Top 10 Fun Facts About Czech People

Top 10 Fun Facts About Czech People

Before you book your flight, you should know a few things first…

Going to the Czech Republic, you may not initially know too much about the people, their culture, and the country itself. Before hopping on a plane and flying across the ocean to your new vacation destination, there are some fun facts about the Czech people and the culture that will make your holiday that much more exciting.

1. The Czech Republic is the 7th Safest Country In The World

Walking around Prague after dark, you won’t be surprised to hear this fact. Take it from me – after many nights of walking home after going to a few too-many bars with my friend, I can attest to Prague, and the Czech Republic as a whole, being an extremely safe and inviting country.

According to the Global Peace Index, every nation was given a ‘peace’ score out of 5 – and the lower the score, the higher the level of peace. This determination was based on 23 factors in various categories. The rankings were based on statistical factors like murder rates, as well as perceptions of criminality.

With the Czech Republic ranking so low, you can rest assured that your time in the country’s capital will be safe and fun.

2. The Czech People Drink The Most Beer Per Capita – Surprise, Surprise

For 25 years straight, the Czech Republic has topped the per capita beer table once again. In 2016, the Czechs drank an average of almost 144 liters of beer per person – the equivalent of one pint every 30 hours. Basically one pint per day – every day for a year.

3. The Most Popular Sport Is Ice-Hockey

The national ice hockey team in the Czech Republic is one of the best teams to compete at the international level. Many Czech players have taken their talents across the waters to the NHL, bringing their European prowess to America. The highest-level hockey league in the country is the Czech Extraliga, taking place between September and April.

4. The Czech People Are Not Religious – Like, At All

The majority of adults in Central and Eastern Europe identify with a religious group. However, Czech is an exception to that overarching theme, where the majority of the population does not believe in God.

Approximately 72% of Czechs do not identify with any religious group, including almost 50% who consider their religion to be “nothing in particular.” 1/4 of these adults say that they are Atheist when describing their religious affiliation.

5. The Czech Female Athletes Are Very Good At Tennis

As you know, the Czechs are very good at sports – specifically, women’s tennis. There are numerous popular and famous athletes who are Czech-born and excelled in the tennis world. With the Czech Republic producing both male and female stars, the women tennis players have really taken over in the sport.

One of the most famous female tennis players is Petra Kvitova. Turning professional in 2006, she has won 27 career singles titles, and a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Kvitova is the highest-ranked left-handed player in the world. There is also Lucie Safarova, a retired Czech tennis player who has won seven singles titles and 15 doubles titles. She won numerous tennis opens throughout the years, as well as winning a bronze medal in women’s doubles in the Rio 2016 Olympics. In addition to these two extraordinary athletes, there are many more talented women’s tennis players who hail from the Czech Republic.

6. The Czechs Are Highly-Educated

Education in the Czech Republic includes elementary school, secondary school, and post-secondary education. The education system is based on a long-standing tradition, due to the historical mandate that school was compulsory. The current literacy rate in the country is above 99% – at an almost perfect 100% for the entire population.

7. Czechs Have Europe’s Lowest Unemployment Rate

The Czech Republic has the lowest unemployment rate in the entire European Union at just below 2%. This could be due to a variety of reasons – maybe it’s because the labor is cheap. The average hourly cost in the country was just $12 – well below the EU average. It could be due to the success of the factory jobs – the production of cars is a huge part of the Czech economy.

8.  The Czechs Love Mushrooms – A Lot!

More than 2/3 of the Czech population goes mushroom-hunting, also known as mushrooming, once a year. It is such a common and widespread tradition that the Czechs are incredulous as to how people from other countries don’t know how to pick their own mushrooms and prepare them.

Mushroom season starts in July and ends in August. If you visit Czech during this time, be sure to find a local and have them take you to the best mushroom-picking spots.

9. More Than 10% Of The Czech Population Lives in The Country’s Capital

One of the most beautiful towns in Europe is the Czech capital of Prague. Known for the picturesque Town Square, complete with historical and baroque buildings, Gothic churches, and the famous Astronomical Clock, the capital has something for everyone. With over ten museums, numerous cultural and political buildings, a modern public transportation system, it’s no wonder that Prague is the home of 10% of the country’s population.

10. Meat Is A Huge Part of The Diet In The Day Of The Life Of A Czech Person

Meat is a huge part of the daily lunch or dinner meals in the Czech Republic. You’ll often find roast beef in a cream-colored sauce, roast duck with dumplings, veal schnitzel with mashed potatoes, or roast pork with dumplings.

There you have it – the 10 fun facts you might not have known about the Czech people!