country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Current account balance:
-$2.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
-$1.915 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.232 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$2.065 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing
Exports - partners:
Greece 23.83%, Germany 9.2%, UK 8.78% (2009)
Imports:
$7.962 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$7.973 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods,
machinery, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
Greece 20.18%, Italy 10.67%, UK 8.95%, Germany 8.79%, Israel 6.99%,
China 5.52%, Netherlands 4.85%, France 4.01% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$1.289 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$32.61 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$29.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$26.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$16.57 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$15.79 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.774 (2010), 0.718 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.4286 (2007), 0.4586 (2006)
Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots:
Economy - overview: The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly half the
per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be
volatile, given the north's relative isolation, bloated public
sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and small market size.
Agriculture and services, together, employ more than half of the
work force. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew around 10.6% in 2006,
fueled by growth in the construction and education sectors, as well
as increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the area under
government control. GDP declined about 2.0% in 2007. The Turkish
Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the Turkish
Government. Ankara directly finances about one-third of the "TRNC's"
budget. Aid from Turkey has exceeded $400 million annually in recent
years. The Turkish Cypriot economy experienced a sharp slowdown in
2008-09 due to the global financial crisis and, because of its
reliance on British and Turkish tourism, which has declined due to
the recession. Turkish Cypriot finances also deteriorated in 2009 as
decreased state revenues and increased government expenditures on
public sector salaries and social services led to a large budget
deficit. As tourism and the world economy picked up, the economy
grew about 0.6% in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -0.6% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita: $11,700 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.6%, industry: 22.5%,
services: 69.1% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%, industry: 29%,
services: 56.5% (2004)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: %NA
Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion, expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006)
Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes,
olives, poultry, lamb
Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay,
gypsum, copper, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005)
Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005)
Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles
Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area
administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government
control remains limited
Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals,
chemicals, machinery
Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area
administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government
control remains limited
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $NA
Debt - external: $NA
Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL)
Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar: 1.319 (2007) 1.4286
(2006) 1.3436 (2005) 1.4255 (2004) 1.5009 (2003)
Communications ::Cyprus
Telephones - main lines in use:
area under government control: 414,500 (2009); area administered by
Turkish Cypriots: 86,228 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 101
Telephones - mobile cellular:
area under government control: 977,500 (2009); area administered by
Turkish Cypriots: 147,522 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 146
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent in both area under government control
and area administered by Turkish Cypriots
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish
Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of
submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, combine to provide
connectivity to Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia;
tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1
Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1
Arabsat)
Broadcast media:
mixture of state and privately-run television and radio services;
the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations;
6 private TV broadcasters, satellite and cable TV services including
telecasts from Greece and Turkey, and a number of private radio
stations are available; in areas administered by Turkish Cypriots,
there are 2 public TV stations, 4 public radio stations, and
privately-owned TV and radio broadcast stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.cy
Internet hosts:
187,881 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 66
Internet users:
433,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 120
Transportation ::Cyprus
Airports:
15 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 144
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Heliports:
9 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 14,671 km
country comparison to the world: 122
12,321 km under government control (includes 257 km of expressways),
2,350 km administered by Turkish Cypriots (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 839
country comparison to the world: 13
by type: bulk carrier 267, cargo 173, chemical tanker 77, container
193, liquefied gas 10, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 24, petroleum
tanker 69, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle
carrier 4
foreign-owned: 637 (Austria 1, Belgium 2, Bermuda 1, Canada 2, Chile
1, China 6, Cuba 1, Denmark 6, Estonia 7, France 16, Germany 189,
Greece 216, Hong Kong 2, India 2, Iran 10, Ireland 3, Israel 1,
Italy 6, Japan 19, Monaco 1, Netherlands 24, Norway 12, Philippines
1, Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 47, Singapore 1, Slovenia 4, Spain
7, Sweden 5, Syria 1, UAE 5, UK 7, Ukraine 2, US 7)
registered in other countries: 138 (Bahamas 14, Belize 1, Burma 1,
Cambodia 8, Comoros 2, Finland 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 4, Hong Kong
3, Liberia 7, Malta 29, Marshall Islands 38, Norway 1, Panama 8,
Russia 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Sierra Leone 1,
Singapore 3, unknown 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos;; area
administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia
Military ::Cyprus
Military branches:
Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Forea, EF;
includes naval and air elements); northern Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot
Security Force (GKK) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG): 18-50 years of age for
compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of
age for voluntary service; women may volunteer for a 3-year term;
length of normal service is 25 months (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49: 322,807
females age 16-49: 284,386 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49: 271,692
females age 16-49: 236,908 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 8,317
female: 7,542 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Transnational Issues ::Cyprus
Disputes - international:
hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous
entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a
Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN
Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since
1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May
2004, Cyprus entered the European Union still divided, with the EU's
body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in
the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon
blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 210,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for
over 30 years) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and
container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey;
some cocaine transits as well; despite a strengthening of
anti-money-laundering legislation, remains vulnerable to money
laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector
remains weak (2008)
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Czech Republic (Europe)
Introduction ::Czech Republic
Background:
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.
