Statistická ročenka Jihomoravského kraje

With its area of 719,555 ha and population ofmore than 1,141 thousand inhabitants the Region ranks fourth in the Czech Republic. Location of the Region is rather favourable from geographical point of view as it lies on a historical connection between the south and north of Europe. Within the EU its neighbours are Slovakia and Austria and within the Czech Republic it neighbours with the Jihočeský, Pardubický, Olomoucký, Zlínský and Vysočina Regions. Various natural conditions in the Region obviously influence the way of the landscape utilisation and the way of life in a concrete locality. Four different characters of basic landscape types can be distinguished in the Region:

• Large cave complexes of the Moravian Karst (Moravský kras) in the northern part of the Region known especially thanks to the Macocha Abyss, which is the deepest abyss in the Czech Republic (138.5 m), hillsides and a lot of protected areas. Many caves of this unique area, which belongs to the cleanest in the CR as for ecology, are accessible to the public and visited by plenty of tourists from the CR as well as abroad.
• Southern part of the Region is mostly a flat area of fields, meadows and vineyards with rests of bottomland forests alongside the Dyje river. Many water areas of the Podyjí National Park became an ideal roost of water birds. A symbol of this part of southern Moravia is the biospheric reservation of Pálava and Lednice–Valtice area. Those loving water sports and fishing visit every year the Nové Mlýny reservoir.
• Behind the Morava river, in the eastern part, the landscape gradually elevates to the hills of the White Carpathians (Bílé Karpaty). This biospheric reservation belongs to the most precious natural areas in Europe.
• Although the landscape around the city of Brno is influenced by the existence of the large urban agglomeration, the surroundings of the city is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the CR. In the north, it is adjacent to the forests of the Moravian Karst, in the south are open flats of the southern Moravia and right at the borders of the city there is the Brno dam.

The highest altitude in the Region is in the Hodonín District at the mountain called Čupec (819 m above sea level). In the Břeclav District you can find the municipality of Lanžhot on the territory of which there is the lowest point (150 m) of the Region as for altitude, which is located where the Dyje and the Morava rivers meet. A rich history of the Jihomoravský Region is showed by local archaeological sites, chateaux, castles, castle ruins, churches and synagogues. Near Brno there is a battlefield of one of the goriest Napoleon wars, which is known as the battle of the three emperors near Slavkov. The folk architecture can be seen in the Strážnický open-air museum. Also the folk feasts such as carnivals, banquets, building of maypoles and fairs are maintained plentifully in the Jihomoravský Region. In the Region, which is known for its vine tradition, there are several unique vinery buildings found. In Přímětice there is one of the biggest cloister cellars in the world, however the ancient listed the Petrov Plže and the baroque cellars in Pavlov should not be missed out.

Agricultural land comprises more than 60 % of the Region’s total area, of which 83 % is arable land. The highest share of arable land (i.e. in the agricultural land) is in the Znojmo and Vyškov Districts. To go into detail, agriculture focuses on cereals, rape and sugar beet. Thanks to very favourable climatic conditions the Jihomoravský Region has a long tradition and a high level of specialised agricultural production: viniculture, fruit-growing and vegetable–growing. There are nearly 90 % of the CR’s total vineyards. The districts with a developed viniculture include the Břeclav, Hodonín, Znojmo and partially also the Brno-venkov District. Within the livestock production the Jihomoravský Region ranks on one of the first places in farming of swine and poultry.

There is a significant economic potential in the Jihomoravský Region. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the Region accounts for almost 10.3 % of the CR’s gross domestic product. The GDP share, however, does not correspond with the population share of the Region, which is 11 % of the CR’s population. In the Jihomoravský Region, the purchasing power parity GDP per inhabitant amounted to 75.8 % of the EU average in the year 2007.

With regards to the industrial tradition of the city of Brno and its surroundings, manufacturing still plays a dominant role in the Region’s economy; its share in the total value added produced in the Region is 24.4 % while the share of agriculture (another traditional branch of especially southern parts of the Region) is only 2.9 %. Developing construction makes 7.8 % and what also has to be mentioned is wholesale and retail trade and repair of personal and household goods with 14,0 % and so-called commercial services (16.5 %).

The Jihomoravský Region as a whole ranks among those of rather good quality of air. Air pollution, noise and similar unfavourable influences are only of local character, especially around large industrial centres. High levels of specific emissions are seen particularly in the Hodonín and Brno-město District. What contributes to the pollution is an increasing number of cars, especially in big cities. There is an increasing number of municipalities connected to the sewage system with a sewage water treatment plants, which is one of the many ways how to improve the strong water pollution of rivers Morava, Dyje, and Svratka. Significant attention is given to the problem of environmental protection in this region, which is proved year by year by the volume of investments dedicated to the protection of the environment.

The population was influenced primarily by migration. In 2007, the total increase was 7,971 persons; the total of 1,140,534 inhabitants lived in 673 municipalities as at 31 December. Mainly international migration contributed to the population increase. As for breakdown by sex, women were prevailing: there were 1,054 women per 1,000 men. It is influenced primarily by the structure of the city of Brno, in which 1,094 women per 1,000 men live. More than 84 % of foreigners living in the Jihomoravský Region are economically active both as employees (about 77 % of these persons) and as holders of the trade licence. The average age of the Region´s population is 40.6 years, of which the youngest population is in the municipality called Práče in the Znojmo District (average age is 33.9 years) and the oldest is in the municipality called Nelepeč–Žernůvka in the Brno–venkov District (59.6 years in average). 62,7 per cent of inhabitants live in 49 municipalities with the status of a town. Population density is 158.5 persons per km², which is higher than the national average by 27.0 persons. The highest density in the Region is in the municipality called Zastávka (2,059.3 persons per km²) and the lowest is in Louka (7.4 persons per km²).

