Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country measuring 78,866 square kilometers, lying in the central part of Europe. It was established in 1993 after Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic has 10.2 million inhabitants, 94.2 percent of which are Czech by nationality. The country's borders neighbor Germany, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia. The Czech Republic is a democratic state and a member of NATO and is preparing for entry into the European Union.

With respect to marriage and the family, Czech society has always been strongly influenced by political and cultural changes. These experiences are shared among the entire social strata and generations, and are reflected in individual value orientations and attitudes towards the family as an institution. Marriage and—especially—the family have always been respected as structures that help mitigate the effects of difficult political and economic conditions and changes.