Regions of Slovakia

Since 1949 (except 1990–1996), Slovakia has been divided into a number of kraje (singular kraj; usually translated as "Regions" with capital R).[1] Their number, borders and functions have been changed several times. There are currently eight regions of Slovakia and they correspond to the EU's NUTS 3 level of local administrative units. Each kraj consists of okresy (counties or districts). There are currently 79 districts.

Regions of Slovakia
Kraje Slovenska
CategoryUnitary state
LocationSlovak Republic
Number8 Regions
Populations563,591 (Trnava) – 825,022 (Prešov)
Areas2,052.6 km2 (792.5 sq mi) (Bratislava) – 9,454.8 km2 (3,650.5 sq mi) (Banská Bystrica)
GovernmentRegion government, National government
SubdivisionsDistrict

List

After a period without kraje and without any equivalent (1990–1996), the kraje were reintroduced in 1996. As for administrative division, Slovakia has been subdivided into 8 kraje since 24 July 1996:

Flag Arms Region Capital Population (2018) Area (km²) Density NUTS level 3
BratislavaBratislava659,5982,052.6321,34 SK010
TrnavaTrnava563,5914,172.2135,08 SK021
TrenčínTrenčín585,8824,501.9130,14 SK022
NitraNitra676,6726,343.4106,67 SK023
ŽilinaŽilina691,3686,808.4101,54 SK031
Banská BystricaBanská Bystrica647,8759,454.868,52 SK032
PrešovPrešov825,0228,974.591,92 SK041
KošiceKošice800,4146,751.9118,32 SK042

Since 2002, Slovakia is divided into 8 samosprávne kraje (self-governing regions), which are called by the Constitution vyššie územné celky (Higher Territorial Units), abbr. VÚC. The territory and borders of the self-governing regions are identical with the territory and borders of the kraje. Therefore, the word "kraj" can be replaced by "VÚC" or "samosprávny kraj" in each case in the above list. The main difference is that organs of samosprávne kraje are self-governing, with an elected chairperson and assembly, while the organs of kraje are appointed by the government.

Name

The term "Region" (Slovak: kraj) should not be confused with:

History

Prior to 1949

Historically, Slovakia was not divided into kraje, but into counties (Slovak: župy or stolice). This was the case when present-day Slovakia was part of:

In 1928–1939 (and formally also 1945–1948) Slovakia as a whole formed the administrative unit "Slovak land" (Krajina slovenská) within Czechoslovakia.

Kraje 24 December 1948/1 January 1949 – 30 June 1960
  • Bratislavský kraj (Bratislava Region)
  • Banskobystrický kraj (Banská Bystrica Region)
  • Košický kraj (Košice Region)
  • Nitriansky kraj (Nitra Region)
  • Prešovský kraj (Prešov Region)
  • Žilinský kraj (Žilina Region)

Each kraj was named after its principal city.

Kraje July 1, 1960 – December 19, 1990
  • Stredoslovenský kraj (Central Slovak Region)
  • Východoslovenský kraj (Eastern Slovak Region)
  • Západoslovenský kraj (Western Slovak Region)
  • Bratislava (before March 22, 1968 part of the Západoslovenský kraj, afterwards a partly separate entity; from January 1971 a separate kraj)

Note: The kraje were abolished from July 1, 1969 to December 28, 1970 and reintroduced then.

See also

References
  1. "Regions". Slovakia.com.
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