Why Every Former Yugoslavia Country Is Shrinking Except For Slovenia

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Yugoslavia broke up over 30 years ago. But despite so much time passing, every independent country that makes up the region is shrinking in population, except for one: Slovenia. And this has to do with a unique combination of history, physical geography, and economic circumstances that has helped propel Slovenia while Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia all continue to lose population.

[yankochoynev]

Bulgaria had no war, EU member for 20 years, no regional tensions. How did we go from 9 to 6 million then? I think that's the more interesting topic.

[radiouckaistra]

I am from Istra region, one of the Croatian northwester regions. I simply love Slovenia the best of the best. I adore slovenian culture, language, heritage, people, girls ❤. Simply I love Slovenia. Hej Slovenci pozzz iz Istre

[filipbih]

Slovenias population is just growing because of people from ex-Yugoslavia (mostly Bosnians and Kosovars) are moving to Slovenia for a search for the better life. Only reason. Otherwise it would be in decline.

[nepremagljiv]

Average day in Slovenia in 2023:
-47 new borns
-59 deaths
-93 foreigners moving in
-61 slovenians moving out

So Slovenians are a dying nation, sadly.

[igorsajn]

Slovenia has negative natality for decades, so surplus comes (after joining EU) from imigrants, esp. from other ex-Yu republics. Well after all - it is a very nice place on the sunny side of the Alps.

[matejb]

Here are the simplest reasons why slovenia population is growing:

- the country has always been richer than the rest of the balkan region, because of the proximity to Austria and it's territory has been part of many different rich states: the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Carolingian Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Illyrian Provinces of Napoleon's First French Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
- the country has been less affected by Turkish invaders and have never lived under Ottoman rule. It has also been less affected by Yugoslav wars
- it had better political stability and it's population were more educated, so it got more foreign investment
- it had more job opportunities and better quality of life, so higher immigration, mostly from the former Yugoslav countries

[miliba]

Slovenia is without doubt one of the best European countries Ive visited and totally underrated. Lake Bled, Ljubljana, Piran, Postojna Caves and the Triglav were some of the many picturesque spots

[Slay-Skypra-Here]

Slovenian being near Western Europe along with Croatia has has a lot of help from the eu plus staying out of the yougoslav drama helps

[sandytesch]

Very interesting video. I have Slovenian ancestory my Grandfather came to U.S. to work in taconite mines. I will be making traditional Potica bread next week for Easter.

[crsx]

You forgot to mention that Slovenians are far less migratory than other people in the region. For instance, Croats have historical ethnic communities as far east as Romania, whereas Slovenia’s historical ethnic communities do not extent further than just the immediate areas beyond its borders. Slovenia is in fact unique in this aspect, compared to all other Central and Eastern European ethnic groups.

[rlx]

Slovenia had a nice big buffer of Croatia during the breakup of Yugoslavia, so it was able to separate more easily than others. And it was mostly ethnically Slovene.

[SaadAliArts]

I think it is shrinking because of former Yugoslavia and conflicts erupting after breakup of Yugoslavia. Slovenia managed to overcome the affects by being close to Western Europe compared to other former Yugoslavian States and joining European Union along with Croatia

[slavchomarinov]

Bit of a pronounciation lesson:

1.Slovinia
2. Cróats not Crouts
3. Dánube not the nube
4. Bosnia and Hercegóvina

[Azax]

Slovenia was a developed country in Yugoslavia already. The main thing why Slovenia started independence was because it was financing Serbia and Beograd since it was the capital of Yugoslavia. All the main prosperous factories were located in Slovenia. At one point Beograd wanted to slow down Slovenian factory development untill Serbian factories can get up to date with Slovenian higher standard. So the main reason Slovenia quit it was sending large cash flows into capital city of Yugoslavia.

[jenniferf]

Good video Geoff but you really have to work on your pronunciation of some words. CRO-at, not "croat".

[spiritworldu]

misleading title as you really only discuss the video topic for about 1 minute. also, not sure where you got your pronunciations, but it’s bizarre and very distracting. “Herzegoviña, ” “Slo-vane-ia, ” “Crotes, ” … i know it’s difficult to cover foreign cultures but it’s just bizarre as you seem to have gone out of your way to add different pronunciations for no reason.

[zerneverer]

Someone mentioned here, that slovenians are less migratory than others, however this has more with the fact that, only with Celovec region (Klagenfurt, Austria) and some Istria including Trst (Trieste), the Slovenian Republic is basically at it's ethno-territorial zenith. And staying on the issue, it does help that Slovenia had a sizeable industrial base at the time of the dissolution of Yugoslavia, on top of being the first to declare independence alongside Croatia, yet only fighting for 10 days with little relative costs compared to all other participants in the balkan wars.

[dayros]

Well the reason is simple. Slovenia borders rich countries like Italy and Austria and got investments and tourists from them, also it was already the richest part of yugoslavia and it was the first of the balkan countries to join the EU, and that boosted its economy. Being richer than the others it attracts immigration. I visited it and it was full of bosnians and especially albanians. So the population is growing a little. The other balkan countries are poorer so they attract less migrants and have very high rates of emigration, especially of the young. Those factors, coupled with a low fertility rate will lead to a population collapse n the balkans.

[David-yzfy]

As a person from former Yugoslavia i can say that Slovenia is far better that other former republics of Yugoslavia.

[geoffgero]

Usually your videos are very good, this one not so much.

Google pronunciation before you record next time.

The history had simultaneously too much and not enough. If you're gonna do a full deep dive you need to explain the ethnic and religious differences and the historical reasons for animosity between them. If you're not doing a deep dive then cut out all the unnecessary rambling.

Also, not focusing on Slovenia's borders with Austria and Italy and the wealth that comes from trade is pretty silly.