# data[].attributes.body
Czech Republic is known for its strong culture of art, literature, and music. The official language of Czech Republic is Czech. Czech Republic is mountainous, with beautiful forests, rivers, and lakes. Czech Republic has a humid, continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers.

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People in the Czech Republic live in a modern society, communicating with each other and the rest of the world through internet and cell phones. They use modern transportation. The economy is moved by machine building, iron and steel production, such as manufacturing cars.

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The formal region of Czech Republic is central Europe. The functional region of Czech Republic is that it was previously a communist country known as Czechoslovakia. The perceptual region of Czech Republic is Prague is beautiful and rich in arts.

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Place for Czech Republic. Found on September 2, 2013

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Culture, Czech Republic, Europe - significant contributions, artists, literature

# data[].attributes.body
Region for Czech Republic. Found on September 2, 2013

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Culture, Czech Republic, Europe - significant contributions, artists, literature

# data[].attributes.body
Movement for Czech Republic. Found on September 2, 2013

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Czechia is a prosperous market economy that boasts one of the highest GDP growth rates and lowest unemployment levels in the EU, but its dependence on exports makes economic growth vulnerable to contractions in external demand. Czechia's exports comprise some 80% of GDP and largely consist of automobiles, the country's single largest industry.

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Current Event Article found on September 1, 2013

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Trees are submerged in the waters of the Elbe River in Schoenhausen, Germany, on Wednesday, June 12. Heavy rain has left rivers swollen across Central Europe.
(CNN) -- Surging rivers in the Czech Republic, Germany and Slovakia caused widespread flooding Wednesday in the region.

Heavy rains had swelled the Elbe, Danube and Vltava rivers over the weekend, along with smaller rivers and tributaries.

The flooding prompted the evacuation of about 25,000 people in Germany and about 20,000 in the Czech Republic, where about half of the country's regions were under a state of emergency, officials said.

Eight people have died as a result of the floods in the Czech Republic, fire service spokeswoman Nicole Zaoralova said.
Read more: Floods bring misery to central Europe Streets turned into rivers in Germany
"The situation is still critical in the city of Usti," she said. "We are expecting the situation on the River Labe (Elbe) in the northern Bohemia region of Ustecko to become worse during the day. The river has not peaked yet, and the levels are rising."

More heavy rain was predicted for the weekend.

After it passes through Usti nad Labem, the Elbe crosses into the eastern German state of Saxony; German cities downstream such as Dresden were expecting the surge to arrive within two days.

The river was expected to crest Thursday or Friday near Dresden and Meissen at about 9 meters (30 feet); its average level is 2 meters, said CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller.

The crest will push northwest along the Elbe for the next several days but should peak below 2002 flood levels, he said.

The floods are thought to be the worst since August 2002, when swaths of Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Russia and Romania were submerged.
Mud clearing
A state of emergency has been declared in about half the regions of the Czech Republic, the European Emergency Response Center said.

The Czech fire service was moving heavy equipment to regions at risk, Zaoralova said.

In some areas of southern Bohemia, the focus was shifting to cleanup, with equipment deployed to clear mud.

Nearly 23,000 firefighters, including volunteers, were deployed across the Czech Republic, she said.
CNN iReport: Floods in Prague through a volunteer's eyes
The Vltava River had peaked in Prague, where waters were receding, but the fire service was monitoring the waters to clear any debris that could damage the capital's historic landmarks.

An excavator was moved onto the centuries-old Charles Bridge to protect it.
Volunteer efforts
Saxony appeared to be the most vulnerable area Wednesday, after river levels dropped slightly in much of Bavaria, to the south.

Warnings were in place around the rivers Elbe, Lausitzer Neisse, Mulde, tributaries of the upper Elbe, Black Elster, Spree and White Elster, according to the German meteorological service.

Danny Arguello, an international business student in Dresden, told CNN iReport that he was impressed by the outpouring of support as volunteers tried to protect the city.

"The participation around the whole town is just amazing," he said.

Volunteers were cooking food, moving sandbags and helping with other flood preparations, he said.

Water remained high on the Danube between Regensburg and Passau, in southern Bavaria, the meteorological service said.

In Passau, where the Danube is joined by two other rivers, levels broke a 500-year-old record Tuesday.

During a visit to affected areas Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised to deliver 100 million euros (more than $130 million) in emergency aid.

The German military has been aiding evacuation and flood defense efforts.

A fireman and a laborer died Saturday in Germany's southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the state's Interior Ministry said.

