Rajec

Rajec
Municipality
SNP Square, Rajec
SNP Square, Rajec
Flag of Rajec
Flag
Coat of arms of Rajec
Coat of arms
Rajec is located in Žilina Region
Rajec
Rajec
Location of Rajec in the Žilina Region
Rajec is located in Slovakia
Rajec
Rajec
Location of Rajec in Slovakia
Coordinates: 49°05′N 18°38′E / 49.09°N 18.63°E / 49.09; 18.63
Country Slovakia
Region Žilina Region
DistrictŽilina District
First mentioned1193
Government
 • MayorMilan Hanus
Area
 • Total
33.98 km2 (13.12 sq mi)
Elevation
448 m (1,470 ft)
Population
 (2025)
 • Total
5,641
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
150 1
Area code+421 41
Vehicle registration plate (until 2022)ZA
Websitewww.rajec.sk

Rajec (pronunciationⓘ; Hungarian: Rajec; German: Rajetz) is a town in the Žilina District, Žilina Region in northern Slovakia.

Etymology

Rajec, Rajčianka, Rajčanka are derived from Proto-Slavic appellative *rajь – a wet, muddy place (modern Slovak raj – a paradise, "a place with rich vegetation").

History

The first written record about Rajec was in 1193, as Raich, in a document issued by King Béla III. The first mention of the town comes from 1397.

Notable people

Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 448 metres (1,470 ft) and covers an area of 33.98 km2 (13.12 sq mi) (2025). It is situated between Strážovské vrchy, and Malá Fatra mountains, in the Rajčanka river valley, around 20 km (12 mi) south-south-west of Žilina.

Population

Population statistic (10 years)
Year1995200520152025
Count6428607858505641
Difference −5.44% −3.75% −3.57%
Population statistic
Year20242025
Count57035641
Difference−1.08%

It has a population of 5641 people (31 December 2025).

Ethnicity

Census 2021 (1+%)
EthnicityNumberFraction
Slovak556794.4%
Not found out3055.17%
Total5897

In year 2021 was 5897 people by ethnicity 5567 as Slovak, 305 as Not found out, 37 as Czech, 17 as Other, 15 as Romani, 7 as Moravian, 7 as Hungarian, 4 as Chinese, 3 as Italian, 3 as Polish, 3 as German, 3 as Croatian, 1 as Jewish, 1 as Vietnamese, 1 as Ukrainian, 1 as Greek and 1 as English.

Note on population: The difference values of population numbers in the table "Population statistic" and in the sections "Ethnicity" & "Religion" is caused by the use of various statistical methods.

Religion

Census 2021 (1+%)
ReligionNumberFraction
Roman Catholic Church471279.91%
None60210.21%
Not found out3696.26%
Evangelical Church1081.83%
Total5897

In year 2021 was 5897 people by religion 4712 from Roman Catholic Church, 602 from None, 369 from Not found out, 108 from Evangelical Church, 30 from Ad hoc movements, 18 from Greek Catholic Church, 15 from Other, 7 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 6 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 5 from Calvinist Church, 5 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 5 from Buddhism, 4 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 4 from Islam, 2 from Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1 from Old Catholic Church, 1 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 1 from Czechoslovak Hussite Church, 1 from Bahá'i Community and 1 from Apostolic Church.

According to the 2001 census, the town had 6,074 inhabitants. 98.86% of inhabitants were Slovaks and 0.68% were Czechs. The religious make-up was 92.79% Roman Catholics, 3.42% people with no religious affiliation, and 1.89% Lutherans.

Sightseeings

Culture

The Rajec Marathon, an annual road race, was established in the town in 1984.

Twin towns — sister cities

Rajec is twinned with:

References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  3. ↑ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  4. ↑ Krško, Jaromír (2011). Hydronymia horného povodia Váhu [Hydronymy of the Upper Váh Basin] (in Slovak). Banská Bystrica: Univerzita Mateja Bela. p. 125.
  5. 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.
  6. ↑ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  7. ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  8. ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  9. ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  10. 1 2 "Municipal Statistics". Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Archived from the original on 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ "1. Ročník Rajeckého maratónu (11.8.)" (PDF). Maratón (in Slovak). 21 (11): 2. November 1984. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
  12. ↑ "Partnerské kraje a mestá". rajec.info (in Slovak). Rajec. Retrieved 2019-09-09.