Editing Slovenia (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Slovenia}}

[[File:Population density in Slovenia.png|300px|thumb|Population density in Slovenia by [[Municipalities of Slovenia|municipality]]. The four main urban areas are visible: Ljubljana and Kranj (centre), Maribor (northeast) and the [[Slovene Istria]] (southwest)]]

The population of Slovenia as of October 2024 is 2,129,052.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 January 2025 |title=Population, 1 October 2024 |url=https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/News/Index/13374 |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia}}</ref> With 105 inhabitants per square kilometer (272/sq&nbsp;mi), Slovenia ranks low among the European countries in population density (compared to {{convert|402|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}} for the [[Netherlands]] or {{convert|195|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}} for Italy). The [[Inner Carniola–Karst Statistical Region]] has the lowest population density while the [[Central Slovenia Statistical Region]] has the highest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.si/letopis/2010/30_10/30-09-10.htm |title=30.9 Gostota naseljenosti 1.7 – Population Density, 1 July |publisher=Stat.si |access-date=25 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826070232/http://www.stat.si/letopis/2010/30_10/30-09-10.htm |archive-date=26 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Slovenia is among the European countries with the most pronounced ageing of its population, ascribable to a low birth rate and increasing life expectancy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.delo.si/zgodbe/delo2020/demografski-preobrat-tiha-revolucija-med-nami.html |title=Demografski preobrat: tiha revolucija med nami |language=sl |date=20 June 2011 |first=Milena |last=Zupanič |newspaper=Delo.si |publisher=Delo, d. d. |issn=1854-6544}}</ref> Almost all Slovenian inhabitants older than 64 are retired, with no significant difference between the genders.<ref name="Hoff2011">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vmAQ_cwR14oC&pg=PA118 |title=Population Ageing in Central and Eastern Europe: Societal and Policy Implications |chapter=Population Ageing in Slovenia and Social Support Networks of Older People |pages=118–119 |editor-first=Andreas |editor-last=Hoff |first1=Valentina |last1=Hlebec |first2=Milivoja |last2=Šircelj |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |date=September 2011 |isbn=978-0-7546-7828-1}}</ref> The working-age group is diminishing in spite of immigration.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgBaG-NB9hMC&pg=PA34 |title=Slovenia |chapter=Strong Growth but an Ageing Workforce |page=34 |publisher=OECD Publishing |date=July 2009 |isbn=978-92-64-06894-0}}</ref> The proposal to raise the retirement age from the current 57 for women and 58 for men was rejected in a [[June 2011 Slovenian referendum|referendum in 2011]].<ref name="CNBC2012-01-23"/> In addition, the difference among the genders regarding life expectancy is still significant.<ref name="Hoff2011"/> The [[total fertility rate]] (TFR) in 2024 was estimated at 1.6 children born/woman, which is lower than the replacement rate of 2.1.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/slovenia/| title = The World Factbook| date = 22 December 2022}}</ref> The majority of children are born to unmarried women (in 2023, 56.5% of all births were outside of marriage).<ref>{{cite web |date=24 June 2024 |title=Births, 2023 |url=https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/news/Index/12936 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229090746/https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/News/Index/6768 |archive-date=29 December 2021 |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia}}</ref>
In 2023, life expectancy at birth was 82 years (79.1 years male, and 85 years female).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Health status – Life expectancy at birth – OECD Data |url=http://data.oecd.org/healthstat/life-expectancy-at-birth.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811172303/https://data.oecd.org/healthstat/life-expectancy-at-birth.htm |archive-date=11 August 2019 |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=theOECD}}</ref>

