GeoRealityMatch
View of St. Martin's Cathedral tower framed by trees in Bratislava. Clear blue sky and urban skyline in the background.A panoramic view of Bratislava featuring historic architecture and city rooftops under a clear blue sky.

Slovakia

Europe · Central Europe

Very high safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and human development is high. Incomes are low for Europe.

ExpatCombines very high development, very high safety and affordable cost of living.RetireeCombines high life expectancy, very high safety and affordable cost of living.
vs Czechiavs Hungary
Safety

29th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.661lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#29 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.1per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
68.9Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the European median

Median disposable income
€12,990per adult, a year, after tax and transfersLow
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
17.3New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
12.6years of median income to buy a median flatModerateNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 169% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 61% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$25K$50K$49,309 PPP$28,544Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $10,629 a person, $18,906 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2007, $14,330 a person, $21,232 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2008, $17,974 a person, $23,714 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2009, $16,587 a person, $23,077 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2010, $16,899 a person, $25,382 at PPP, inflation 1%2011, $18,469 a person, $26,202 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2012, $17,517 a person, $27,023 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2013, $18,313 a person, $28,075 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2014, $18,771 a person, $29,108 at PPP2015, $16,442 a person, $30,148 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2016, $16,636 a person, $29,868 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2017, $17,646 a person, $30,246 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2018, $19,573 a person, $31,510 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2019, $19,406 a person, $33,986 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2020, $19,735 a person, $35,328 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2021, $22,123 a person, $38,330 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2022, $21,318 a person, $41,529 at PPP, inflation 12.8%2023, $24,615 a person, $45,865 at PPP, inflation 10.5%2024, $25,993 a person, $47,847 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2025, $28,544 a person, $49,309 at PPP, inflation 4%$0$25K$50KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $10,629 a person, $18,906 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2007, $14,330 a person, $21,232 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2008, $17,974 a person, $23,714 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2009, $16,587 a person, $23,077 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2010, $16,899 a person, $25,382 at PPP, inflation 1%2011, $18,469 a person, $26,202 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2012, $17,517 a person, $27,023 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2013, $18,313 a person, $28,075 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2014, $18,771 a person, $29,108 at PPP2015, $16,442 a person, $30,148 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2016, $16,636 a person, $29,868 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2017, $17,646 a person, $30,246 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2018, $19,573 a person, $31,510 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2019, $19,406 a person, $33,986 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2020, $19,735 a person, $35,328 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2021, $22,123 a person, $38,330 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2022, $21,318 a person, $41,529 at PPP, inflation 12.8%2023, $24,615 a person, $45,865 at PPP, inflation 10.5%2024, $25,993 a person, $47,847 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2025, $28,544 a person, $49,309 at PPP, inflation 4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
78.4years, at birthHigh
#49 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
78WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
12.3PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Around the European middle for youth unemployment

Youth unemployment
15.3%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceModerate
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
105 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
606EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet105 MbpsVery fast
Mobile118 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A panoramic view of Bratislava featuring historic architecture and city rooftops under a clear blue sky.
How it changed

Slovakia's Human Development Index

0.880Very high human development

44th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 31st of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #41Latvia0.889
  2. #43Qatar0.886
  3. #44Slovakia0.880
  4. #45Chile0.878
  5. #46Hungary0.870
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.698 in 1990 to 0.880 in 2023.

0.650.780.900.88019902000201020231990: 0.6981991: 0.6971992: 0.7021993: 0.7101994: 0.7201995: 0.7291996: 0.7401997: 0.7471998: 0.7581999: 0.7652000: 0.7742001: 0.7812002: 0.7902003: 0.7962004: 0.8062005: 0.8152006: 0.8242007: 0.8342008: 0.8422009: 0.8452010: 0.8512011: 0.8562012: 0.8562013: 0.8582014: 0.8592015: 0.8612016: 0.8642017: 0.8652018: 0.8682019: 0.8712020: 0.8672021: 0.8592022: 0.8732023: 0.8800.650.780.9019902000201020231990: 0.6981991: 0.6971992: 0.7021993: 0.7101994: 0.7201995: 0.7291996: 0.7401997: 0.7471998: 0.7581999: 0.7652000: 0.7742001: 0.7812002: 0.7902003: 0.7962004: 0.8062005: 0.8152006: 0.8242007: 0.8342008: 0.8422009: 0.8452010: 0.8512011: 0.8562012: 0.8562013: 0.8582014: 0.8592015: 0.8612016: 0.8642017: 0.8652018: 0.8682019: 0.8712020: 0.8672021: 0.8592022: 0.8732023: 0.880

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
78.4 years2024at birthUp 4.5 years from 73.9 years in 2005
Internet users
90%2024of people onlineUp 34 points from 56% in 2006
Urban population
53%2025of people in towns and citiesDown 2 points from 55% in 2006
Births per woman
1.462024births per womanUp 0.19 from 1.27 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
18%2021of energy usedUp 12 points from 6% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
52024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 2 from 7 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
5.5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 2.4 t from 7.9 t in 2005
Forest area
40%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Bratislava is one hour from Vienna; low taxes, industrial heartland, affordable. The case for living here is peace, very high human development and good English among locals. The case against is low incomes for Europe.

About Slovakia

Slovakia is a Central European country with a beautiful mountain interior centred on the High Tatras, a string of medieval towns and fortified castles, and a culture that shares deep Slavic roots with its neighbours while remaining distinctly its own. Bratislava, the compact capital on the Danube, has a charm that rewards time spent beyond a day trip from Vienna or Budapest. It suits travellers who enjoy mountain landscapes, history, and a country that hasn't yet been overrun.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBratislava
  • LanguagesSlovak
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area48,080 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Slovakia's Human Development Index?

Slovakia's Human Development Index is 0.880 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #44 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Slovakia safe?

Slovakia scores 1.66 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #29 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Slovakia?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Slovakia at 49.6 (New York = 100); that is #96 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Slovakia?

Life expectancy at birth in Slovakia is 78.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #49 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Slovakia?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Slovakia at 158.6, ranked #35 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.