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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

roughly 130 television broadcasters operating some 350 television channels with 4 publicly operated and the remainder in private hands; 13 television stations have national coverage with 4 being publicly operated; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; about 70 radio broadcasters are registered operating roughly 85 radio stations with 15 stations publicly operated; 16 radio stations provide national coverage with the remainder local or regional (2008)

Internet country code [time series]

.cz

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

3.494 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 25

Internet users [time series]

6.681 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 40

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily; virtually all exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber systems 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 domestic: access to the fixed-line telephone network expanded throughout the 1990s but the number of fixed line connections has been dropping since then; mobile telephone usage increased sharply beginning in the mid-1990s and the number of cellular telephone subscriptions now greatly exceeds the population international: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2 Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2009)

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

2.092 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 53

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

14.258 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 51

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

1% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 131 2.25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

5.99% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 6.25% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$5.956 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 -$2.146 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$86.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $82.42 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

26 (2005) country comparison to the world: 131 25.4 (1996)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. Maintaining an open investment climate has been a key element of the Czech Republic's transition from a communist, centrally planned economy to a functioning market economy. As a member of the European Union, with an advantageous location in the center of Europe, a relatively low cost structure, and a well-qualified labor force, the Czech Republic is an attractive destination for foreign investment. Prior to its EU accession in 2004, the Czech government harmonized its laws and regulations with those of the European Union. The small, open, export-driven Czech economy grew by over 6% annually from 2005-2007 and by 2.5% in 2008. The conservative Czech financial system has remained relatively healthy throughout 2009. Nevertheless, the real economy contracted by 4.1% in 2009, mainly due to a significant drop in external demand as the Czech Republic's main export markets fell into recession. GDP is expected to grow by 2.4% in 2010, driven largely by a rebound in external demand, particularly from Gremany.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

61.65 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Electricity - exports [time series]

19.99 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

8.52 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

82.72 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Exchange rates [time series]

koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 19.737 (2010), 19.063 (2009), 17.064 (2008), 20.53 (2007), 22.596 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$116.5 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $112.6 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuel, chemicals

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 32.25%, Slovakia 9.02%, Poland 5.8%, France 5.62%, UK 4.93%, Austria 4.71%, Italy 4.38% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$195.2 billion (2010 est.)

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

$261.5 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 $256.9 billion (2009 est.) $267.9 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 2.2% industry: 38.3% services: 59.5% (2010 est.)

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

$25,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $25,200 (2009 est.) $26,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

1.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 -4.1% (2009 est.) 2.5% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$109.2 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $103.1 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 30.67%, Poland 6.97%, Slovakia 6.6%, Netherlands 5.99%, China 5.7%, Austria 5.26%, Russia 4.93%, Italy 3.98% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

22.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Labor force [time series]

5.37 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 3.6% industry: 40.2% services: 56.2% (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$52.69 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 52 $48.85 billion (31 December 2008) $73.42 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

8.182 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas - exports [time series]

1.111 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Natural gas - imports [time series]

9.683 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Natural gas - production [time series]

176 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Oil - consumption [time series]

207,600 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Oil - exports [time series]

29,670 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Oil - imports [time series]

219,900 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Oil - production [time series]

10,970 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

15 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

40% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 34% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$38.67 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $41.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$138.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 $139 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$15.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 $14.35 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$126.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $121.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$119.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 $118.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$96.82 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 32 $92.95 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate [time series]

9.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 8.1% (2009 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 78,867 sq km country comparison to the world: 115 land: 77,247 sq km water: 1,620 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; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution

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

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

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 (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

16 cu km (2005)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

ratified on 16 December 1992, effective on 1 January 1993; amended in 1997, 2000, 2001 (twice), 2002

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joseph PENNINGTON embassy: Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [420] 257 022 000 FAX: [420] 257 022 809

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel KOSTOVAL 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

Executive branch [time series]

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 Radek JOHN (since 13 July 2010) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld 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)

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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; uses the Pan-Slav colors inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, 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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Supreme Administrative 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; legal code modified to bring it in line with European Union obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 Czechoslovakian anthem originally written as part of the opera "Fidlovacka"

National holiday [time series]

Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

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

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 (VV) [Radek JOHN]; Tradice Odpovednost Prosperita 09 or TOP 09 [Karel SCHWARZENBERG]; Union of Freedom-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Jan CERNY]

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

Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS [Jaroslav ZAVADIL]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, 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). After World War II, a truncated 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 Communist 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. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,517,268 females age 16-49: 2,418,163 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,086,662 females age 16-49: 2,003,055 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 55,139 female: 52,440 (2010 est.)

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

Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes Land Forces and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.46% of GDP (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 13.6% (male 712,045/female 673,657) 15-64 years: 71% (male 3,641,887/female 3,604,044) 65 years and over: 15.5% (male 623,882/female 956,389) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

8.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

Death rate [time series]

10.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 88

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 10 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

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

1,500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 208 male: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.01 years country comparison to the world: 62 male: 73.74 years female: 80.48 years (2010 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 40.4 years male: 38.9 years female: 42.2 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech

Net migration rate [time series]

0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Population [time series]

10,201,707 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.106% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.25 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 216

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 73% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

122 (2010) country comparison to the world: 49

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

total: 78 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 50 (2010)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010) country comparison to the world: 162

Pipelines [time series]

gas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Railways [time series]

total: 9,620 km country comparison to the world: 22 standard gauge: 9,521 km 1.435-m gauge (3,013 km electrified) narrow gauge: 99 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 128,582 km country comparison to the world: 37 paved: 128,582 km (includes 691 km of expressways) (2008)

Waterways [time series]

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

Czechia