In 2020, the [[List of countries by suicide rate|suicide rate]] in Slovenia was 17 per 100,000 persons per year, which places Slovenia among the highest ranked European countries.<ref name="stat2009suicide">{{cite web |date=16 November 2023 |title=International Men's Day |url=https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/News/Index/11479 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113165716/http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=3380 |archive-date=13 November 2010 |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia |publisher=}}</ref> Nonetheless, from 2000 until 2010, the rate has decreased by about 30%. The differences between regions and the genders are pronounced.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=4162 |title=World Suicide Prevention Day 2011 |date=8 September 2011 |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116001339/https://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=4162 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Ethnic structure ===
The largest ethnic groups in Slovenia are [[Slovenes]] (83.1%), [[Serbs in Slovenia|Serbs]] (2.0%), [[Croats of Slovenia|Croats]]
(1.8%), [[Bosniaks of Slovenia|Bosniaks]] (1.6%), [[Muslims (ethnic group)|Muslims]] (0.5%), [[Bosnians]] (0.4%), [[Hungarians]] (0.3%), [[Albanians in Slovenia|Albanians]] (0.3%) and [[Romani people in Slovenia|Roma]] (0.2%). Other ethnic groups in Slovenia include Macedonians, Italians, Montenegrins and Germans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://minorityrights.org/country/slovenia/|title=Slovenia – World Directory of Minorities & Indigenous Peoples|date=2 November 2023 }}</ref>

=== Urbanisation ===
{{Main|List of cities and towns in Slovenia}}
Depending on definition, between 65% and 79% of people live in wider urban areas.<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=q2vXdJRZhzoC&q=slovenija+stopnja+urbanizacije&pg=PA143 | title = Ekonomska preobrazba slovenskih mest | isbn = 978-961-254-090-6 | last1 = Bole | first1 = David | year = 2008| publisher = Založba ZRC }}</ref> According to [[OECD]] definition of rural areas none of the [[Statistical regions of Slovenia|Slovene statistical regions]] is mostly urbanised, meaning that 15% or less of the population lives in rural communities. According to this definition statistical regions are classified:
* mostly rural regions: [[Mura Statistical Region|Mura]], [[Drava Statistical Region|Drava]], [[Carinthia Statistical Region|Carinthia]], [[Savinja Statistical Region|Savinja]], [[Lower Sava Statistical Region|Lower Sava]], [[Littoral–Inner Carniola Statistical Region|Littoral–Inner Carniola]], [[Gorizia Statistical Region|Gorizia]], [[Southeast Slovenia Statistical Region|Southeast Slovenia]]
* moderately rural regions: [[Central Sava Statistical Region|Central Sava]], [[Upper Carniola Statistical Region|Upper Carniola]], [[Coastal–Karst Statistical Region|Coastal–Karst]], [[Central Slovenia Statistical Region|Central Slovenia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.si/tema_splosno_upravno_podezelje_predstavitev.asp |title=Projekt statistike razvoja podeželja |access-date=20 September 2013 |work=Statistical Office RS |archive-date=28 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228181158/http://www.stat.si/tema_splosno_upravno_podezelje_predstavitev.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The only large town is the capital, Ljubljana. Other (medium-sized) towns include Maribor, Celje, and Kranj.<ref name="GV52-2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.geodetski-vestnik.com/52/2/gv52-2_290-312.pdf |title=Small and Medium-Size Towns as the Basis of Polycentric Urban Development |author1=Zavodnik Lamovšek, Alma |author2=Drobne, Samo |author3=Žaucer, Tadej |journal=Geodetski Vestnik |publisher=Association of Surveyors of Slovenia |issn=0351-0271 |year=2008 |volume=52 |issue=2 |page=303}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.si/eng/KrajevnaImena/pregledi_naselja_najvecja_prebivalci.asp |title=:: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia – How frequent are the same names of settlements and streets? :: |publisher=Stat.si |access-date=2 June 2012 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511203359/http://www.stat.si/eng/KrajevnaImena/pregledi_naselja_najvecja_prebivalci.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> Overall, there are eleven urban municipalities in Slovenia.
{{Largest cities
| country      = Slovenia
| stat_ref     = [[Statistical Office of Slovenia|Statistical Office]]: Largest settlements by population (1 January 2019)
| list_by_pop  = List of cities and towns in Slovenia
| div_name     = Statistical region
| div_link     =

|city_1 = Ljubljana
|div_1 = Central Slovenia Statistical Region{{!}}Central Slovenia
|pop_1 = 284,355
|img_1 = Ljubljana made by Janez Kotar.jpg