An important part of the regional cooperation, supported in particular by the Regional office of the Jihomoravský Region is the formation of microregions. The formation of microregions is an important and positive trend for common advocacy of interests and plans in particular in the rural communes with the aim of achieving desirable changes in all of the municipalities of a certain area. In the Region there are 70 microregions registered. Recently, cross-border cooperation in the “Pomoraví” euroregion has been developing; the region comprises Weinviertel, South Moravia and Western Slovakia regions. Most of these areas are characterized by intense agricultural activity with the exception of urban agglomerations of Vienna, Brno and Bratislava, in which industrial and trade activity are concentrated. Among the main priorities of the Region’s development belong the development of the “Pomoraví” euroregion and cross-border cooperation, support of the conceptual development of the area, development of cooperation on the euroregional level mainly in the spheres of science, education, social welfare services, culture and sport also belong among the priorities of the development of the Jihomoravsky Region.

Natural attraction zone of the entire southern Moravia is the city of Brno, which is located at the confluence of Svratka and Svitava rivers. Being an important regional centre, which is situated on the crossroads of motorways to Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Olomouc, it is a place where traditional international exhibitions and fairs take place thus highlighting the city’s status of a busy international business centre. It is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the importance of which reaches beyond local context: it is a seat of many institutions of national importance, especially judiciary; it is also an important centre of culture and higher education.

In the Jihomoravský Region, the trend of increasing number of employees continued also in 2007. The reached average wage CZK 19,893 per natural persons ranks the Region well below the national average (CZK 21,694).

According to the results of Labour Force Sample Survey the level of economic activity of population does not reach the national average, in 2007 however the Jihomoravský Region recorded a growth of employed in their major occupation. The biggest share in their number has industry in the Region in particular manufacturing. General unemployment rate slightly decreased and exceeded again the national average.

According to data from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs the number of job applicants in 2007 decreased. The registered unemployment rate of 8.82% still belonged among the highest in the CR. The Jihomoravský Region ranked eleventh out of 14 regions. However, the offer of vacancies improved by almost 71.8 %, the increase was one of the greatest increase in CR. The improvement concerned all of the districts. In average, there are 3.2 job applicants for a vacancy in the region. A positive feature is a decrease in the number of unemployed graduates from schools and an increase of the offer of vacancies for citizens with a handicap.

As for transport, the Jihomoravský Region has an important transit function. The backbone of the transport system consists of D–1, D–2 and and R–43 and R–52 fast roads. An important transport junction of the Region is Brno, which is a road, motorway, and railway junction. However, the civil airport Brno–Tuřany can accept all types of aircrafts all the year round. Two main railway corridors, which interconnect EU countries, go through the Region and the City of Brno is a member of an association of European towns in the interest of which is to build a fast railway. Road transport intensity increases, which is clear from the number of registered passenger cars (more than 441 thousand) and trucks (61 thousand) in the Region in 2007. Motorways and roads in the total length of 4.5 thousand km serve the increasing road transport intensity.

With respect to international tourism, a prime role is played by the natural and cultural heritage areas, such as Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape (it was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site together with another eight in the CR), the Moravian Karst (Moravský kras) and the Slavkov (Austerlitz) Battlefield. Brno plays a similar cultural role with its national heritage buildings and monuments. One of the most attractive landscape areas is the Podyjí National Park. Much cultural and social attractiveness attracts visitors to the territory of the Region, which is of a high benefit for the development of tourism. From this point of view, one of advantages of the Region is viniculture tourism; the Region draws its unique character from folklore and folk culture. Positive in this sense is also the influence of cycling in the southern part of Moravia, namely in international context (Moravian–Silesian long-distance cycle track, Greenways, Amber cycle track, and a cycle track from the City of Brno to Vienna). The importance of Masaryk’s circuit should not be missed out as it attracts many sympathisers of motor racing from the CR and abroad every year.

The offer of accommodation services is secured by 502 accommodation establishments such as hotels, motels and camps, in which more than 1,178 thousand guests (including 36.7 % of foreigners) were accommodated in 2007.

Health care in the Region is ensured by 22 hospitals with a total of 7 955 thousand beds (in all departments) as well as by a sufficient number of other independent health establishments, independent surgeries and pharmacies or dispensaries.

What is positive in the Region is the sufficient network of pre-school and school establishments. Pre-school children attend 630 nursery schools; basic education is provided in 474 basic schools from which most pupils continue their study in 146 secondary schools. The network of schools usually covers the requirements for placement of children; however, some inadequacies still occur. The effort of the secondary and vocational education is to ensure interconnection of the offer of secondary education and the needs of the labour market.
The above-the-average education level of population in the Region is also contributed to by a high quality of the system of tertiary education. The necessary education is provided to the students in civil or private universities in Brno or Lednice, University of Defence in Brno should also be mentioned.