Statistická ročenka Plzeňského kraje

The area of 7 561 km2 ranks the Region third largest, while the population places the Region ninth in the CR. The Region comprises seven Districts: Domažlice, Klatovy, Plzeň-město, Plzeň-jih, Plzeň-sever, Rokycany, and Tachov. Their characteristics vary significantly from one District to another in terms of landscape chart, population and its distribution, economic potential, as well as the number and density of settlements.

It is the landscape relief that accounts for the variability of natural conditions, in particular. Geographically, the Region breaks up into several areas: Plzeňská pahorkatina (the Plzeň Uplands), a part of Brdská vrchovina (the Brdy Highlands), Český les and Šumava (the Bohemian Forest and the Šumava Mountains); climatic, geological and hydrological conditions of the respective areas differto a great degree.

Raw material resources, which represent the basic potential for the development of manufacturing, are located particularly in the central parts surrounding the town of Plzeň. It is resources of coal, heat-resistant and ceramic clays, and building stone – moreover, there are resources of limestone in the Šumava foothill area. As for agriculture, there are quite favourable conditions for farming in the Region. Agricultural land covers about 50.8% of the total area, of which arable land makes up 69.0%. Forestry is characterised by enough natural resources of wood, as forest land covers 39.4% of the total area of the Region (large forests are particularly in Šumava, Český les, and Brdská vrchovina). The volume of timber removal ranks the Region second in the CR just after the Jihočeský Region with prevalent coniferous felling.

The quality of the environment may be regarded as good with respect to the whole CR. Specific emissions in the Region are lower than the national average. In 2001, specific emissions of sulfur dioxide were 1.74  /km2, which is 56.1% of specific emissions in the CR; specific emissions of nitrogen oxides were 0.67 t/km2 (i.e. 31.9% of the national level); specific emissions of carbon monoxide were 2.14  /km2 (i.e. 53.5% of the national level); specific emissions of hydrocarbons were 0.57 t/km2 (i.e. 81.4% of the national level) and of comprise solids 0.44 t/km2 (i.e. 73.3% of the national level).

The least damaged areas comprise the mountainous parts of Šumava, Český les, western parts of Brdská vrchovina, and the areas surrounding the municipalities of Manětín and Nečtiny.

The protection of the environment in Šumava is ensured by the organisations the National park Šumava and the Landscape Protected Area Šumava. Currently, the designation of the Protected Landscape Area Český les is under preparation. There are 166 small protected areas in the Region and several wildlife parks have been designated to conserve the landscape variability.

The town of Plzeň where the environment is damaged severely is an exception. Specific emissions reported for the Plzeň-město District rise above the national average several times. The town of Plzeň and its surroundings suffer from heavy road traffic and high concentration of industrial activities.The overloaded road network much worsens quality of the environment by emissions (nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons) and noise. Air pollution by nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons will worsen in Plzeň as long as D5 motorway is finished. On the other hand, restructuring and cut back of production, liquidation and transition to other heating media positively influenced the air pollution by sulfur dioxide and dusty aerosol. Moreover, mining or quarrying activities most devastated the areas surrounding the following municipalities: Nýřany, Tlučná, and Vejprnice; Břasy and Radnice; Stříbro; and Ejpovice.

One of the most important tasks of the environment protection is water protection. Development of public sewerage is slow; only Plzeň has a complete sewerage with a powerful sewage disposal plant. All municipalities with population over 2,000 have a sewage disposal plant, however, most of them need modernisation. Water quality is endangered by continuing devastation of some of the former outbuildings, old burdens and accidents.

In the Plzeňský Region, big amounts of problematic dangerous industrial wastes do not originate. A complex system of wastes handling has not been realised, yet; only partial problems of waste management have been solved for the time being. An increase of energetic waste utilisation and a slow decrease of dumped volume of wastes are expected in 2004.

Road network in Plzeň consists of 5,007 km of roads of which 407 km are first class roads, 1,511 km second class roads and 3,089 third class roads. Compared to other Regions in the CR the Plzeňský Region has the lowest share of first class roads (of total length of roads), namely 8.1%; as for share of second class roads it ranks fourth in the CR. The Plzeňský Region has 89 km of motorways most of which are in the Tachov District (45 km), the Rokycany District (26 km) and the Plzeň-sever District (18 km). Length of railways in the Region was 713 km as at 1 July 2003 of which 237 km are electrified. Five railway lines of national importance and ten of regional importance go through the Plzeňský Region.

