Czechia, officially the Czech Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It borders Germany to the west, Poland to the north, Slovakia to the east and Austria to the south. Its capital and largest city is Prague. The country covers about 78,871 square kilometres and had a population of about 10.9 million in 2025.[1]
The territory of modern Czechia is traditionally associated with the historical lands of Bohemia, Moravia and part of Silesia. The Czech lands developed around medieval political entities that eventually formed the Kingdom of Bohemia, an important state within the Holy Roman Empire. Prague became a major European political and cultural centre during the reign of Charles IV in the 14th century.[2]
After centuries under the Habsburg monarchy, the Czech lands became part of the newly established Czechoslovakia in 1918. Nazi Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia during World War II, and a Communist government took power in Czechoslovakia in 1948. The Prague Spring reform movement of 1968 was ended by a Warsaw Pact invasion. Communist rule collapsed during the Velvet Revolution in 1989.[3] Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved at the end of 1992, and the Czech Republic became an independent state on 1 January 1993.[4]
Czechia is a parliamentary republic and a member of the European Union, NATO, the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.[5][1] It is also part of the Schengen Area.[1]
Name
The country's official political name in English is the Czech Republic, while Czechia is its official short geographical name. In Czech, the corresponding names are Česká republika and Česko.[6]
The Czech short form Česko was standardized in 1993. In 2016, the Czech government requested that foreign-language versions of the short name, including Czechia in English, be entered into United Nations databases.[7] The United Nations now lists Czechia as the English short name and the Czech Republic as the formal English name.[8]
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends using Czechia in ordinary geographical, cultural, sporting and economic contexts, while the formal name is generally used in treaties and other formal documents.[6]
Geography
Czechia lies in Central Europe and has no coastline. Germany borders it to the west and northwest, Poland to the north and northeast, Slovakia to the east and Austria to the south. The country's historical regions are Bohemia in the west, Moravia in the east and part of Silesia in the northeast.[9]
Much of the country consists of hills, uplands and low mountain ranges. Bohemia is largely surrounded by highlands, including the Šumava and Ore Mountains, while the Krkonoše range lies along part of the Polish border. Moravia contains lower basins and uplands and extends toward the Western Carpathians.[10]
The country's highest point is Sněžka, on the Czech–Polish border in the Krkonoše, at 1,602 metres above sea level. Its lowest point is near Hřensko, where the Labe (Elbe) leaves Czech territory.[9]
Several important European rivers rise in or cross Czechia. The Vltava, which flows through Prague, is the country's longest river. It joins the Elbe, which continues through Germany to the North Sea. Other important drainage systems include the Morava and the Oder. The territory lies across watersheds draining toward the North, Baltic and Black seas.[10]
Climate
Czechia has a temperate climate influenced by both oceanic and continental air masses. Conditions vary with elevation and location, with generally warmer lowlands and colder, wetter mountain areas. The country experiences four distinct seasons, with relatively warm summers and cold winters.[10]
History
Early and medieval period
The area of present-day Czechia was inhabited by Celtic peoples in antiquity and later by Germanic groups. Slavic populations settled in the region during the early Middle Ages.[11]
Medieval Czech political development centred on Bohemia and Moravia. The Kingdom of Bohemia became a significant European state and formed part of the Holy Roman Empire. Its influence was particularly strong during the 14th-century reign of Charles IV, who was both king of Bohemia and Holy Roman emperor. He promoted Prague as an imperial centre and founded Charles University in 1348.[2]
Religious and political conflict marked the 15th century, particularly during the Hussite Wars. In the following centuries, the Czech lands became increasingly connected to the Habsburg monarchy. Following the defeat of the Bohemian estates at the Battle of White Mountain in 1620, Habsburg authority was consolidated over the region.[3]
Czechoslovakia and World War II
The collapse of Austria-Hungary at the end of World War I allowed Czech and Slovak political leaders to establish an independent Czechoslovak state on 28 October 1918. Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk became its first president.[3]
Czechoslovakia remained a parliamentary democracy through much of the interwar period. The Munich Agreement of September 1938 forced it to surrender the predominantly German-speaking Sudeten border territories to Nazi Germany. In March 1939, Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia and established the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.[12]
The occupation involved political repression, forced labour, persecution and the destruction of much of the Jewish population. Nazi rule ended in 1945 as Czechoslovakia was liberated by Soviet, American and other Allied forces.[3]
Communist period
A Communist takeover in February 1948 brought Czechoslovakia firmly into the Soviet sphere of influence. The state nationalized much of the economy, restricted political opposition and operated under one-party Communist rule.[3]
In 1968, reformers led by Alexander Dubček attempted to liberalize the political system during the Prague Spring. The reforms were ended in August when forces from the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact states invaded Czechoslovakia.[11]
By 1989, Communist governments across Central and Eastern Europe were weakening. Large peaceful demonstrations in Czechoslovakia during November and December led to the fall of Communist rule in what became known as the Velvet Revolution. Dissident writer Václav Havel subsequently became president.[3]
Independent Czech Republic
Czech and Slovak political leaders agreed to dissolve the Czechoslovak federation peacefully. Czechoslovakia ceased to exist on 31 December 1992, and the Czech Republic and Slovakia became separate states on 1 January 1993.[4] Václav Havel became the first president of the independent Czech Republic.
