Czechia

At the close of World War I, the Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia, a parliamentarian democracy. During the interwar years, having rejected a federal system, the new country's predominantly Czech leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the increasingly strident demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Slovaks, the Sudeten Germans, and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). On the eve of World War II, Nazi Germany occupied the territory that today comprises Czechia, and Slovakia became an independent state allied with Germany. After the war, a reunited but truncated Czechoslovakia (less Ruthenia) fell within the Soviet sphere of influence when the pro-Soviet Communist party staged a coup in February 1948. In 1968, an invasion by fellow Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a nonviolent "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. The country formally added the short-form name Czechia in 2016, while also continuing to use the full form name, the Czech Republic.

land

77,247 sq km

total

78,867 sq km

water

1,620 sq km

about two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than South Carolina

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

0 km (landlocked)

highest point

Snezka 1,602 m

lowest point

Labe (Elbe) River 115 m

mean elevation

433 m

49 45 N, 15 30 E

note 1: 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 Europenote 2: the Hranice Abyss in Czechia is the world's deepest surveyed underwater cave at 404 m (1,325 ft); its survey is not complete, and it could end up being some 800-1,200 m deep

220 sq km (2020)

border countries

Austria 402 km; Germany 704 km; Poland 699 km; Slovakia 241 km

total

2,046 km

agricultural land

54.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 41% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 12.8% (2018 est.)

forest

34.4% (2018 est.)

other

10.8% (2018 est.)

Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria

Labe (Elbe) river source (shared with Germany [m]) - 1,252 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Europe

none (landlocked)

flooding

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

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, but the northern and eastern regions tend to have larger urban concentrations

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

0-14 years

15.7% (male 871,303/female 826,896)

15-64 years

63.8% (male 3,542,298/female 3,373,127)

65 years and over

20.5% (2024 est.) (male 922,136/female 1,302,130)

beer

6.77 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

3.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

12.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

2.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

9.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

NA

9.2% of GDP (2020)

48.4% (2023 est.)

12 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

32.2

potential support ratio

3.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

57.4

youth dependency ratio

25.2

improved: rural

rural: 99.8% of population

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.2% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population

5.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Czech 57.3%, Moravian 3.4%, other 7.7%, unspecified 31.6% (2021 est.)

note

note: includes only persons with one ethnicity

0.85 (2024 est.)

6.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)

female

2.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

2.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Czech (official) 88.4%, Slovak 1.5%, other 2.6%, unspecified 7.2% (2021 est.)

major-language sample(s)

World Factbook, nepostradatelný zdroj základních informací. (Czech)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note

note: includes only persons with one mother tongue

female

81.8 years

male

75.6 years

total population

78.6 years (2024 est.)

definition

NA

female

99% (2011)

male

99%

total population

99%

1.323 million PRAGUE (capital) (2023)

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

45.7 years

male

42.7 years

total

44.2 years (2024 est.)

28.5 years (2020 est.)

adjective

Czech

noun

Czech(s)

2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

26% (2016)

4.15 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

5,502,153 (2024 est.)

male

5,335,737

total

10,837,890

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, but the northern and eastern regions tend to have larger urban concentrations

0.04% (2024 est.)

Roman Catholic 7%, other believers belonging to a church or religious society 6% (includes Evangelical United Brethren Church and Czechoslovak Hussite Church), believers unaffiliated with a religious society 9.1%, none 47.8%, unspecified 30.1% (2021 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

female

17 years (2020)

male

16 years

total

16 years

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

26.4% (2020 est.)

male

35% (2020 est.)

total

30.7% (2020 est.)

1.73 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

74.6% of total population (2023)

13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South Moravia), Karlovarsky (Karlovy Vary), Kralovehradecky (Hradec Kralove), Liberecky (Liberec), Moravskoslezsky (Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky (Olomouc), Pardubicky (Pardubice), Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky (Usti), Vysocina (Highlands), Zlinsky (Zlin)

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology

the name may derive from an old Slavic root "praga" or "prah", meaning "ford", and refer to the city's origin at a crossing point of the Vltava (Moldau) River

geographic coordinates

50 05 N, 14 28 E

name

Prague

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Czechia

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

amendments

passage requires at least three-fifths concurrence of members present in both houses of Parliament; amended several times, last in 2021

history

previous 1960; latest ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993

conventional long form

Czech Republic

conventional short form

Czechia

etymology

name derives from the Czechs, a West Slavic tribe who rose to prominence in the late 9th century A.D.; the country officially adopted the English short-form name of Czechia on 1 July 2016

local long form

Ceska republika

local short form

Cesko

chief of mission

Ambassador Bijan SABET (since 15 February 2023)

email address and website

ACSPrg@state.govhttps://cz.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Trziste 15, 118 01 Praha 1 - Mala Strana