A third man jumped into rushing flood waters in what the Interior Ministry said was an apparent suicide.

Two men who were clearing storm debris died in Austria in separate incidents, Austrian Interior Ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundbock said. Three other people were missing, two of them swept away by rivers.

Floods and landslides prompted an emergency declaration in three Austrian regions, and a number of railways and roads remained blocked, the European Emergency Response Center said.

However, with water levels receding, the situation was improving.
Menace moves downstream
The Danube was threatening Slovakia too.

Waters had reached flood stage in the capital, Bratislava, and were expected to rise for the next day or two.

"We expect the situation in Slovakia to become critical on Thursday, when the Slovakian portion of the River Danube is expected to peak," said Silvia Jancovicova, a spokeswoman for the Slovakian fire department.

"We are currently preparing anti-flood barriers, and planning for the possibility of evacuation of some areas in Bratislava."

No flood-related deaths had been reported there, she said.

Also at risk was the southeastern Slovakian city of Kosice, where the mayor declared a flood emergency.

The flooding follows rains in the region over the weekend that fell on ground already saturated by a wet spring.

CNN's Sarah Brown and Victoria Eastwood contributed to this report.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Laura Smith-Spark. Ivana Kottasova and Ben Brumfield, CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Flood waters threaten cities in Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Trees are submerged in the waters of the Elbe River in Schoenhausen, Germany, on Wednesday, June 12. Heavy rain has left rivers swollen across Central Europe. (CNN) -- Surging rivers in the Czech Republic, Germany and Slovakia caused widespread flooding Wednesday in the region.

# data[].attributes.body
This article relates to our geography unit. This article shows that if you have areas that are in close proximity to a river and there isn't elevation above the river, then the rivers are prone to flooding with heavy rains.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Trees are submerged in the waters of the Elbe River in Schoenhausen, Germany, on Wednesday, June 12. Heavy rain has left rivers swollen across Central Europe.
(CNN) -- Surging rivers in the Czech Republic, Germany and Slovakia caused widespread flooding Wednesday in the region.

Heavy rains had swelled the Elbe, Danube and Vltava rivers over the weekend, along with smaller rivers and tributaries.

The flooding prompted the evacuation of about 25,000 people in Germany and about 20,000 in the Czech Republic, where about half of the country's regions were under a state of emergency, officials said.

Eight people have died as a result of the floods in the Czech Republic, fire service spokeswoman Nicole Zaoralova said.
Read more: Floods bring misery to central Europe Streets turned into rivers in Germany
"The situation is still critical in the city of Usti," she said. "We are expecting the situation on the River Labe (Elbe) in the northern Bohemia region of Ustecko to become worse during the day. The river has not peaked yet, and the levels are rising."

More heavy rain was predicted for the weekend.

After it passes through Usti nad Labem, the Elbe crosses into the eastern German state of Saxony; German cities downstream such as Dresden were expecting the surge to arrive within two days.

The river was expected to crest Thursday or Friday near Dresden and Meissen at about 9 meters (30 feet); its average level is 2 meters, said CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller.

The crest will push northwest along the Elbe for the next several days but should peak below 2002 flood levels, he said.

The floods are thought to be the worst since August 2002, when swaths of Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Russia and Romania were submerged.
Mud clearing
A state of emergency has been declared in about half the regions of the Czech Republic, the European Emergency Response Center said.

The Czech fire service was moving heavy equipment to regions at risk, Zaoralova said.

In some areas of southern Bohemia, the focus was shifting to cleanup, with equipment deployed to clear mud.

Nearly 23,000 firefighters, including volunteers, were deployed across the Czech Republic, she said.
CNN iReport: Floods in Prague through a volunteer's eyes
The Vltava River had peaked in Prague, where waters were receding, but the fire service was monitoring the waters to clear any debris that could damage the capital's historic landmarks.

An excavator was moved onto the centuries-old Charles Bridge to protect it.
Volunteer efforts
Saxony appeared to be the most vulnerable area Wednesday, after river levels dropped slightly in much of Bavaria, to the south.

Warnings were in place around the rivers Elbe, Lausitzer Neisse, Mulde, tributaries of the upper Elbe, Black Elster, Spree and White Elster, according to the German meteorological service.

Danny Arguello, an international business student in Dresden, told CNN iReport that he was impressed by the outpouring of support as volunteers tried to protect the city.

"The participation around the whole town is just amazing," he said.

Volunteers were cooking food, moving sandbags and helping with other flood preparations, he said.

Water remained high on the Danube between Regensburg and Passau, in southern Bavaria, the meteorological service said.

