ABSTRACT: The paper summarises the present state of geothermal energy utilisation in the world and in the Slovak Republic. The production of electric and thermal power is compared for years 1995 and 2010. Direct use of geothermal energy in 2010 is 5.8 times higher than it was in 1995. The overview of new knowledge on selected perspective areas of Slovakia from the point of view of their hydrogeothermal conditions and energetic potential is given. The new balance evaluation of geothermal energy of Slovakia was done showing that the total thermal-energy potential of Slovakia has a value of 6653 MWt. In the last period, the research was concentrated on the Žiar Basin, Horná Nitra Basin, Bánovce Basin and Topoľčany embayment, Humenné ridge, Rimava Basin, Lučenec Basin and Poprad Basin. New balance assessment of geothermal energy sources in Slovakia shows that the highest amount of geothermal energy potential is concentrated in the Trnava County with the share of 27.98 % on the total installed capacity of geothermal resources in Slovakia, however, the highest usable proved yield of 382 L·s-1 was estimated for the Nitra County.