Legal system:
based on English common law, with civil law modifications; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Demetris CHRISTOFIAS (since 28 February 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Demetris CHRISTOFIAS (since 28 February 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 17 and 24 February 2008 (next to be held in February 2013)
election results: Demetris CHRISTOFIAS elected president; percent of vote (first round) - Ioannis KASOULIDES 33.5%, Demetris CHRISTOFIAS 33.3%, Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 31.8%; (second round) Demetris CHRISTOFIAS 53.4%, Ioannis KASOULIDES 46.6%
note: Mehmet Ali TALAT became "president" of the "TRNC", 24 April 2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is "TRNC prime minister" and heads the Council of Ministers (cabinet) in coalition with "Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister" Turgay AVCI
Legislative branch:
unicameral - area under government control: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: area under government control: last held 21 May 2006 (next to be held in 2010); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last held 19 April 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: area under government control: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 31.1%, DISY 30.3%, DIKO 17.9%, EDEK 8.9%, EURO.KO 5.8%, Greens 2.0%; seats by party - AKEL 18, DISY 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 4, EURO.KO 4, Greens 1; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - UBP 44.1%, CTP 29.3%, DP 10.6%, other 16%; seats by party - UBP 26, CTP 15, DP 5, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots
Political parties and leaders:
area under government control: Democratic Party or DIKO [Marios KAROYIAN]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADES]; European Party or EURO.KO [Demetris SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDES]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; Movement for Social Democrats or EDEK [Yiannakis OMIROU]; Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Andros KYPRIANOU]; United Democrats or EDI [Michalis PAPAPETROU]
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Centrist Party or HP [RasitPERTEV]; Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Mehmet CAKICIL]; CyprusSocialist Party or KSP [Yusuf ALKIM]; Democratic Party or DP [SerderDENKTASH]; Freedom and Reform Party or ORP [Turgay AVCI]; NationalUnity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Nationalist Justice Party or MAP[Ata TEPE]; New Cyprus Party or YKP [Murat KANATLI]; Politics forthe People Party or HIS [Ahmet YONLUER]; Republican Turkish Party orCTP [Ferdi Sabit SOYER]; United Cyprus Party or BKP [Izzet IZCAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation ofRevolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish CypriotLabor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO(Communist controlled)
International organization participation:
Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer),OIF (associate member), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas KAKOURIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772, 462-0873
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Hilmi AKIL; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Frank C. URBANCIC, Jr.
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi, Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
Flag description:
white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities
note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a white field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red crescent and a red five-pointed star
Economy ::Cyprus
Economy - overview:
The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts for 78% of GDP. Tourism, financial services, and real estate are the most important sectors. Erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates with political instability in the region and economic conditions in Western Europe. Nevertheless, the economy in the area under government control has grown at a rate well above the EU average since 2000. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) in May 2005 and adopted the euro as its national currency on 1 January 2008. An aggressive austerity program in the preceding years, aimed at paving the way for the euro, helped turn a soaring fiscal deficit (6.3% in 2003) into a surplus of 1.2% in 2008, and reduced inflation to 5.1%. This prosperity will come under pressure in 2009, as construction and tourism slow in the face of reduced foreign demand triggered by the ongoing global financial crisis. Growth is expected to slow to less than 2%, which would be its lowest level since 2003. As in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants have been added to existing plants over the last year and are now on line. After 10 years of drought, the country received substantial rainfall from 2001-04. Since then, rainfall has been well below average, making water rationing a necessity.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$22.76 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $21.94 billion (2007 est.)
$21.02 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$24.92 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 4.4% (2007 est.)
4.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $20,900 (2007 est.)
