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Compare Czech Republic (2004) - Netherlands (2002)

Compare Czech Republic (2004) z Netherlands (2002)

 Czech Republic (2004)Netherlands (2002)
 Czech RepublicNetherlands
Administrative divisions 13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky Kraj, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Karlovarsky Kraj, Kralovehradecky Kraj, Liberecky Kraj, Moravskoslezsky Kraj, Olomoucky Kraj, Pardubicky Kraj, Plzensky Kraj, Praha*, Stredocesky Kraj, Ustecky Kraj, Vysocina, Zlinsky Kraj 12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland
Age structure 0-14 years: 15% (male 789,987; female 748,476)


15-64 years: 70.9% (male 3,643,574; female 3,622,276)


65 years and over: 14.1% (male 557,496; female 884,369) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 1,502,687; female 1,437,141)


15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,548,188; female 5,362,412)


65 years and over: 13.8% (male 913,020; female 1,304,306) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Airports 120 (2003 est.) 28 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 44


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 9


1,524 to 2,437 m: 14


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)
total: 21


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 6


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 76


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 27


under 914 m: 48 (2004 est.)
total: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Area total: 78,866 sq km


land: 77,276 sq km


water: 1,590 sq km
total: 41,526 sq km


land: 33,883 sq km


water: 7,643 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than South Carolina slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
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. The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered a brutal invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EC, and participated in the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999.
Birth rate 9.1 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 11.58 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $33.25 billion


expenditures: $38.88 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
revenues: $134 billion


expenditures: $134 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Prague Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Climate temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 451 km
Constitution ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993 adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983
Country name conventional long form: Czech Republic


conventional short form: Czech Republic


local long form: Ceska Republika


local short form: Ceska Republika
conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands


conventional short form: Netherlands


local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden


local short form: Nederland
Currency Czech koruna (CZK) euro (EUR); Netherlands guilder (NLG)


note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Death rate 10.54 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $28 billion (2003) -
Dependent areas - Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador William J. CABANISS


embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [420] (2) 5753-0663


FAX: [420] (2) 5753-0583
chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL


embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague


mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715


telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209


FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688


consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Martin PALOUS


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


telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100


FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540


consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAM


chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300


FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430


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


consulate(s): Boston
Disputes - international Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918; individual Sudeten Germans seek restitution for property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II; Austria has minor dispute with Czech Republic over the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $3.5 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient $108 million; EU structural adjustment funds (2002) -
Economy - overview One of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states, the Czech Republic has been recovering from recession since mid-1999. Growth in 2000-03 was supported by exports to the EU, primarily to Germany, and a near doubling of foreign direct investment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important role in underpinning growth as interest rates drop and the availability of credit cards and mortgages increases. High current account deficits - averaging around 5% of GDP in the last several years - could be a persistent problem. Inflation is under control. The EU put the Czech Republic just behind Poland and Hungary in preparations for accession, which will give further impetus and direction to structural reform. Moves to complete banking, telecommunications, and energy privatization will encourage additional foreign investment, while intensified restructuring among large enterprises and banks, and improvements in the financial sector, should strengthen output growth. Nonetheless, revival in the European economies remains essential to stepped-up growth. The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy depending heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in 2001-02, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average.
Electricity - consumption 55.6 billion kWh (2001) 100.71 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 18.92 billion kWh (2001) 4.031 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 9.38 billion kWh (2001) 22.946 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 70.04 billion kWh (2001) 87.953 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 90%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 4%


other: 5% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Elbe River 115 m


highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m


highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m
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 water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, 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


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups Czech 81.2%, Moravian 13.2%, Slovak 3.1%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Silesian 0.4%, Roma 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 0.5% (1991) Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)
Exchange rates koruny per US dollar - 28.209 (2003), 32.7385 (2002), 38.0353 (2001), 38.5984 (2000), 34.5692 (1999) euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Netherlands guilders per US dollar - 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)


note: the Czech Republic's first president Vaclav HAVEL stepped down from office on 2 February 2003 having served exactly 10 years; parliament finally elected a successor on 28 February 2003 after two inconclusive elections in January 2003


head of government: Prime Minister Stanislav GROSS (since 26 July 2004), Deputy Prime Ministers Zdenek SKROMACH (since 4 August 2004), Martin JAHN (since 4 August 2004), Pavel NEMEC (since 4 August 2004); Milan SIMONOVSKY (since 4 August 2004)


