Koroška is situated in the northern part of the Republic of Slovenia, where Southern and Central Alps meet. It includes 12 municipalities: Črna na Koroškem, Mežica, Prevalje, Ravne na Koroškem, Mislinja, Dravograd, Muta, Vuzenica, Radlje ob Dravi, Podvelka, Ribnica na Pohorju, and Slovenj Gradec. The latter is the only municipality in the region with the status of a city municipality.
With its 1000 km2 and just under 72,000 residents, the region is among the smaller Slovenian regions. The centre of the region is the “urban” area of Slovenj Gradec, Ravne na Koroškem and Dravograd. Dispersed settlements are very typical for the countryside background of larger settlements. Farms in the shape of isolated clusters are dispersed through the entire region. Significant landscape features include: large areas of forests, dense river network and concentration of activities in urban settlements in the valleys (Mežica, Mislinja, Drava). The almost 100 km long border line with the neighbouring Austria is one of the particularities of the region, with 8 municipalities located directly on the border.
Koroška is one of the oldest industrial regions in Slovenia. Mining developed in the region in the previous centuries, some say that it started in the Roman period. Mining brought the flourishing of ironwork and wood industry, with metal processing industry, production of installation components for automotive industry and machine manufacture following in the modern age. These processing activities still dominate in the economy of the region since it is significantly oriented towards export.
The region has suitable capacities of elementary schools and kindergartens. Accessibility of programmes in secondary schools is suitable. In the past years, the region also gained several higher education programmes.
Koroška has been fully defined as an area with limited possibilities for agricultural activity. With its steep slopes and high altitude, it belongs to mountain areas.
According to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning areas of Natura 2000 cover approximately 27 % of the area in the region. This includes areas in Geopark Karavanke, Pohorje and near the Drava river.
The Koroška region shows development issues as it is (with the exception of relatively young population that is ageing fast) beneath the Slovenian average according to all indicators when compared to other regions. The region is continuing to fall behind the most developed regions. According to indicators of development, endangerment, and development possibilities, expressed with development endangerment index, it is ranked eighth among the twelve Slovenian regions.
The region is searching for opportunities based on their own development potential in the development of existing and new, environment friendly activities with increased added value, particularly in further development of metal processing industry and installation parts industry for automotive industry, in development of wood processing activity, tourism, and self-sufficiency with food.
The vision of Koroška region 2020 is to become/remain an economically successful, socially and spatially connected community that promotes creativity, entrepreneurship, openness and inclusion for everyone, and that it provides quality living for its population and work in a healthy and clean environment where they can manage natural resources in a sustainable manner.
BASIC DATA
| Koroška Region | Slovenia | Index (SI = 100) |
|
| Area in km2 (source: SURS) | 1,041 | 20,273 | 5.1 |
| Population (2010, source:SURS) | 72,812 | 2,046,976 | 3.6 |
| Population density in people/km2 | 70 | 101 | 71 |
| Ageing index (1st half of 2010, source: SURS) | 114.4 | 117.4 | |
| Total population change per 1000 residents (2009, source: SURS) | -1.1 | 7.2 | |
| Registered unemployment rate in % (Dec. 2010, source: ZRSZ RU Velenje) | 14.4 | 11.8 | |
| Share of farmers among the active population in % (2009, source: SURS) | 3.4 | 3.97 | |
| Average gross monthly salary SKD activity in € (Dec. 2010, source: SURS) | 1,373 | 1,534 | 90 |
| Gross basis for income tax per resident in € (2005, source: UMAR) | 6,220 | 6,978 | 89.1 |
| GDP per resident in € (2005, source: UMAR) Comparison with EU 25: 1995 (EU 25 = 100, SLO = 73, KOR = 58) 2005 (EU 27 = 100, SLO = 87, KOR = 68) |
15,223 | 19,462 | 78.2 |
| Regional GDP, current prices, annual, per resident in € (2008, source: SURS) | 14,115 | 18,450 | 76.5 |
| Added value per employee in companies in € (2007: source: UMAR) |
27,504 | 33,538 | 82 |
| Share of pure income of companies from sales in foreign markets in total pure income from sales in % (2007, source: UMAR) |
53.1 | 30.5 | |
| Investment costs in companies in % (2005: source: UMAR) | 13.7 | 14.0 | |
| Number of overnight stays of tourists (2009, source: SURS) | 82,045 | 9,013,773 | 0.9 |
| Amount of municipal waste collected with municipal services in kg/resident (2008, source: SURS) | 366 | 419 | 87 |
| Share of municipal waste collected with municipal services in and disposed in waste disposal facilities in % (2008, source: SURS) | 92.8 | 80.1 |
More statistical data about the region is available at the website of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. You can find them on SI-STAT data portal, Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Slovenia and in publication Slovenian regions in numbers.
Source: RRA KOROŠKA