In Passau, where the Danube is joined by two other rivers, levels broke a 500-year-old record Tuesday.

During a visit to affected areas Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised to deliver 100 million euros (more than $130 million) in emergency aid.

The German military has been aiding evacuation and flood defense efforts.

A fireman and a laborer died Saturday in Germany's southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the state's Interior Ministry said.

A third man jumped into rushing flood waters in what the Interior Ministry said was an apparent suicide.

Two men who were clearing storm debris died in Austria in separate incidents, Austrian Interior Ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundbock said. Three other people were missing, two of them swept away by rivers.

Floods and landslides prompted an emergency declaration in three Austrian regions, and a number of railways and roads remained blocked, the European Emergency Response Center said.

However, with water levels receding, the situation was improving.
Menace moves downstream
The Danube was threatening Slovakia too.

Waters had reached flood stage in the capital, Bratislava, and were expected to rise for the next day or two.

"We expect the situation in Slovakia to become critical on Thursday, when the Slovakian portion of the River Danube is expected to peak," said Silvia Jancovicova, a spokeswoman for the Slovakian fire department.

"We are currently preparing anti-flood barriers, and planning for the possibility of evacuation of some areas in Bratislava."

No flood-related deaths had been reported there, she said.

Also at risk was the southeastern Slovakian city of Kosice, where the mayor declared a flood emergency.

The flooding follows rains in the region over the weekend that fell on ground already saturated by a wet spring.

CNN's Sarah Brown and Victoria Eastwood contributed to this report.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Laura Smith-Spark. Ivana Kottasova and Ben Brumfield, CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Flood waters threaten cities in Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Trees are submerged in the waters of the Elbe River in Schoenhausen, Germany, on Wednesday, June 12. Heavy rain has left rivers swollen across Central Europe. (CNN) -- Surging rivers in the Czech Republic, Germany and Slovakia caused widespread flooding Wednesday in the region.

# data[].attributes.body
This map shows population of Czech Republic

# data[].attributes.body
Cartogram Map found on September 1, 2013

# data[].attributes.body
This map shows roads in the Czech Republic.

# data[].attributes.body
Reference map found on September 1, 2013.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Large detailed road map of Czech Republic with all cities. Czech Republic detailed road map with all cities | Vidiani.com | Maps of all countries in one place

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Czech Republic detailed road map with all cities. Large detailed road map of Czech Republic with all cities.

# data[].attributes.body
This map shows the varying soil types in the Czech Republic.

# data[].attributes.body
Choropleth Thematic Map found on September 1, 2013.

# data[].attributes.body
Situation for Czech Republic found on August 28, 2013

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Czech Republic, Europe - Silesia, Slovaks, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Communist government, independent states

# data[].attributes.body
Human-Enviorment Interaction for Czech Republic found on August 27, 2013.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Czech Republic Environment - current issues - Geography

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Facts and statistics about the Environment - current issues of Czech Republic. Updated as of 2018.

# data[].attributes.body
The people of Czech Republic face many environmental problems such as air and water pollution. They also have acid rain damage forests. The water and air pollution is creating health problems for the people living the northwest Bohemia and northern Moravia.

# data[].attributes.body
Czech Republic was developed around the unique raw materials like led, zinc, ore, and mainly coal. Cultures of countries surrounding Czech Republic formed the history of this country. Taking it from a kingdom to the communist state of Czechoslovakia and finally to the country of Czech Republic.

# data[].attributes.body
Site for Czech Republic found on August 24, 2013

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Czechia (Czech Republic) Travel Guide | National Geographic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
National Geographic's latest travel stories about Czech Republic (Czechia)

# data[].attributes.body
The Cultural characteristics of Czechs are that they're very reserved. They are private people, until you get to know them and they tend to not acknowledge people that they don't know. Family is the center of the social structure. Family is their top priority. Czechs are known for their careful planning. They are practical and efficient in their personal and business life. The Czech Republic consist of three lands Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. The Czech Republic has many mountain regions. The largest mountain is Sněžka in the Giant Mountains. In southern Moravia there are fertile low lands. There are many spots of natural beauty, but there are also mainly places that are completely spoiled by industries.

# data[].attributes.body
Site for Czech Republic found on August 24, 2013.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Facts and figures

The Czech Republic (pop. 10.5 million) is situated in the heart of Central Europe and is bordered by Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia. The capital city is Prague (pop. 1.27 million) and the country is made up of three historical regions: Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia with Prague, Brno and Ostrava respectively the largest and most important cities in these regions.