|city_2 = Maribor
|div_2 = Drava Statistical Region{{!}}Drava
|pop_2 = 95,767
|img_2 = 19-03-03-Maribor-RalfR-DJI 0444.jpg

|city_3 = Celje
|div_3 = Savinja Statistical Region{{!}}Savinja
|pop_3 = 37,875
|img_3 = View of Celje (28189851435).jpg

|city_4 = Kranj
|div_4 = Upper Carniola Statistical Region{{!}}Upper Carniola
|pop_4 = 37,463
|img_4 = Kranj veduto Kranja fotomorgana 1.jpg

|city_5 = Koper
|div_5 = Coastal–Karst Statistical Region{{!}}Coastal–Karst
|pop_5 = 25,611

|city_6 = Velenje
|div_6 = Savinja Statistical Region{{!}}Savinja
|pop_6 = 25,327

|city_7 = Novo Mesto
|div_7 = Southeast Slovenia Statistical Region{{!}}Southeast Slovenia
|pop_7 = 23,719

|city_8 = Ptuj
|div_8 = Drava Statistical Region{{!}}Drava
|pop_8 = 17,858

|city_9 = Kamnik
|div_9 = Central Slovenia Statistical Region{{!}}Central Slovenia
|pop_9 = 13,742

|city_10 = Trbovlje
|div_10 = Central Sava Statistical Region{{!}}Central Sava
|pop_10 = 13,718
}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break|width=30%}}
{{col-end}}

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Languages of Slovenia|Slovene language}}
The official language in Slovenia is [[Slovene language|Slovene]], which is a member of the [[South Slavic languages|South Slavic language group]]. In 2002, Slovene was the native language of around 88% of Slovenia's population according to the census, with more than 92% of the Slovenian population speaking it in their home environment.<ref name="siol.net">{{cite web|url= http://www.siol.net/kultura/novice/2009/02/slovenscina_materni_jezik_za_88_odstotkov_drzavljanov.aspx |title= Slovenščina materni jezik za 88 odstotkov državljanov |publisher= [[Siol]] |date= 19 February 2009 |access-date= 2 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120516055023/http://www.siol.net/kultura/novice/2009/02/slovenscina_materni_jezik_za_88_odstotkov_drzavljanov.aspx |archive-date= 16 May 2012 }}</ref><ref name="stat.si">{{cite book |url= http://www.stat.si/popis2002/gradivo/2-169.pdf |title= Verska, jezikovna in narodna sestava prebivalstva Slovenije: Popisi 1921–2002 |language= sl |publisher= Statistični urad Republike Slovenije |year= 2003 |issue= 2 |first= Milivoja |last= Šircelj |isbn= 961-239-024-X |access-date= 19 October 2010 |archive-date= 13 February 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200213063506/https://www.stat.si/popis2002/gradivo/2-169.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> This statistic ranks Slovenia among the most homogeneous countries in the EU in terms of the share of speakers of the predominant mother tongue.<ref name="Dular">{{cite news |url= http://www.sta.si/en/vest.php?s=a&id=1482640 |title= Linguist Says Slovenian Language Not Endangered |date= 21 February 2010 |publisher= Slovenian Press Agency}}</ref>

Slovene is a highly diverse Slavic language in terms of [[Slovene dialects|dialects]],<ref name="MLD 2009">{{cite news |url= http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2177 |title= International Mother Language Day |publisher= Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia |date= 19 February 2009 |access-date= 3 February 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101113170344/http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2177 |archive-date= 13 November 2010 |url-status= dead }}</ref> with different degrees of mutual intelligibility. Accounts of the number of dialects range from as few as seven<ref>McDonald, Gordon C. 1979. ''Yugoslavia: A Country Study''. Washington, DC: American University, p. 93</ref><ref>Greenberg, Marc L. 2009. "Slovene." In Keith Brown & Sarah Ogilvie (eds.), ''Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World'', pp. 981–984. Oxford: Elsevier, p. 981.</ref><ref>Brown, E. K. & Anne Anderson. 2006. ''Encyclopedia of Language & Linguistics: Sca-Spe''. Oxford: Elsevier, p. 424</ref> dialects, often considered dialect groups or dialect bases that are further subdivided into as many as 50 dialects.<ref>Sussex, Roland, & Paul V. Cubberley. 2006. ''The Slavic languages''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 502.</ref> Other sources characterize the number of dialects as nine<ref>Sławski, Franciszek. 1962. ''Zarys dialektologii południowosłowiańskiej''. Warsaw: PAN.</ref> or as eight.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Priestly | first1 = Tom M. S. | year = 1993 | title = On 'Drift' in Indo-European Gender Systems | journal = Journal of Indo-European Studies | volume = 11 | pages = 339–363 }}</ref>

