Czechoslovakia was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1918 until its peaceful dissolution in 1992. It covered an area of about 78,866 square kilometers and had a population of around 15 million people at the time of its breakup. The country was formed after World War I from parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, comprising what are now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The capital city was Prague. Czechoslovakia played a significant role in European history, with periods of democracy and communist rule during the 20th century. In 1993, Czechoslovakia split into two independent nations: the Czech Republic and Slovakia.