From implementers to creators: Quality of life in Slovenia – Development report 2026
Slovenia continues to maintain a high quality of life; however, rising global pressures, demographic change, limited adaptability and insufficient investment in the future are constraining the full utilisation of its development potential. The Report presents proposals and identifies forward-looking priorities together…
Charts of the week from 11 to 15 May 2026: GDP, production volume in manufacturing, activity in construction, current account of the balance of payments and electricity consumption by consumption group
Economic activity in Slovenia strengthened in the first quarter of this year. Activity in the export sector increased: alongside higher goods exports, value added in manufacturing also rose. Year-on-year growth was recorded in the manufacture of…
Charts of the week from 4 to 8 May 2026: number of registered unemployed, exports and imports of goods
The number of registered unemployed fell month-on-month in April (seasonally adjusted) and was also lower year-on-year in the first four months (–0.4%). However, the number of unemployed young people has been rising since October 2024, which we assess as reflecting the entry of larger cohorts into…
Charts of the week from 28 to 30 April 2026: consumer prices and turnover in market services
Inflation increased markedly year-on-year in April, rising from 2.5% in March to 3.1%, due to higher fuel prices related to the war in the Middle East; petroleum product prices contributed around 1 p.p. to year-on-year inflation. Year-on-year price growth in the food and non-alcoholic beverages group slowed to 1%, the lowest level since July 2024. Total real turnover in market…
National productivity board
IMAD analyses productivity and competitiveness as the national productivity board
GDP and prices
GDP growth is projected to strengthen to 2.0% this year (from 1.1%), broadly in line with autumn’s expectations. The export sector will gradually recover, supported by improved prospects for industrial production in Slovenia’s main trading partners. Investment activity will continue to expand, driven primarily by public investment. Growth in private consumption will strengthen this year alongside further increases in real disposable income. Inflation this year (2.6% at year-end) is expected to remain similar to last year, amid above-average growth in services and food prices.
Labour market
Employment is expected to stagnate due to limited labour supply, while unemployment will remain low. Wage growth will be higher this year than last (6.7% in nominal terms; 6.5% in the public sector and 6.7% in the private sector). Growth will be particularly pronounced in the private sector, where last year’s slowdown was largely statistical (extra payments were significantly reduced following the introduction of the winter bonus, which is not included in wage growth).
International trade
Growth in exports of goods and services is projected to strengthen this year. Goods export growth will be supported by the recovery of industrial production in Slovenia’s trading partners, investment in the pharmaceutical industry, the launch of production of a new car model, and a higher number of working days. Growth in services exports will also increase. Amid moderate growth in domestic demand, import growth will outpace export growth. As a result, the current account surplus will narrow, reflecting a widening deficit in trade in goods.
IMAD
The Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development of the Republic of Slovenia is an independent government office.
The Institute performs the following tasks:
- it monitors and analyses current trends and development in its economic, social and environmental dimensions;
- it monitors and analyses the achieving of the development objectives of the country;
- it prepares macroeconomic forecasts and other expert groundwork that serve as the basis for budgetary planning and formulating economic policy measures;
- it analyses productivity and competitiveness as the national productivity board;
- it carries out research work.