[[File:Slovenian Passport3.jpg|thumb|upright|Front cover of a bilingual passport in Slovene and Italian]]

[[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] and [[Italian language in Slovenia|Italian]], spoken by the respective minorities, enjoy the status of official languages in the ethnically mixed regions along the Hungarian and Italian borders, to the extent that even the passports issued in those areas are bilingual. In 2002 around 0.2% of the Slovenian population spoke Italian and around 0.4% spoke Hungarian as their native language. Hungarian is co-official with Slovene in 30 settlements in 5 municipalities (whereof 3 are officially bilingual). Italian is co-official with Slovene in 25 settlements in 4 municipalities (all of them officially bilingual).

[[Romani language|Romani]],<ref>{{cite journal |url= http://www2.arnes.si/~ljinv16/RIG/RIG%2052/rig%2052%20celota%20E%20TISK.pdf |title= Legal Protection of Roma in Slovenia |first= Vera |last= Klopčič |journal= Treatises and Documents: Journal of Ethnic Studies |year= 2007 |issue= 52 |pages= 234–255 |publisher= Institute for Ethnic Studies |issn= 1854-5181 |access-date= 3 February 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195512/http://www2.arnes.si/~ljinv16/RIG/RIG%2052/rig%2052%20celota%20E%20TISK.pdf |archive-date= 21 February 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref> spoken in 2002 as the native language by 0.2% of people, is a legally protected language in Slovenia. Romani speakers mainly belong to the geographically dispersed and marginalized Roma community.<ref>{{cite book |url= http://www.inv.si/DocDir/Publikacije-PDF/2003/evropa,%20slovenija%20in%20romi_optimized.pdf |title= Evropa, Slovenija in Romi |language=sl |first= Vera |last= Klopčič |author2= Miroslav Polzer |year= 2003 |isbn= 961-6159-23-2 |publisher= Institute for Ethnic Studies |access-date= 3 February 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195508/http://www.inv.si/DocDir/Publikacije-PDF/2003/evropa,%20slovenija%20in%20romi_optimized.pdf |archive-date= 21 February 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

German, which used to be the largest minority language in Slovenia prior to World War II (around 4% of the population in 1921), is now the native language of only around 0.08% of the population, the majority of whom are more than 60 years old.<ref name="stat.si"/> [[Gottscheerish]] or ''Granish'', the traditional German dialect of [[Gottschee]] County, faces extinction.<ref name="norwaysi">{{cite web |url= http://www.norway.si/ARKIV/heritage/granish/ |title= Granish – a Minority Language Spoken in Slovenia |publisher= Norway.si |access-date= 2 June 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

A significant number of people in Slovenia speak a variant of [[Serbo-Croatian]] ([[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]], [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]], or [[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]) as their native language. These are mostly families who moved to Slovenia from other [[former Yugoslav]] republics. Altogether, Serbo-Croatian in its different forms is the second natively spoken language in Slovenia with 5.9% of population. In 2002, 0.4% of the Slovenian population declared themselves to be native speakers of [[Albanian language|Albanian]] and 0.2% native speakers of [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]].<ref name="stat.si"/> [[Czech language|Czech]], the fourth-largest minority language in Slovenia prior to World War II (after German, Hungarian, and Serbo-Croatian), is now the native language of a few hundred residents of Slovenia.<ref name="stat.si"/>

