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{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Czech.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Czech Republic"}
{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of the Czech Republic, click {z,"12.040852,44.991935,23.031384,53.122299",here}{4}!
{2}Location:{4} Central Europe, southeast of Germany
{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 78,703 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 78,645 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly smaller than South Carolina
{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1,880 km
{3}border countries:{4} Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km, Slovakia 214 km
{2}Coastline:{4} 0 km (landlocked)
{2}Maritime claims:{4} none (landlocked)
{2}International disputes:{4} 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
{2}Climate:{4} temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
{2}Terrain:{4} Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low
mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country
{3}lowest point:{4} Elbe River 115 m
{3}highest point:{4} Snezka 1,602 m
{2}Natural resources:{4} hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite
{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} NA%
{3}permanent crops:{4} NA%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} NA%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} NA%
{3}other:{4} NA%
{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km
{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia
around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests
{2}natural hazards:{4} NA
{2}international agreements:{4} 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
{2}Geographic note:{4} 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
{1}People{4}
{2}Population:{4} 10,321,120 (July 1996 est.)
{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 18% (male 965,861; female 918,745)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 68% (male 3,519,753; female 3,524,913)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 14% (male 526,841; female 865,007) (July 1996 est.)
{2}Population growth rate:{4} -0.03% (1996 est.)
{2}Birth rate:{4} 10.39 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
{2}Death rate:{4} 10.89 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.06 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.61 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 73.76 years
{3}male:{4} 70.08 years
{3}female:{4} 77.65 years (1996 est.)
{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 1.38 children born/woman (1996 est.)
{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Czech(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Czech
{3}note:{4} 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994
{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian
0.2%, other 1%
{2}Religions:{4} atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%
{2}Languages:{4} Czech, Slovak
{2}Literacy:{4} age NA and over can read and write (est.)
{3}total population:{4} 99%
{3}male:{4} NA%
{3}female:{4} NA%
{1}Government{4}
{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Czech Republic
{3}conventional short form:{4} Czech Republic
{3}local long form:{4} Ceska Republika
{3}local short form:{4} Cechy
{2}Type of government:{4} parliamentary democracy
{2}Capital:{4} Prague
{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular); Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha,
Severocesky, Severomoravsky, Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky
{2}Independence:{4} 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)
{2}National holiday:{4} National Liberation Day, 8 May; Founding of the Republic, 28 October
{2}Constitution:{4} ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
{2}Legal system:{4} 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
{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal
{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} 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
{3}head of government:{4} 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)
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister
{2}Legislative branch:{4} bicameral Parliament (Parlament)
Senate (Senate): elections to be held 15-16 November 1996 (next to be held NA); seats (81 total)
Chamber of Deputies (Snemovna Poslancu): 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)
{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president;
Constitutional Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president
{2}Political parties and leaders:{4}
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
{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} Czech-Moravian Chamber of Trade Unions; Civic Movement
{2}International organization participation:{4} 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
{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Michael ZANTOVSKY
{3}chancery:{4} 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] (202) 363-6315, 6316
{3}FAX:{4} [1] (202) 966-8540
{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Jenonne R. WALKER
{3}embassy:{4} Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
{3}mailing address:{4} Unit 1330, APO AE 09213-1330
{3}telephone:{4} [42] (2) 2451-0847
{3}FAX:{4} [42] (2) 2451-1001
{2}Flag:{4} 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)
{1}Economy{4}
{2}Economic overview:{4} 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.
{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $106.2 billion (1995 est.)
{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 5% (1995 est.)
{2}GDP per capita:{4} $10,200 (1995 est.)
{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 5.8%
{3}industry:{4} 40.7%
{3}services:{4} 53.5%
{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 9.1% (1995 est.)
{2}Labor force:{4} 5.389 million
{3}by occupation:{4} industry 37.9%, agriculture 8.1%, construction 8.8%, communications and other
45.2% (1990)
{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 2.9% (1995 est.)
{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $16.5 billion
{3}expenditures:{4} $16.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
{2}Industries:{4} fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment, coal, motor vehicles, glass,
armaments
{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 12.9% (January-November 1995)
{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 14.470,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 56.3 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 4,842 kWh (1993)
{2}Agriculture:{4} grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
{2}Illicit drugs:{4} transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to
Western Europe
{2}Exports:{4} $17.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels,
minerals, metals, agricultural products
{3}partners:{4} 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)
{2}Imports:{4} $21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and
lubricants, raw materials, agricultural products
{3}partners:{4} 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)
{2}External debt:{4} $14.9 billion (June 1995)
{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $27 million (1993)
{2}Currency:{4} 1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru
{2}Exchange rates:{4} 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)
{3}note:{4} values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rates
{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year
{1}Transportation{4}
{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 9,413 km
standard gauge: 9,316 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2640 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 97 km several narrow gauges (1995)
{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 55,557 km (1994 est.)
{3}paved:{4} NA km
{3}unpaved:{4} NA km
{2}Waterways:{4} NA km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river
{2}Pipelines:{4} natural gas 5,400 km
{2}Ports:{4} Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 155,946 GRT/251,624 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 5, cargo 5 (1995 est.)
{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 116
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 2
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 9
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 13
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 5
{3}with unpaved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 3
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 10
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 32
{3}with unpaved runways under 914 m:{4} 41 (1994 est.)
{1}Communications{4}
{2}Telephones:{4} 3,349,539 (1993 est.)
{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} NA
{3}international:{4} satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)
{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
{2}Radios:{4} NA
{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} NA
{2}Televisions:{4} NA
{1}Defense{4}
{2}Branches:{4} Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense, Railroad Units
{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 2,724,607
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 2,074,331
{3}males reach military age (18) annually:{4} 88,418 (1996 est.)
{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $931 million, 2.5% of GDP (1995)