The Slovak Republic is located in a moderate zone with distinct seasons. The average daily temperature is -2ºC in the winter and 21ºC in the summer. The coldest month is January; the warmest are July and August. At the highest elevations snow remains on the ground for an average of 130 days per year.

 

Statistics The Slovak Republic is bordered by Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and the Ukraine.

 

Area: 49,035 km2

 

Population: 5,379,450 (2001)

 

Official language: Slovak

 

Capital: Bratislava (population: 452,288)

 

Established form: Republic

 

Type of government: Parliamentary democracy

 

Formation date: 1 January 1993

 

Member of: EU, NATO, OECD, WTO, and UNO

 

EU member since: 1 May 2004

 

Main resorts: The High Tatras, The Low Tatras

 

Direct daily flights from the UK and Ireland: Yes

 

Major airports: Bratislava, Poprad, Kosice

 

Flight time from the UK: 2h 20min

 

Time zone: GMT +1

 

Economic indicators: Sustained GDP growth of 5.5% year-on-year, EUR 2.2 billion foreign investment in 2005

 

Taxes: Effective from 1 January 2005 stamp duty has been abolished, business-friendly 19% flat tax