Slovenia ranks among the top European countries in knowledge of foreign languages. The most taught foreign languages are English, German, Italian, French and Spanish. {{As of|2007}}, 92% of the population between the age of 25 and 64 spoke at least one foreign language and around 71.8% of them spoke at least two foreign languages, which was the highest percentage in the European Union.<ref>[http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-24092009-AP/EN/3-24092009-AP-EN.PDF European Day of Languages] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124065821/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-24092009-AP/EN/3-24092009-AP-EN.PDF |date=24 January 2013 }}, Eurostat Newsrelease, 24 September 2009</ref> According to the [[Eurobarometer]] survey, {{as of|2005|lc=on}} the majority of Slovenes could speak [[Croatian language|Croatian]] (61%) and English (56%).<ref name="EurobarLang">{{cite web|url= http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_386_en.pdf |title= Special Eurobarometer 386 Europeans and Their Languages |date= June 2012 |access-date= 18 October 2013}}</ref>{{rp|21}} A reported 42% of Slovenes could speak German, which was one of the highest percentages outside German-speaking countries.<ref name="EurobarLang"/> Italian is widely spoken on the [[Slovenian Istria|Slovenian Coast]] and in some other areas of the [[Slovene Littoral]]. Around 15% of Slovenians can speak Italian, which is (according to the Eurobarometer pool) the third-highest percentage in the European Union, after Italy and [[Malta]].<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf
|title= Eurobarometer pool (2006), page 152 |access-date =2 June 2012
}}
</ref>

=== Immigration ===
In 2021, about 13.9% (292,824 people) of the population in Slovenia was born abroad.<ref name="SURS">{{cite web |date=13 December 2021 |title=International Migrants Day |url=https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/News/Index/9999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613133216/http://pxweb.stat.si/pxweb/Dialog/statfile1.asp |archive-date=13 June 2017 |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia |publisher=}}</ref> About 86% of the foreign-born population originated from other countries of former Yugoslavia as (in descending order) [[Bosnia-Herzegovina]], followed by immigrants from [[Croatia]], [[Serbia]], [[Kosovo]], and [[North Macedonia]].<ref name="SURS" />

By the beginning of 2017, there were about 114,438 people with foreign citizenship residing in the country making up 5.5% of the total population. Of these foreigners, 76% had citizenships of the other countries from former Yugoslavia (excluding Croatia). Additionally 16.4% had EU-citizenships and 7.6% had citizenships of other countries.<ref name="SURS" />

{{bar box
|width = 300px
|float = right
|title = Ethnic composition of Slovenia<br />(according to the 2002 census)<ref name="2002census">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.si/popis2002/en/rezultati/rezultati_red.asp?ter=SLO&st=7 |title=Census 2002: 7. Population by ethnic affiliation, Slovenia, Census 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2002 |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia |access-date=2 February 2011 |archive-date=6 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806084849/http://www.stat.si/popis2002/en/rezultati/rezultati_red.asp?ter=SLO&st=7 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|titlebar = #ddd
|bars =
{{bar percent|Slovene|teal|83.06}}
{{bar percent|Serb|teal|1.98}}
{{bar percent|Croat|teal|1.81}}
{{bar percent|Bosniak|teal|1.10}}
{{bar percent|Other minorities|teal|4.85}}
{{bar percent|Undeclared or unknown|gray|8.9}}
|caption =
}}