Previously known as Czechoslovakia until the 'Velvet Divorce' with neighbouring Slovakia, the country changed its name to the Czech Republic on 1.1.1993. In September 2016, the Czech Government approved the name of 'Czechia' as an English one word alternative for the Czech Republic.

The country covers an area of 78,866 km ² (30,450 square miles), a size similar to that of Austria and Ireland, while it would fit inside France seven times. The climate is temperate and typical for Central Europe, with warm dry summers and cold winters.

The currency is the Czech Koruna (CZK) and although a member of the European Union, it is not currently a member of the eurozone.

Although there are fee-charging private schools and universities, state funded education in the Czech Republic is free. This includes university study, which is also free providing subjects are delivered in the Czech language. In 2016, the Global Peace Index ranked the Czech Republic as the sixth safest place to live on earth due to the low crime rate and lack of domestic and international conflict.

Weather

Typical summer temperatures vary between 20°C to 27°C (70° -80° F) although it's not unusual for temperatures to reach the mid-30s (around 90°F) in July and August. Snow is common in winter, with temperatures dropping as low as -10°C (14°F) in some regions and even colder in the mountains.

Language

The Slavonic language of Czech is the primary language, which belongs to the same language group as Slovak, Polish, Russian and Croatian. Prior to the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Russian was compulsory in schools and is still spoken by the older generation, although given its association with the Soviet invasion of 1968, many prefer not to use it. German is fairly widely spoken and until the mid-1990s competed with English as the international language of business. It is not unusual to hear German spoken in towns and villages close to the German and Austrian borders, a hangover from the post-World War II Sudeten Land dispute.

English has been taught in schools and universities since 1989 and the benefits of this are now coming to fruition with English widely spoken in Prague and other major cities with large expatriate populations. In smaller towns and villages it is still relatively rare among the older generation, but popular with the younger generations through compulsory teaching in schools and its pop culture influence.

Domestic culture

Czech domestic culture revolves around the family and this takes precedence over social life. Universities and colleges close their dormitories at weekends so students can return to their families rather than stay on campus. Particularly in small towns and villages, Czechs prize practical skills above 'soft skills' with trades passed down the generations. They have a strong work ethic and often feel the need to be doing something practical around the home, even when not called on to do so. Many houses are known as 'family houses' and accommodate two or more generations of the same family.

Roles are clearly defined, with men typically taking on the traditional role of breadwinner and practical tasks, while women are expected to prioritise childcare over work. This is surreptitiously supported by the state with generous maternity benefits (up to four years maternity leave per child). The downside to this is the struggle for equality in the workplace, which is reflected by a gender pay gap that lags at 6% behind other EU countries.

In general, Czechs tend to be reserved and can appear distant until they feel comfortable. This trait is reflected in the language, which uses formal and informal forms to address people. Convention dictates that the woman, an elder or a work superior offers the informal form of address. The formal form of address is also used to show respect. For example, a prospective daughter-in-law will formally address her future parents-in-law until after the wedding when the convention is dropped. However, foreigners without a strong grasp of the language are not expected to follow formalities. The Czechs are proud of their language and its perceived difficulties (the U.S. Foreign Institute ranks it the second most difficult language to learn) and tend to revel in their ability to master it.

Work culture

Since the fall of communism and the influx of multi-national corporations, the work culture in the main cities of the Czech Republic has gradually shifted in line with western style culture. Initial business meetings are formal affairs with standard business dress worn and business cards exchanged. Czechs are polite and non-confrontational and sometimes what may appear as hesitancy is a form of politeness or an indirect way of saying no.

Turning up unexpectedly or ridiculously early for a meeting is considered a major faux-pas.

Academic titles such as Doctor or Professor are used at work both as a form of address and in written correspondence, including emails.

Meetings are expected to start on time and it is not uncommon for an associate of the decision maker to lead the meeting in the early stages until trust has been established on both sides. Many small and medium size Czech businesses prefer to explore the possibility of 'business cooperation' rather than a straight buyer/seller arrangement as they feel this strengthens the prospect of a long-term relationship.

Job titles are considered as a source of prestige but do not always match the level of responsibility, as particularly in medium-size and small companies, all major decision making often lies with the top executive.

Email is often the preferred form of communication when communicating in English. This gives the recipient time to fully digest the message rather than facing the on the spot language challenges that unexpected phone calls can create and thus leads to clearer communication. Business jargon and the use of slang should also be avoided and replaced with short concise sentences. Working hours are similar to Western Europe with 40 hours per week being the norm. Standard holidays are 20 days a year plus 11 fixed public holidays, which unlike in the UK and USA, are always taken on the calendar day they fall on, even if on a weekend.

