Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified 8.8%,
unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)
Languages:
Czech 94.9%, Slovak 2%, other 2.3%, unidentified 0.8% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.4% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 94
Government ::Czech Republic
Country name:
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local long form: Ceska Republika
local short form: Cesko
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
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
Administrative divisions:
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
Independence:
1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia)
National holiday:
Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Constitution:
ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993; amended 1997,
2000, 2001 (twice), 2002
Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; 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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Jan FISCHER (since 9 April 2009);
Deputy Prime Ministers Petr NECAS (since 9 January 2007), Martin
BURSIK (since 9 January 2007), and Vlasta PARKANOVA (since 23
January 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); last successful election held 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)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat
(81 seats; members are 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 17-18 and 24-25 October
2008 (next to be held by October 2010); Chamber of Deputies - last
held 2-3 June 2006 (next to be held by June 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - ODS 36, CSSD 29, KDU-CSL 7, Open Democracy Club 6, others 3;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - ODS 35.4%, CSSD
32.3%, KSCM 12.8%, KDU-CSL 7.2%, Greens 6.3%, other 6%; seats by
party - ODS 81, CSSD 74, KSCM 26, KDU-CSL 13, Greens 6; note - seats
by party as of December 2008 - ODS 79, CSSD 71, KSCM 26, KDU-CSL 13,
Greens 4, unaffiliated 7 (former CSSD, ODS, and Green Party members)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen
are appointed by the president for a 10-year term
Political parties and leaders:
Association of Independent Candidates-European Democrats or SNK-ED
[Helmut DOHNALEK]; Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's
Party or KDU-CSL [Jiri CUNEK]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Mirek
TOPOLANEK]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Vojtech
FILIP]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Jiri PAROUBEK]; Free
Citizens' Party or SSO [Petr MACH]; Green Party [Martin BURSIK];
Independent Democrats (NEZDEM) [Vladimir ZELEZNY]; Party of Open
Society (SOS) [Pavel NOVACEK]; Path of Change [Jiri LOBKOWITZ];
Union of Freedom-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Jan CERNY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS [Milan STECH]
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Petr KOLAR
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. GRABER
embassy: Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [420] 257 022 000
FAX: [420] 257 022 809
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue
isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
note: identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia
Economy ::Czech Republic
Economy - overview:
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
government plans to meet the criteria for joining the euro area
around 2012. The small, open, export-driven Czech economy grew by
over 6% annually from 2005-2007 and strong growth continued
throughout the first three quarters of 2008. Despite the global
financial crisis, the conservative Czech financial system has
remained relatively healthy. The rate of Czech economic growth,
however, fell in the fourth quarter of 2008, mainly due to a
significant drop in demand for Czech exports in Western Europe. This
trend is expected to continue, with many analysts predicting the
Czech economy to contract slightly in 2009.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$264.8 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$258.1 billion (2007 est.)
$243.2 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$216.4 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
6.1% (2007 est.)
6.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,900 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$25,200 (2007 est.)