According to the 2002 census, Slovenia's main ethnic group are [[Slovenes]] (83%); however, their share in the total population is continuously decreasing, due to their relatively low [[fertility rate]]. At least 13% (2002) of the population were immigrants from other parts of [[Former Yugoslavia]] and their descendants.<ref name="Medvesek">{{Cite news |url=http://www2.arnes.si/~ljinv16/RIG/RIG%2053_54/rig%2053%20medvesek.pdf |title=Kdo so priseljenci z območja nekdanje Jugoslavije |language=sl |first=Mojca |last=Medvešek |journal=Razprave in Gradivo |publisher=Institute for Ethnic Studies |issue=53–54 |year=2007 |page=34 |access-date=29 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195508/http://www2.arnes.si/~ljinv16/RIG/RIG%2053_54/rig%2053%20medvesek.pdf |archive-date=21 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They have settled mainly in cities and suburbanised areas.<ref name="Repolusk">{{Cite news |url=http://www.ff.uni-lj.si/oddelki/geo/publikacije/dela/files/dela_25/07%20repolust.pdf |first=Peter |last=Repolusk |title=Narodnostno neopredeljeno prebivalstvo ob popisih 1991 in 2002 v Sloveniji |language=sl, en |journal=Dela |volume=25 |pages=87–96 |year=2006 |publisher=Anton Melik Geographical Institute |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306014855/http://www.ff.uni-lj.si/oddelki/geo/publikacije/dela/files/dela_25/07%20repolust.pdf |archive-date=6 March 2012}}</ref> Relatively small but protected by the [[Constitution of Slovenia]] are the [[Hungarians in Slovenia|Hungarian]] and the [[Italians in Slovenia|Italian ethnic minority]].<ref name="MDL2010">{{cite news |url=http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2957 |title=International Mother Language Day 2010 |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia |date=19 February 2010 |access-date=29 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113170007/http://www.stat.si/eng/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=2957 |archive-date=13 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Constitution">{{cite web |url=http://www.dz-rs.si/index.php?id=351&docid=25&showdoc=1 |title=Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia |publisher=National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia |access-date=26 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223221038/http://www.dz-rs.si/index.php?id=351&docid=25&showdoc=1 |archive-date=23 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.eliamep.gr/en/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/slovenija_slov.pdf |title=Poročilo: Italijanska narodna skupnost v Slovenski Istri |language=sl |year=2009 |first=Ksenija |last=Šabec |publisher=Center for Cultural and Religious Studies, University of Ljubljana |access-date=1 February 2011 |page=7 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511125306/http://www.eliamep.gr/en/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/slovenija_slov.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2011 }}</ref> A special position is held by the autochthonous and geographically dispersed [[Roma in Slovenia|Roma ethnic community]].<ref>{{cite book |url=http://dk.fdv.uni-lj.si/dela/Gajsek-Nina.PDF |title=Pravice romske skupnosti v Republiki Sloveniji |language=sl |year=2004 |first=Nina |last=Gajšek |publisher=Faculty of Social Science, University of Ljubljana |access-date=1 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195515/http://dk.fdv.uni-lj.si/dela/Gajsek-Nina.PDF |archive-date=21 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ff.uni-lj.si/oddelki/geo/publikacije/dela/files/Dela_27/12_zupancic.pdf |title=Romska naselja kot poseben del naselbinskega sistema v Sloveniji |language=sl, en |first=Jernej |last=Zupančič |journal=Dela |publisher=Institute of Geography |volume=27 |year=2007 |pages=215–246 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306014932/http://www.ff.uni-lj.si/oddelki/geo/publikacije/dela/files/Dela_27/12_zupancic.pdf |archive-date=6 March 2012}}</ref>

The number of people immigrating into Slovenia rose steadily from 1995<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.si/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1823 |title=Statistični urad RS – Selitveno gibanje, Slovenija, 2007 |publisher=Stat.si |access-date=2 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706062136/http://www.stat.si/novica_prikazi.aspx?id=1823 |archive-date=6 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and has been increasing even more rapidly in recent years. After Slovenia joined the EU in 2004, the annual number of immigrants doubled by 2006 and increased by half yet again by 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stat.si/pxweb/Database/Dem_soc/05_prebivalstvo/20_selitve/01_05563_meddrzavne_selitve/01_05563_meddrzavne_selitve.asp |title = Meddržavne selitve |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110427193532/http://www.stat.si/pxweb/Database/Dem_soc/05_prebivalstvo/20_selitve/01_05563_meddrzavne_selitve/01_05563_meddrzavne_selitve.asp |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, Slovenia had one of the fastest growing [[net migration rate]]s in the European Union.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

===Religion===

{{Main|Religion in Slovenia}}
[[File:Radovljica Brezje Bazilika Sv Vida 28082012 122.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The National Shrine Mary Help of Christians at [[Brezje, Radovljica|Brezje]]]]

Before World War II, 97% of the Slovenian population identified as members of the [[Catholic Church in Slovenia|Catholic Church in the country]], around 2.5% as Lutheran, and around 0.5% of residents identified themselves as members of other denominations.<ref name="stat.si"/> After 1945, the country underwent a process of gradual but steady [[secularization]]. After a decade of persecution of religions, the Communist regime adopted a policy of relative tolerance towards churches. After 1990, the Catholic Church regained some of its former influence, but Slovenia remains a largely secularized society.