Etiquette and customs

Upon the first introduction, a firm handshake is expected from both men and women along with the appropriate greeting for the time of day. The question, 'How are you?' is frowned upon when making introductions, as it can be viewed as intrusive by the recipient. General small talk usually follows initial introductions.

A bottle of wine and/or flowers are deemed to be the ideal small gifts when visiting homes and are always appreciated. Visitors are also expected to remove their shoes when entering a home and often the host will provide 'guest slippers'. Office staff also tend to change their footwear when arriving at work and it is not unusual to see administrative workers wearing sandals in offices and corridors.

Dining conventions generally follow those in the West. Immediately removing the guest's plate as soon as they have finished, even if others are still eating, is seen as polite and good service. Complementing the chef and accepting a second serving is highly appreciated.

When in a restaurant, it is polite to tip by rounding the bill up to the nearest 50 CZK or 100 CZK. Diners are also offered the choice to pay for their meal separately or together. Although tips are not expected in pubs, cafes and bars, many patrons will tip the staff a few korunas when settling the bill. Overly extravagant tipping is regarded as culturally ignorant and may embarrass the serving staff.

Relocating to the Czech Republic

The cost of living in the Czech Republic is cheap, with the average monthly salary currently at 26,287 CZK (£870), while salaries in Prague are usually 30% higher than in the rest of the country. As expected, the cost of living in Prague is the highest in the country.

A one bedroom flat in the suburbs of Prague can be rented for around 18,000 CZK (¬£595) per month with utilities coming in at around 1,000 CZK (¬£33). Once outside Prague, prices drop dramatically and in other towns and cities, similar properties can be found for up to 50% cheaper.

American and Western European expatriates are perceived to be much more highly paid in comparison to the local population. This can sometimes result in their being overcharged for some services such as taxis and accommodation, although successive governments have taken steps to stamp out this practice in recent years.

Relocating from an EU country is relatively straightforward, although new arrivals must register with the Alien and Border Police within 30 days. Expatriates from outside the EU must obtain a visa for stays of up to 90 days within which time they can obtain a work permit (renewable annually) from a local employment office. This is usually taken care of by their employer.

To work as self-employed, a trade licence must be obtained from the local employment office before commencing and receiving payment for work. There are many agencies in Prague who will arrange the required paperwork for a reasonable fee.

Once issued, ID cards must be carried at all times and presented upon request by state officials.

Driving

Driving in the country is in on the right and there is a zero tolerance policy towards drink-driving. Unfortunately, the Czech Republic has one of the highest death rates in Europe on its roads, with a figure 2-3 times higher than in the UK. Drivers can also expect to be stopped at random police checks in towns and villages and must produce their ID (or passport), driving licence and all documentation for the vehicle. All vehicles must carry a government-approved first-aid kit or face an on the spot fine.

Healthcare

Healthcare is relatively cheap and wide-ranging. As a result, the country annually receives thousands of 'health tourists' who take advantage of the high-quality care at a low price.

Although private health plans are available, the majority of Czechs and expats opt for public health insurance through monthly payments to a public health insurance company. Full cover for care within the Czech health system, including dental procedures and prescriptions, averages 3,000 CZK ($120) per month and payment is deducted from gross salary if employed or paid direct if self-employed.

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Czech Republic | Etiquette, Customs, Culture & Business

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Czech Republic (pop. 10.5 million) is situated in the heart of Central Europe and is bordered by Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia. The capital city is Prague (pop. 1.27 million) and the country is made up of three historical regions: Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia with Prague, Brno and Ostrava respectively the largest and most important cities in these regions.

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The relative location for Czech Republic is that it is located in central Europe. Czech Republic is located in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. Czech Republic is bordered by the countries of Austria, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia. The absolute location for Prague (the capital city) is:

50° 5' N, 14° 25' E

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Absolute and Relative location for Czech Republic found on August 24, 2013.

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Czech Republic Latitude, Longitude, Absolute and Relative Locations - World Atlas

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Latitude and longitude of Czech Republic, its capital city and selected cities, hemisphere position, absolute locations and relative locations - by worldatlas.com

# data[].attributes.body
Czech Republic map found August 24, 2013.

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Europe :: CZECHIA

Introduction :: CZECHIA

At the close of World War I, the Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, having rejected a federal system, the new country's predominantly Czech leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the increasingly strident demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Slovaks, the Sudeten Germans, and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). On the eve of World War II, Nazi Germany occupied the territory that today comprises Czechia, and Slovakia became an independent state allied with Germany. After the war, a reunited but truncated Czechoslovakia (less Ruthenia) 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 rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a nonviolent "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. The country added the short-form name Czechia in 2016, while continuing to use the full form name, Czech Republic.

