Czechia
Czech RepublicCeska Republika
parliamentary democracy
Czechia as the 2009 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 138 fields, one of 33 editions from 1993 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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, between Germany, Poland, Slovikia, and Austria
20 fieldsLand useshare of 78,867 sq km
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
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
22 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2009 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2001 census)
Religions(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 (2009 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy; President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003); Prime Minister Jan FISCHER (since 9 April 2009)
18 fieldsSenate, 200 seats, elected in two rounds 17-18 and 24-25 October 2008one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Czech Republic
- conventional short form:
- Czech Republic
- local long form:
- Ceska Republika
- local short form:
- Cesko
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
Constitution
ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993; amended 1997, 2000, 2001 (twice), 2002
Legal system
- civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes;
- legal code modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Jan FISCHER (since 9 April 2009);
- Deputy Prime Ministers Petr NECAS (since 9 January 2007), Martin BURSIK (since 9 January 2007), and Vlasta PARKANOVA (since 23 January 2008)
- 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 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 by 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 36, CSSD 29, KDU-CSL 7, Open Democracy Club 6, others 3;
- 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 2008 - ODS 79, CSSD 71, KSCM 26, KDU-CSL 13, Greens 4, unaffiliated 7 (former CSSD, ODS, and Green Party 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];
- Free Citizens' Party or SSO [Petr MACH];
- Green Party [Martin BURSIK];
- Independent Democrats (NEZDEM) [Vladimir ZELEZNY];
- Party of Open Society (SOS) [Pavel NOVACEK];
- Path of Change [Jiri LOBKOWITZ];
- Union of Freedom-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Jan CERNY]
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 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2008 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. Maintaining an open investment climate has been a key element of the Czech Republic's transition from a communist, centrally planned economy to a functioning market economy.
As a member of the European Union, with an advantageous location in the center of Europe, a relatively low cost structure, and a well-qualified labor force, the Czech Republic is an attractive destination for foreign investment. Prior to its EU accession in 2004, the Czech government harmonized its laws and regulations with those of the European Union.
The government plans to meet the criteria for joining the euro area around 2012. The small, open, export-driven Czech economy grew by over 6% annually from 2005-2007 and strong growth continued throughout the first three quarters of 2008. Despite the global financial crisis, the conservative Czech financial system has remained relatively healthy.
The rate of Czech economic growth, however, fell in the fourth quarter of 2008, mainly due to a significant drop in demand for Czech exports in Western Europe. This trend is expected to continue, with many analysts predicting the Czech economy to contract slightly in 2009.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
26 (2005) · 25.4 (1996) country comparison to the world: 129
Central bank discount rate
2.25% (31 December 2008) · 3.5% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 128
Commercial bank prime lending rate
6.25% (31 December 2008) · 5.79% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 134
Stock of money
$86.55 billion (31 December 2008) · $84.43 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 14
Stock of quasi money
$58.6 billion (31 December 2008) · $58.77 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 27
Stock of domestic credit
$110.5 billion (31 December 2008) · $103.9 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - proved reserves
3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Current account balance
-$6.642 billion (2008 est.) · -$5.655 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Exports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment 52%, raw materials and fuel 9%, chemicals 5% (2003)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment 46%, raw materials and fuels 15%, chemicals 10% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$36.68 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $34.59 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Debt - external
$80.43 billion (31 December 2008) · $76.04 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 41
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$111.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $101.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$9.913 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $6.971 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Exchange rates
koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 17.064 (2008), 20.53 (2007), 22.596 (2006), 23.957 (2005), 25.7 (2004)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone 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) (2008)
Transportation
10 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 9,620 km
country comparison to the world: 22
- standard gauge:
- 9,521 km 1.435-m gauge (3,013 km electrified)
- narrow gauge:
- 99 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)
Roadways
- total:
- 128,512 km
country comparison to the world: 36
- 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) (2008) country comparison to the world: 77
Merchant marine
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008) country comparison to the world: 150
Military
Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes Land Forces and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command (2009)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes Land Forces and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command (2009)
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.)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - 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 (2008)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Czech Republic.” The World Factbook 2009. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/czechia/2009.