About
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.
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Source: The World Factbook
Population: 10,241,138 (July 2005 est.)
Capital: Prague
Languages: Czech
Religions: Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified 8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)
Government: parliamentary democracy
Climate: temperate;
cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain: Bohemia in
the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very
hilly country
Geography: 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
Ethnic groups: Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4%
(2001 census)
Economy: The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern
Europe. Growth in 2000-05 was supported by exports to the EU, primarily to Germany, and a strong recovery of foreign and
domestic investment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important role in underpinning growth as interest rates drop and
the availability of credit cards and mortgages increases. Current account deficits of around 5% of GDP are beginning to
decline as demand for Czech products in the European Union increases. Inflation is under control. Recent accession to the EU
gives further impetus and direction to structural reform. In early 2004 the government passed increases in the Value Added Tax
(VAT) and tightened eligibility for social benefits with the intention to bring the public finance gap down to 4% of GDP by
2006, but more difficult pension and healthcare reforms will have to wait until after the next elections. Privatization of the
state-owned telecommunications firm Cesky Telecom took place in 2005. Intensified restructuring among large enterprises,
improvements in the financial sector, and effective use of available EU funds should strengthen output growth.
GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $18,100 (2005 est.)
GDP real growth: 4.6% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.1% (2005 est.)
Internet country code: .cz
Dial code: +420
Cities
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Find a flight to any city in Czech Republic
Local currency is the Czech Republic Koruna
Airlines based in Czech Republic
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