Geography :: CZECHIA

Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria

about two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than South Carolina

border countries (4): Austria 402 km, Germany 704 km, Poland 796 km, Slovakia 241 km

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

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: Labe (Elbe) River 115 m

highest point: Snezka 1,602 m

hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber, arable land

arable land 41%; permanent crops 1%; permanent pasture 12.8%

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, but the northern and eastern regions tend to have larger urban concentrations

air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; land pollution caused by industry, mining, and agriculture

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

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 and Society :: CZECHIA

10,674,723 (July 2017 est.)

Czech 64.3%, Moravian 5%, Slovak 1.4%, other 1.8%, unspecified 27.5% (2011 est.)

Czech (official) 95.4%, Slovak 1.6%, other 3% (2011 census)

Roman Catholic 10.4%, Protestant (includes Czech Brethren and Hussite) 1.1%, other and unspecified 54%, none 34.5% (2011 est.)

0-14 years: 15.16% (male 831,150/female 786,984)

15-24 years: 9.59% (male 527,232/female 496,530)

25-54 years: 43.84% (male 2,403,333/female 2,276,261)

55-64 years: 12.44% (male 646,106/female 681,541)

65 years and over: 18.98% (male 842,384/female 1,183,202) (2017 est.)

population pyramid:

total dependency ratio: 49.5

youth dependency ratio: 22.6

elderly dependency ratio: 26.9

potential support ratio: 3.7 (2015 est.)

female: 43.4 years (2017 est.)

9.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

10.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, but the northern and eastern regions tend to have larger urban concentrations

urban population: 73% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

PRAGUE (capital) 1.314 million (2015)

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

total: 2.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

total population: 78.8 years

female: 81.9 years (2017 est.)

1.45 children born/woman (2017 est.)

note: percent of women aged 18-44 (2008)

3.68 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

6.5 beds/1,000 population (2015)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 99.1% of population

rural: 99.2% of population

total: 99.1% of population

urban: 0.9% of population

rural: 0.8% of population

total: 0.9% of population (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 110

country comparison to the world: 46

country comparison to the world: 106

female: 14.4% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 105

Government :: CZECHIA

conventional long form: Czech Republic

conventional short form: Czechia

local long form: Ceska republika

etymology: name derives from the Czechs, a West Slavic tribe who rose to prominence in the late 9th century A.D.

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

13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South Moravia), Karlovarsky (Karlovy Vary), Kralovehradecky (Hradec Kralove), Liberecky (Liberec), Moravskoslezsky (Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky (Olomouc), Pardubicky (Pardubice), Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky (Usti), Vysocina (Highlands), Zlinsky (Zlin)

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 commemorate 28 October 1918, the day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day

Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

history: previous 1960; latest ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993

amendments: passage requires at least three-fifths concurrence by members present in both houses of Parliament; amended several times, last in 2013 (2017)

new civil code enacted in 2014, replacing civil code of 1964 - based on former Austro-Hungarian civil codes and socialist theory - and reintroducing former Czech legal terminology

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Czechia

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Milos ZEMAN (since 8 March 2013)

head of government: Prime Minister Andrej BABIS (since 13 December 2017); First Deputy Prime Minister Richard BRABEC (since 13 December 2017); Second Deputy Prime Minister Martin STROPNICKY (since 13 December 2017); note - the current government of Prime Minister Andrej BABIS was sworn in on 13 December 2017 but lost a confidence vote on 16 January 2018 and resigned the next day; President Milos ZEMAN accepted the resignation on 24 January 2018; the government is currently ruling in resignation