$23,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 37.6%
services: 60.1% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
5.36 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 40.2%
services: 56.2% (2007)
Unemployment rate:
5.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
6.6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.3%
highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 129
25.4 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
24% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Budget:
revenues: $93.42 billion
expenditures: $96.09 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
26.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
33.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
2.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
2.25% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 128
3.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.25% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 134
5.79% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$86.55 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 14
$84.43 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$58.6 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 27
$58.77 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$110.5 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
$103.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$48.85 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
$73.42 billion (31 December 2007)
$48.6 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry
Industries:
motor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments
Industrial production growth rate:
3.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Electricity - production:
82.72 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Electricity - consumption:
61.65 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Electricity - exports:
19.99 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
8.52 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
16,080 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - consumption:
212,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Oil - exports:
22,560 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Oil - imports:
213,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Oil - proved reserves:
15 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - production:
192 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - consumption:
8.719 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - exports:
968 million cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 35
Natural gas - imports:
9.573 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas - proved reserves:
3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Current account balance:
-$6.642 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
-$5.655 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$145.7 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$122.7 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 52%, raw materials and fuel 9%,
chemicals 5% (2003)
Exports - partners:
Germany 30.6%, Slovakia 9.2%, Poland 6.5%, France 5.3%, UK 4.8%,
Austria 4.7%, Italy 4.6% (2008)
Imports:
$139.4 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$116.8 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 46%, raw materials and fuels 15%,
chemicals 10% (2003)
Imports - partners:
Germany 30.3%, Slovakia 6.6%, Poland 6.4%, Russia 6.2%, Netherlands
5.6%, Austria 5.2%, China 4.9%, Italy 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$36.68 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$34.59 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$80.43 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 41
$76.04 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$111.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$101.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$9.913 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$6.971 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
koruny (CZK) per US dollar - 17.064 (2008), 20.53 (2007), 22.596
(2006), 23.957 (2005), 25.7 (2004)
Communications ::Czech Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.278 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 54
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13.78 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 48
Telephone system:
general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech
telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily;
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
domestic: 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
international: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2
Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1
Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
71 (2008)
Internet country code:
.cz
Internet hosts:
3.233 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 24
Internet users:
6.028 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 38
Transportation ::Czech Republic
Airports:
122 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 48
Airports - with paved runways:
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 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 78
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 50 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2008)
Railways:
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:
total: 128,512 km
country comparison to the world: 36
paved: 128,512 km (includes 657 km of expressways) (2007)
Waterways:
664 km (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable
rivers, lakes, and canals) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 77
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 150
Ports and terminals:
Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Military ::Czech Republic
Military branches:
Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes
Land Forces and Air Forces), Support and Training Forces Command
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-28 years of age for voluntary and 19-28 for compulsory military
service (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,522,383
females age 16-49: 2,425,095 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,095,038
females age 16-49: 2,011,531 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 60,150
female: 57,157 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.46% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Transnational Issues ::Czech Republic
Disputes - international:
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:
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)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Denmark (Europe)
Introduction ::Denmark
Background:
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European
power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is
participating in the general political and economic integration of
Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973.
However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the
European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic
and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues
concerning certain justice and home affairs.
Geography ::Denmark
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a
peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major
islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 43,094 sq km
country comparison to the world: 133
land: 42,434 sq km
water: 660 sq km
note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest
of metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major
islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and
Greenland
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 68 km
border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline:
7,314 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain:
low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel
and sand
Land use:
arable land: 52.59%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 47.22% (2005)
Irrigated land:
4,490 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
6.1 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.67 cu km/yr (32%/26%/42%)
per capita: 123 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of
Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are
protected from the sea by a system of dikes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions;
nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and
surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides
Environment - international agreements:
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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and
North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater
Copenhagen
People ::Denmark
Population:
5,500,510 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.1% (male 511,882/female 485,782)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,817,800/female 1,798,964)
65 years and over: 16.1% (male 387,142/female 498,940) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.5 years
male: 39.6 years
female: 41.3 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.28% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Birth rate:
10.54 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Death rate:
10.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Net migration rate:
2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Urbanization:
urban population: 87% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 203
male: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.3 years
country comparison to the world: 46
male: 75.96 years
female: 80.78 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.74 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Nationality:
noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups:
Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and
Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%
Languages:
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small
minority)
note: English is the predominant second language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
8.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 12
Government ::Denmark
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Copenhagen
geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 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
note: applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic
components
Administrative divisions:
metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region);
Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark
note: an extensive local government reform merged 271 municipalities
into 98 and 13 counties into five regions, effective 1 January 2007
Independence:
first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a
constitutional monarchy
National holiday:
none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed
as the National Day
Constitution:
5 June 1953; note - constitution allowed for a unicameral
legislature and a female chief of state
Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26
May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Lars Lokke RASMUSSEN (since 5
April 2009)
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
Legislative branch: