| Group: | Romani people in Slovenia |
| Total: | 3,246 |
| Total Year: | 2002 |
| Popplace: | Prekmurje region and Dolenjska region |
| Langs: | Balkan Romani, Italian, Slovene |
| Rels: | Roman Catholicism |
According to the 2002 census, there were 3,246 Romani individuals living in Slovenia.[1] They constitute 0.5 percent of the total population.[2] The Slovenia Roma speak Balkan Romani and Italian.[3] The Roma have been living in Slovenia since the 15th century.[4]
Slovenian Roma live mainly in northeast Slovenia (the Prekmurje region) and southeast Slovenia (the regions of Lower Carniola, the Lower Sava Valley, and White Carniola), as well as in large cities such as Maribor, Velenje, Ljubljana, Celje, Jesenice, and Radovljica. The Sinti live mainly in Jesenice and Radovljica.[5]
The Council of Europe has estimated that approximately 8,500 Romani people live in Slovenia (0.42% of the population).[6]
The Romani people originate from Northern India,[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] presumably from the northwestern Indian states of Rajasthan[11] [12] and Punjab.[11]
The first report of the Roma in the Slovenia region dates from 1453 and refers to a smith. During World War II, part of Slovenia was annexed to Germany and the Roma living there were taken to concentration camps.[13]
‘While a nine century removal from India has diluted Indian biological connection to the extent that for some Romani groups, it may be hardly representative today, Sarren (1976:72) concluded that we still remain together, genetically, Asian rather than European’
.