Slovenia (Slovenija), 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.  The population of Slovenia is approximately 2 million, 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.  There is a sizable industrial base and skilled workforce involved in 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 Slovenian tolar (or SIT), 1000 SIT = $4.18 US.

Once part of the Roman Empire, the region of modern Slovenia was invaded in the 6th century AD by the Slavs. The first Slovene state, established in 623, became part of the Frankish Empire in the 700s.  From 1335 until 1918 the region was governed by the Habsburgs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I (1914-1918), it became part of a kingdom which took the name Yugoslavia in 1929.  Yugoslavia became a Communist-led republic in 1946.  With Communist power crumbling, in 1990 Slovenia held the first multiparty elections in Yugoslavia since World War II (1939-1945).  Independence was declared in 1991 and Slovene forces defeated an assault by the Yugoslav army. Slovenian independence was soon recognized by European nations and by the United States, and Slovenia is a member of the United Nations (UN). Since achieving independence, the country has been busy with economic reforms, such as returning state-owned business to private ownership. It has become a haven for tens of thousands fleeing fighting in nearby areas. Compared to other countries that were formerly part of Yugoslavia, Slovenia has found the path to sovereignty relatively smooth.

Slovenia is mountainous (The highest mountain is called Triglav - the name meaning "three-headed" - and is 2864 m high), 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.

Under the 1991 constitution, the chief of the state is the president (Milan KUCAN since April 22, 1990), elected to a five-year term. The head of government is the prime minister (Janez DRNOVSEK since May 14, 1992) , elected to a four-year term by a vote of the State Assembly, which is part of the parliament. The 90 National Assembly (or Drzavni Zbor) members serve four-year terms.  National Council (or Drzavni Svet) is an advisory body with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws and ask to review any National Assembly decisions; in the election of NA November 1997, 40 members were elected to represent local, professional, and socioeconomic interests