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms); elections last held on 12-13 January 2018 with a runoff on 26-27 January 2018 (next to be held in January 2023); prime minister appointed by the president for a 4-year term

election results: Milos ZEMAN reelected president in the second round; percent of vote - Milos ZEMAN (SPO) 51.4%, Jiri DRAHOS (independent) 48.6%

description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members directly elected in 14 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote with a 5% threshold required to fill a seat; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held in 2 rounds on 7-8 and 14-15 October 2016 (next to be held in October 2018); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 20-21 October 2017 (next to be held by October 2021)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; CSSD 25, KDU-CSL 14, ODS 9, ANO 7, STAN 5, SZ 4, TOP 09 2, SLK 2, SZ 2, SPO 1, Movement for Prague 1, S.cz. 1, KSCM 1, other 5, independent 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - ANO 29.6%, ODS 11.3%, Pirates 10.8%, SPD 10.6%, KSCM 7.8%, CSSD 7.3%, KDU-CSL 5.8%, TOP 09 5.3%, STAN 5.2%, other 6.3%; seats by party - ANO 78, ODS 25, Pirates 22, SPD 22, KSCM 15, CSSD 15, KDU-CSL 10, TOP 09 7, STAN 6

note: Senate seats by party as of 20 May 2017 - CSSD 25, KDU-CSL 16, STAN and TOP 09 11, ODS 10, ANO 7, SPO 2, SZ 2, S.cz. 1, KSCM 1, Movement for Prague 1, independent 5

highest court(s): Supreme Court (organized into Civil Law and Commercial Division, and Criminal Division each with a court chief justice, vice justice, and several judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 justices); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 28 judges)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges proposed by the Chamber of Deputies and appointed by the president; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed for 10-year, renewable terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the president of the Court; unlimited terms

subordinate courts: High Court; regional and district courts

Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL [Pavel BELOBRADEK]

Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Petr FIALA]

Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Vojtech FILIP]

Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Jan HAMACEK]

Dawn - National Coalition or Usvit-NK [Miroslav LIDINSKY]

Free Citizens Party or Svobodni [Petr MACH]

Freedom and Direct Democracy or SPD [Tomio OKAMURA]

Green Party or SZ [Petr STEPANEK]

Mayors and Independents or STAN [Petr GAZDIK]

Movement of Dissatisfied Citizens or ANO [Andrej BABIS]

Nestranici (Non-Partisans) or NK [Vera RYBOVA]

North Bohemians or S.cz [Bronislav SCHWARZ]

Party of Civic Rights or SPO [Lubomir NECAS]

Pirate Party or Pirates [Ivan BARTOS]

Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09 or TOP 09 [Jiri POSPISIL]

Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS [Josef STREDULA]

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

chief of mission: Ambassador Hynek KMONICEK (since 24 April 2017)

chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen B. KING (since 6 December 2017)

embassy: Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1 - Mala Strana

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [420] 257 022 000

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

note: combines the white and red colors of Bohemia with blue from the arms of Moravia; is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia

silver (or white), double-tailed, rampant lion; national colors: white, red, blue

name: "Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?)

lyrics/music: Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP

note: adopted 1993; the anthem was originally written as incidental music to the play "Fidlovacka" (1834), it soon became very popular as an unofficial anthem of the Czech nation; its first verse served as the official Czechoslovak anthem beginning in 1918, while the second verse (Slovak) was dropped after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993

Economy :: CZECHIA

Czechia is a prosperous market economy that boasts one of the highest GDP growth rates and lowest unemployment levels in the EU, but its dependence on exports makes economic growth vulnerable to contractions in external demand. Czechia's exports comprise some 80% of GDP and largely consist of automobiles, the country's single largest industry. Czechia acceded to the EU in 2004 but has yet to join the euro-zone. While the flexible koruna helps Czechia weather external shocks, it was one of the world's strongest performing currencies in 2017, appreciating approximately 16% relative to the US dollar after the central bank (Czech National Bank - CNB) in early April ended its cap on the currency's value, which it had maintained since November 2013. The CNB hiked rates in August and November 2017 - the first rate changes in nine years - to address rising inflationary pressures brought by strong economic growth and a tight labor market.

After slowly recovering from a steep recession in 2009, the Czech economy again fell into recession in 2012 and 2013 because of a slump in demand within the EU and government austerity measures. Inflows of EU development funds underpinned a rebound in 2014-15, with GDP growth reaching 4.5% in 2015, followed by a slowdown in 2016 largely due to a cyclical lag in EU funding in connection with a new EU budget cycle. The Czech economy was one of the EU's best performers in 2017, with broad-based growth of nearly 4.5% and an unemployment rate of 2.8%, one of the lowest rates in the EU.

Since coming to power in 2014, the new government has undertaken some reforms to try to reduce corruption, attract investment, and improve social welfare programs, which could help increase the government's revenues and improve living conditions for Czechs. The government introduced in December 2016 an online tax reporting system intended to reduce tax evasion and increase revenues. The government also plans to remove labor market rigidities to improve the business climate, bring procurement procedures in line with EU best practices, and boost wages. The country's low unemployment rate has led to steady increases in salaries, and the government is facing pressure from businesses to allow greater migration of qualified workers, at least from Ukraine and neighboring Central European countries.

