People and Society of Slovenia

Nationality

Slovene(s)

Ethnic Groups

Slovene 92%, Croat 1%, Serb 0.5%, Hungarian 0.4%, Bosniak 0.3%, other 5.8% (1991)

Population

2,123,994

Population in Major Urban Areas

LJUBLJANA (capital) 273,000

Adequate medical care is readily available. Travelers to Slovenia may obtain a list of English-speaking physicians on the U.S. Embassy’s website. Antibiotics, as well as other U.S.-equivalent prescription medications are available at local pharmacies. In Slovenia all medications, including drugs considered over-the-counter and first aid supplies, are dispensed through pharmacies (called “lekarna”). Please see the Embassy’s website for a list of pharmacies open 24 hours. Persons who engage in outdoor activities may wish to take a vaccine to prevent tick-borne encephalitis.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Slovenia stands among the highest in Central and Eastern Europe, reflecting the country's well-developed healthcare system, high standard of living, and strong public health infrastructure. As of the most recent available data, the overall life expectancy at birth in Slovenia is approximately 81 years, with women living notably longer than men. Women in Slovenia can expect to live to around 84 years, while men have a life expectancy of roughly 78 years — a gap that mirrors broader European and global trends. Slovenia's life expectancy figures place it comfortably above the global average and in close alignment with many Western European nations. This is a significant achievement for a country that transitioned from a socialist economy to a European Union member state in 2004, during which time it rapidly modernized its healthcare system and social services. It is worth noting that life expectancy in Slovenia, as in much of Europe, experienced a modest decline during the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, before recovering in subsequent years. Several factors contribute to Slovenia's strong longevity outcomes. The country operates a universal public healthcare system that provides broad access to medical services for its citizens. Rates of preventable disease have declined steadily over recent decades, and the country has made consistent progress in reducing cardiovascular mortality, which remains one of the leading causes of death across Europe. Slovenia also benefits from relatively low rates of extreme poverty, a strong social safety net, and high levels of education, all of which are closely correlated with longer, healthier lives. Lifestyle factors also play a role. Slovenia's geography encourages outdoor activity, with hiking, cycling, and other physical pursuits deeply embedded in the national culture. Mediterranean dietary influences in the southwestern regions of the country contribute positively to health outcomes in those areas. Challenges remain, however. The gender gap in life expectancy persists, partly due to higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption, and occupational hazards historically associated with men. Additionally, Slovenia's population is aging, which places increasing pressure on its healthcare and pension systems. Government and EU-level policies continue to address these long-term demographic trends through investments in preventive care, elder services, and public health campaigns.

Infant Mortality Rate

Slovenia maintains one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world, reflecting the country's robust healthcare infrastructure, high standard of living, and effective public health policies. As of the most recent available data, Slovenia's infant mortality rate stands at approximately 1.6 to 1.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, placing it consistently among the top-performing nations globally in this measure of child health. This figure represents a remarkable long-term improvement. In the early 1990s, following Slovenia's independence, the infant mortality rate was considerably higher, hovering around 8 to 9 deaths per 1,000 live births. Decades of sustained investment in maternal and neonatal healthcare, widespread prenatal care access, and a well-trained medical workforce have driven this dramatic decline. Slovenia's healthcare system provides universal coverage to its citizens, ensuring that expectant mothers receive comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care regardless of economic status. High rates of skilled birth attendance, well-equipped neonatal intensive care facilities, and strong vaccination programs all contribute to favorable outcomes for newborns. The country also benefits from high levels of education among women, low rates of poverty relative to the broader European context, and strong social support systems — all of which are closely linked to positive infant health outcomes. Breastfeeding promotion and public health campaigns targeting maternal nutrition and smoking cessation during pregnancy are additional factors that have contributed to the sustained low rate. Within the European Union, Slovenia performs comparably to countries such as Finland, Norway, and Japan, which are long recognized as global leaders in infant survival. The nation's infant mortality statistics are closely monitored by the Slovenian National Institute of Public Health, and consistent data reporting to international bodies ensures transparency and continued progress benchmarking. Overall, Slovenia's infant mortality rate serves as a strong indicator of the country's general health system effectiveness and the well-being of its population, reflecting a comprehensive approach to public health that begins before birth and continues through early childhood.

• Roman Catholic71.0%
• Other25.0%
• Atheist4.0%

Slovenian 92%, Serbo-Croatian 6.2%, other 1.8%

The official language is Slovene, a Slavic language. The language has a special language construct that indicates two people or things, separate to singular and plural. Slovene uses Roman characters, but excludes q,w,and x. The oldest documents preserved date back to 1000 AD. Slovene resisted the pressure to "Germanize" the language. The next most used language is English.

• Serbo-Croatian
• Slovenian

Crime Information

Slovenia’s overall crime rate is low and violent crimes are relatively uncommon. Most crimes tend to be directed towards obtaining personal property, such as purse snatching, pick-pocketing, and residential and vehicle break-ins. Visitors should take normal security precautions and report any incidents to the local police. Vehicle break-in/theft is a continuing problem in Slovenia. You should always lock your vehicles, use vehicle anti-theft devices, park in well-lighted areas, and if possible, secure vehicles in residential or hotel garages. To guard against residential burglaries, it is advisable to implement preventative security measures such as rolling down shutters and locking windows and doors when not at home and keeping garage doors closed. We urge U.S. citizens to exercise caution with so-called "gentlemen's clubs." A few such establishments have presented foreign customers with grossly inflated bar bills, sometimes in the thousands of dollars, and threatened those customers who refuse to pay. Incidents of violent crime, while still relatively infrequent, are possible. U.S. citizens have reported incidents of sexual assault in at least one nightclub in recent years. Use caution when accepting open drinks at bars or clubs, and don’t leave your drinks unattended. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Slovenia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own, and criminal penalties vary from country to country. If you break local laws in Slovenia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not in countries where you will be traveling. And certain crimes may result in you being prosecuted both in a foreign country and in the United States. For instance, engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography is illegal in Slovenia and these actions are also prosecutable in the United States. Persons violating Slovenian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Slovenia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Slovenia, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the Embassy to your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the Embassy.