: 10.8% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Flooding; earthquakes.
- Geographic note
- Despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes.
- Languages
- Slovene (official) 87.7%, Croatian 2.8%, Serbo-Croatian 1.8%, Bosnian 1.6%, Serbian 1.6%, Hungarian 0.4% (official, only in municipalities where Hungarian nationals reside), Italian 0.2% (official, only in municipalities where Italian nationals reside), other or unspecified 3.9% (2002 est.)
- Religions
- Catholic 69%, Orthodox 4%, Muslim 3%, Christian 1%, other 3%, atheist 14%, non-believer/agnostic 4%, refused to answer 2% (2019 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 est.)
- Economy
- High-income EU and eurozone economy; high per-capita income and low inequality; key exports in automotive and pharmaceuticals; tight labor market with low unemployment; growth supported by private consumption and public investment, with risks from tight labor market and trade conditions; narrowing fiscal deficit and declining public debt.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Slovenia in Numbers
- Population
- 2.13 million
- GDP
- US$79.6 billion
- GDP per person
- US$37,376
- Life expectancy
- 82.3 years
- Population growth
- 0.17% a year
- Population density
- 106 per km²
- Urban population
- 56.0%
- Surface area
- 20,480 km²
- Forest cover
- 61.8%
- Arable land
- 8.8%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 90.8%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Slovenia in Depth
History
The area later known as Slovenia has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Evidence of human habitation dates to around 250,000 years ago. A pierced cave bear bone, dating from 43100 ± 700 BP, found in 1995 in Divje Babe cave near Cerkno, is considered to be a kind of flute, and possibly the oldest musical instrument discovered in the world. In the 1920s and 1930s, Cro-Magnon artifacts, such as pierced bones, bone points, and a needle were found by archaeologist Srečko Brodar in Potok Cave.
In 2002, remains of pile dwellings over 4,500 years old were discovered in Ljubljana Marsh, later protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Ljubljana Marshes Wooden Wheel, the world's oldest wooden wheel.
Geography
Slovenia is located in Central Europe, touching the eastern Alps and bordering the Mediterranean Sea. This locates Slovenia within the Mediterranean basin. It lies between latitudes 45° and 47° N, and longitudes 13° and 17° E. The 15th meridian east almost corresponds to the middle line of the country in the direction west–east. The Geometric Centre of the Republic of Slovenia is located at coordinates 46°07'11.8" N and 14°48'55.2" E. It lies in Slivna in the Municipality of Litija. Slovenia's highest peak, Triglav (2,864 m or 9,396 ft), has become a national symbol of Slovenia, featured on the national coat of arms and flag. The country's average height above sea level is 557 m (1,827 ft).
Economy
Slovenia has a developed economy and is the richest Slavic country by GDP per capita. Slovenia is also among the top global economies in terms of human capital. It is the most developed transition country with an old mining-industrial tradition, chemical industry, and developed service activities.
In the beginning of 2007, Slovenia was the first new member state to introduce the euro as its currency, replacing the tolar. Since 2010, it has been member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. There is a significant difference in prosperity between the various regions of Slovenia.
Demographics
The population of Slovenia as of October 2025 is 2,133,852. Slovenia ranks low among the European countries in population density, with 105 inhabitants per square kilometre (272/sq mi) — compared to 402/km2 (1,040/mi2) for the Netherlands or 195/km2 (510/mi2) for Italy). The Inner Carniola–Karst Statistical Region has the lowest population density, while the Central Slovenia Statistical Region has the highest.
Slovenia is among the European countries with the most pronounced ageing of its population, ascribable to a low birth rate and increasing life expectancy. The total fertility rate (TFR) in 2024 was estimated at 1.6 children born per woman, which is lower than the replacement rate of 2.1.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Slovenia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Slovenia: Key Facts
| Official language | Slovene |
|---|---|
| Head of state | Nataša Pirc Musar |
| Head of government | Janez Janša |
| Form of government | democratic republic |
| Calling code | +386 |
| Internet domain | .si |
| Highest point | Triglav |
| Lowest point | Adriatic Sea |
| Established | 25 June 1991 |
Facts from Wikidata Q215 (CC0).
