📜 A long story
Czechia, 1800 → today
Czechia grew from 5.52 million in 1800 to 10.8 million; a newborn can expect 44.8 more years of life than in 1875, and output per person is 3.7× its 1970 level, adjusted for inflation.
Told with long-run reconstructions, not the yearly series used elsewhere on the site: each chapter names its source. Scroll to move through the years.
☺ Chapter 1 · Population
How many people live there?
1800
In 1800, about 5.52 million people lived in Czechia.
1900
9.33 million people.
1.7× the 1800 level
1950
8.92 million people.
about the same as in 1900
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1939.
The sharpest fall in the data: down 21% between 1940 and 1947 (11.2 million → 8.77 million).
2023
10.8 million people, the latest year in this series.
1.2× the 1950 level
Long-run series: before 1950, reconstructions by HYDE and Gapminder, filled in between benchmark years by those sources. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
✚ Chapter 2 · Life expectancy
How long do people live?
1875
In 1875, a newborn in Czechia could expect to live 35 years, on average.
1900
40.3 years.
+5.3 years since 1875
Passed 40 years in 1900 (no data between 1875 and 1900, so it may have happened earlier).
1950
64.4 years.
+24 years since 1900
Passed 50 years in 1930 (no data between 1910 and 1930, so it may have happened earlier).
Passed 60 years in 1950 (no data between 1937 and 1950, so it may have happened earlier).
2023
79.8 years, the latest year in this series.
+15 years since 1950
Passed 70 years in 1958.
Long-run series: before 1950, historical estimates (Riley, Clio Infra, Human Mortality Database), only for years they cover. Dashed stretches are years without data.
◎ Chapter 3 · GDP per person (PPP)
How much is produced per person?
1970
In 1970, Czechia produced about Int$8,750 per person, in 2011 prices.
2022
Int$32,200, the latest year in this series.
3.7× the 1970 level
Reached twice the 1970 level in 2001.
The sharpest fall in the data: down 11% between 1990 and 1991 (Int$14,200 → Int$12,700).
Long-run series (Maddison Project) in 2011 international dollars: adjusted for inflation, so not the same unit as today’s PPP figure. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
❦ Chapter 4 · CO₂ per person
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
1860
In 1860, fossil fuels and industry in Czechia emitted about 0.028 t of CO₂ per person.
1900
3.6 t.
130× the 1860 level
Reached twice the 1860 level in 1861.
Reached 5 times the 1860 level in 1862.
Reached 10 times the 1860 level in 1865.
Reached 20 times the 1860 level in 1869.
Reached 50 times the 1860 level in 1876.
1950
6.5 t.
1.8× the 1900 level
The sharpest fall in the data: down 48% between 1943 and 1945 (6.3 t → 3.3 t).
2024
7 t, the latest year in this series.
about the same as in 1950
Long-run series: fossil CO₂ emitted within each country’s borders (Global Carbon Budget); early estimates are less certain. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
☕ Chapter 5 · Years of schooling
How long do people go to school?
1870
In 1870, people aged 15–64 in Czechia had spent 3.2 years in school, on average.
1900
3.8 years.
+0.63 years since 1870
1950
8.2 years.
+4.4 years since 1900
Passed 4 years in 1905.
Passed 6 years in 1940.
Passed 8 years in 1950.
2015
12.9 years, the latest year in this series.
+4.7 years since 1950
Passed 10 years in 1975.
Passed 12 years in 1995.
Long-run series (Lee & Lee, Barro & Lee) for people aged 15–64, every 5 years until 2015: a different age group than today’s figure (25 and older).