Czechia

Czech RepublicCeska Republika

parliamentary democracy

Czechia as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 137 fields, one of 33 editions from 1993 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPrague, UTC+1
Position49 45 N, 15 30 E
Area78,866 sq km
LocationCentral Europe, southeast of Germany
2008

Every edition of Czechia

Populationas each edition published it
10.22 million July 2008 est. · 10.39m in 1993
Population growth% a year
-0.082% 2008 est. · 0.16% in 1993
Median ageyears
39.8 years 2008 est. · 38.4 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
76.62 years 2008 est. · 72.64 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.23 children per woman 2008 est. · 1.85 in 1993
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
3.83 deaths per 1,000 live births 2008 est. · 9.7 in 1993
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$24,500 2007 est. · $7,300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
6.6% 2007 est. · -5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncated Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence.

In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Geography

Central Europe, southeast of Germany

20 fields

Land useshare of 78,866 sq km

arable land 38.82%permanent crops 3%other 58.18% (2005)irrigated 240 sq km (2003)
Area
78,866sq km
land: 77,276 sq kmwater: 1,590 sq kmslightly smaller than South Carolina
Coastline
0km
(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Highest point
1,602m
Snezkalowest point: Elbe River 115 m
Land boundaries
1,989km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 815 km, Poland 615 km, Slovakia 197 km

Location

Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Geographic coordinates

49 45 N, 15 30 E

Climate

  • temperate;
  • cool summers;
  • cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain

Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country

Natural resources

hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
1.91 cu km/yr (41%/57%/2%)
per capita:
187 cu m/yr (2002)

Environment - current issues

  • air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks;
  • acid rain damaging forests;
  • efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution

Environment - international agreements

party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

  • landlocked;
  • strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe;
  • Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe

People

21 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)

604,419
65 and over15.1%
934,634
3,653,679
15-6471.2%
3,619,872
723,521
0-1413.8%
684,786
MaleFemale
Population
10,220,911
(July 2008 est.)growth rate: -0.082% (2008 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)

Birth
8.89Death
10.69Net migration
0.97

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2008 est.)76.62
73.34 · 80.08Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)3.83
4.17 · 3.46Literacy (2003 est.)99%
99% · 99%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2008 est.)39.8
38.2 · 41.6School life expectancy years (2006)15
15 · 15
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: NA

Ethnic groups(2001 census)

Czech 90.4%Moravian 3.7%Slovak 1.9%other 4% (2001 census)

Religions(2001 census)

Roman Catholic 26.8%Protestant 2.1%other 3.3%unspecified 8.8%unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.65 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 10 (2001 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Czech(s)
adjective:
Czech

Languages

Czech 94.9%, Slovak 2%, other 2.3%, unidentified 0.8% (2001 census)

Education expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2004)

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003); Prime Minister Mirek TOPOLANEK (since 9 January 2007)

18 fields

Senate, 200 seats, elected in two rounds 17-18 and 24-25 October 2008one dot, one seat

ODS 81CSSD 74KSCM 26KDU-CSL 13Greens 6

Country name

conventional long form:
Czech Republic
conventional short form:
Czech Republic
local long form:
Ceska Republika
local short form:
Cesko

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

name:
Prague
geographic coordinates:
50 05 N, 14 28 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions

  • 13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto);
  • Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South Moravia), Karlovarsky, Kralovehradecky, Liberecky, Moravskoslezsky (Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky, Pardubicky, Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky, Vysocina, Zlinsky

Independence

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

National holiday

Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

Constitution

ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)
head of government:
  • Prime Minister Mirek TOPOLANEK (since 9 January 2007);
  • Deputy Prime Ministers Petr NECAS (since 9 January 2007), Martin BURSIK (since 9 January 2007), and Alexandr VONDRA (since 9 January 2007)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections:
  • president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
  • last successful election held 15 February 2008 (after earlier elections held 8 and 9 February 2008 were inconclusive; next election to be held in February 2013);
  • prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
  • Vaclav KLAUS reelected president on 15 February 2008;
  • Vaclav KLAUS 141 votes, Jan SVEJNAR 111 votes (third round; combined votes of both chambers of parliament)

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
  • Senate - last held in two rounds 17-18 and 24-25 October 2008 (next to be held in October 2010);
  • Chamber of Deputies - last held 2-3 June 2006 (next to be held by June 2010)
election results:
  • Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - ODS 35, CSSD 29, KDU-CSL 7, others 8, independents 2;
  • Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - ODS 35.4%, CSSD 32.3%, KSCM 12.8%, KDU-CSL 7.2%, Greens 6.3%, other 6%;
  • seats by party - ODS 81, CSSD 74, KSCM 26, KDU-CSL 13, Greens 6;
  • note - seats by party as of December 2007 - ODS 81, CSSD 72, KSCM 26, KDU-CSL 13, Greens 6, unaffiliated 2 (former CSSD members)

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court;
  • Constitutional Court;
  • chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year term

Political parties and leaders

  • Association of Independent Candidates-European Democrats or SNK-ED [Helmut DOHNALEK];
  • Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL [Jiri CUNEK];
  • Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Mirek TOPOLANEK];
  • Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Vojtech FILIP];
  • Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Jiri PAROUBEK];
  • Union of Freedom-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Jan CERNY];
  • Green Party [Martin BURSIK];
  • Independent Democrats (NEZDEM) [Vladimir ZELEZNY];
  • Party of Open Society (SOS) [Pavel NOVACEK];
  • Path of Change [Jiri LOBKOWITZ]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS [Milan STECH]

International organization participation

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Petr KOLAR
chancery:
3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 274-9100
FAX:
[1] (202) 966-8540
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard W. GRABER
embassy:
Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[420] 257 022 000
FAX:
[420] 257 022 809

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side note: identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia

Economy

The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe.