A high number of unevenly distributed small settlements is characteristic of the Plzeňský Region, as well as the lack of medium-sized towns – therefore, when compared with the whole CR, the distribution of settlement appears atypical. The town of Plzeň with its 163 791 population contrasts with small municipalities, as it is the second most important centre in Bohemia, after the city of Prague. The Plzeňský Region comprises 46 towns accounting for the population of 367 431 (66.9%of the Region’s total population).

Based on Act No. 314/2002 Coll. on determination of municipalities with commissioned local authorities and municipalities with extended competence, the Czech Republic has from 1 January 2003 a new administrative arrangement: it is divided into 205 administrative districts of municipalities with extended competence. The decree of the Ministry of Interior No. 388/2002 Coll. determines administrative districts of municipalities with commissioned local authorities and administrative districts of municipalities with extended competence. After the end of activity of district authorities (as at 31 December 2002) an important part of their competence was thus shifted to municipalities with extended competence. The Plzeňský Region was divided into 15 administrative districts of municipalities with extended competence under which 35 administrative districts of municipalities with commissioned local authority come. The following belong to the municipalities with extended competence: Blovice, Domažlice, Horažďovice, Horšovský Týn, Klatovy, Kralovice, Nepomuk, Nýřany, Plzeň, Přeštice, Rokycany, Stod, Stříbro, Sušice and Tachov.

Most of developing settlements lie on development hubs of regional importance and on the western radial hub that connects Plzeň and Prague and is directing through a corridor to the border with Germany. Out of these hubs there are sparsely inhabited territories with prevailing residential and agricultural function with insufficiently developed social and technical infrastructure and limited transport services. The following will contribute to revitalization of these settlements: establishment of small businesses, revival of crafts and development of services related to tourism. Municipalities associate to form microregions in order to enable at least partial realisation of some activities.

Housing stock was enlarging until 1990. Vast construction of high-rise buildings, in particular, had been phased in to replace unsuitable dwellings dating back to pre-war and war times. After 1990, the number of completed dwellings significantly decreases and it is individual housing construction that takes over accounting for more than 50% of completed dwellings. New dwellings originate through modification of non-residential buildings or through construction of various types of extensions. Individual construction is concentrated in the town of Plzeň and its surrounding area, i.e .in the Districts of Plzeň-sever and Plzeň-jih. According to Results of the Population and Housing Census (1 March 2001), there are 14.5% of unoccupied dwellings in the Region, with the highest number of such dwellings reported for the Klatovy District. The number of completed dwellings per 1 000 inhabitants is higher for the Region than the number reported for the CR (3.4 and.2.7 dwellings, respectively).

The population 549 374 ranks the Region sixth smallest in the country (31 December 2002), making up 5.4% of the CR’s total population. However, the population is distributed very unevenly. 30% of the population live in the town of Plzeň and approximately next one fifth is concentrated into 12 towns of 5 000 inhabitants and over. The remaining part of population, less than 50%, is scattered in rather small towns and municipalities.

The Plzeňský Region has the second lowest density of population, which amounts to 72,7 inhabitants per km2 (the national density is 129.4 inhabitants per km2). Within the Region, the lowest density is reported for the Tachov and Klatovy Districts (37.2 and 45.2 inhabitants per km2, respectively).

Regarding age distribution of population, the Region ranks among the oldest ones in the CR – the 2002 average age amounted to 39.7. In addition, the Plzeň-město District reported an average age of 40.9. On the other hand, only 37.1 years of age is reported for the Tachov District. A high share of senior population manifests itself also in the index of ageing (i.e. the ratio of the 65+ population to the 0-14 population). In 2002, the value of the index amounted to 94.62 which is the second highest figure after the Capital City of Prague (the index of ageing in the CR is 89.12). The highest values of the index were reported for the following districts: Plzeň-město (113.87), Rokycany (101.86), and Klatovy (97.07). On the contrary, a very low value was reported for the Tachov District (61.63).

In the 1990’s, population began slightly decreasing all over the country and still keeps decreasing. The decrease in population is caused particularly by low birth rate, the fact of which is currently the most characteristic feature of the CR’s demographic situation. A negative natural increase in population was observed almost in all districts of the Region (except for the Tachov District). Recently, there is seen a trend of emigration from the Plzeň-město District into the Plzeň-jih and Plzeň-sever Districts.