$20,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 19.6%
services: 78.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
397,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 20.5%
services: 71% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 3.9% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29 (2005) country comparison to the world: 118
Investment (gross fixed):
23.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Budget:
revenues:: $11.19 billion
expenditures:: $10.96 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
49.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 74.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 2.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 98 5% (31 December 2007)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.19% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 124 6.74% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$4.094 billion (31 December 2007)
note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Cypriot pounds in circulation prior to Cyprus joining the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$43.93 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$80.68 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 42 $52.09 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 63 $29.48 billion (31 December 2007)
$15.9 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry, pork, lamb; dairy, cheese
Industries:
tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum production, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone, and clay products
Industrial production growth rate:
4.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - production:
4.502 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - consumption:
4.277 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - consumption:
59,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - imports:
58,930 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 83
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Current account balance:
-$4.479 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 -$2.595 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.906 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 $1.483 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, and clothing
Exports - partners:
Greece 20.1%, UK 10.8%, Germany 6% (2008)
Imports:
$10.54 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $7.957 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment
Imports - partners:
Greece 16.9%, Italy 10.7%, UK 8.7%, Germany 8.3%, Israel 8.2%, China 5.3%, Netherlands 4.1%, France 4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.003 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 $6.507 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$32.86 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $26.97 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$15.69 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $13.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$7.097 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $5.591 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), Cypriot pounds (CYP) per US dollar - 0.4286 (2007), 0.4586 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004)
Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots:
Economy - overview: The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly 40% of 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 probably will experience a sharp slowdown in 2008-2009 due to the global financial crisis, because the Turkish Cypriot financial sector is dominated by mainland Turkish banks, and because of its reliance on British and Turkish tourism, which has declined due to the recession.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -2% (2007 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: 413,300 (2008); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 86,228 (2002) country comparison to the world: 102
Telephones - mobile cellular:
area under government control: 1.017 million (2008); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 147,522 (2002) country comparison to the world: 143
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
area under government control: AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
area under government control: 8
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)
Internet country code:
.cy
Internet hosts:
185,451 (2009) country comparison to the world: 63
Internet users:
334,400 (2008) country comparison to the world: 121
Transportation ::Cyprus
Airports:
15 (2009) 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 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Heliports:
9 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 14,630 km (area under government control: 12,280 km; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2,350 km) country comparison to the world: 123 paved: area under government control: 7,979 km (includes 257 km of expressways); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 1,370 km
unpaved: area under government control: 4,301 km; area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 980 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 858 country comparison to the world: 13 by type: bulk carrier 295, cargo 182, chemical tanker 63, container 193, liquefied gas 10, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 24, petroleum tanker 58, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 690 (Austria 1, Belgium 2, Canada 2, Chile 1, China 10, Cuba 1, Denmark 4, Estonia 5, Germany 189, Greece 259, Hong Kong 2, India 2, Iran 10, Ireland 3, Israel 4, Italy 7, Japan 21, South Korea 1, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1, Netherlands 22, Norway 18, Philippines 1, Poland 18, Portugal 1, Russia 50, Singapore 3, Slovenia 4, Spain 6, Sweden 2, Syria 2, Ukraine 4, UAE 9, UK 19, US 5)
registered in other countries: 256 (Antigua and Barbuda 18, Bahamas 25, Belize 1, Burma 1, Cambodia 7, Comoros 1, Georgia 1, Germany 2, Gibraltar 1, Greece 7, Liberia 63, Malta 31, Marshall Islands 37, Netherlands 8, Netherlands Antilles 21, Panama 19, Poland 1, Russia 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Samoa 1, Singapore 1, Tonga 1, Turkey 2, UK 2, unknown 1) (2008)
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: 199,767
females age 16-49: 190,665 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 16-49: 165,615
females age 16-49: 159,362 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,241
female: 5,979 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
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)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cyprus is primarily a destination country for a large number of women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic for the purpose of sexual exploitation; traffickers continued to fraudulently recruit victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term "artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or for illegal work on tourist or student visas
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cyprus is on the Tier 2 Watch List for a third consecutive year for failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking during 2007; although Cyprus passed a new trafficking law and opened a government trafficking shelter, these efforts are outweighed by its failure to show tangible and critically needed progress in the areas of law enforcement, victim protection, and the prevention of trafficking (2008)
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 November 11, 2009
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@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, Slovikia, and Austria
Geographic coordinates:
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, AirPollution-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:
10,211,904 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
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) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.1 years
male: 38.6 years
female: 41.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.094% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 213
Birth rate:
8.83 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 215
Death rate:
10.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 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: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 211 male: 4.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.81 years country comparison to the world: 61 male: 73.54 years
female: 80.28 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.24 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 214
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
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: 154
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: 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), MartinBURSIK (since 9 January 2007), and Vlasta PARKANOVA (since 23January 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'sParty or KDU-CSL [Jiri CUNEK]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS [MirekTOPOLANEK]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [VojtechFILIP]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Jiri PAROUBEK]; FreeCitizens' Party or SSO [Petr MACH]; Green Party [Martin BURSIK];Independent Democrats (NEZDEM) [Vladimir ZELEZNY]; Party of OpenSociety (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
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
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:
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