Economy of the Czech Republic
The economy of the Czech Republic is a developed export-oriented social market economy based in services, manufacturing, and innovation that maintains a high-income welfare state and the European social model. The Czech Republic participates in the European Single Market as a member of the European Union, and is therefore a part of the economy of the European Union. It uses its own currency, the Czech koruna, instead of the euro. It is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Czech Republic ranks 16th in inequality-adjusted human development and 24th in World Bank Human Capital Index, ahead of countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom or France. It was described by The Guardian as "one of Europe's most flourishing economies".
Business district in Prague | |
Currency | Czech koruna (CZK) |
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Calendar year | |
Trade organisations | EU, WTO (via EU membership) and OECD |
Country group |
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Statistics | |
Population | 10,900,555 (31 December 2023) |
GDP |
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GDP rank |
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GDP growth |
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GDP per capita |
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GDP per capita rank |
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GDP by sector |
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2% (2024) | |
2.25% (since 6 February 2020) | |
Population below poverty line |
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24.0 low (2019) | |
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Labour force |
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Labour force by occupation |
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Unemployment |
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Average gross salary | CZK 53,325 / €2,151 monthly (December,2023) |
Average net salary | CZK 42,442 / €1,721 monthly (December,2023) |
Main industries |
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External | |
Exports | $161.2 billion (2016) |
Export goods |
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Main export partners | |
Imports | $140.3 billion (2016) |
Import goods |
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Main import partners | |
FDI stock |
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-$678 million (2019 est.) 130th | |
Gross external debt | $191.9 billion (2019 est.) 44th |
Net international investment position | −17 % of GDP (2020) |
Public finances | |
Government debt |
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Revenues | 42.1% of GDP (2019) |
Expenses | 41.9% of GDP (2019) |
Economic aid |
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Credit rating |
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$151.69 billion (January 2018 est.; 17th) | |
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars. |
The industry sector accounts for 37% of the economy, while services account for 61% and agriculture for 2%. The principal industries are high tech engineering, electronics and machine-building, steel production, transportation equipment (automotive, rail and aerospace industry), chemicals, advanced materials and pharmaceuticals. The major services are research and development, ICT and software development, nanotechnology and life sciences. Its main agricultural products are cereals, vegetable oils and hops.
As of 2023, the Czech GDP per capita at purchasing power parity is $50,961 and 698,706 Czech crowns ($31,368) at nominal value. As of September 2021, the unemployment rate in the Czech Republic was the lowest in the EU at 2.6%, and the poverty rate is the second lowest of OECD members, following Denmark. The Czech Republic ranks 21st in the Index of Economic Freedom (ranked behind Chile), 30th in the Global Innovation Index (ranked behind UAE), 32nd in the Global Competitiveness Report, 41st in the ease of doing business index and 25th in the Global Enabling Trade Report (ranked behind Canada). The largest trading partner for both export and import is Germany, followed by other members of the EU. The Czech Republic has a highly diverse economy that ranks 7th in the 2019 Economic Complexity Index.