The number of marriages per 1 000 inhabitants in the Region rises slightly above the national average, with the highest relative number of marriages reported for Domažlice (5.9) and the Plzeň-město (5.7) Districts. The highest relative number of divorces was reported for the Plzeň-město (3.7) and Tachov (3.4) Districts, while the lowest number for the Klatovy (2.5) and Plzeň-jih (2.5) Districts. The number of live births per 1 000 inhabitants slightly rose above the national average for the first time in 2000 (live births were constantly below the national average throughout the 1990’s).

The highest relative number of birth was reported for the Tachov District. The number of abortions per 100 births ranks the Plzeňský Region fourth in the CR, after the Karlovarský, Ústecký and Liberecký Regions. Compared with other districts, the Tachov (63.5), Plzeň-město (61.2) and Rokycany (58,5) Districts report a relative number of abortions significantly higher than the regional average.

In the view of the age distribution of the population and low birth rate, it can be expected within next years that the population of the Plzeňský Region will still keep the trend of slight decrease. According to Results of the Population and Housing Census (1 March 2001), the Region’s population include more than 95.2% of inhabitants stating Czech nationality. The percentage is by 4.8 percentage points higher than the national average. Other most frequently stated nationalities include Slovak (1.4%), German (0.4%) and Romany (0.1%). Differences from the regional average are seen for the Tachov District where the distribution by nationality was as follows: Czech, Slovak and German (91.0%, 3.3%, and 0.6%, respectively).

The Region’s share in the formation of national GDP accounts for 5.2%. The GDP share per capita ranks the Region second in the CR. This is influenced by high economic performance of the town of Plzeň. Almost one third of industrial businesses are concentrated in this town. Drawing a comparison of volume of sales among the industries in the Region, food industry along with electrical engineering industry appears of superior significance.

In food industry, important enterprises located in the Region include Plzeňský Prazdroj a.s., Stock Plzeň a.s., and Bohemia Sekt Českomoravská vinařská a.s. based in Starý Plzenec. Other still important industrial enterprises influencing the economy of the Region are Škoda Plzeň, Chlumčanské keramické závody, Keramika Horní Bříza, Dioss Nýřany (electrotechnical and telecommunication production).

Its geographic position makes the Region attractive for foreign investors. The biggest ones are the Japan-based works Panasonic AVC Networks Czech s.r.o. manufacturing television screens, the major firms include SY Wiring Technologies Czech s.r.o. focusing on the manufacture of automobile components, Vishay Electronics s.r.o. manufacturing electronic parts, Alcoa Fujikura Czech s.r.o. manufacturing electrotechnical machineries and Borgers CS s.r.o.manufacturing plastic products.

Raw material resources represent the basis for manufacturing. Most important enterprises of the industry focus on mining kaolin, limestone, brick and ceramic clays.

Many industrial enterprises undergo restructuring processes connected with reduction of the number of their staff. Dependence on a single employer should be attenuated by development of small and medium-sized enterprises Cross-border co-operation with Bavaria on the Euroregional basis helps to moderate social-economic differences before the accession into the European Union – it is the Domažlice and Klatovy Districts (Euroregion Šumava), and the Tachov District (Euroregion Egrensis) participating in the European Cross-border Co-operation Program.

The 2002 number of employees in the Region amounted to 149 732, which is more than 27.3% of the Region’s total population. More than 45% of the total number of employees works in industry. Other industries of a major number of employees include education, health and social work and agriculture, forestry and fishing. According to the Business Register, there were registered 117 566 businesses in the Plzeňský Region as at 31 December 2002, the best part of which accounted for unincorporated private entrepreneurs. More than one third of the businesses have their seats in the Plzeň-město District. In terms of employment, a major role is played by 37businesses over 500 employees, of which 15 businesses employ more than 1 000 employees. Organisations and companies of the highest number of employees include: Fakultní nemocnice, Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s., Západočeská univerzita v Plzni (West Bohemia university in Plzeň), Panasonic AVC Networks Czech s.r.o., SY Wiring Technologies Czech s.r.o., Vishay Electronics s.r.o., Keramika Horní Bříza a. s., Chlumčanské keramické závody, Dioss Nýřany a. s., Západočeská energetika, a. s., Škoda Energo s. r. o., City Council of Plzeň Plzeňské městské dopravní podniky a. s.(municipal transport company), Finanční ředitelství v Plzni (Financial authority in Plzeň), Borgers CZ s.r.o and Alcoa Fujikura Czech s.r.o. in Stříbro.

