Žilina

Žilina
City
Flag of Žilina
Coat of arms of Žilina
Žilina is located in Žilina Region
Žilina
Žilina
Location in Slovakia
Žilina is located in Slovakia
Žilina
Žilina
Žilina (Slovakia)
Coordinates: 49°13′22″N 18°44′24″E / 49.22278°N 18.74000°E / 49.22278; 18.74000
Country Slovakia
RegionŽilina
DistrictŽilina
First mentioned1208
Government
 • MayorPeter Fiabáne
Area
 • Total80.02 km2 (30.90 sq mi)
Elevation
342 m (1,122 ft)
Population
 (2025)[2]
 • Total79,873
 • Density1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
010 01
Area code+421-41
Car plateZA
Websitewww.zilina.sk

Žilina (German: Sillein, Hungarian: Zsolna) is a city in northwestern Slovakia.

Geography

The city is located in the northwestern Slovakia, at the confluence of Váh, Kysuca and Rajčanka rivers. It is surrounded by numerous mountains ranges, for example Lesser Fatra, Strážov Mountains and many others.

History

People have lived here since the Neolithic age. The Slavs started to move here in the 5th century. German colonists started to live here since the 13th century. When the Hussites burned the city down, it declined it for some time. It regained its position in the 19th century, when it became an important railway junction. Today, it is the fifth largest town in Slovakia and the third most important industrial centre in Slovakia.

Population

Population statistics (10 years)[3]
Year:1995200520152025
Count:86,68585,42581,11479,873
Progress: -1.45% -5.04% -1.52%
Population statistics[3]
Year:20242025
Count:80,25779,873
Progress:-0.47%

Ethnic composition

Census 2021 (1+ %)[4][5]
EthnicityNumberFraction
Slovak76,64392.72%
Not found out48405.85%
Czech12841.55%
Total82,656

In year 2021 was 82,656 people by ethnicity 76,643 as Slovak, 4840 as Not found out, 1284 as Czech, 405 as Other, 174 as Romani, 163 as Russian, 158 as Hungarian, 137 as Rusyn, 133 as Ukrainian, 106 as Polish, 104 as German, 83 as Korean, 64 as Moravian, 46 as Chinese, 39 as Jewish, 34 as Vietnamese, 34 as Italian, 27 as French, 24 as Serbian, 23 as Bulgarian, 22 as Croatian, 22 as English, 16 as Irish, 16 as Canadian, 16 as Albanian, 12 as Austrian, 11 as Turkish, 8 as Silesian, 6 as Romanian, 6 as Greek and 1 as Iranian.

Religion

Census 2021 (1+ %)[6]
ReligionNumberFraction
Roman Catholic Church47,81957.85%
None24,03429.08%
Not found out56436.83%
Evangelical Church23392.83%
Total82,656

In year 2021 was 82,656 people by religion 47,819 from Roman Catholic Church, 24,034 from None, 5643 from Not found out, 2339 from Evangelical Church, 548 from Greek Catholic Church, 339 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 325 from Other, 291 from Ad hoc movements, 263 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 175 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 156 from Buddhism, 148 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 111 from Church of the Brethren, 108 from Calvinist Church, 91 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 49 from Islam, 32 from Apostolic Church, 31 from Seventh-day Adventist Church, 28 from Jewish community, 27 from Old Catholic Church, 23 from United Methodist Church, 21 from Baptists Church, 20 from Hinduism, 18 from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13 from Czechoslovak Hussite Church and 4 from Bahá'i Community.

Sights

The centre of the city is the Mariánske námestie, with the city hall, baroque statue of the Virgin Mary and so on. Other sights include:

  • The Budatín Castle
  • Wooden church of St. George (one of the few outside north-eastern Slovakia)
  • Church of St. Stephen the King
  • Orthodox synagogue

Economy

Žilina is the main industrial and business centre of the Váh river. The biggest employer is the Kia Motors company, which invested here 1 billion dollars and created 3000 work positions.

Twin towns

References

  1. ↑ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  2. ↑ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  3. 1 2 "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  4. ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  5. ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  6. ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.

Other websites