FAX

[420] 257-022-809

mailing address

5630 Prague Place, Washington DC  20521-5630

telephone

[420] 257-022-000

chancery

3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008-3803

chief of mission

Ambassador Miloslav STAŠEK (since 16 September 2022)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

washington@embassy.mzv.czhttps://www.mzv.cz/washington/

FAX

[1] (202) 966-8540

telephone

[1] (202) 274-9100

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Petr PAVEL (since 9 March 2023)

election results

2023: Petr PAVEL elected in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Petr PAVEL (independent) 35.4%, Andrej BABIS (ANO) 35%, Danuse NERUDOVA (Mayors and Independents) 13.9%, Pavel FISCHER (independent) 6.8%; percent of vote in the second round - Petr PAVEL 58.3%, Andrej BABIS 41.6%2018: Milos ZEMAN reelected president in the second round; percent of vote - Milos ZEMAN (SPO) 51.4%, Jiri DRAHOS (independent) 48.6%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms); elections last held on 13 to 14 January 2023 with a second round held from 27 to 28 January 2023; next election to be by January 2028; prime minister appointed by the president for a 4-year term

head of government

Prime Minister Petr FIALA (since 17 December 2021)

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

note

note: combines the white and red colors of Bohemia with blue from the arms of Moravia; is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia

parliamentary republic

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia); note - although 1 January is the day the Czech Republic came into being, the Czechs commemorate 28 October 1918, the day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (organized into Civil Law and Commercial Division, and Criminal Division each with a court chief justice, vice justice, and several judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 justices); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 36 judges, including the court president and vice president, and organized into 6-, 7-, and 9-member chambers)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges proposed by the Chamber of Deputies and appointed by the president; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed for 10-year, renewable terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the president of the Court; unlimited terms

subordinate courts

High Court; regional and district courts

new civil code enacted in 2014, replacing civil code of 1964 - based on former Austro-Hungarian civil codes and socialist theory - and reintroducing former Czech legal terminology

description

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of:Senate or Senat (81 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years)Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members directly elected in 14 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote with a 5% threshold required to fill a seat; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote - NA; - seats by party/coalition - NA Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party/coalition – SPOLU 27.8%, ANO 27.1%, Pirates and STAN 15.6%, SPD 9.6%, other 19.9%; seats by party/coalition - ANO 72, SPOLU 71, Pirates and STAN 37, SPD 20; composition - men 148, women 52, percent of women 26%; note - total Parliament percent of women 23.8%

elections

Senate - last held on 20 to 21 September 2024 with a runoff from 27 to 28 September 2024 (next to be held in September 2026)Chamber of Deputies - last held on 8 to 9 October 2021 (next to be held by October 2025)

lyrics/music

Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP

name

"Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?)

note

note: adopted 1993; the anthem was originally written as incidental music to the play "Fidlovacka" (1834), it soon became very popular as an unofficial anthem of the Czech nation; its first verse served as the official Czechoslovak anthem beginning in 1918, while the second verse (Slovak) was dropped after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Prague (c); Historic Telč (c); Historic Český Krumlov (c); Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape (c); Historic Kutná Hora (c); Holy Trinity Column, Olomouc (c); Karlovy Vary Spa (c); Zatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops; Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops (n)

total World Heritage Sites

17 (16 cultural, 1 natural)

Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

silver (or white), double-tailed, rampant lion; national colors: white, red, blue

Action of Dissatisfied Citizens or ANO (Akce nespokojených občanů)Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-ČSLCivic Democratic Party or ODSCommunist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSČMCzech Pirate Party or PirátiForMOST or ProMOSTFreedom and Direct Democracy or SPDIndependents or NEZMayors and Independents or STANMayors for the Liberec Region or SLKOstravakPřísahaSenator 21 or SEN 21Social Democracy SOCDEMSvobodniTradition Responsibility Prosperity 09 or TOP 09Tábor 2020 or T2020United Democrats - Association of Independents or SD-SN

18 years of age; universal

wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, maize, pork, triticale, oats (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

8.2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

16.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$103.959 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$94.01 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

AA- (2018)

Moody's rating

Aa3 (2019)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

AA- (2011)

Current account balance 2021

-$7.686 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$17.366 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$1.281 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income, diversified EU economy; manufacturing-oriented exporter led by automotive industry; growth stalled by inflation and energy supply disruption; business-friendly regulatory frameworks; tight labor market with low unemployment; seeking reforms to support decarbonization and improve energy efficiency

Currency

koruny (CZK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

22.932 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

23.21 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

21.678 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

23.357 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

22.198 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$205.626 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$217.731 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$236.688 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment, computers, plastic products (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 32%, Slovakia 8%, Poland 7%, France 5%, Austria 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

72% (2023 est.)

government consumption

20.4% (2023 est.)

household consumption

45.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-66.9% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

27% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

1.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

1.6% (2023 est.)

industry

30.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

59.8% (2023 est.)