Long-term challenges include dealing with a rapidly aging population, a shortage of skilled workers, a lagging education system, funding an unsustainable pension and health care system, and diversifying away from manufacturing and toward a more high-tech, services-based, knowledge economy.

$372.6 billion (2017 est.)

$350.9 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

$209.7 billion (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

household consumption: 47.7%

government consumption: 19.2%

investment in fixed capital: 25.2%

investment in inventories: 1.2%

exports of goods and services: 79.1%

imports of goods and services: -72.4% (2017 est.)

services: 59.7% (2017 est.)

wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry

motor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments

5.427 million (2017 est.)

services: 59.2% (2015 est.)

highest 10%: 21.7% (2015 est.)

expenditures: $83.93 billion (2017 est.)

0.05% (31 December 2017 est.)

0.05% (31 December 2016 est.)

note: this is the two-week repo, the main rate CNB uses

3.9% (31 December 2017 est.)

3.91% (31 December 2016 est.)

$172.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$133.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$190 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$148.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$142.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$124.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$44.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$39.91 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$45.63 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.192 billion (2017 est.)

$2.154 billion (2016 est.)

$157.4 billion (2017 est.)

$131.1 billion (2016 est.)

machinery and transport equipment, raw materials, fuel, chemicals

Germany 32.4%, Slovakia 8.4%, Poland 5.8%, UK 5.2%, France 5.2%, Italy 4.3%, Austria 4.2% (2016)

$147.4 billion (2017 est.)

$120.8 billion (2016 est.)

machinery and transport equipment, raw materials and fuels, chemicals

Germany 30.6%, Poland 9.6%, China 7.5%, Slovakia 6.3%, Netherlands 5.3%, Italy 4.1% (2016)

$161 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$85.73 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$145.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$138 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$146.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$139.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$45.79 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$43.09 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

koruny (CZK) per US dollar -

Energy :: CZECHIA

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

77.74 billion kWh (2015 est.)

61.16 billion kWh (2015 est.)

24.79 billion kWh (2016 est.)

13.82 billion kWh (2016 est.)

21.51 million kW (2015 est.)

56.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

18.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

5.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

14.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

2,333 bbl/day (2016 est.)

518.7 bbl/day (2016 est.)

105,800 bbl/day (2016 est.)

15 million bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

121,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

180,400 bbl/day (2016 est.)

49,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

103,200 bbl/day (2016 est.)

247 million cu m (2015 est.)

11.51 billion cu m (2015 est.)

1 million cu m (2014 est.)

7.474 billion cu m (2015 est.)

3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

103 million Mt (2015 est.)

Communications :: CZECHIA

total subscriptions: 1,758,590

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (July 2016 est.)

general assessment: good telephone and Internet service; there are three major mobile phone providers, though the government is facing criticism for failing to promote sufficient competition, with critics complaining that Czech mobile phone and data prices are among the highest in the EU

domestic: 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

international: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 6 (2 Intersputnik - Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions, 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar) (2017)

22 TV stations operate nationally, with 17 of them in private hands; publicly operated Czech Television has 5 national channels; throughout the country, there are some 350 TV channels in operation, many through cable, satellite, and IPTV subscription services; 63 radio broadcasters are registered, operating over 80 radio stations, including 7 multiregional radio stations or networks; publicly operated broadcaster Czech Radio operates 4 national, 14 regional, and 4 Internet stations; both Czech Radio and Czech Television are partially financed through a license fee (2018)

percent of population: 76.5% (July 2016 est.)

Transportation :: CZECHIA

number of registered air carriers: 4

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 48

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,971,616

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 26,619,650 mt-km (2015)

gas 7,160 km; oil 536 km; refined products 94 km (2013)

standard gauge: 9,519.5 km 1.435-m gauge (3,240.5 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 102 km 0.760-m gauge (2014)

total: 130,661 km (includes urban roads)

paved: 130,661 km (includes 730 km of expressways) (2011)

664 km (principally on Elbe, Vltava, Oder, and other navigable rivers, lakes, and canals) (2010)

river port(s): Prague (Vltava); Decin, Usti nad Labem (Elbe)

Military and Security :: CZECHIA

Army of the Czech Republic (Armada Ceske Republiky): General Staff (Generalni Stab, includes Land Forces (Pozemni sily) and Air Forces (Vzdusne sily)) (2018)

18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Transnational Issues :: CZECHIA

stateless persons: 1,502 (2016)

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

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