History of Slovenia: Empires and States
The atlas records 28 polities whose mapped territory included part of Slovenia, from Roman Republic in 164 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Republic | 164–32 BCE | A large part |
| The Roman Empire | 31 BCE – 475 CE | Nearly all |
| Western Roman Empire | 395–475 CE | Nearly all |
| Ostrogoths | 490–499 CE | Nearly all |
| Ostrogothic Kingdom | 500–545 CE | Nearly all |
| Lombards | 546–568 CE | Nearly all |
| Avar Khaganate | 569–622 CE | Nearly all |
| Samo's Empire | 623–660 CE | Nearly all |
| Carantania | 661–749 CE | A large part |
| Bavarians | 750–787 CE | A large part |
| Kingdom of the Franks | 788–849 CE | Nearly all |
| Carolingian Empire | 788–910 CE | Nearly all |
| East Franks | 850–910 CE | Nearly all |
| Principality of Hungary | 922–959 CE | A large part |
| The Holy Roman Empire | 960–1458 CE | Nearly all |
| Vassalage of Kingdom of Bohemia to Holy Roman Empire | 1202–1452 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Bohemia | 1260–1278 CE | Nearly all |
| Holy Roman Empire Minor States | 1260–1343 CE | A large part |
| House of Habsburg | 1279–1515 CE | Nearly all |
| Vassalage of Electorate of Brandenburg to Holy Roman Empire | 1422–1458 CE | Nearly all |
| Habsburg Monarchy | 1459–1805 CE | Nearly all |
| Kingdom of Spain | 1529–1555 CE | Nearly all |
| The Spanish Empire | 1529–1555 CE | Nearly all |
| Austrian Empire | 1806–1867 CE | Nearly all |
| Austria-Hungary | 1868–1918 CE | Nearly all |
| Yugoslavia | 1919–1945 CE | Nearly all |
| Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | 1946–1991 CE | Nearly all |
| Republic of Slovenia | 1992–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Slovenia
Slovenia on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Slovenia
Slovenia (Slovenian: Slovenija) is a country in central Europe that lies in the eastern Alps, at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea. It is sometimes considered to be a Balkan country. Despite its small size, Slovenia has a surprising variety of terrain, ranging from the beaches of the Mediterranean to the peaks of the Julian Alps and the rolling hills of the south. Slovenia is also home to some of the finest scenery in the "New Europe". The transition from socialism to the European common market economy has gone well and serves as a model for other nations on the same track to follow.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Slovenia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Slovenia
2 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ljubljana | 314,807 | Osrednjeslovenska | National capital |
| 2 | Maribor | 114,228 | Maribor | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Slovenia
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Triglav | 2,864 m | 9,396 ft | Europe |
Triglav
Mountain · 2,864 m
Triglav is a mountain rising to 2,864 metres (9,396 ft) in Slovenia, in the Europe region. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
Triglav (pronounced [ˈtɾíːɡlaw]; German: Terglau; Italian: Tricorno), with an elevation of 2,863.65 metres (9,395 ft 2+1⁄8 in), is the highest mountain in Slovenia and the highest peak of the Julian Alps. The mountain is the pre-eminent symbol of the Slovene nation, appearing on the coat of arms and flag of Slovenia. It is the centrepiece of Triglav National Park, Slovenia's only national park. Triglav was also the highest peak in Yugoslavia before Slovenia's independence in 1991. Other than a symbol of the nation, Triglav is a popular hiking spot, for both locals and visitors. It is said that every true Slovenian person should have stood on the peak at least once in their life .
Adapted from Wikipedia: Triglav (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 2,864 m (9,396 ft)
- Global rank
- #265 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Europe (#19)
- Country
- Slovenia
- Coordinates
- 46.3801°, 13.8300°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Triglav ranks #265 by elevation, below Maromokotro (2,876 m) and above Cerro Las Minas (2,849 m).
- Ranges:
- Dinaric Alps (Europe), Alps (Europe)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Grossglockner (3,798 m), Zugspitze (2,963 m), Monte Titano (739 m)
- Settlements below:
- Klagenfurt (45 km), Udine (57 km), Ljubljana (64 km)
More about Triglav
Geology
Geologically Triglav is composed of a sequence of Triassic rocks arranged as a stack of thrust sheets, the uppermost of these, forming the summit of Triglav, is the Zlatna klippe, an isolated fragment of the Zlatna nappe (also referred to as the Zlatenski plošči, Slatenskem pokrovu, Slatenskem narivu or Triglavskem pokrovu). In the Triglav area the Zlatna nappe has a well preserved sub-horizontal contact with the underlying Julian nappe which is dominated by a thick succession of more than 1000m of limestones including a cyclic sequence of Dachstein Limestone of Norian to Rhaetian age.
bivalves, brachiopods, echinoids, crinoids, asteroids, ammonites, belemnites, scleractinian corals, shrimps, lobsters, fish and thylacocephalans.
History
The first recorded ascent of Triglav was achieved in 1778, at the initiative of the industrialist and polymath Sigmund Zois. According to the most commonly cited report, published in the newspaper Illyrisches Blatt in 1821 by the historian and geographer Johann Richter, these were the surgeon Lovrenz Willomitzer (written as Willonitzer by Richter), the chamois hunter Štefan Rožič, and the miners Luka Korošec and Matevž Kos. According to a report by Belsazar Hacquet in his Oryctographia Carniolica, the ascent took place towards the end of 1778, by two chamois hunters, one of them being Luka Korošec, and one of his former students, whose name is not mentioned.
Triglav's height was first measured on 23 September 1808 by Valentin Stanič.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Triglav (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Triglav: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,059 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Triglav Group |
Facts from Wikidata Q1024 (CC0).
Rivers in Slovenia
3 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in Slovenia
2 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovenia
5 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Škocjan Caves | 1986 | Natural | (vii) (viii) |
| 2 | Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe | 2007 | Natural | (ix) |
| 3 | prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps | 2011 | Cultural | (iv) (v) |
| 4 | Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija | 2012 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
| 5 | The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana – Human Centred Urban Design | 2021 | Cultural | (iv) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Slovenia
4 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Europe | 11.24M km² | Continent | Europe |
| 2 | BALKAN Peninsula | 189,639 km² | Pen/cape | Europe |
| 3 | Alps | 176,042 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
| 4 | Dinaric Alps | 3,001 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
Countries Bordering Slovenia
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Europe
Slovenia: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Slovenia?
- The capital of Slovenia is Ljubljana.
- What is the population of Slovenia?
- Slovenia has a population of about 2.13 million, the #149 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Slovenia?
- Slovenia covers 20,271 km², ranking #156 by area, with about 105 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Slovenia in?
- Slovenia is in Europe.
- Which countries border Slovenia?
- Slovenia shares a land or maritime border with Hungary, Italy, Austria, Croatia.
- What is the largest city in Slovenia?
- Ljubljana is the largest city in Slovenia, with a metropolitan population of about 314,807.
- What is the highest mountain in Slovenia?
- The highest summit recorded for Slovenia in YearMaps is Triglav at 2,864 m (9,396 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.