The study examines the Slovenian-speaking minority in the northern Italian
autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It explores the spatial fragmentation in
the Slovenian settlement area in Italy and analyzes the socio-economic and
demographic processes that exert influence on the minority. The work is based on
the critical evaluation of the current status of research, of statistical data from the state
censuses and results of own research on site. The Slovenian-language population in
the entire region is currently estimated at about 46,000 people. The main settlement
area is the eastern border region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, which is characterized by
different cultural and regional identities. While the Slovenian-speaking population of
Friuli focuses more on its cultural and regional distinctions, the majority of
the Slovenian-language group in Venezia Giulia considers itself a “national minority.”