The new state pursued closer integration with European and transatlantic institutions. It joined the OECD in December 1995,[13] NATO on 12 March 1999,[5] and the European Union on 1 May 2004. It joined the Schengen Area in December 2007.[1]
Government and politics
Czechia is a parliamentary republic governed under a constitution that entered into force with the establishment of the independent Czech state in 1993. The government is the highest body of executive power and is responsible to the Chamber of Deputies.[14]
The president is the head of state and is directly elected for a five-year term. The constitution gives the presidency powers that include appointing the prime minister and, on the prime minister's proposal, other members of the government.[14] Petr Pavel, who won the 2023 presidential election, took office on 9 March 2023.[15]
The prime minister is the head of government. As of September 2026, Andrej Babiš serves as prime minister.[16]
The Parliament of the Czech Republic is bicameral. It consists of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The government must maintain the confidence of the Chamber of Deputies.[14]
Administrative divisions
Czechia is divided into 14 self-governing regions, including the capital, Prague.[1] The regional structure is used for local administration, development and public services. Below the regional level, the country is divided into municipalities.
Foreign relations
Czechia has been a member of the United Nations since 19 January 1993. It and Slovakia were admitted after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which had been an original UN member since 1945.[17]
Czechia joined NATO in 1999 alongside Hungary and Poland.[5] It became an EU member in 2004 and has participated in the Schengen Area since 2007.[1] The country is also a member of the OECD, which it joined in 1995.[13]
Economy
Czechia has an advanced, export-oriented economy with a large industrial and manufacturing sector. Motor vehicles, engineering, machinery, electronics and other manufactured goods play major roles in industrial production and foreign trade.
According to the World Bank, Czechia's gross domestic product at current prices was about US$391.0 billion in 2025, while GDP per person was approximately US$35,917. The World Bank recorded economic growth of about 2.6% for that year.[18]
Czechia is integrated closely with the economy of the European Union. The country has not adopted the euro and continues to use the Czech koruna (CZK).[1] Czech law defines the Czech koruna as the country's monetary unit, and banknotes and coins are issued by the Czech National Bank.[19]
The country became the 26th member of the OECD in 1995.[13]
Demographics
Czechia had an estimated population of 10,909,500 in 2025 according to Eurostat figures presented by the European Union.[1] Prague is the country's largest city and its main political, economic and cultural centre. Other major cities include Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, Liberec and Olomouc.
The official language is Czech, a West Slavic language closely related to Slovak and Polish. Czech is also one of the official languages of the European Union.[1]
Historically, the population has been concentrated in Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia. The country has also experienced immigration from other European and non-European states, particularly since its integration into the European Union.
Culture
Czech culture developed from the traditions of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia and has been shaped by Central European, Slavic and German-speaking influences. Prague has been an important centre of architecture, literature, music and education for centuries.
Notable figures connected with the Czech lands include religious reformer Jan Hus, educator John Amos Comenius, composers Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák and Leoš Janáček, writers Karel Čapek and Bohumil Hrabal, and novelist Franz Kafka, who wrote mainly in German while living in Prague.
The Czech lands also have a long tradition of glassmaking, brewing, engineering, puppetry and folk culture. Regional traditions remain particularly visible in parts of Moravia.
Architecture and heritage
Czechia contains architecture from the Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, historicist, Art Nouveau, Cubist and modern periods. Historic urban centres such as Prague, Český Krumlov, Telč and Kutná Hora preserve substantial medieval and early modern architecture.
As of 2026, Czechia had 17 properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including the Historic Centre of Prague, Historic Centre of Český Krumlov, Historic Centre of Telč, Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape, Villa Tugendhat in Brno and Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops.[20]
Education and science
The Czech lands have a long academic tradition. Charles University, founded in Prague in 1348 by Charles IV, is among the oldest universities in Europe.[2] Other major universities include Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Technical University in Prague, Palacký University Olomouc and the Brno University of Technology.
Czech scientists and inventors have contributed to fields including chemistry, physics, medicine and engineering. Gregor Mendel, whose experiments in Brno became foundational to modern genetics, worked in Moravia during the 19th century.
Transport
Czechia's central European position makes it an important transport corridor between Germany, Poland, Austria and Slovakia. The country has extensive road and railway networks connecting Prague with regional cities and neighbouring states.
Václav Havel Airport Prague is the country's principal international airport. Public transport is widely used in major urban areas, with Prague operating metro, tram and bus systems. Brno, Ostrava and several other cities also operate extensive tram and trolleybus networks.
Tourism
Tourism is centred on Prague, historic towns, castles, spa communities and natural areas. Prague's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while destinations such as Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, Kutná Hora and the Lednice–Valtice landscape are internationally known cultural attractions.[20]
Mountain regions including the Krkonoše and Šumava are used for hiking, cycling and winter sports. Czechia also has a historic spa tradition, represented by towns including Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně, which form part of the transnational UNESCO property known as the Great Spa Towns of Europe.[20]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Czechia – EU country. European Union. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Czechoslovakia: A Country Study. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 History. Czechia. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Czechia – A Guide to the United States’ History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 First anniversary of membership. 12 March 2000. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Which form of the country's name, “Czechia” or “the Czech Republic”, is preferred for international use?. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ Short country name "Česko"/"Czechia" to be entered in UN databases. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ Country Details – Czechia. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Geographic Location. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Basic information about the Czech Republic. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Czech History. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ Czechoslovakia. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Czechia. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 The Constitution of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ President Petr Pavel has taken the presidential oath of office and assumed his duties. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ Government. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ Czechoslovakia and Successor States: Czechia, Slovakia. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ Czechia – Data. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ Issuance of banknotes and coins. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Czechia. Retrieved 26 September 2026.