Biggest Cities In Slovakia

Formerly part of Czechoslovakia, it was known as the Slovak Socialist Republic from 1969 until 1990. In 1993, the Slovak Republic became an independent sovereign state. The country covers an area of 49,035 km².

Slovakia is divided into 8 kraje (Regions) each of which is named after its principal city. In terms of economics and unemployment rate, the western regions are richer than the eastern regions. Bratislava is the third-richest region of the European Union by GDP.

Slovakia has 0 cities with more than a million people and 0 cities with more than 500,000 people. Slovakia has 2 cities with between 100,000 and 500,000 people, and 68 cities with between 10,000 and 100,000 people. The largest city in Slovakia is Bratislava, with a population of 437,725, as of 2019.

The Most Populous Towns and Cities Of Slovakia by Population

This list of cities and towns shows the city/town names, region and the population as of 31. 12. 2019.

Bratislava

The capital and largest city is Bratislava, with a population of 583,600. Bratislava is located on the Danube river, close to the borders of both Hungary and Austria. Bratislava is the only national capital that borders two sovereign states. The geographical position of Bratislava in Central Europe has long made it a natural crossroads for international trade traffic. Bratislava has a total area of 367.58 square kilometres, making it the second-largest city in Slovakia by area.

Bratislava is the cultural heart of Slovakia. Owing to its historical multi-cultural character, local culture is influenced by various ethnic and religious groups, including Austrians, Bulgarians, Croats, Czechs, Germans, Hungarians, Jews, Serbs and Slovaks.

Košice

Košice is the largest city in eastern Slovakia. Košice is the second-largest city in Slovakia, after the capital Bratislava. Košice is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary. Košice is the administrative capital of the Eastern region of Slovakia and the main industrial hub.

The first written mention of the city was in 1230 as “Villa Cassa”, Košice is on the Hornád River in the Košice Basin, at the easternmost reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains. The oldest annual marathon in Europe and the third oldest in the entire world is held in Košice. The city centre, and most historical monuments, are located in or around Main Street and the town has the largest number of protected historical monuments in Slovakia.

Prešov

Prešov is a city in Eastern Slovakia. It is a seat of the administrative Prešov Region and Šariš as well as the historic Sáros County of the Kingdom of Hungary. With a population of approximately 90,000. Prešov is the third-largest city in Slovakia. People from Prešov are traditionally known as koňare which means “horse keepers”.

Prešov is located in north-eastern Slovakia, at the northern reaches of the Košice Basin, at the confluence of the Torysa River with its tributary Sekčov. Habitation in the area around Prešov dates as far back as the Paleolithic period. The oldest discovered tools and mammoth bones are 28,000 years old. Prešov lies at an altitude of 250 metres above sea level and covers an area of 70.4 square kilometres,

Žilina

Žilina is a city in north-western Slovakia, around 200 kilometres from the capital Bratislava, close to both the Czech and Polish borders. It is the fourth largest city of Slovakia with a population of approximately 80,000, an important industrial centre, the largest city on the Váh River, and the seat of a Kraj and of an okres. 

Banská Bystrica

Banská Bystrica is situated in the Hron River valley. The Hron River curves through the city from the east to the south. The city nests among three mountain chains: the Low Tatras to the north-east, the Veľká Fatra to the north-west, and the Kremnica Mountains to the west. All three are protected areas because of their environmental value. Banská Bystrica lies at an altitude of 362 metres above sea level and covers an area of 103.37 square kilometres.