Czechia is a prosperous market economy that boasts one of the highest GDP growth rates and lowest unemployment levels in the EU, but its dependence on exports makes economic growth vulnerable to contractions in external demand. Czechia’s exports comprise some 80% of GDP and largely consist of automobiles, the country’s single largest industry. Czechia acceded to the EU in 2004 but has yet to join the euro-zone. While the flexible koruna helps Czechia weather external shocks, it was one of the world’s strongest performing currencies in 2017, appreciating approximately 16% relative to the US dollar after the central bank (Czech National Bank - CNB) ended its cap on the currency’s value in early April 2017, which it had maintained since November 2013. The CNB hiked rates in August and November 2017 - the first rate changes in nine years - to address rising inflationary pressures brought by strong economic growth and a tight labor market.
Since coming to power in 2014, the new government has undertaken some reforms to try to reduce corruption, attract investment, and improve social welfare programs, which could help increase the government’s revenues and improve living conditions for Czechs. The government introduced in December 2016 an online tax reporting system intended to reduce tax evasion and increase revenues. The government also plans to remove labor market rigidities to improve the business climate, bring procurement procedures in line with EU best practices, and boost wages. The country's low unemployment rate has led to steady increases in salaries, and the government is facing pressure from businesses to allow greater migration of qualified workers, at least from Ukraine and neighboring Central European countries.
Long-term challenges include dealing with a rapidly aging population, a shortage of skilled workers, a lagging education system, funding an unsustainable pension and health care system, and diversifying away from manufacturing and toward a more high-tech, services-based, knowledge economy.
2.27% (2019 est.)
3.18% (2018 est.)
5.35% (2017 est.)
2.8% (2019 est.)
2.1% (2018 est.)
2.4% (2017 est.)
Fitch rating: AA- (2018)
Moody's rating: Aa3 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2011)
$435.987 billion (2019 est.)
$426.038 billion (2018 est.)
$412.902 billion (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
$250.631 billion (2019 est.)
$40,862 (2019 est.)
$40,079 (2018 est.)
$38,974 (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
26.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
26.8% of GDP (2018 est.)
27.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
agriculture: 2.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 36.9% (2017 est.)
services: 60.8% (2017 est.)
household consumption: 47.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 19.2% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 79.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -72.3% (2017 est.)
Overall score: 76.3 (2020)
Starting a Business score: 82.1 (2020)
Trading score: 100 (2020)
Enforcement score: 56.4 (2020)
wheat, sugar beet, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, maize, pork, triticale, poultry
motor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments
7.5% (2017 est.)
5.222 million (2020 est.)
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 38%
services: 59.2% (2015)
2.8% (2019 est.)
3.18% (2018 est.)
10.1% (2018 est.)
24.9 (2017 est.)
25.1 (2014)
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 21.7% (2015 est.)
revenues: 87.37 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 83.92 billion (2017 est.)
40.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
34.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
36.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
calendar year
-$678 million (2019 est.)
$1.259 billion (2018 est.)
$229.578 billion (2019 est.)
$226.887 billion (2018 est.)
$218.794 billion (2017 est.)
Germany 31%, Slovakia 7%, Poland 6%, France 5% (2019)
cars and vehicle parts, computers, broadcasting equipment, office machinery/parts, seating (2019)
$211.922 billion (2019 est.)
$209.225 billion (2018 est.)
$197.808 billion (2017 est.)
Germany 27%, China 12%, Poland 9%, Slovakia 5% (2019)
broadcasting equipment, cars and vehicle parts, office machinery/parts, computers, packaged medicines (2019)
$148 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$85.73 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$191.871 billion (2019 est.)
$200.197 billion (2018 est.)
koruny (CZK) per US dollar -
21.76636 (2020 est.)
23.0629 (2019 est.)
22.71439 (2018 est.)
24.599 (2014 est.)
20.758 (2013 est.)
NOTE: The information regarding Czechia on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Czechia 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Czechia 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.
This page was last modified 16 Dec 23, Copyright © 2023 ITA all rights reserved.