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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 155 usable: 123 with permanent-surface runways: 27 with runways over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 17 with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 52 note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 55,890 km (1988) paved: NA unpaved: NA

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

NA km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river

Merchant marine [time series]

18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 225,934 GRT/350,330 DWT, bulk 7, cargo 11

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 5,400 km

Ports [time series]

coastal outlets are in Poland (Gdynia, Gdansk, Szczecin), Croatia (Rijeka), Slovenia (Koper), Germany (Hamburg, Rostock); principal river ports are Prague on the Vltava, Decin on the Elbe (Labe)

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

9,434 km total (1988)

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

23 billion koruny, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 2,747,126; fit for military service 2,091,532; reach military age (18) annually 93,342 (1994 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

largely self-sufficient in food production; diversified crop and livestock production, including grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit, hogs, cattle, and poultry; exporter of forest products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $11.9 billion expenditures: $11.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru

Economic aid [time series]

donor: the former Czechoslovakia was a donor - $4.2 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed countries (1954-89)

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 16,500,000 kW production: 62.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,030 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 30.122 (January 1994), 29.153 (1993), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991), 17.95 (1990), 15.05 (1989) note: values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rates

Exports [time series]

$12.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, minerals, and metals partners: Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, France, US, UK, CIS republics

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$8.6 billion (October 1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe

Imports [time series]

$12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants, manfactured goods, raw materials, chemicals, agricultural products partners: Slovakia, CIS republics, Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, UK, Italy

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate -5.5% (December 1993 over December 1992)

Industries [time series]

fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment, coal, motor vehicles, glass, armaments

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

19% (1993 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $75 billion (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$7,200 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

0% (1993 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two independent nation states - the Czech Republic and Slovakia - on 1 January 1993 has complicated the task of moving toward a more open and decentralized economy. The old Czechoslovakia, even though highly industrialized by East European standards, suffered from an aging capital plant, lagging technology, and a deficiency in energy and many raw materials. In January 1991, approximately one year after the end of communist control of Eastern Europe, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic launched a sweeping program to convert its almost entirely state-owned and controlled economy to a market system. In 1991-92 these measures resulted in privatization of some medium- and small-scale economic activity and the setting of more than 90% of prices by the market - but at a cost in inflation, unemployment, and lower output. For Czechoslovakia as a whole inflation in 1991 was roughly 50% and output fell 15%. In 1992, in the Czech lands, inflation dropped to an estimated 12.5% and GDP was down a more moderate 5%. In 1993, Czech aggregate output remained unchanged, prices rose about 19%, and unemployment hovered above 3%; exports to Slovakia fell roughly 30%. An estimated 40% of the economy was privately owned. In 1994, Prague expects 2% to 3% growth in GDP, roughly 9% inflation, and 5% unemployment. Economic growth in 1994 is less important than continued economic restructuring; a mere 1% growth would be noteworthy if restructuring is accompanied by rising unemployment and enterprise bankruptcies.

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.3% (1993 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 78,703 sq km land area: 78,645 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate [time series]

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia centered around Zeplica and in northern Moravia around Ostrava presents health hazards; acid rain damaging forests natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

Liechtenstein claims l,606 square miles of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II versus the Czech Republic claims that restitution does not proceed before February 1948 when the Communists seized power; unresolved property issues with Slovakia over redistribution of property of the former Czechoslovak federal government

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

total 1,880 km, Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km, Slovakia 214 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Location [time series]

Central Europe, between Germany and Slovakia

Map references [time series]

Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

none; landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

two main regions: Bohemia in the west, consisting of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; and Moravia in the east, consisting of very hilly country

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular); Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha, Severocesky, Severomoravsky, Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky

Capital [time series]

Prague

Legislative branch (Chamber of Deputies) [time series]

elections last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (200 total) Civic Democratic Party/Christian Democratic Party 76, Left Bloc 35, Czech Social Democratic Party 16, Liberal Social Union 16, Christian Democratic Union/Czech People's Party 15, Assembly for the Republic/Republican Party 14, Civic Democratic Alliance 14, Movement for Self-Governing Democracy for Moravia and Silesia 14

Constitution [time series]

ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ZANTOVSKY chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 363-6315 or 6316

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 26 January 1993); election last held 26 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998); results - Vaclav HAVEL elected by the National Council head of government: Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Ivan KOCARNIK, Josef LUX, Jan KALVODA (since NA June 1992) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

(202) 966-8540

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[42] (2) 531-193

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, Constitutional Court

Legal system [time series]

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Council (Narodni rada)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

BIS, CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFCTU, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NSG, PCA, UN (as of 8 January 1993), UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: Czech Republic local long form: Ceska Republika local short form: Cechy

National holiday [time series]

National Liberation Day, 9 May; Founding of the Republic, 28 October

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Left Bloc; Liberal Party; Czech-Moravian Chamber of Trade Unions

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Vaclav KLAUS, chairman; Christian Democratic Union-Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL), Josef LUX, chairman; Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), Jan KALVODA, chairman; Christian Democratic Party (KDS), Ivan PILIP, chairman; Czech Social Democratic Party, Milos ZEMAN, chairman; Czech-Moravian Center Party, Jan KYCER, chairman; Liberal Social Union (LSU), Frantisek TRNKA; Communist Party of Bohemia/Moravia (KSCM), Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman; Association for the Republic - Republican Party, Miroslav SLADEK, chairman; Left Bloc, Marie STIBOROVA, chairman

Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]

elections not yet held; seats (81 total)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Adrian A. BASORA embassy: Trziste 15, 11801, Prague 1 mailing address: Unit 25402; APO AE 09213 telephone: [42] (2) 251-0847

People

Birth rate [time series]

13.23 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.14 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

5.389 million by occupation: industry 37.9%, agriculture 8.1%, construction 8.8%, communications and other 45.2% (1990)

Languages [time series]

Czech, Slovak

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.08 years male: 69.38 years female: 76.99 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

10,408,280 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.21% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.84 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Czechia