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Communications

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

more than 300 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.cz

Internet users [time series]

900,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)

Radios [time series]

3,159,134 (December 2000)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily; growth in the use of mobile cellular telephones is particularly vigorous domestic: 86% 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, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar

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

3.869 million (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4.346 million (2000)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)

Televisions [time series]

3,405,834 (December 2000)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $16.7 billion expenditures: $18 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Czech koruna (CZK)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

CZK

Debt - external [time series]

$21.3 billion (2000)

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

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Basically one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states, the Czech Republic has been recovering from recession since mid-1999. The economy grew about 2.5% in 2000 and should achieve somewhat higher growth in 2001. Growth is led by exports to the EU, especially Germany, and foreign investment, while domestic demand is reviving. Uncomfortably high fiscal and current account deficits could be future problems. Unemployment is down to 8.7% as job creation continues in the rebounding economy; inflation is up to 3.8% but still moderate. The EU put the Czech Republic just behind Poland and Hungary in preparations for accession, which will give further impetus and direction to structural reform. Moves to complete banking, telecommunications and energy privatization will add to foreign investment, while intensified restructuring among large enterprises and banks and improvements in the financial sector should strengthen output growth.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

52.898 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

18.744 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

8.735 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

67.642 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 77.8% hydro: 3.43% nuclear: 18.77% other: 0% (2000)

Exchange rates [time series]

koruny per US dollar - 37.425 (January 2001), 38.598 (2000), 34.569 (1999), 32.281 (1998), 31.698 (1997), 27.145 (1996)

Exports [time series]

$28.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment 44%, other manufactured goods 40%, chemicals 7%, raw materials and fuel 7% (1999)

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 43%, Slovakia 8.4%, Austria 6.6%, Poland 5.6%, France 4% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $132.4 billion (2000 est.)

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

agriculture: 3.7% industry: 41.8% services: 54.5% (1999)

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

purchasing power parity - $12,900 (2000 est.)

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

2.5% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 4.3% highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)

Imports [time series]

$31.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment 42%, other manufactured goods 33%, chemicals 12%, raw materials and fuels 10% (1999)

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 37.5%, Slovakia 6.7%, Austria 6.2%, Italy 5.9%, France 5.4% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.6% (2000)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.8% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

5.203 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 5%, industry 40%, services 55% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

8.7% (2000 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, Desertification, 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]

13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Brnensky, Budejovicky, Jihlavsky, Karlovarsky, Kralovehradecky, Liberecky, Olomoucky, Ostravsky, Pardubicky, Plzensky, Praha*, Stredocesky, Ustecky, Zlinsky

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Steven J. COFFEY embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [420] (2) 5753-0663

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) 274-9100

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 22 July 1998), Pavel RYCHETSKY (since 22 July 1998), Jan KAVAN (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)

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

[1] (202) 966-8540 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

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

[420] (2) 5753-0583

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (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 Republic and Slovakia)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year term

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 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 12 and 19 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2002); 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 - KDU-CSL 28, ODS 22, CSSD 15, ODA 7, US 4, KSCM 3, independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 32.3%, ODS 27.7%, KSCM 11%, KDU-CSL 9.0%, US 8.6%; seats by party - CSSD 74, ODS 63, KSCM 24, KDU-CSL 20, US 18, CSNS 1

National holiday [time series]

Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

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

Christian and 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]; Communist Party of Czechoslovakia or KSC [Miroslav STEPAN, chairman]; Czech National Social Party of CSNS [Jan SULA, chairman]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Milos ZEMAN, chairman]; Democratic Union or DEU [Ratibor MAJZLIK, chairman]; Freedom Union or US [Karel KUEHNL, chairman]; Quad Coalition [Cyril SVOBODA, chairman] (includes KDU-CSL, US, ODA, DEU); Republicans of Miroslav SLADEK or RMS [Miroslav SLADEK, chairman]

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

Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions [Richard FALBR]

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, Territorial Defense, Railroad Units

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$1.2 billion (FY01)

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

2.2% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,653,456 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,024,070 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 69,393 (2001 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.09% (male 847,219; female 804,731) 15-64 years: 69.99% (male 3,592,984; female 3,590,802) 65 years and over: 13.92% (male 549,538; female 878,938) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.11 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.81 deaths/1,000 population (2001 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% (1991)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.04% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

2,200 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

5.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

Czech

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.73 years male: 71.23 years female: 78.43 years (2001 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]

0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

10,264,212 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.07% (2001 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: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.18 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918; individual Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II; Austria has minor dispute with Czech Republic over nuclear power plants and post-World War II treatment of German-speaking minorities

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

114 (2000 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 (2000 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 (2000 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 55,432 km paved: 55,432 km (including 499 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2000)

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 3,550 km (2000)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Railways [time series]

total: 9,444 km standard gauge: 9,350 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2,843 km electrified; 1,929 km double track) narrow gauge: 94 km 0.760-m narrow gauge (2000)

Waterways [time series]

303 km note: (the Labe (Elbe) is the principal river) (2000)

Czechia