Map of Poland | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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Background: Poland gained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite country following the war but one that was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of an independent trade union 'Solidarity' that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. Complete freedom came with the implosion of the USSR in 1991. A 'shock therapy' program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe boosting hopes for early acceptance to the EU. Poland joined the NATO alliance in 1999.


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Location: Central Europe, east of Germany

Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 312,683 km²
Land: 304,510 km²
Water: 8,173 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Mexico

Land boundaries
Total: 2,888 km
Border countries: (6) Belarus 605 km; , Czech Republic 658 km; , Germany 456 km; , Lithuania 91 km; , Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km; , Slovakia 444 km; , Ukraine 428 km

Coastline: 491 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
Extremes highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt

Land use
Arable land: 47%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 13%
Forests and woodland: 29%
Other: 10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,000 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain


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Population: 38,608,929 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 0.05% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 23.8% (1993 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Pole(s)
Adjective: Polish

Ethnic groups: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)

Languages: Polish

Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,921,093; female 3,734,223)
15-64 years: 68% (male 13,076,231; female 13,243,716)
65 years and over: 12% (male 1,762,135; female 2,871,531) (1999 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.05% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 10.61 births/1000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 9.72 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by postcommunist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 12.76 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.06 years
Male: 68.93 years
Female: 77.41 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99%
Male: 99%
Female: 98% (1978 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Poland
Conventional short form: Poland
Local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
Local short form: Polska

Government type: democratic state

Capital: Warsaw

Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular_wojewodztwo; Dolnoslaskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie, Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie

Dependent areas

Independence: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791; Independence Day, November 11 (1918)

Constitution: 16 October 1997; adopted by the National Assembly on 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 23 May 1997

Legal system: mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts although under the new constitution, the Constitutional Tribunal ruling will become final as of October 1999; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December 1995)
Head of government: Prime Minister Jerzy BUZEK (since NA October 1997), Deputy Prime Ministers Leszek BALCEROWICZ (since 31 October 1997), Janusz TOMASZEWSKI (since 31 October 1997)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm
Election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI elected president in 1995; percent of popular vote, second round_Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%, Lech WALESA 48.3%; Jerzy BUZEK selected prime minister in 1997

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe consists of the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms)
Elections: Sejm elections last held 21 September 1997 (next to be held by NA September 2001); Senate_last held 21 September 1997 (next to be held by NA September 2001)
Election results: Sejm_percent of vote by party_AWS 33.8%, SLD 27.1%, UW 13.4%, PSL 7.3%, ROP 5.6%, MN 0.4%, other 12.4%; seats by party_AWS 201, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 27, ROP 6, MN 2; Senate_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_AWS 51, SLD 28, UW 8, ROP 5, PSL 3, independents 5; note_seats by party in the Sejm as of December 1997:AWS 200, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 26, ROP 4, MN 2, other 4
Note: four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German parties

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an indefinite period; Constitutional Tribunal, judges are chosen by the Sejm for nine-year terms

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI
In the us chancery: 2,640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-3,800 through 3,802
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 328-6,271
In the us consulates general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel FRIED
From the us embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-054, Warsaw P1
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20,521-5,010 (pouch)
From the us telephone: [48] (22) 628-30-41
From the us FAX: [48] (22) 625-67-31
From the us consulates general: Krakow

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Poland today stands out as one of the most successful and open transition economies. The privatization of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms marked the rapid development of a private sector now responsible for 70% of economic activity. In contrast to the vibrant expansion of private non-farm activity, the large agriculture component remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. The government's determination to enter the EU as soon as possible affects all aspects of its economic policies. Improving Poland's worsening current account deficit also is a priority. To date, the government has resisted pressure for protectionist solutions and continues to support regional free trade initiatives. The government export strategy emphasizes a more aggressive export assistance program. Warsaw continues to hold the budget deficit to less than 2% of GDP. Further progress on public finance depends mainly on comprehensive reform of the social welfare system and privatization of Poland's remaining state sector. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, and telecommunications) has begun. Long-awaited privatizations in aviation and energy are scheduled for 1999.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 5.6% (1998 est.)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 5.1%
Industry: 26.6%
Services: 68.3% (1997)

Agriculture products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, beef, milk, cheese

Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Industrial production growth rate: 7.9% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 17.4 million (1998 est.)
By occupation industry and construction: 29.9%
By occupation agriculture: 26%
By occupation services: 44.1% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 10% (1998)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 23.8% (1993 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $36.5 billion
Expenditures: $38.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $27.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodities: manufactured goods, chemicals 57%, machinery and equipment 21%, food and live animals 12%, mineral fuels 7%, other 3%
Partners: Germany 32.9%, Russia 8.4%, Italy 5.9%, Ukraine 4.7%, Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.4%

Imports: $38.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodities: manufactured goods, chemical 43%, machinery and equipment 36%, mineral fuels 9%, food and live animals 8%, other 4%
Partners: Germany 24.1%, Italy 9.9%, Russia 6.3%, UK 5.5%, US 4.5%, France 5.9%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $42 billion (1997)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1_3.5409 (January 1999), 3.4754 (1998), 3.2793 (1997), 2.6961 (1996), 2.4250 (1995; note_a currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1 new zloty; 22,723 (1994)


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 134.731 billion kWh (1996)
By source fossil fuel: 97.09%
By source hydro: 2.91%
By source nuclear: 0%
By source other: 0% (1996)

Electricity consumption: 132.291 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity exports: 7.925 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity imports: 5.485 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system: underdeveloped and outmoded system; government aims to have 10 million telephones in service by 2000; the process of partial privatization of the state-owned telephone monopoly has begun
Domestic: cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellular networks
International: satellite earth stations_2 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $3.3 billion (1998)
Percent of gdp: 2.2% (1998)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 92 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 74
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 25
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 38
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With paved runways under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 18
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 9
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Airports with paved runways
Total: 74
Over 3047 m: 2
2438 to 3047 m: 25
15-24 to 2437 m: 38
914 to 1523 m: 6
Under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Airports with unpaved runways
Total: 18
2438 to 3047 m: 1
15-24 to 2437 m: 1
914 to 1523 m: 9
Under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 2,280 km; natural gas 17,000 km (1996)

Railways
Total: 24,313 km
Broad gauge: 652 km 1.520-m gauge
Standard gauge: 22,243 km 1.435-m gauge (11,648 km electrified; 8,978 km double track)
Narrow gauge: 1,418 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m, 0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1996)

Roadways

Waterways: 3,812 km navigable rivers and canals (1996)

Merchant marine
Total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,162,954 GRT/1,866,462 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 53, cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1998 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: major illicit producer of amphetamines for the international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe