Slovenia is a republic in south-eastern Europe, in the Balkan Peninsula, bordered on the north by Austria, on the northeast by Hungary, on the southeast and south by Croatia, and on the west by Italy and the Adriatic Sea. Formerly a constituent republic of Yugoslavia, Slovenia proclaimed its independence in June 1991. It joined the United Nations (UN) in May 1992. The republic has an area of 20,253 sq km (7820 sq mi). Ljubljana is the capital and largest city.