2011 Edition

Background

At the close of World War I, the Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, having rejected a federal system, 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). On the eve of World War II, the Czech part of the country was forcibly annexed to the Third Reich, and the Slovaks declared independence as a fascist ally of Nazi Germany. After the war, a reunited but truncated Czechoslovakia (less Ruthenia) 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 known as "normalization." With the collapse of Soviet-backed 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

78,867 sq km 77,247 sq km 1,620 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

Elbe River 115 m Snezka 1,602 m

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

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 none of the selected 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)

1.91 cu km/yr (41%/57%/2%) 187 cu m/yr (2002)

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

390 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

1,989 km Austria 362 km, Germany 815 km, Poland 615 km, Slovakia 197 km

border countries

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

total

1,989 km

Land use

38.82% 3% 58.18% (2005)

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

13.5% (male 704,495/female 666,191) 70.2% (male 3,599,774/female 3,554,158) 16.3% (male 663,982/female 1,001,613) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

13.5% (male 704,495/female 666,191)

15-64 years

70.2% (male 3,599,774/female 3,554,158)

65 years and over

16.3% (male 663,982/female 1,001,613) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

8.7 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.1% (2002)

Death rate

10.86 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population (2008)

urban

100% of population

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

7.18 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

3.73 deaths/1,000 live births 4.06 deaths/1,000 live births 3.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

3.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

3.73 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

77.19 years 73.93 years 80.66 years (2011 est.)

female

80.66 years (2011 est.)

total population

77.19 years

Literacy

NA 99% 99% 99% (2003 est.)

definition

NA

female

99% (2003 est.)

male

99%

total population

99%

Major cities - population

PRAGUE (capital) 1.162 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

40.8 years 39.2 years 42.5 years (2011 est.)

female

42.5 years (2011 est.)

male

39.2 years

total

40.8 years

Nationality

Czech(s) Czech

adjective

Czech

noun

Czech(s)

Net migration rate

0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

15.1% (2002)

Physicians density

3.625 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

10,190,213 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.12% (2011 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98% of population urban: 1% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2% of population (2008)

rural

3% of population

total

2% of population (2008)

urban

1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

15 years 15 years 16 years (2008)

female

16 years (2008)

male

15 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

1.059 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.66 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.66 male(s)/female

at birth

1.059 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.26 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

16.6% 16.6% 16.7% (2009)

female

16.7% (2009)

total

16.6%

Urbanization

74% of total population (2010) 0.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

74% of total population (2010)

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

Prague 50 05 N, 14 28 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993; amended several times

Country name

Czech Republic Czech Republic Ceska Republika Cesko

conventional long form

Czech Republic

conventional short form

Czech Republic

local long form

Ceska Republika

local short form

Cesko

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Norman EISEN Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1 use embassy street address [420] 257 022 000 [420] 257 022 809

chief of mission

Ambassador Norman EISEN

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

Ambassador Petr GANDALOVIC 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 274-9100 [1] (202) 966-8540 Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

chancery

3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Petr GANDALOVIC

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 966-8540

telephone

[1] (202) 274-9100

Executive branch

President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003) Prime Minister Petr NECAS (since 28 June 2010); First Deputy Prime Minister Karel SCHWARZENBERG (since 13 July 2010), Deputy Prime Minister Karolina PEAKE (since 1 July 2011) Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister 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 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)

cabinet

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

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 Karolina PEAKE (since 1 July 2011)

Flag description

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

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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; judges are appointed by the president for an unlimited term; Constitutional Court; 15 judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate for a ten-year term; Supreme Administrative Court; chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year term; judges are appointed by the president for an unlimited term

Legal system

civil law system based on former Austro-Hungarian civil codes and socialist theory; note - legislation is actively modernizing the legal system

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) 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) 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

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

"Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?) Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP adopted 1993; the anthem is a verse from the former Czechoslovak anthem originally written as part of the opera "Fidlovacka"

lyrics/music

Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP

name

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

National holiday

Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

National symbol(s)

double-tailed lion

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 or 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

Budget

$77.73 billion $86.76 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$86.76 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$77.73 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.75% (31 December 2010 est.) 1% (31 December 2009 est.) the two-week repo rate was 0.75% on 31 December 2010; this is the main rate CNB uses

