Slovak Republic Administrative Structure and Economic Profile

Posted on Dec 6, 2025 in Geography

Administrative Division of Slovakia: Structure and Geography

The administrative division of the Slovak Republic (SR) is structured across several levels:

  • N1: SR (Slovak Republic)
  • N2 Units: Bratislava (BA), West Slovakia (WSK), Central Slovakia, Eastern Slovakia.
  • N3: 8 self-governing regions.
  • N4: 79 districts.
  • N5: 2,891 towns and villages (settlements where people live).

Regional Characteristics

Regarding area size and population:

  • Smallest Region (Area): BA
  • Biggest Region (Area): BB (Banská Bystrica Region)
  • Most Populous Region: Prešov
  • Least Populous Region: Trnava
  • Most D Population (Density): BA
  • Least D Population (Density): BB

Population Pyramids

Population structures are categorized as:

  1. Expanding: Pre-productive age group dominates, resulting in a triangular shape.
  2. Contracting: Dominant in Slovakia; post-productive age group dominates, forming a reversed pyramid shape.
  3. Stable: Pre-productive and productive age groups are nearly equal.

Settlements of Slovakia

Rural and Urban Settlements

  • Rural Settlements: Villages and countrysides.
  • Urban Settlements: Cities (BA, Košice) and towns.

Division of Urban Settlements (by Population)

  • Cities (BA, KE)
  • Big towns
  • Medium towns
  • Small towns

Division of Rural Settlements (Villages)

  • Compact: Houses are close to each other.
  • Scattered: Houses are far from each other.

Division of Urban Settlements (by Function)

  • Monofunctional Towns: Spa towns, traffic towns, recreational, residential, or industrial focus.
  • Polyfunctional Towns: Serve multiple primary functions, often including traffic hubs.

Location Factors for Settlements

Key factors influencing settlement location include:

  • Transport
  • Workforce availability
  • Government presence
  • Raw materials
  • Natural resources
  • Water supply
  • Infrastructure
  • Economy
  • Energy sources

Key Industrial Branches and Locations in Slovakia

Automotive Industry

  • Kia: Žilina
  • Peugeot: Trnava
  • Jaguar: Nitra
  • Volkswagen: Bratislava

Metallurgy

  • Ferrous Metals: US Steel Košice (Largest metallurgy factory)
  • Wire factory: Hlohovec (Largest wire factory)
  • Iron works: Podbrezová
  • Non-ferrous Metals: Aluminium smelter in Žiar nad Hronom (until 2023)

Manufacturing Sectors

  • Textile Industry: Ozeta (Trenčín), Levitex (Levice), Makyta (Púchov)
  • Footwear: Partizánske
  • Chemical Industry: Continental (Púchov), Slovnaft (Bratislava – oil refinery), Duslo (Šaľa – fertilizers)

Food Processing

  • Kofola (Rajec)
  • Hyza (Žilina)
  • Sedita (Sereď)
  • Sugar factory (Trenčianska Teplá)
  • Rajo (Bratislava)
  • Brewery (Hurbanovo)

Electronics and Energy

  • Electronics: Samsung (Galanta), Osram (Nové Zámky), Orava
  • Thermal Power Plant: Zemianske Kostoľany, Vojany
  • Largest Nuclear Power Plants: Jaslovské Bohunice, Mochovce
  • Largest Hydro Power Plant: Gabčíkovo

Agricultural Production

Foodstuffs and Fodder Crops

  • Foodstuffs: Vegetable, potatoes, fruits
  • Fodder Crops: Wheat, barley, oats, maize, potatoes
  • Technical Crops: Rape, flax, sunflower, corn, grape

Cereals and Livestock

  • Cereals: Rye, oats, barley, wheat
  • Sheep Farming (Liptov, Orava, Gemer): Wool, milk, dairy, meat
  • Cattle Farming (Podunajská, Východoslovenská lowland, Liptov): Milk, meat
  • Poultry (Šalgovík, Cífer, Žilina): Meat, eggs
  • Pig Farming (Podunajská, Záhorská, Juhoslovenská lowland)

Transport Infrastructure in Slovakia

Modes and Importance

Transport modes include road, rail, air, water, and pipeline. The road network is vital for supporting the automotive industry and facilitating export/import of goods. The railway primarily transports raw materials, coal, and automobiles.

Geographic Location and Corridors

Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by 5 countries. Key transport corridors include:

  • Pan-European Transport Corridors: Orient, Baltic-Adriatic, Rhine-Danube.
  • Major Motorways: D1 (BA – Košice), D2 (connecting Czechia and Hungary).

Transport Hubs and Services

  • Railway Hubs: BA, Žilina, Košice.
  • Passenger Rail Services: RegioJet (Foreign), ZSSK (Public), Private operators.
  • Air Transport: Supports tourism and business travel. Main airports: M. R. Štefánik (BA), Košice (with regional airports in Piešťany, Poprad).
  • River Transport: The Danube River connects the Black Sea and the North Sea, serving as a major waterway.
  • Pipeline: Crude oil and natural gas (Družba pipeline), crucial for Slovakia’s energy infrastructure.

Services Sector and Trade

Key Service Industries

Major service sectors include finance, IT, tourism, transport, retail, and insurance.

  • Banks: Tatra, VÚB, Slovenská sporiteľňa (Domestic); Prima, UniCredit, Mbank, Reiffeisen (Foreign, operating under financial regulations).
  • IT Hubs: BA, KE.

Service Sector Growth

Growth in Slovakia’s service sectors is attributed to economic reforms, foreign investments, and integration into the European Union.

International Trade

  • Main Trading Partners: CZ, PL, HUN.
  • Active Balance: Export > Import.
  • Passive Balance: Import > Export.
  • Exported Goods: Clothes, shoes, cars, dairy products.
  • Imported Goods: Crude oil, chemicals, cosmetics, clothing.

Slovakia’s European Union Membership

Key Dates

  • EU Membership: 2004
  • Schengen Area: 2007
  • Eurozone (EUR): 2009
  • Council of Presidency: 2016

EU Impact

  • Advantages: Access to EU funds, Erasmus program, free movement of people and goods, support for less developed regions.
  • Disadvantages: Compliance with EU regulations, brain drain.

Slovak Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites

Caves

  • Slovak Karst: Domica, Gombasecká.
  • Slovak Paradise: Dobšinská Ice Cave.
  • NAPANT (Low Tatras): Demänovská Ice Cave, Demänovská Cave of Liberty.
  • TANAP (High Tatras): Važecká Cave, Belianska Cave.

Spas and Thermal Parks

Notable Spas

  • Prešov Region: Bardejovské Kúpele.
  • Žilina Region: Rajecké Teplice, Turčianske Teplice, Lúčky.
  • Trenčín Region: Trenčianske Teplice.
  • Trnava Region: Piešťany.
  • International Significance: Piešťany, Rajecké Teplice.

Thermal Parks

Thermal parks include Bešeňová, Podhájska, Poprad, Štúrovo, and Patince.

UNESCO Historical Sites

  • Vlkolínec (preserved folk architecture)
  • Spiš Castle
  • Banská Štiavnica
  • Levoča

Higher Education Institutions

Major universities across Slovakia:

  • Košice (KE): Pavol Jozef Šafárik University
  • Prešov (PO): Prešov University
  • Ružomberok (RU): Catholic University
  • Banská Bystrica (BB): Matej Bel University
  • Bratislava (BA): Comenius University (Komenského)
  • Nitra (NI): Constantine the Philosopher University (Konštantína Filozofa)