The Czech Republic: Basic Facts

GEOGRAPHY
Location:	Central Europe, southeast of Germany
Geographic coordinates:	49 45 N, 15 30 E
Area:	total: 78,866 sq km
Area – comparative:	slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:	border countries: Austria 466.3 km, Germany 810.3 km, Poland 761.8 km, Slovakia 251.8 km
Climate:	temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters 10 day weather forecast
Time Zone	Czech Republic is in the Central European Time Zone. Central European Standard Time (CET) is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1). time difference: 6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Elbe River 115 m highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Area – comparative:	slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:	border countries: Austria 466.3 km, Germany 810.3 km, Poland 761.8 km, Slovakia 251.8 km
PEOPLE
Population:	10,220,911
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). More about religion in the Czech Republic here.
Languages:	Czech 94.9%, Slovak 2%, other 2.3%, unidentified 0.8% (2001 census)

GOVERNMENT
Government type:	parliamentary democracy
Capital:	name: Prague geographic coordinates: 50 05 N, 14 28 E
Independence:	1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
National holiday:	Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Czech State Symbols:	Czech Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side. Large and Small Coat of Arms Flag of the Czech President National Anthem: the state anthem is the first verse of the song “Where is my home” composed by František Škroup to the lyrics by Josef Kajetán Tyl.
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
Executive branch:	chief of state: President head of government: Prime Minister 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)
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)
Judicial branch:	Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year term
ECONOMY
GDP – per capita (PPP):	$24,400 (2007 est.)
GDP – composition by sector:	agriculture: 2.4% industry: 39.7% services: 57.9% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:	6.6% (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):	2.6% (2007 est.)
Currency (code):	Czech koruna – Kč (CZK)
Exchange rates:	www.exchange.cz

< back