51 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$251billion
(2007 est.)official exchange rate: $175.3 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$24,500
(2007 est.)
Real growth rate
6.6%
(2007 est.)industrial production growth: 9.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)

agriculture 2.7%industry 38.7%services 58.6% (2007 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

30.7%
Germany
31.8%
8.7%
Slovakia
6.4%
Netherlands
6.7%
5.9%
Poland
6.3%
5.4%
France
4.1%
5.1%
UK
4.6%
Austria
5.1%
China
5.1%
4.9%
Italy
4.4%
Russia
4.5%
Exports $122.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)Imports $116.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)(2007)

Budget

Revenues
$72.1 billionExpenditures
$74.98 billion (2007 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
82.88 billion (2007 est.)Electricity consumption
61.52 billion (2006 est.)Electricity exports
26.36 billion (2007 est.)Electricity imports
10.2 billion (2007 est.)

Economy - overview

The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. Growth in 2000-07 was supported by exports to the EU, primarily to Germany, and a strong recovery of foreign and domestic investment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important role in underpinning growth as the availability of credit cards and mortgages increases.

The current account deficit has declined to around 3.3% of GDP as demand for automotive and other products from the Czech Republic remains strong in the European Union. Rising inflation from higher food and energy prices are a risk to balanced economic growth. Significant increases in social spending in the run-up to June 2006 elections prevented, the government from meeting its goal of reducing its budget deficit to 3% of GDP in 2007.

Negotiations on pension and additional healthcare reforms are continuing without clear prospects for agreement and implementation. Intensified restructuring among large enterprises, improvements in the financial sector, and effective use of available EU funds should strengthen output growth.

The pro-business Civic Democratic Party-led government approved reforms in 2007 designed to cut spending on some social welfare benefits and reform the tax system with the aim of eventually reducing the budget deficit to 2.3% of GDP by 2010. Parliamentary approval for any additional reforms could prove difficult, however, because of the parliament's even split. The government withdrew a 2010 target date for euro adoption and instead aims to meet the eurozone criteria around 2012.

Labor force

5.36 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
4.1%
industry:
37.6%
services:
58.3% (2003)

Unemployment rate

6.6% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
4.3%
highest 10%:
22.4% (1996)

Investment (gross fixed)

24.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Public debt

26% of GDP (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.79% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$84.43 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$58.77 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$103.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products

wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry

Industries

metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass, armaments

Oil - production

13,530 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption

207,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports

27,360 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

224,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

172 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

8.622 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

402 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

8.628 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$4.534 billion (2007 est.)

Exports

$122.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 52%, raw materials and fuel 9%, chemicals 5% (2003)

Imports

$116.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 46%, raw materials and fuels 15%, chemicals 10% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$34.59 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external

$74.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

Czech koruna (CZK)

Exchange rates

koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 20.53 (2007), 22.596 (2006), 23.957 (2005), 25.7 (2004), 28.209 (2003)

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
13.075 million
(2007)
Internet users
2.434 million
(2008)
Fixed lines
2.888 million
(2006) · country code .cz

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • privatization and modernization of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily;
  • access to the fixed-line telephone network expanded throughout the 1990s but the number of fixed line connections has been dropping since then;
  • mobile telephone usage increased sharply beginning in the mid-1990s and the number of cellular telephone subscriptions now greatly exceeds the population
domestic:
  • virtually all exchanges now digital;
  • existing copper subscriber systems enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals;
  • trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international:
country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2 Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)

Internet users

4.4 million (2007)

Transportation

10 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2
over 3,047 m
10
2,438 to 3,047 m
13
1,524 to 2,437 m
1
2
914 to 1,523 m
26
18
under 914 m
50
Paved 45Unpaved 77

Networkskm

Roadways
128,512Railways
9,597Waterways
664 (2006)
Roadways: paved: 128,512 km (includes 657 km of expressways) (2007) · Railways: standard gauge: 9,597 km 1.435-m gauge (3,041 km electrified) (2006) · Waterways: (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable rivers, lakes, and canals)

Airports

122 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Pipelines

gas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2007)

Railways

total:
9,597 km
standard gauge:
9,597 km 1.435-m gauge (3,041 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways

total:
128,512 km
paved:
128,512 km (includes 657 km of expressways) (2007)

Waterways

664 km (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable rivers, lakes, and canals) (2006)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Military

Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes Army and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command (2008)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.46%of GDP
(2007 est.)

Military branches

Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes Army and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command (2008)

Military service age and obligation

18-28 years of age for voluntary and 19-28 for compulsory military service (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
2,522,383
females age 16-49:
2,425,095 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
2,100,789
females age 16-49:
2,018,101 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
63,124
female:
59,786 (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

while threats of international legal action never materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the popular Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closes its controversial Soviet-style nuclear plant in Temelin, bordering Austria

Illicit drugs

  • transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe;
  • producer of synthetic drugs for local and regional markets;
  • susceptible to money laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime;
  • significant consumer of ecstasy

Central Intelligence Agency. “Czech Republic.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/czechia/2008.

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