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.889% (31 December 2010 est.) 5.991% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$7.188 billion (2010 est.) -$4.849 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$105.8 billion (30 June 2011 est.) $86.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26 (2005) 25.4 (1996)

Economy - overview

The Czech Republic is a stable and prosperous market economy, which harmonized its laws and regulations with those of the EU prior to its EU accession in 2004. While the conservative, inward looking Czech financial system has remained relative healthy, the small, open, export-driven Czech economy remains very sensitive to changes in the economic performance of its main export markets, especially Germany. When Western Europe and Germany fell into recession in late 2008, demand for Czech goods plunged, leading to double digit drops in industrial production and exports. As a result, real GDP fell 4.1% in 2009, with most of the decline occurring during the first quarter. Real GDP, however, has slowly recovered with positive quarter-on-quarter growth starting in the second half of 2009 and continuing throughout 2010. The auto industry remains the largest single industry and, together with its suppliers, accounts for as much as 20% of Czech manufacturing. The Czech Republic produced more than a million cars for the first time in 2010, over 80% of which were exported. Foreign and domestic businesses alike voice concerns about corruption, especially in public procurement. Other long term challenges include dealing with a rapidly aging population, funding an unsustainable pension and health care system, and diversifying away from manufacturing and toward a more high-tech, services-based, knowledge economy.

Electricity - consumption

53.42 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

22.23 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

13.64 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

77.02 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 19.111 (2010) 19.063 (2009) 17.064 (2008) 20.53 (2007) 22.596 (2006)

Exports

$116.7 billion (2010 est.) $99.13 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuel, chemicals

Exports - partners

Germany 31.7%, Slovakia 8.7%, Poland 6.2%, France 5.5%, UK 4.9%, Austria 4.7%, Italy 4.5% (2010 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

2.4% 37.6% 60% (2010 est.)

agriculture

2.4%

industry

37.6%

services

60% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$25,600 (2010 est.) $25,000 (2009 est.) $26,100 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2010 est.) -4.1% (2009 est.) 2.5% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$192.2 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$261.3 billion (2010 est.) $255.4 billion (2009 est.) $266.4 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1.5% NA (2009)

highest 10%

NA (2009)

lowest 10%

1.5%

Imports

$113.9 billion (2010 est.) $94.55 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Germany 25.6%, China 11.9%, Poland 6.5%, Russia 5.4%, Slovakia 5.2% (2010 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

10.3% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2010 est.) 1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

5.415 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

3.1% 38.6% 58.3% (2009)

agriculture

3.1%

industry

38.6%

services

58.3% (2009)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$73.1 billion (31 December 2010) $70.26 billion (31 December 2009) $57.8 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

9.308 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

159 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

8.51 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

203 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

195,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

25,480 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

208,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

10,310 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

38.9% of GDP (2010 est.) 35.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$41.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $41.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$144.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $144.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$15.52 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $14.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$129.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $125.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$126.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $123.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$107.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $96.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

40.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

9% (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

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 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 country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2 Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2009)

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

2.198 million (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

14.331 million (2010)

Airports

122 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

18 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

12

2,438 to 3,047 m

9

914 to 1,523 m

3

over 3,047 m

2

total

44

under 914 m

18 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

50 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

27

total

78

under 914 m

50 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

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

registered in other countries

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

Pipelines

gas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Railways

9,632 km 9,530 km 1.435-m gauge (3,165 km electrified) 102 km 0.750-m gauge (2010)

narrow gauge

102 km 0.750-m gauge (2010)

total

9,632 km

Roadways

127,719 km 127,719 km (includes 729 km of expressways) (2009)

total

127,719 km

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

2,506,826 2,407,634 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

2,407,634 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,506,826

Manpower fit for military service

2,072,267 1,988,839 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,988,839 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,072,267

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

49,999 47,501 (2010 est.)

female

47,501 (2010 est.)

male

49,999

Military branches

Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes Land Forces and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command (2011)

Army of the Czech Republic (ACR)

Joint Forces Command (includes Land Forces and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command (2011)

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 (2011)

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)