In the early 1990s, it was estimated that about 97% of businesses were under state control. By 2003, the non-private sector accounted for less than 20% of business ownership. In fact, the Czech Republic's economy has advanced so quickly out of communism that the country anticipates accession to the EU as early as 2004.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimates that in 2001 Czech Republic's central government took in revenues of approximately $16.7 billion and had expenditures of $18 billion. Overall, the government registered a deficit of approximately $1.3 billion. External debt totaled $24.6 billion.