According to the 2002 Census, Slovenia has a population of 1,964,036. This represents an increase of 2.6 per cent since the 1991 Census, the result of immigration from abroad (28,000 persons since 1991) and the legalisation of residence for former Yugoslav citizens who already lived in Slovenia during the 1991 Census. These immigrants were drawn mainly from the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

In addition to the majority community of 1,631,363 Slovenes (83.1 per cent of the total population), there are 2,258 Italians (0.11 per cent of the total population) and 6,243 Hungarians (0.32 per cent of the total population). The Italians and Hungarians are national minorities protected under the Constitution, each having a representative in the National Assembly. In ethnically mixed areas, bilingualism is guaranteed, nurseries and schools are provided for minority children, and minority languages are used by the local media. The status and special rights of Romany (Gypsy) communities living in Slovenia (3,246 people, 0.17 per cent) are determined by statute. Co-operation with and support for the Slovene minorities is carried out particularly in the fields of culture, sport and education; funds are also allocated for publishing and the media.

Other ethnic groups in Slovenia are: Serbs (38,964, 1.98 per cent), Croats (35,632, 1.81 per cent), Bosnians (21,542, 1.10 per cent), Albanians (6,186, 0.31 per cent), Macedonians (3,972, 0.20 per cent) and Montenegrins (2,667, 0.14 per cent). See the Cultural diversity chapter for information on cultural activities of the minorities and other ethnic groups in Slovenia.

After the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Slovenes living in the area of the former Yugoslavia became citizens of other countries overnight. There are several associations of Slovenes in Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Croatia. Slovene minorities living in Italy, Austria and Hungary enjoy the right to use their own language and preserve their culture according to international agreements. In Italy, Slovenes live in the regions of Trieste and Gorizia and in the province of Udine. In this area the Republic of Slovenia is represented by the Consulate General of Slovenia in Trieste. The Slovene minority in the region has two main organisations: the Slovene Cultural and Economic Association and the Council of Slovene Organisations.

In Austria, the majority of Slovenes live in Carinthia, and are represented by the Consulate General of Slovenia in Klagenfurt-Celovec. Some Slovenes also live in Styria, where, however, they are not recognised as a minority. The main organisations of the Slovene community are: the National Council of Slovenes in Carinthia, the Union of Slovene Organisations, the Joint Co-ordination Committee of Carinthian Slovenes in Carinthia and the Cultural Association Article 7 in Styria. In Hungary, the Slovene national minority - around 3,000 people - resides mainly in the Porabje region, where Slovenes are organised within the Association of Slovenes, and the National Slovene Self-government. The Consulate General of Slovenia in Szentgotthárd operates in this area.

Slovene people emigrated in particular to both Americas (the USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela etc) and to Australia. These immigrants and their descendants find co-operation with the Republic of Slovenia in the areas of culture and education to be of particular importance. Much attention is also devoted to maintaining contacts with their country of origin and to strengthening Slovene identity among younger generations. At the present time between 250,000 and 400,000 Slovenes (depending on whether second and subsequent generations are counted) live outside the country, in other continents and in the countries of the EU.

In July 2006 two consultative bodies - the Council for Slovenes Abroad and the Council for Slovenes in Neighbouring Countries - were established as part of the recently-passed act on Slovenes abroad. The Council for Slovenes Abroad is comprised of 19 members - of which six represent state institutions and civil society organisations from Slovenia and 13 represent Slovenes abroad - led by a president and a vice-president. While the Prime Minister acts as the Council's president, the responsibilities of the vice-president are carried out by the incumbent Head of the Office for Slovenes Abroad. The make up of the Council for Slovenes in Neighbouring Countries is identical, apart from the division of its members with five representatives coming from state institutions and civil society organisations in Slovenia and five drawn from the ranks of Slovenes in neighbouring countries.