Economic Activities in Slovenia: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary

Key Economic Insights: The economy of Slovenia generates an estimated GDP of $79.65 billion ($37,376 per capita) supporting a population of 2,130,986. Productive output is anchored by 58.6% services, 28.3% industry and manufacturing, and 1.6% agriculture and natural resource extraction.

Slovenia, with a population of about 2,130,986 (as of 2025), is ranked 148th in the world. Located in Central Europe, it spans 20,271 square kilometers, ranking 153rd globally, slightly smaller than El Salvador.

As of 2025, Slovenia had a GDP of approximately $79.65 billion (World Bank), an advanced high-income economy. Slovenia’s GDP per capita stood at approximately $37,376 (World Bank, 2025), placing it among the wealthier economies in Central Europe.

Despite its relatively lower ranking, Slovenia’s economy shows promise with steady growth and potential for further development in the coming years.

Table of Contents

Slovenia Economic Structure & Sector Analysis

Economic Dimension	Figure	Authoritative Source
GDP & Macro Output	Nominal GDP: $79.65 billion \| Per Capita: $37,376	World Bank WDI / IMF
Sector Breakdown	Services: 58.6% \| Industry: 28.3% \| Agriculture: 1.6%	World Bank National Accounts
Demographics & Labor	Population: 2,130,986	ILO / UN Population Division

Primary activities: 1.6% of GDP.
Secondary activities: 28.3% of GDP.
Tertiary activities: 58.6% of GDP.

Slovenia economy by sector

Share of GDP, 2025, compared with the world average

Services make up the largest part of the economy, at 58.6% of GDP in 2025. Agriculture’s share is below the world average of 4.1%, and industry’s share is above the world’s 25.4%. Data: World Bank, World Development Indicators (value added by sector, % of GDP). The three shares do not add up to exactly 100% because GDP also includes taxes on products minus subsidies.

Primary Sector of Slovenia

Approximately 30% of the country’s land is dedicated to agriculture, with a focus on producing a variety of products such as milk, maize, wheat, barley, grapes, chicken, potatoes, apples, beef, and pork. Agriculture contributes 1.6% to the GDP.

The sector provides employment, supports rural communities, and ensures food security. Slovenia’s agricultural sector produces a wide range of crops and animal products and sustains the country’s food production.

Slovenia’s diverse geology provides abundant natural resources, including lignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, and forests. These resources drive the economy through mining, construction, energy production, and forestry industries, contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth and sustainability.Slovenia’s gas production remains modest, with 4 million m³ in 2020, ranking 99th globally. This sector supports energy independence and economic stability.

Secondary Sector of Slovenia

In Slovenia, main industrial products include ferrous metallurgy, aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics, trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, and machine tools.Manufactures accounted for 86.18% of Slovenia’s total exports in 2023. This highlights the significance of the manufacturing sector in driving the country’s economy and trade.

Tertiary sector of Slovenia

Ljubljana riverside illustrating Slovenia's tertiary service sector

The tertiary sector in Slovenia encompasses various services that contribute to the economy through knowledge and time. Key activities include restaurants, healthcare, education, banking, communication, media production, tourism, and transportation. These services provide intangible goods like expertise, information, and experiences to meet consumer and business needs, driving productivity and performance in the country’s economy.Slovenia’s tourism industry contributes significantly to its GDP. As of 2024, Slovenia welcomed a record 6.58 million tourist arrivals (Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia), with foreign visitors surpassing 5 million. Popular destinations like Ljubljana and Lake Bled attract visitors from around the globe and support the country’s economic growth.Another example of tertiary economic activity is the mobile cellular sector, with approximately 2.7 million subscriptions, supporting technological growth by improving connectivity across various industries.

Military Activities and Economic Sectors of Slovenia

The primary sector helps by providing resources needed for military use. The secondary sector is important because it manufactures military equipment. The tertiary sector includes various services the military offers, while the quaternary sector focuses on research and development. Finally, the quinary sector involves high-level decision-making and strategy for military operations.

As of 2024, Slovenia’s military expenditure was approximately 1.3% of GDP (SIPRI / World Bank), with plans to gradually increase defence spending toward 2% of GDP by 2030 in line with NATO commitments. The active military force consists of roughly 7,300 personnel.

International Trade of Slovenia

Import Activities of Slovenia

As of 2024, Slovenia’s imports of goods totaled roughly $75 billion (Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia). Slovenia is a small, highly open trading economy. Imports support economic growth, industry development, and consumer demand.Slovenia’s key imports include packaged medicine, nitrogen compounds, refined petroleum, cars, and electricity. Its main import partners are Switzerland (17%), China (11%), Italy (10%), Germany (10%), and Austria (7%).

Exports Activities of Slovenia

Slovenia’s total exports of goods in 2024 amounted to approximately $59 billion (Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia). As a small, highly open economy, exports are of utmost importance, driving the country economy significantly.Slovenia’s export activities are diverse, with packaged medicine, cars, refined petroleum, electricity, and vehicle parts being key commodities. The country’s top export partners include Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Croatia, and Austria, with Switzerland accounting for the largest share at 18%.

Slovenia economy challenges in 2024

Slovenia, a high-income EU member, faces challenges in 2024. Despite high human capital and government spending, it struggles with health infrastructure and economic disparities. Key investments from Croatia and a focus on technology and finance aim to address these issues.

Sources

Last updated: October 2026

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Post Author

Juan David Montoya

Economist & Senior Economic Researcher. Editorial Director of EconomicActivity.org. Specializes in macroeconomic indicators, international trade flows, and economic sector taxonomy (ISIC Rev. 4). Analyzes multilateral data from the World Bank, IMF, UN Comtrade, and OECD.