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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

35 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 21, FM 199, shortwave 1 (1999)

Radios [time series]

3,173,856 (December 1999)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: 70% of exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber systems now being 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: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

3,741,492 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

965,476 (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

102 (of which 35 are low power stations), plus about 500 repeaters (1988)

Televisions [time series]

3,428,817 (December 1999)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $16.4 billion expenditures: $17.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru

Debt - external [time series]

$24.3 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$351.6 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Political and financial crises in 1997 shattered the Czech Republic's image as one of the most stable and prosperous of post-Communist states. Delays in enterprise restructuring and failure to develop a well-functioning capital market played major roles in Czech economic troubles, which culminated in a currency crisis in May. The currency was forced out of its fluctuation band as investors worried that the current account deficit, which reached nearly 8% of GDP in 1996, would become unsustainable. After expending $3 billion in vain to support the currency, the central bank let it float. The growing current account imbalance reflected a surge in domestic demand and poor export performance, as wage increases outpaced productivity. The government was forced to introduce two austerity packages later in the spring which cut government spending by 2.5% of GDP. Growth dropped to 0.3% in 1997, -2.3% in 1998, and -0.5% in 1999. The basic transition problem continues to be too much direct and indirect government influence on the privatized economy. The government established a restructuring agency in 1999 and launched a revitalization program - to spur the sale of firms to foreign companies. Key priorities include accelerating legislative convergence with EU norms, restructuring enterprises, and privatizing banks and utilities. The economy, fueled by increased export growth and investment, is expected to recover in 2000.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

54.733 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

10.8 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

8.37 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

61.466 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 75.54% hydro: 2.55% nuclear: 20.37% other: 1.54% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 35.630 (December 1999), 34.569 (1999), 32.281 (1998), 31.698 (1997), 27.145 (1996), 26.541 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$26.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment 41%, other manufactured goods 40%, chemicals 8%, raw materials and fuel 7% (1998)

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 42%, Slovakia 8%, Austria 6%, Poland 6%, France 4% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $120.8 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 5% industry: 42% services: 53% (1999 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $11,700 (1999 est.)

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

-0.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 4.6% highest 10%: 23.5% (1993)

Imports [time series]

$29 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment 39%, other manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 12%, raw materials and fuels 10%, food 5% (1998)

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 34%, Slovakia 6%, Russia 6%, Austria 6%, France 5% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-4% (1999 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.5% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

5.203 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

industry 32%, agriculture 5.6%, construction 8.7%, transport and communications 6.9%, services 46.8% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

9% (1999 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 78,866 sq km land: 77,276 sq km water: 1,590 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Climate [time series]

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

49 45 N, 15 30 E

Geography - 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

Irrigated land [time series]

240 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,881 km border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km, Slovakia 215 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 41% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 34% other: 12% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

flooding

Natural resources [time series]

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

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

73 districts (okresi, singular - okres) and 4 municipalities* (mesta, singular - mesto); Benesov, Beroun, Blansko, Breclav, Brno*, Brno-Venkov, Bruntal, Ceske Budejovice, Ceska Lipa, Cesky Krumlov, Cheb, Chomutov, Chrudim, Decin, Domazlice, Frydek-Mistek, Havlickuv Brod, Hodonin, Hradec Kralove, Jablonec nad Nisou, Jesenik, Jicin, Jihlava, Jindrichuv Hradec, Karlovy Vary, Karvina, Kladno, Klatovy, Kolin, Kromeriz, Kutna Hora, Liberec, Litomerice, Louny, Melnik, Mlada Boleslav, Most, Nachod, Novy Jicin, Nymburk, Olomouc, Opava, Ostrava*, Pardubice, Pelhrimov, Pisek, Plzen*, Plzen-Jih, Plzen-Sever, Prachatice, Praha*, Praha-Vychod, Praha Zapad, Prerov, Pribram, Prostejov, Rakovnik, Rokycany, Rychnov nad Kneznou, Semily, Sokolov, Strakonice, Sumperk, Svitavy, Tabor, Tachov, Teplice, Trebic, Trutnov, Uherske Hradiste, Usti nad Labem, Usti nad Orlici, Vsetin, Vyskov, Zdar nad Sazavou, Zlin, Znojmo

Capital [time series]

Prague

Constitution [time series]

ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador John SHATTUCK embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [420] (2) 5753-0663 FAX: [420] (2) 5753-0583

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexsandr VONDRA chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 363-6315 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 2 February 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Milos ZEMAN (since 17 July 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir SPIDLA (since 17 July 1998), Pavel RYCHETSKY (since 17 July 1998), Pavel MERTLIK (since 17 July 1998), Jan KAZAN (since 8 December 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 20 January 1998 (next to be held NA January 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vaclav HAVEL reelected president; Vaclav HAVEL received 47 of 81 votes in the Senate and 99 out of 200 votes in the Chamber of Deputies (second round of voting)

Flag (Flag description) [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)

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and Slovak Republics)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

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

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 or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve staggered two-, four-, and six-year terms) 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 13-14 and 20-21 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2000 - to replace/reelect 20 senators serving two-year terms); Chamber of Deputies - last held 19-20 June 1998 (next to be held by NA June 2002) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSSD 23, ODS 25, KDU-CSL 16, KCSM 4, ODA 7, US 4, DEU 1, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSSD 74, ODS 63, KDU-CSL 20, US 19, KCSM 24

National holiday [time series]

National Liberation Day, 8 May; Founding of the Republic, 28 October

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

Assembly for the Republic or SPR-RSC [Miroslav SLADEK, chairman]; Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL [Jan KASAL, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance or ODA [Daniel KROUPA, chairman]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Vaclav KLAUS, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Czech Social Democrats or CSSD [Milos ZEMAN, chairman]; Democratic Union or DEU [Ratibor MAJZLIK, chairman]; Freedom Union or US [Karel KUEHUL, acting chairman]; Quad Coalition [Richard FALBR, chairman] (includes KDU-CSL, US, ODA, DEU)

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

"Thanks, Now Go"; Impulse 99; Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

After World War II, 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 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. Now a member of NATO, the Czech Republic has moved toward integration in world markets, a development that poses both opportunities and risks.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$1.2 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.9% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,669,505 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,035,194 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 70,674 (2000 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16% (male 866,754; female 823,795) 15-64 years: 70% (male 3,579,454; female 3,577,919) 65 years and over: 14% (male 547,462; female 876,795) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.1 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.87 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Czech 81.2%, Moravian 13.2%, Slovak 3.1%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Silesian 0.4%, Roma 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 0.5% (March 1991)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

5.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

Czech

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.51 years male: 71.01 years female: 78.22 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: NA total population: 99.9% (1999 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech

Net migration rate [time series]

0.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

10,272,179 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.08% (2000 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: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.18 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Liechtenstein claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the communists seized power; individual Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II; agreement with Slovakia signed 24 November 1998 resolves issues of redistribution of former Czechoslovak federal land - approval by both parliaments is expected in 2000

Illicit drugs [time series]

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; domestic consumption - especially of locally produced synthetic drugs - on the rise [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Transportation

Airports [time series]

114 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 43 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 16 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 71 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 42 (1999 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 127,693 km paved: 127,693 km (including 498 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 53,000 km (1998)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Railways [time series]

total: 9,435 km standard gauge: 9,341 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2,946 km electrified at three voltages; 1,868 km double track) narrow gauge: 94 km 0.760-m narrow gauge (1998)

Waterways [time series]

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

Czechia