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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $931 million, 2.5% of GDP (1995)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,724,607 males fit for military service: 2,074,331 males reach military age (18) annually: 88,418 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

3,349,539 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

NA Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $16.5 billion expenditures: $16.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $27 million (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

The Czech Republic, which separated from Slovakia on 1 January 1993, emerged from recession with 2.6% growth in 1994 and 5% growth in 1995. Inflation in 1994-95 was cut in half; unemployment was kept at about 3%; the budget was balanced; and exports were reoriented to the EU. Prague's mass privatization program, including its innovative distribution of ownership shares to Czech citizens via "coupon vouchers," has made the most rapid progress in Eastern Europe. About 80% of the economy is wholly or partially in private hands. Because of its progress on reform, the Czech Republic in 1995 became the first post-Communist member of the OECD. Its solid economic performance also led Standard and Poor's to upgrade the country's sovereign credit rating to "A" and attracted nearly $5.3 billion in direct foreign investment to Czech industry between 1990 and September 1995. The Czech crown became convertible for current account transactions in October 1995. Czech companies increasingly are using the international capital market to fund capital investment, and foreign currency reserves totaled $13.9 billion at the end of 1995. Prague's biggest macroeconomic concern now is limiting the inflationary effect of these large capital inflows. The Czech economy also still faces microeconomic problems. Prague has promised to strengthen its bankruptcy law and improve the transparency of stock market operations in 1996, but some changes probably will not take effect until some time after the parliamentary elections of mid-1996 and will depend largely on voluntary compliance. Prague forecasts a balanced budget, 5.5% GDP growth, 2.8% unemployment, and 8.1% inflation for 1996.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 14.470,000 kW production: 56.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,842 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 26.967 (January 1996), 26.541 (1995), 28.785 (1994), 29.153 (1993), 28.26 (1992), 29.53 (1991), 17.95 (1990) note: values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rates

Exports [time series]

$17.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, minerals, metals, agricultural products partners: Germany 32.4%, Slovakia 16.1%, Austria 6.7%, Poland 5.3%, Italy 4%, Russia 3.3%, Netherlands 2.8%, France 2.6%, UK 2.2%, Hungary 2.1%, US 1.8%, Belgium 1.5% (January-September 1995)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$14.9 billion (June 1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $106.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 5.8% industry: 40.7% services: 53.5%

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

$10,200 (1995 est.)

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

5% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, raw materials, agricultural products partners: Germany 26%, Slovakia 13.2%, Russia 9.2%, Austria 7%, Italy 5.6%, France 4.1%, US 3.8%, Poland 3.1%, Netherlands 2.9%, UK 2.9%, Switzerland 2.1%, Belgium 2.0% (January-September 1995)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

12.9% (January-November 1995)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9.1% (1995 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)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.9% (1995 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 and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

49 45 N, 15 30 E

Geography - note (Geographic 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

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

Liechtenstein claims restitution for 1,600 sq km 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 precede 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 border countries: 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, southeast of Germany

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural resources [time series]

hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite

Terrain [time series]

Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country lowest point: Elbe River 115 m highest point: Snezka 1,602 m

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 (Snemovna Poslancu)) [time series]

elections last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held 31 May-1 June 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA given breakup and realignment of all parliamentary opposition parties since 1992; seats - (200 total) governing coalition (ODS 65, KDS 10, ODA 16, KDU-CSL 15), opposition (CSSD 18, LB 25, KSCM 10, LSU 9, LSNS 5, CMUS 9, SPR-RSC 6, independents 12)

Constitution [time series]

ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993

Data code [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: [1] (202) 363-6315, 6316

Executive branch [time series]

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

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

[1] (202) 966-8540

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

[42] (2) 2451-1001

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)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president

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 Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament (Parlament)

Country name (Name of country) [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, 8 May; Founding of the Republic, 28 October

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

Czech-Moravian Chamber of Trade Unions; Civic Movement

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

governing coalition: Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Vaclav KLAUS, chairman; Christian Democratic Party (KDS), Ivan PILIP, chairman; Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), Jan KALVODA, chairman; Christian Democratic Union/Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL), Josef LUX, chairman; note - KDS was to merge with ODS in March 1996 opposition: Czech Social Democrats (CSSD - left opposition), Milos ZEMAN, chairman; Left Bloc (LB - left opposition), Jaroslav ORTMAN, chairman; Communist Party (KSCM - left opposition), Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman; Liberal Social Union (LSU - left opposition), Frantisek TRNKA, chairman, note - may not still be in existence; Liberal National Social Party (LSNS - center party), Vavrinec BODENLOS, chairman; Bohemian-Moravian Center Union (CMUS - center party), Jan JEGLA, chairman; Assembly for the Republic (SPR-RSC - right radical), Miroslav SLADEK, chairman

Legislative branch (Senate (Senate)) [time series]

elections to be held 15-16 November 1996 (next to be held NA); seats (81 total)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

parliamentary democracy

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Jenonne R. WALKER embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 mailing address: Unit 1330, APO AE 09213-1330 telephone: [42] (2) 2451-0847

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18% (male 965,861; female 918,745) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,519,753; female 3,524,913) 65 years and over: 14% (male 526,841; female 865,007) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.39 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.89 deaths/1,000 population (1996 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]

8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Czech, Slovak

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.76 years male: 70.08 years female: 77.65 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age NA and over can read and write (est.) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech note: 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994

Net migration rate [time series]

0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

10,321,120 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.03% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.38 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 116 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13 with paved runways under 914 m: 5 with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 32 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 41 (1994 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 55,557 km (1994 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 155,946 GRT/251,624 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 5 (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 5,400 km

Ports [time series]

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Railways [time series]

total: 9,413 km standard gauge: 9,316 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2640 km electrified) narrow gauge: 97 km several narrow gauges (1995)

Waterways [time series]

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

Czechia