The 2018 Eurobarometer data shows 73.4% of population identifying as Catholic<ref name="EB2018"/> that fell to 72.1% in the 2019 Eurobarometer survey.<ref name="EB2019"/> According to the Catholic Church data, the Catholic population fell from 78.04% in 2009 to 72.11% in 2019<ref>{{cite web|title=Prebivalstvo in katoličani v Sloveniji (page 72)|url=https://katoliska-cerkev.si/media/datoteke/Dokumenti%20in%20publikacije/LETNO%20POROCILO%202020-SPLET.pdf|publisher=katoliska-cerkev.si|access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref> The vast majority of Slovenian Catholics belong to the [[Latin Church]]. A small number of [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholics]] live in the [[White Carniola]] region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lokalno.si/si/aktualno/ljudje/?id=26004|title=Uskoška dediščina Bele krajine na RTVS&#124;Ljudje&#124;Lokalno aktualno|publisher=Lokalno.si|date=6 January 2012|access-date=2 June 2012|archive-date=8 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208205928/http://www.lokalno.si/si/aktualno/ljudje/?id=26004|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Slovenia (2019)<ref name="EB2019">{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2251|title=Special Eurobarometer 493, European Union: European Commission|pages=229–230|website=ec.europa.eu|language=en|date=September 2019|url-status=live|access-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311010736/https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2251 |archive-date=March 11, 2021}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Catholic Church in Slovenia|Catholic]]
|value1 = 72.1
|color1 = DarkBlue
|label2 = None
|value2 = 18
|color2 = Grey
|label3 = [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]]
|value3 = 3.7
|color3 = DarkOrchid
|label4 = [[Protestant]]
|value4 = 0.9
|color4 = yellow
|label5 = Other Christian
|value5 = 1
|color5 = SkyBlue
|label6 = [[Muslim]]
|value6 = 3
|color6 = Green
|label7 = Other religion
|value7 = 3
|color7 = #C3B091
|label8 = Undeclared 
|value8 = 2
|color8 = red
}}

Despite a relatively small number of [[Protestants]] (less than 1% in 2002), the Protestant legacy is historically significant given that the Slovene standard language and Slovene literature were established by the [[Protestant Reformation]]. [[Primoz Trubar]], a theologian in the [[Lutheran]] tradition, was one of the most influential [[Protestant Reformers]] in Slovenia. Protestantism was extinguished in the [[Counter-Reformation]] implemented by the [[Habsburg dynasty]], which controlled the region. It only survived in the easternmost regions due to protection of Hungarian nobles, who often happened to be [[Calvinist]] themselves. Today, a significant [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] minority lives in the easternmost region of [[Prekmurje]], where they represent around a fifth of the population and are headed by a bishop with the seat in [[Murska Sobota]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evang-cerkev.si/sl/page.asp?id_informacija=35&id_language=1&id_meta_type=10|title=Predstavitev|publisher=Evang-cerkev.si|access-date=2 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610182949/http://www.evang-cerkev.si/sl/page.asp?id_informacija=35&id_language=1&id_meta_type=10|archive-date=10 June 2012}}</ref>

The third largest denomination, with around 2.2% of the population, is the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], with most adherents belonging to the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] while a minority belongs to the [[Macedonian Orthodox Church|Macedonian]] and other Eastern Orthodox churches.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

According to the 2002 census, [[Islam]] is the second largest religious denomination in the country, with around 2.4% of the population. Most Slovenian Muslims came from [[Bosnia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamska-skupnost.si/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=2|title=Islamska Skupnost v Republiki Sloveniji|publisher=Islamska-skupnost.si|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319195651/http://www.islamska-skupnost.si/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=2|archive-date=19 March 2012|access-date=2 June 2012}}</ref>

There was a [[History of the Jews in Slovenia|Slovenian Jewish community]] before the [[Holocaust]].

