Frequently Asked Questions

Population estimate: 10.3 million.

Area: 78,886 square kilometers (30,450 square miles).

Density per square kilometer: 131 (338 per square mile).

Capital: Prague, population 1,215,771.

Other large cities: Brno, 389,727; Ostrava, 326,396; Plzen, 172,402; Olomouc, 106,003.

Geography: Czech Republic is comprised of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia.

Weather: Temperate climate.

Average temperature in September is 59°F (15°C).

Monetary unit: Koruna (K); Czech Crown (CZK).

GDP per capita (2000 estimate): $5,883.

Ethnicity: Czech 94.4%; Slovak 3%; Polish 0.6%; German 0.5%; Roma (Gypsy) 0.3%; Hungarian 0.2%; other: 1%.

Languages: Czech, Slovak and Roma (Gypsy) minority.

Religions: Atheist 39.8%; Roman Catholic 39.2%; Protestant 4.6%; Orthodox 3%; other 13.4%.

Literacy rate: 99%.

Natural resources: Hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite.

Industry: Fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment, coal, motor vehicles, glass, armaments.

Agriculture: Grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit, pigs, cattle, poultry, forest products.

Labor force, civil sector (1997): 4.99 million. Industry 32%; trade 16%; construction 8.8%; education 6.2%; agriculture 5.5%; health 5.3%; financial intermediation 1.9%.

Major trading partners: European Union, Central European Free Trade Agreement (Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia).

Number of chateaux, castles and castle remnants: 2,032.

Number of public and scientific libraries: 6,235.

Number of theaters in permanent operation: 109.

Theater attendance rate: 80.5%

Source: Czech Statistical Office, Information Please World Almanac

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