The Slovenian established Blue Economy sectors directly employ more than 9 600 people and generate around EUR 467 million in GVA (2023), representing 1% of national employment and 0.8% of national GVA, respectively.
While having a limited impact on the Slovenian economy as a whole, the relative importance of the Blue Economy has remained relatively stable in Slovenia since 2009. Between 2019 and 2021, its GVA decreased by 14%, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has since fully recovered, reaching in 2023 its highest number on record since 2009.
Similarly, the share of Blue Economy jobs to national employment has been relatively stable over the past 13 years. While decreasing from nearly 9 400 people in 2009 to 7 075 people in 2021 (-22%), its lowest level in our time series, it has been increasing since then to reach in 2023 the highest number on record.
The largest Blue Economy sector in Slovenia is Port activities, which contributed 48% to Slovenian Blue Economy GVA and 30% to its employment in 2023. The second largest Blue Economy sector is Coastal tourism, with a contribution of 24% and 33.7% to the country’s Blue Economy GVA and employment, respectively. Next is the Marine living resources sector, which contributes 17% to the Slovenian Blue Economy's GVA and 24% of its employment.
Slovenia’s coastline extends for approximately 47 km. The largest container port in Slovenia is the port of Koper in the Adriatic sea, handling nearly 22 million tonnes in 2024, ranking 40th in the EU for cargo operations (Eurostat). In terms of passengers, the Slovenian ports of Koper, Piran and Izola are experiencing an increasing traffic, reaching a total of more than 150 thousand passengers in 2023 (Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia). Currently, there are several opportunities to acquire Blue Economy education and skills within the country, such as the Master and PhD courses in Maritime Studies and Transport at the University of Ljubljana.
Other national sources of information on the Slovenian Blue Economy are:
Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Economic and Social Analysis (ESA)
As part of the MSFD reporting obligations, Member States must provide an Economic and Social Analysis of the blue economy. This analysis is integrated into the broader reporting package under Articles 8, 9, and 10, which includes:
- The status of marine waters;
- The determination of GES;
- Environmental targets to achieve GES.
The Economic and Social Analysis (ESA) report for the 2024–2029 cycle is presented below in PDF format. This document is available in English translation, with the original language included where applicable.
The full reports submitted under Articles 8, 9, and 10 are available here: MSFD Reporting Portal.
For more information on the implementation of the MSFD, visit the European Commission’s MSFD page.
Text version
This interactive dashboard presents the evolution of the blue economy for Slovenia. It is designed to provide insights into key economic indicators over time.
At the top of the dashboard, there is a drop-down menu that allows users to select one of the following data categories:
- Employment: Number of jobs and workforce trends in the blue economy sectors.
- Gross Value Added (GVA): The contribution of the blue economy to the national economy.
- Turnover and Gross Profit: Revenue and profitability metrics of blue economy industries.
- Investment: Capital investment levels in blue economy sectors.
Once a category is selected, the main panel updates to display relevant visualisations, such as line charts or bar graphs, showing trends over time. These visualisations are accompanied by labels, legends, and tooltips to ensure clarity and accessibility.
The dashboard is navigable via keyboard and compatible with screen readers. All interactive elements are clearly labeled, and data visualisations include alternative text descriptions summarising key insights.