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


elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; last successful election held 28 February 2003 (after earlier elections held 15 and 24 January 2003 were inconclusive; next election to be held NA January 2008); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Vaclav KLAUS elected president on 28 February 2003; Vaclav KLAUS 142 votes, Jan SOKOL 124 votes (third round; combined votes of both chambers of parliament)
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch


head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002) and Vice Prime Ministers Johan REMKES (since NA 2002) and Roelf DE BOER (since NA 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch


elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch


note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the prime minister on legislative and administrative policy
Exports 26,670 bbl/day (2001) $221.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities machinery and transport equipment 44%, intermediate manufactures 25%, chemicals 7%, raw materials and fuel 7% (2000) machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners Germany 37.1%, Slovakia 8%, Austria 6.3%, UK 5.4%, Poland 4.8%, France 4.7%, Italy 4.5%, Netherlands 4.1% (2003) EU 77.6% (Germany 25.6%, Benelux 11.8%, UK 11.1%, France 10.3%, Italy 6.2%) (2001)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia) three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with William I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century
GDP purchasing power parity - $161.1 billion (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $434 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3.1%


industry: 35.5%


services: 61.4% (2003)
agriculture: 3%


industry: 26%


services: 71% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $15,700 (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $26,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.9% (2003 est.) 0.3% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 49 45 N, 15 30 E 52 30 N, 5 45 E
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 located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
Heliports 2 (2003 est.) 1 (2002)
Highways total: 55,408 km


paved: 55,408 km (including 499 km of expressways)


unpaved: 0 km (2000)
total: 116,500 km


paved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)


unpaved: 11,650 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 4.3%


highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 25% (1994)
Illicit drugs 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 major European producer of illicit amphetamine and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering
Imports 192,300 bbl/day (2001) $201.1 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment 40%, intermediate manufactures 21%, raw materials and fuels 13%, chemicals 11% (2000) machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners Germany 32.6%, Italy 5.3%, China 5.2%, Slovakia 5.2%, France 4.9%, Russia 4.6%, Austria 4.3%, Poland 4.2% (2003) EU 54.6% (Germany 18.4%, Benelux 9.2%, UK 8.9%, France 5.8%), US 9.9% (2001)
Independence 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) 1579 (from Spain); note - the northern provinces of the Low Country concluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was 1648 before Spain finally recognized their independence
Industrial production growth rate 3.3% (2003) 2% (2002 est.)
Industries metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass, armaments agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
Infant mortality rate total: 3.97 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 4.32 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
4.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 0.1% (2003 est.) 3.4% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 52 (2000)
Irrigated land 240 sq km (1998 est.) 5,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year term Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)
Labor force 5.25 million (2003 est.) 7.2 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 5%, industry 35%, services 60% (2001 est.) services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)
Land boundaries total: 1,881 km


border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km, Slovakia 215 km
total: 1,027 km


border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Land use arable land: 39.8%


permanent crops: 3.05%


other: 57.15% (2001)
arable land: 26.53%


permanent crops: 1.03%


other: 72.44% (1998 est.)
Languages Czech Dutch
Legal system civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; 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 civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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 5-6 November and 12-13 November 2004 (next to be held NA November 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 14-15 June 2002 (next to be held by NA June 2006)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ODS 26, KDU-CSL 15, Open Democracy 15, CSSD 9, Caucus "Independent" 5, US-DEU 1, European Democrats 1, Greens 1, KSCM 1, independents 7; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 30.2%, ODS 24.5%, KSCM 18.5%, KDU-CSL & US-DEU coalition 14.3%, other minor 12.5%; seats by party - CSSD 70, ODS 58, KSCM 41, KDU-CSL 21, US-DEU 10
bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 1999 (next to be held 15 May 2003); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be held NA January 2007)


election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 20, VVD 19, PvdA 15, D66 4, other 17; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List Pim Fortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44, PvdA 42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party 8, D66 6, other 5
Life expectancy at birth total population: 75.78 years


male: 72.52 years


female: 79.24 years (2004 est.)
total population: 78.58 years


male: 75.7 years


female: 81.59 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: 99.9% (1999 est.)


