The Czech Republic is located in the Central Europe. The landlocked country shares its border with Poland to the north, Germany to the west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. Two historical regions Bohemia and Moravia are merged to form present day Czech Republic. It is a member of NATO since 1999 and the European Union since 2004. Other memberships include OECD, the Council of Europe and the Visegrád Group. The Armed force of Czech Republic has an Army and Air Forces. Czech education is ranked 15th best in the world according to The Programme for International Student Assessment by OECD.
HISTORY:- The regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia were inhabited by Slavic tribes. The Bohemia and the Premyslide dynasties were founded by the Czechs. They ruled the regions from 10th to the 16th century. The kingdom of Bohemia became a part of the Holy Roman Empire. The empire turned into a strong power in the middle ages. The 15th century Hussite Wars and the 17th century Thirty Years' War led to a devastating effect on the nation. In 16th century, the country fell under the Habsburg control and followed by Austria-Hungary control. After the fall of Austro-Hungarian Empire in the post World War I period, Czechoslovakia was formed. When Germany attacked Czechoslovakia in 1939, Czech Bohemia and Moravia became Germen protectorates until 1945. In 1946 elections, communists won and held the power until the velvet revolution in 1989. The 42 years of communist rule ended. The country turned into a Soviet-style state in the communist era. Václav Havel became the elected President. The country was split into Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.
GEOGRAPHY:- Czech Republic is situated at 49 45 N, 15 30 E in Central Europe. The country possesses total 78,866 sq km area in which 77,276 sq km is land area. The country is completely a landlocked. The lowest point is Elbe River (115 m) and the highest point is Snezka (1,602 m). The Bohemian region in the west is formed of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains while the Moravian region in the east is formed of hills.
CLIMATE:- The climate of the nation is temperate with cold summers and cold, cloudy, humid winters.
GOVERNMENT:- Czech Republic has Parliamentary democracy. The constitution was ratified on 16th December 1992 but came into effect on 1st January 1993. The legal system is based on Austro-Hungarian codes. The government divides its responsibilities into three main branches:
Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), Deputy Prime Ministers, and cabinet. The President is elected by the national parliament. Cabinet ministers are recommended by the Prime minister and appointed by the President.
Legislative branch consists of the bicameral Parliament, which comprises the Senate (81 seats), and the Chamber of Deputies (200 seats).
Judicial branch comprises Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.
Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), Deputy Prime Ministers, and cabinet. The President is elected by the national parliament. Cabinet ministers are recommended by the Prime minister and appointed by the President.
Legislative branch consists of the bicameral Parliament, which comprises the Senate (81 seats), and the Chamber of Deputies (200 seats).
Judicial branch comprises Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.
Major political parties are Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD), Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM), Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak Peoples Party (KDU-CSL), Green Party (SZ). Suffrage is universal at and above 18.
President Václav Klaus
Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek
Deputy Prime Ministers Petr Necas, Martin Bursik, Alexandr Vondra.
Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek
Deputy Prime Ministers Petr Necas, Martin Bursik, Alexandr Vondra.
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Czech Republic is decomposed into 13 regions and a capital city of Prague since 2000. These regions are as follows:
Jihocesky Kraj, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Karlovarsky Kraj, Kralovehradecky Kraj, Liberecky Kraj, Moravskoslezsky Kraj, Olomoucky Kraj, Pardubicky Kraj, Plzensky Kraj, Stredocesky Kraj, Ustecky Kraj, Vysocina, Zlinsky Kraj.
Jihocesky Kraj, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Karlovarsky Kraj, Kralovehradecky Kraj, Liberecky Kraj, Moravskoslezsky Kraj, Olomoucky Kraj, Pardubicky Kraj, Plzensky Kraj, Stredocesky Kraj, Ustecky Kraj, Vysocina, Zlinsky Kraj.
CULTURE:- Football and ice hockey are the most popular sports. Other sports include basketball, volleyball, handball, athletics, and floorball. Cuisine is Czech cuisine is meat based. Pork, beef and chicken are popular. Opera and symphony are included in the rich music of Czech Republic.
ECONOMY:- Czech Republic is among the most stable and prosperous nations of Central and Eastern Europe. It is a high-income country. It is a member of WTO. Tourism is a strong base of the economy of Czech Republic. The World Bank recognizes it as the developed nation.
GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $249 billion; per capita $24,400.
Real growth rate: 5.7%.
Inflation: 2.6%.
Unemployment: 6.6%.
Arable land: 38.8%.
Agriculture: wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry.
Labor force: 5.31 million; agriculture 4.1%, industry 37.6%, services 58.3% (2003 est.).
Industries: metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass, armaments.
Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber.
Budget:
Revenues: $72.2 billion
expenditures: $76.29 billion (2007 est.)
Revenues: $72.2 billion
expenditures: $76.29 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: 26.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Debt - external: $76.76 billion (31 December 2007)
Exports: $113 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and transport equipment 52%, chemicals 5%, raw materials and fuel 9% (2003).
Exports – partners: Germany 31.9%, Slovakia 8.5%, Poland 5.7%, France 5.5%, Austria 5.1%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.6% (2006)
Imports: $109.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and transport equipment 46%, raw materials and fuels 15%, chemicals 10% (2003).
Imports - partners: Germany 32.5%, Netherlands 6.8%, Slovakia 6.2%, Poland 6.1%, Russia 5.7%, Austria 5%, Italy 4.4%, France 4.3% (2006)
Major trading partners: Germany, Slovakia, Austria, Poland, UK, France, Italy, Netherlands, China, Russia (2004).
Monetary unit: Koruna
LANGUAGE:- Czech is the official language spoken by 94.9%. Other spoken language is Slovak (2%).
Other 2.3%
Unidentified 0.8% (2001 census)
Other 2.3%
Unidentified 0.8% (2001 census)
CITIES:- The capital Prague is the largest city. Other large cities are Brno, Ostrava, Plzen, Olomouc.
POPULATION:- The population is estimated 10,228,744 with growth rate of –0.1%.
Density per sq mi: 337
Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 337
Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.)
RACE:-
Czech 90.4%
Moravian 3.7%
Slovak 1.9%
Other 4% (2001 census)
Czech 90.4%
Moravian 3.7%
Slovak 1.9%
Other 4% (2001 census)
RELIGION:-
Roman Catholic 26.8%
Protestant 2.1%
Other 3.3%
Unspecified 8.8%
Unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)
Roman Catholic 26.8%
Protestant 2.1%
Other 3.3%
Unspecified 8.8%
Unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 8.89 births/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 10.69 deaths/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.62 years
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.83 deaths/ 1,000 live births
Total fertility rate: 1.23 children born/ woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 10 (2001 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 1,445
Birth rate: 8.89 births/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 10.69 deaths/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.62 years
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.83 deaths/ 1,000 live births
Total fertility rate: 1.23 children born/ woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 10 (2001 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 1,445
UNICEF:- UNICEF works on child nutrition, child health, child education and fights for women and children protection and against HIV.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: total: 9,597 km km (2006).
Highways: total: 127,865 km; paved: 127,865 km (including 633 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (2006).
Waterways: 664 km (on Elbe, Vltava, and Oder rivers) (2004).
Ports and harbors: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem.
Airports: 122 (2007).
Railways: total: 9,597 km km (2006).
Highways: total: 127,865 km; paved: 127,865 km (including 633 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (2006).
Waterways: 664 km (on Elbe, Vltava, and Oder rivers) (2004).
Ports and harbors: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem.
Airports: 122 (2007).
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