$330.858 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

26.2 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

22.2% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

3.9% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$197.515 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$218.002 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$219.393 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

broadcasting equipment, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, machine parts, plastic products (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 24%, China 13%, Poland 10%, Slovakia 6%, Russia 4% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-0.44% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

3.84% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

15.1% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.66% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

5.502 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

10.2% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2017

34.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$508.67 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$520.629 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$519.007 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

3.55% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.35% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-0.31% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$48,400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$48,800 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$47,700 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

1.56% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.43% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.27% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$173.618 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$139.981 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$148.379 billion (2023 est.)

13.13% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

2.8% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

2.22% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.59% (2023 est.)

female

9% (2023 est.)

male

7.8% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

8.3% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

51.306 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

14.652 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

25.255 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

91.213 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

40.239 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

2.575 million metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

4.516 million metric tons (2022 est.)

production

37.423 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

3.595 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

62.077 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

30.255 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

16.726 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

21.914 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

3.414 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

biomass and waste

6.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

48.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

2.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

nuclear

39.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

3.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

0.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

149.874 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

7.602 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

8.608 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

224.725 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

3.964 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

3.93GW (2023 est.)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

6 (2023)

Percent of total electricity production

40% (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

15 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

211,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

36 (2020 est.)

total

3,845,426 (2020 est.)

22 TV stations operate nationally, with 17 of them in private hands; publicly operated Czech Television has 5 national channels; throughout the country, there are some 350 TV channels in operation, many through cable, satellite, and IPTV subscription services; 63 radio broadcasters are registered, operating over 80 radio stations, including 7 multiregional radio stations or networks; publicly operated broadcaster Czech Radio operates 4 national, 14 regional, and 4 Internet stations; both Czech Radio and Czech Television are partially financed through a license fee (2019)

.cz

percent of population

83% (2021 est.)

total

9.13 million (2021 est.)

domestic

roughly 12 fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants and mobile telephone usage of 128 per 100 inhabitants (2022)

general assessment

telcos in the Czech Republic have become multi-service providers, offering a full range of fixed and mobile services; this has enabled the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to expand the reach of their 5G networks while they have been closing down 3G networks and repurposing the internet for 5G and long-term evolution (LTE) use (2024)

international

country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2 Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

1.214 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

128 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

13.475 million (2022 est.)

243 (2024)

OK

82 (2024)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

25.23 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

5,727,200 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

48

number of registered air carriers

4 (2020)

7,160 km gas, 675 km oil, 94 km refined products (2016)

total

9,548 km (2020) 3,242 km electrified

total

129,418 km (2022)

664 km (2010) (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable rivers, lakes, and canals)

the Czech military is responsible for national and territorial defense, assisting civil authorities during natural disasters or other emergencies, boosting border security alongside the police, participating in international peacekeeping operations, and supporting its collective security commitments to the EU and NATO, both of which Czechia considers pillars of its national security strategy; Czechia is a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, contributes to UN peacekeeping operations, and actively participates in EU military and security missions under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy; the Czech military has been an active member of NATO since the country joined in 2009 and participates in a variety of NATO’s collective defense missions, including contributing to the Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, Baltic Air Policing operations, rapid response forces, and operations in Kosovo; it also exercises regularly with NATO partners and maintains close bilateral ties to a number of militaries particularly partner members of the Visegrad Group (Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) and Germanythe military has commands for its land, air, cyber/information operations, and territorial forces, as well as a joint operations command and a special forces directorate; the Territorial Command is responsible for the active reserves and regional military commands that align with each of Czechia’s 13 regions and the capital, Prague (2024)

Czech Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Forces, Cyber Forces, Special Forces (2024)

approximately 29,000 active-duty personnel (23,000 Army; 6,000 Air Force) (2024)

up to 130 Lithuania (NATO); 130 Slovakia (NATO) (2024)

the Czech military has a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more recently acquired modern weapons and equipment from such suppliers as Austria, Germany, Sweden, and the US; its domestic defense industry has produced such items as armored combat vehicles and light attack aircraft; during the Cold War, Czechoslovakia was a major producer of tanks, armored personnel carriers, military trucks, and trainer aircraft (2024)

note

note: in 2019, Czechia announced a modernization plan to acquire more Western equipment that was compliant with NATO standards, including armored vehicles, fighter aircraft, and helicopters

Military Expenditures 2020

1.3% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.4% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

18-28 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished 2004 (2024)

note

note: as of 2023, women comprised nearly 14% of the military's full-time personnel

main country of origin of methamphetamine in European markets; manufacture of methamphetamine continues to be mostly based on pseudoephedrine from Poland or Turkey  

refugees (country of origin)

381,400 (Ukraine) (as of 31 January 2024)

stateless persons

1,625 (2022)

carbon dioxide emissions

102.22 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

13.11 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

14.34 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; land pollution caused by industry, mining, and agriculture

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

global geoparks and regional networks

Bohemian Paradise (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

1

agricultural land

54.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 41% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 12.8% (2018 est.)

forest

34.4% (2018 est.)

other

10.8% (2018 est.)

Labe (Elbe) river source (shared with Germany [m]) - 1,252 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

0.14% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.17% of GDP (2017 est.)

13.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

630 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

74.6% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

3.337 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

850,935 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

25.5% (2015 est.)