2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

77,247 sq km

total

78,867 sq km

water

1,620 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Snezka 1,602 m

lowest point

Elbe River 115 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

187 cu m/yr (2002)

total

1.91 cu km/yr (41%/57%/2%)

Geographic coordinates

49 45 N, 15 30 E

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

Irrigated land

240 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Austria 362 km, Germany 815 km, Poland 615 km, Slovakia 197 km

total

1,989 km

Land use

arable land

38.82%

other

58.18% (2005)

permanent crops

3%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

flooding

Natural resources

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

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

Total renewable water resources

16 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.6% (male 712,045/female 673,657) 15-64 years: 71% (male 3,641,887/female 3,604,044) 65 years and over: 15.5% (male 623,882/female 956,389) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

8.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

10.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 10 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,500 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

4.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.48 years (2010 est.)

male

73.74 years

total population

77.01 years

Literacy

definition: NA

female

99% (2003 est.)

male

99%

total population

99%

Median age

female

42.2 years (2010 est.)

male

38.9 years

total

40.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Czech

noun

Czech(s)

Net migration rate

0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

10,201,707 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.106% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2008)

male

15 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.059 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.25 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

73% of total population (2008)

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

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

50 05 N, 14 28 E

name

Prague

time difference

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

Constitution

ratified on 16 December 1992, effective on 1 January 1993; amended in 1997, 2000, 2001 (twice), 2002

Country name

conventional long form

Czech Republic

conventional short form

Czech Republic

local long form

Ceska Republika

local short form

Cesko

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joseph PENNINGTON

embassy

Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1

FAX

[420] 257 022 809

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[420] 257 022 000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel KOSTOVAL

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 966-8540

telephone

[1] (202) 274-9100

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)

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)

elections

president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); last successful election held on 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

head of government

Prime Minister Petr NECAS (since 28 June 2010); First Deputy Prime Minister Karel SCHWARZENBERG (since 13 July 2010), Deputy Prime Minister Radek JOHN (since 13 July 2010)

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side note: is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia; uses the Pan-Slav colors inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

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 generally consider 28 October 1918, the day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; legal code modified to bring it in line with European Union obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members 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)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSSD 41, ODS 25, KDU-CSL 6, TOP 09 5, others 4; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 22.1%, ODS 20.2%, TOP 09 16.7%, KSCM 11.3%, VV 10.9%; seats by party - CSSD 56, ODS 53, TOP 09 41, KSCM 26, VV 24

elections

Senate - last held in two rounds on 15-16 and 22-23 October 2010 (next to be held by October 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 28-29 May 2010 (next to be held by 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP note: adopted 1993; the anthem is a verse from the former Czechoslovakian anthem originally written as part of the opera "Fidlovacka"

name

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

National holiday

Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

Political parties and leaders

Association of Independent Candidates-European Democrats or SNK-ED [Zdenka MARKOVA]; Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL [Pavel BELOBRADEK]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Petr NECAS]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Vojtech FILIP]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Bohuslav SOBOTKA (acting)]; Green Party [Ondrej LISKA]; Public Affairs (VV) [Radek JOHN]; Tradice Odpovednost Prosperita 09 or TOP 09 [Karel SCHWARZENBERG]; Union of Freedom-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Jan CERNY]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS [Jaroslav ZAVADIL]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

1% (31 December 2009) 2.25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.99% (31 December 2009 est.) 6.25% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$5.956 billion (2010 est.) -$2.146 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$86.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $82.42 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26 (2005) 25.4 (1996)

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 small, open, export-driven Czech economy grew by over 6% annually from 2005-2007 and by 2.5% in 2008. The conservative Czech financial system has remained relatively healthy throughout 2009. Nevertheless, the real economy contracted by 4.1% in 2009, mainly due to a significant drop in external demand as the Czech Republic's main export markets fell into recession. GDP is expected to grow by 2.4% in 2010, driven largely by a rebound in external demand, particularly from Gremany.

Electricity - consumption

61.65 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

19.99 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

8.52 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

82.72 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 19.737 (2010), 19.063 (2009), 17.064 (2008), 20.53 (2007), 22.596 (2006)

Exports

$116.5 billion (2010 est.) $112.6 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuel, chemicals

Exports - partners

Germany 32.25%, Slovakia 9.02%, Poland 5.8%, France 5.62%, UK 4.93%, Austria 4.71%, Italy 4.38% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.2%

industry

38.3%

services

59.5% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$25,600 (2010 est.) $25,200 (2009 est.) $26,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2010 est.) -4.1% (2009 est.) 2.5% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$195.2 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$261.5 billion (2010 est.) $256.9 billion (2009 est.) $267.9 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$109.2 billion (2010 est.) $103.1 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Germany 30.67%, Poland 6.97%, Slovakia 6.6%, Netherlands 5.99%, China 5.7%, Austria 5.26%, Russia 4.93%, Italy 3.98% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.6% (2010 est.) 1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

5.37 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3.6%

industry

40.2%

services

56.2% (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$52.69 billion (31 December 2009) $48.85 billion (31 December 2008) $73.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

8.182 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

1.111 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

9.683 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

176 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

207,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

29,670 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - imports

219,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - production

10,970 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

40% of GDP (2010 est.) 34% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$38.67 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $41.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$138.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $139 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$15.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $14.35 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$126.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $121.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$119.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $118.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$96.82 billion (31 December 2010 est) $92.95 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

9.3% (2010 est.) 8.1% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

roughly 130 television broadcasters operating some 350 television channels with 4 publicly operated and the remainder in private hands; 13 television stations have national coverage with 4 being publicly operated; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; about 70 radio broadcasters are registered operating roughly 85 radio stations with 15 stations publicly operated; 16 radio stations provide national coverage with the remainder local or regional (2008)

Internet country code

.cz

Internet hosts

3.494 million (2010)

Internet users

6.681 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

privatization and modernization of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily; 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) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.092 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

14.258 million (2009)

Airports

122 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

44 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 18 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

78 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 50 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Railways

narrow gauge

99 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)

standard gauge

9,521 km 1.435-m gauge (3,013 km electrified)

total

9,620 km

Roadways

paved

128,582 km (includes 691 km of expressways) (2008)

total

128,582 km

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,517,268 females age 16-49: 2,418,163 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,086,662 females age 16-49: 2,003,055 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

52,440 (2010 est.)

male

55,139

Military branches

Army of the Czech Republic (ACR)

Joint Forces Command (includes Land Forces and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command (2010)

Military expenditures

1.46% of GDP (2007 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

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 (2008) page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================