Czechia (officially the Czech Republic) is a country in Central Europe. It covers an area of 78,866 square kilometers. It borders Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east, and Poland to the north. The total length of its borders is 2,324 kilometers.
Czechia is divided into 14 administrative regions and 6,254 municipalities. The capital and largest city is Prague.
It is a unitary state with a parliamentary republic form of government. The President of the Czech Republic serves as the head of state. Civil law is based on the legal system of Austria-Hungary. The legal system is currently in the final stages of consolidation with European Union legislation.
The modern Czech Republic was established on January 1, 1993, following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia. It has been a member of NATO since 1999 and a member of the European Union (Schengen Area) since 2004. It is also part of the OECD, OSCE, Council of Europe, and the Visegrad Group.
Climate Conditions
The Czech Republic has a temperate climate, situated in a transitional zone between oceanic and continental types, with warm summers and cold, cloudy winters. The average annual temperature is around 10 °C. The seasonal temperature differences are due to the country's landlocked position.
The average annual precipitation in Prague is 508 millimeters. Traditionally, temperatures decrease and precipitation increases in the mountainous regions. The wettest area in Czechia is in the White Brook area of the Jizera Mountains, while the driest region is Louny, northwest of Prague.
At the highest peak, Sněžka (1,603 meters), the average annual temperature is -0.4 °C. In the lowlands of the South Moravian Region, the average temperature is +10 °C. The capital city has a similar average temperature (+10 °C).
The warmest month of the year is July, with average summer temperatures ranging from 20-30 °C. The coldest month is January, with average temperatures of -3 °C.
The lowest temperature ever recorded in Czechia was -42.2 °C (in 1929), and the highest was +40.4 °C (in 2012).
Demographics
In 2023, Czechia had a population of 10.8 million. The average population density is 130 people per square kilometer. The annual population growth rate was +0.07%. The birth rate per woman was 1.7 in 2023. The life expectancy is 78.2 years (81.3 for women and 75.3 for men). The median age of the population is 43.2 years.
Most residents are ethnic Czechs. Other significant ethnic groups include Germans, Roma, Hungarians, Ukrainians, Vietnamese, and Poles. After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, some Slovaks remained in Czechia and now make up 2% of the population.
The current ethnic composition is as follows: 88.4% Czechs, 2% Roma, 8.6% Slovaks, Ukrainians, Poles, Germans, and 1% Asians.
The Czech language, divided into 3 dialects in Bohemia, 4 dialects in Moravia, and 2 dialects in Czech Silesia, is the official language of the state.
The population of Czechia is quite irreligious. According to the 2021 census, 34% of the population declared that they do not follow any religion, 10.4% were Catholics, and 0.8% belonged to Protestant groups. 45% of the population did not answer the question about religion.
Economy
Among the developing countries of Central Europe, the Czech Republic has the most industrialized and developed economy. It is one of the most stable and prosperous countries of the former Eastern Bloc.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Czechia in 2023 was 291 billion USD. The GDP per capita in the same year was 20,540 USD. The average annual GDP growth rate was 0.6%. The national currency is the Czech koruna.
The unemployment rate in 2023 was 3.5%. 2.8% of all workers are employed in agriculture, 38% in industry, and 59.2% in the service sector.
The largest industries include automotive, electronics manufacturing, and firearms production.
Prague is one of the most visited cities in Europe, after London, Paris, and Rome. Tourism revenue accounts for more than 5% of the GDP. More than 1% of the population is employed in this sector.
In the Global Competitiveness Index, which measures the competitiveness of a country, Czechia ranks 32nd (as of 2023). In the Index of Economic Freedom, it ranks 17th.
Freedom of Travel (Visa-Free Countries)
In the global passport strength ranking, Czechia ranks 5th alongside the United Kingdom, Singapore, and South Korea. Czech citizens have the right to visa-free travel to 120 countries (with the right to stay for up to 180 days). In 47 countries, a visa on arrival is required, allowing stays of up to 90 days. Seven countries allow entry with an electronic authorization, permitting stays of up to 90 days.