Country explorer: Czechia

Czechia has witnessed significant economic growth and societal progress, evidenced by a robust increase in GDP per capita, remarkable reductions in poverty across various thresholds, consistently low unemployment rates compared to its European peers, and inflation rates that largely mirror those of high-income countries, marking it as a successful transition economy in Central Europe.

Czechia has experienced modest population growth, a slight increase in net migration, a significant rise in fertility rates, and a notable improvement in life expectancy, reflecting broader demographic trends similar to those in other high-income countries.

Czechia has consistently upheld high standards in providing its population with essential services, achieving 100% access to clean cooking fuels, electricity, and near-universal access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation, reflecting its status as a high-performing nation among its peers in addressing basic needs.

Czechia has made significant strides in human development, evidenced by improvements in the Human Development Index, a reduction in child mortality rate, a high and stable literacy rate, and progress in learning-adjusted years of schooling, aligning its human development trajectory closely with that of other high-income countries.

Czechia has experienced notable alterations in its environment and energy sectors, characterized by a significant reduction in per capita CO₂ emissions, even as its reliance on coal for electricity production remains high compared to a gradual increase in renewables, alongside consistent efforts in maintaining its renewable freshwater resources and forest area, reflecting a balanced approach to industrial progress and environmental preservation.

Czechia has undergone significant digital transformation, evidenced by a substantial increase in Internet usage, high mobile phone subscriptions, consistent growth in research and development spending as a proportion of GDP, and a marked rise in scientific publications per million people, positioning it as a competitive peer in technology and innovation within its regional context.

Czechia has experienced moderate but steady increases in the share of the population born in another country, a gradual improvement in self-reported life satisfaction, significant progress in reducing gender inequality, and a notable rise in the age dependency ratio, reflecting trends seen across many high-income countries but with distinctive strides in enhancing quality of life and gender equality.

Czechia has experienced gradual but notable improvements in governance, as evidenced by steadily improving scores in rule of law, reduction in perceived corruption, advancement of political and civil liberties, alongside a moderate increase in press freedom pressures, mirroring broader trends in Central European democracies yet maintaining a distinct trajectory of incremental reform and consolidation.