Czech Republic

Czech Republic

Introduction

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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

49 45 N, 15 30 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 78,867 sq km
country comparison to the world: 116 land:77,247 sq km
water:1,620 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries

total: 1,989 km
border countries:Austria 362 km, Germany 815 km, Poland 615 km, Slovakia 197 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point:Snezka 1,602 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 38.82%
permanent crops:3%
other:58.18% (2005)

Irrigated land

390 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

16 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

flooding

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 and Society

Nationality

noun: Czech(s)
adjective:Czech

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Religions

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

Population

10,190,213 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

Age structure

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.)

Median age

total: 40.8 years
male:39.2 years
female:42.5 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.12% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206

Birth rate

8.7 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213

Death rate

10.86 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Net migration rate

0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Urbanization

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

Major cities – population

PRAGUE (capital) 1.162 million (2009)

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 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 152

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 205 male:4.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female:3.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.19 years
country comparison to the world: 63 male:73.93 years
female:80.66 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.26 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214

Health expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63

Physicians density

3.625 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 25

Hospital bed density

7.18 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 12

Drinking water source

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

Sanitation facility access

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

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

2,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

15.1% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 36

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.1% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 111

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 96

Literacy

definition: NA
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years
male:15 years
female:16 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 16.6%
country comparison to the world: 70 male:16.6%
female:16.7% (2009)

Government

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)

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

National holiday

Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

Constitution

ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993

amended several times

Legal system

civil law system based on former Austro-Hungarian civil codes and socialist theory

note – legislation is actively modernizing the legal system

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)
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)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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
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 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 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)
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

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

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]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Petr GANDALOVIC
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 Norman EISEN
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:is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia

National symbol(s)

double-tailed lion

National anthem

name: “Kde domov muj?” (Where is My Home?)
lyrics/music:Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP
note:adopted 1993

the anthem is a verse from the former Czechoslovak anthem originally written as part of the opera “Fidlovacka”

Economy

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$261.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44 $255.4 billion (2009 est.)
$266.4 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$192.2 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

2.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140 -4.1% (2009 est.)
2.5% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$25,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54 $25,000 (2009 est.)
$26,100 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 2.4%
industry:37.6%
services:60% (2010 est.)

Labor force

5.415 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 3.1%
industry:38.6%
services:58.3% (2009)

Unemployment rate

9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102 8.1% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%:NA (2009)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

26 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 137 25.4 (1996)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Budget

revenues: $77.73 billion
expenditures:$86.76 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

40.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Public debt

38.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72 35.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46 1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.75% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132 1% (31 December 2009 est.)
note: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.)
country comparison to the world: 149 5.991% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$107.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30 $96.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$144.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46 $144.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$126.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45 $123.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$73.1 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 46 $70.26 billion (31 December 2009)
$57.8 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit

pigs, poultry

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

10.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Electricity – production

77.02 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Electricity – consumption

53.42 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Electricity – exports

22.23 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

13.64 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

10,310 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Oil – consumption

195,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

Oil – exports

25,480 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Oil – imports

208,800 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Oil – proved reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Natural gas – production

203 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

Natural gas – consumption

9.308 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Natural gas – exports

159 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Natural gas – imports

8.51 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Natural gas – proved reserves

3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Current account balance

-$7.188 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179 -$4.849 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$116.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33 $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.)

Imports

$113.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31 $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.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$41.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 $41.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$105.8 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 $86.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$129.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28 $125.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$15.52 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47 $14.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

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

Transportation

Airports

122 (2010)
country comparison to the world:49

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)

Pipelines

gas 7,010 km

oil 547 km

refined products 94 km (2010)

Railways

total: 9,632 km
country comparison to the world: 22 standard gauge:9,530 km 1.435-m gauge (3,165 km electrified)
narrow gauge:102 km 0.750-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 127,719 km
country comparison to the world: 36 paved:127,719 km (includes 729 km of expressways) (2009)

Waterways

664 km (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable rivers, lakes, and canals) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 77

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 153

Ports and terminals

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Military

Military branches

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

Military service age and obligation

18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service

no conscription (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,506,826
females age 16-49:2,407,634 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,072,267
females age 16-49:1,988,839 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 49,999
female:47,501 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.46% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Transnational Issues

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)