The 2002 average wage of CZK (actual persons) 14 840 ranked the Plzeňský Region fourth in the CR, after the Capital City of Prague, the Středočeský and Moravskoslezský Regions. The wage, however, does not amount to the national average, but is lower by 6.4%. Only one district in the Region, the Plzeň-město District, reported an average wage (CZK 16 511) higher than the national average. Other districts reported average wages lower than the regional average – the lowest wages were reported for the Klatovy, Domažlice and Plzeň-sever Districts (CZK 13 253, CZK 13 382, and CZK 13 426, respectively).

Regarding industrial breakdown, the highest wages are constantly reported for the industries of financial intermediation (CZK 24 710), while the lowest wages for the industries of hotels and restaurants (CZK 10 670), and agriculture, forestry, fishing (CZK 12 028).

The Plzeňský Region ranks among regions of rather low unemployment rate. There were 20 226 job applicants registered by employment offices as at 31 December 2002 in the Region. Compared to other regions, the Plzeňský Region reports third lowest unemployment rate (7.06%).

The highest rates are reported for the Tachov and Rokycany Districts (9.23% and 7.52%, respectively), while the lowest ones for the Plzeň-jih and Domažlice Districts (5.21% and 6.12%, respectively).

There were 2 651 vacancies in the Region (31 December 2001), i.e. 7.6 job applicants per vacancy. The most favourable ratio was achieved by the Domažlice District (6.1 job applicants per vacancy), while the worst ratio was left for the Rokycany District (16.5 job applicants per vacancy). Graduate and juvenile job applicants accounted for 10.2% of the Region’s total number of unemployed.

As for labour force structure, the most difficult to find a job it is for employees with low qualification, persons with some limitations due to their health, school graduates and administrative workers with secondary education. On the contrary, lack of workers is reported from technical professions. It is expected that unemployment will increase due to restructuring; according to a long-term prognosis it will grow up to 10% level within the CR.

There are 12 hospitals with a total 3 597 beds (in all departments). The network of pre-school and school facilities comprises 291 nursery schools, 213 basic schools,14 grammar schools, 34 secondary technical schools, 28 secondary vocational schools and 5 high professional schools.University education in the Region is provided at the Západočeská university in its 7 faculties and there is also non-university type of private school providing higher education in bachelor studies that focus on health specialization (“Vysoká škola v Plzni”).

Culture was offered in the Plzeňský Region in 2002 in 37 permanent cinemas, 43 museums, 37 galleries, 12 theatres and 18 amphitheatres. Readers could visit 590 public libraries (including their branches). Many people are attracted to Plzeň by a music and theatre festival called “Jazz, struny a divadlo na ulici” (Jazz, Strings and Theatre on the Street) that takes place every year.

The Region has favourable conditions for tourism. Plzeň offers many historic landmarks; also its historic underground is interesting (it has 20 km and belongs to the largest in Central Europe). Among the natural points of interest is the Bolevec Lakes System, which is from technical as well as landscape point of view a unique late Gothic work from the 15th century. There is a dense network of recreation and hiking trails. Other often-visited places are the zoological and botanical gardens of the town of Plzeň and hills in its surroundings – Krkavec, Chlum and Sylván with outlook towers.

As for other monuments of cultural heritage, there is Manětín baroque chateau, the Plasy Monastery (a historical site preserve), the remains of Radyně and Buben Gothic castles, Kaceřov Renaissance chateau, remains of Rabštejn nad Střelou castle, Horšovský Týn Renaissance chateau, water castle at Švihov, Kozel chateau, Nebílovy baroque chateau, Lužany chateau, Kladruby monastery, Kašperk castle, remains of Libštejn Gothic castle and many others. Also the town of Domažlice and its traditional summer Chod Festival (in August) attract attention of many visitors.

Excellent conditions for summer and winter recreation are in the Šumava Mountains thanks to hiking trails and cycling tracks. For downhill and cross-country skiing there are many ski slopes that are taken care of as well as tracks for cross-country skiing. For recreation and improvement of health condition one can stay at Konstantinovy Lázně spa that focuses on health precaution, treatment and convalescence of cardiovascular illnesses, locomotive system, digestion and respiratory system. As for other places suitable for recreation there is the Hracholusky Reservoir and the Berounka River often visited by water sportsmen.