Czech Republic Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Czech Republic, State of Central Europe; 78,860 km², 10.6 million residents (2019).The Czech Republic borders in the north to Poland, in the northwest, west and southwest to Germany, in the south to Austria and in the east to Slovakia. The state was created on January 1, 1993 through the division of Czechoslovakia. The capital is Prague (1.2 million residents, 2014).

Country facts

Česká Republika / Czech Republic
Country abbreviation: CZ
Area: 78 860 km²
Population (2019): 10.6 million residents
Capital: Prague
Main language: Czech
State: Republic
Head of State: Miloš Zeman (President)
Head of Government: Andrej Babiš
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 23,079
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 20,260
Currency unit: 1 koruna = 100 haléruy
Currency code: CZK
Country number (telephony): 420
Internet domain name: cz
Time difference compared to Sweden: 0
National Day: October 28 (Founding of the Czechoslovak Republic, 1918)

Nature

Land use: forest (34%), agricultural land (55%), other (13%)
Highest mountain: Sněžka (1,603 m asl)
Longest river: Vltava (400 km)

Population

Population density (2019): 134 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 0%; birthrate 11 ‰, deathrate 11 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (16%), 15-64 (64%), 65- (20%)
Average life expectancy (2019): men 76 years, women 82 years
Infant mortality (2019): 3 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 11 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.888 (place 27 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 74%
Most populous cities (2014): Prague (1.2 million residents), Brno (377,500), Ostrava (295,600)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (2%), industry (37%), service (61%)
Exports (2017): US $ 144,800 million
Main export products: machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuel, chemicals
Main exporting countries: Germany, Slovakia, Poland
Imports (2017): US $ 134,700 million
Main import products: machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuel, chemicals
Main importing countries: Germany, Poland, China
Railway network (2017): 9,400 km

The Czech Republic is mostly occupied by the Bohemian and Moravian mountain lands. Due to faults, the Czech basin in the country’s interior is separated from the large mountain ridges. The Czech Republic is located in the border area for hot and cold temperate humid climates.

According to the constitution, the legislative power lies with a parliament with two chambers: the People’s Assembly, whose members are elected for four years, and the Senate, whose members are elected for six years. The President is appointed by Parliament for five years. The Czech Republic was formed at the division of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

The country underwent a relatively rapid restructuring of the economy and labor market during the 1990s. About 80 percent of the state-owned companies were privatized. In connection with the restructuring, foreign ownership in almost all sectors also increased. The importance of industry has diminished somewhat, while the service sector has become increasingly important. However, there are major regional differences; Around Prague and at the borders of Austria and Germany, the economy is strong, while the northern parts have been hit hard by closures.