Geography ::Czech Republic
Location:
Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 78,867 sq km
country comparison to the world: 115
land: 77,247 sq km
water: 1,620 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 815 km, Poland 615 km,
Slovakia 197 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Natural resources:
hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber
Land use:
arable land: 38.82%
permanent crops: 3%
other: 58.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
240 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
16 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.91 cu km/yr (41%/57%/2%)
per capita: 187 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
flooding
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in
northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain
damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should
improve domestic pollution
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-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
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
People ::Czech Republic
Population:
10,201,707 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.6% (male 712,045/female 673,657)
15-64 years: 71% (male 3,641,887/female 3,604,044)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 623,882/female 956,389) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.4 years
male: 38.9 years
female: 42.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.106% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Birth rate:
8.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Death rate:
10.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.059 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 208
male: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.01 years
country comparison to the world: 62
male: 73.74 years
female: 80.48 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.25 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 10 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Nationality:
noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech
Ethnic groups:
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: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 88
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); note - although 1 January is the day the Czech Republic
came into being, the Czechs generally consider 28 October 1918, the
day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the
Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day
National holiday:
Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Constitution:
ratified on 16 December 1992, effective on 1 January 1993; amended
in 1997, 2000, 2001 (twice), 2002
Legal system:
civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; legal code
modified to bring it in line with European Union obligations and to
expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Petr NECAS (since 28 June 2010);
First Deputy Prime Minister Karel SCHWARZENBERG (since 13 July
2010), Deputy Prime Minister Radek JOHN (since 13 July 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); last successful election held on 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 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 on 15-16 and 22-23
October 2010 (next to be held by October 2012); Chamber of Deputies
- last held on 28-29 May 2010 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CSSD 41, ODS 25, KDU-CSL 6, TOP 09 5, others 4; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 22.1%, ODS 20.2%, TOP 09
16.7%, KSCM 11.3%, VV 10.9%; seats by party - CSSD 56, ODS 53, TOP
09 41, KSCM 26, VV 24
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; Supreme Administrative 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
[Zdenka MARKOVA]; Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's
Party or KDU-CSL [Pavel BELOBRADEK]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS
[Petr NECAS]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM
[Vojtech FILIP]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Bohuslav
SOBOTKA (acting)]; Green Party [Ondrej LISKA]; Public Affairs (VV)
[Radek JOHN]; Tradice Odpovednost Prosperita 09 or TOP 09 [Karel
SCHWARZENBERG]; Union of Freedom-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Jan
CERNY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS [Jaroslav
ZAVADIL]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniel
KOSTOVAL
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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Joseph
PENNINGTON
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: is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia; uses
the Pan-Slav colors inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia
National anthem:
name: "Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?)
lyrics/music: Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP
note: adopted 1993; the anthem is a verse from the former
Czechoslovakian anthem originally written as part of the opera
"Fidlovacka"
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 small,
open, export-driven Czech economy grew by over 6% annually from
2005-2007 and by 2.5% in 2008. The conservative Czech financial
system has remained relatively healthy throughout 2009.
Nevertheless, the real economy contracted by 4.1% in 2009, mainly
due to a significant drop in external demand as the Czech Republic's
main export markets fell into recession. GDP is expected to grow by
2.4% in 2010, driven largely by a rebound in external demand,
particularly from Gremany.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$261.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$256.9 billion (2009 est.)
$267.9 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$195.2 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
-4.1% (2009 est.)
2.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$25,200 (2009 est.)
$26,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 38.3%
services: 59.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
5.37 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 40.2%
services: 56.2% (2007)
Unemployment rate:
9.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
8.1% (2009 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: 131
25.4 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Public debt:
40% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
34% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):