In the 2002 around 10% of Slovenes declared themselves [[atheists]], another 10% professed no specific denomination, and around 16% declined to answer. According to the [[Eurobarometer]] Poll 2010,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url= http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |title= Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, page 204 |year=2010 |orig-year= Fieldwork: Jan–Feb 2010 }}</ref> 32% of Slovenian citizens "believe there is a god", whereas 36% "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 26% "do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".<ref name=":0" />

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Slovenia}}
Slovenia's education ranks as the 12th best in the world and 4th best in the [[European Union]], being significantly higher than the [[OECD]] average, according to the [[Programme for International Student Assessment]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |title=Table: Range of rank on the PISA 2006 science scale |date=4 December 2007 |access-date=15 April 2008|work=PISA 2006 |publisher=OECD}}</ref> Among people age 25 to 64, 12% have attended higher education, while on average Slovenes have 9.6 years of formal education. According to an OECD report, 83% of adults ages 25–64 have earned the equivalent of a high school degree, well above the OECD average of 74%; among 25- to 34-year-olds, the rate is 93%.<ref>{{cite web|author=OECD |url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/slovenia/ |title=Slovenia – OECD Better Life Index |publisher=Oecdbetterlifeindex.org |access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref> According to the 1991 census there is 99.6% [[literacy]] in Slovenia. [[Lifelong learning]] is also increasing.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Responsibility for education oversight at primary and secondary level in Slovenia lies with the Ministry of Education and Sports. After non-compulsory pre-school education, children enter the nine-year primary school at the age of six.<ref>[http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/osnovnosolsko_izobrazevanje/osnovna_sola/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221033345/http://www.mss.gov.si/si/solstvo/osnovnosolsko_izobrazevanje/osnovna_sola/|date=21 February 2012}}</ref> Primary school is divided into three periods, each of three years. In the academic year 2006–2007 there were 166,000 pupils enrolled in elementary education and more than 13,225 teachers, giving a ratio of one teacher per 12 pupils and 20 pupils per class.

After completing elementary school, nearly all children (more than 98%) go on to secondary education, either vocational, technical, or general secondary programmes ([[Gymnasium (school)|''gimnazija'']]). The last concludes with the [[Matura#Slovenia|''matura'']], a comprehensive exam that allows the graduates to enter a university. 84% of secondary school graduates go on to tertiary education.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.culture.si/en/Slovenia#Education |title=About Slovenia – Culture of Slovenia |publisher=Culture.si |access-date=2 June 2012}}</ref>

Among several universities in Slovenia, the best ranked is the [[University of Ljubljana]], ranking among the first 500 or the first 3% of the world's best universities according to the [[Academic Ranking of World Universities|ARWU]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU-Statistics-2012.html#2 |title=Statistics (by Country) of Academic Ranking of World Universities &#124; Shanghai Ranking |publisher=ARWU |access-date=2 June 2012 |archive-date=17 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817221125/http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU-Statistics-2012.html#2 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uni-lj.si/en/news.aspx?id=7606 |title=University of Ljubljana once again on Shanghai and Webometrics ranking lists |publisher=Uni-lj.si |access-date=4 April 2014 |archive-date=28 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328061623/http://www.uni-lj.si/en/news.aspx?id=7606 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Two other public universities include the [[University of Maribor]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uni-mb.si/podrocje.aspx?id=0&langID=1060 |title=Univerza v Mariboru |publisher=Uni-mb.si |access-date=2 June 2012}}</ref> in [[Styria (Slovenia)|Styria]] region and the [[University of Primorska]] in [[Slovene Littoral]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upr.si/ |title=Univerza na Primorskem: SLO |publisher=Upr.si |access-date=2 June 2012}}</ref> In addition, there is a private [[University of Nova Gorica]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ung.si/si/ |title=Univerza v Novi Gorici |publisher=Ung.si |access-date=2 June 2012 |archive-date=20 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520194855/http://www.ung.si/si/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and an international [[EMUNI University]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emuni.si/en/strani/29/EMUNI-University.html |title=EMUNI University |access-date=13 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222025646/http://www.emuni.si/en/strani/29/EMUNI-University.html |archive-date=22 February 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>