male: NA


female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99% (2000 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Central Europe, southeast of Germany Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Map references Europe Europe
Maritime claims none (landlocked) exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - total: 622 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,587,662 GRT/5,251,529 DWT


ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 380, chemical tanker 46, container 64, liquefied gas 16, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 15, passenger 9, petroleum tanker 28, refrigerated cargo 34, roll on/roll off 18, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 5


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 1, Canada 1, Denmark 5, Finland 5, Germany 55, Ireland 12, Norway 12, Sweden 17, United Kingdom 33, United States 12 (2002 est.)
Military branches Czech Army: Ground Forces, Air Forces, Special Forces Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary
Military expenditures - dollar figure $1,190.2 million (FY01) $6.5 billion (FY00/01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.1% (FY01) 1.5% (FY00/01 est.)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 2,623,386 (2004 est.) males age 15-49: 4,077,917 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 2,003,748 (2004 est.) males age 15-49: 3,546,030 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 20 years of age (note - age 17 for cadets and midshipmen) (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 67,195 (2004 est.) males: 96,082


note: Netherlands has an all-volunteer, 74,100 force in 2001 (2002 est.)
National holiday Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918) Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Nationality noun: Czech(s)


adjective: Czech
noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)


adjective: Dutch
Natural hazards flooding flooding
Natural resources hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber natural gas, petroleum, arable land
Net migration rate 0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines gas 7,020 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2004) crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km
Political parties and leaders Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL [Miroslav KALOUSEK, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance or ODA [Jirina NOVAKOVA, chairman]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Mirek TOPOLANEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Czechoslovakia or KSC [Miroslav STEPAN, chairman]; Czech National Social Party of CSNS [Jaroslav ROVNY, chairman]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Stanislav GROSS, acting chairman]; European Democrats [Jan KASL]; Freedom Union-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Pavel NEMEC, chairman]; Green Party; Open Democracy Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Jan Peter BALKENENDE]; Christian Union Party [M. VAN DAALEN]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Thom DE GRAAF]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Mat HERBEN]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Gerrit ZALM]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; a host of minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders Bohemian and Moravian Trade Union Confederation [Milan STECH] Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises
Population 10,246,178 (July 2004 est.) 16,067,754 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate -0.05% (2004 est.) 0.53% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen
Radio broadcast stations AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000) AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios - 15.3 million (1996)
Railways total: 9,520 km


standard gauge: 9,421 km 1.435-m gauge (2,893 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 99 km 0.760-m gauge (2003)
total: 2,808 km


standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2001)
Religions Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%, atheist 39.8% Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998)
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: 0.63 male(s)/female


total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


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


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily; growth in the use of mobile cellular telephones is particularly vigorous


domestic: 86% of exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber systems now being enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals; trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar
general assessment: highly developed and well maintained


domestic: the existing system of multi-conductor cables is gradually being replaced by fiber-optic cables; the density of cellular telephone traffic is rapidly increasing and further modernization of the system is expected in 2001, with the introduction of the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)


international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (1996)
Telephones - main lines in use 3.626 million (2003) 9,132,400 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular 9,708,700 (2003) 4,081,891 (April 1999)
Television broadcast stations 150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000) 21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
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 mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Total fertility rate 1.18 children born/woman (2004 est.) 1.65 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.9% (2003) 3% (2002 est.)
Waterways 664 km (on Elbe, Vlatava, and Oder rivers) (2004) 5,046 km (of which 3,745 km are canals)


note: 47% of total route length is usable by craft of 1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger
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