Background: Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795 Russia Prussia and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union 'Solidarity' that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A 'shock therapy' program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe but Poland still faces the lingering challenges of high unemployment underdeveloped and dilapidated infrastructure and a poor rural underclass. Solidarity suffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic market-oriented country largely completed Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.

Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N 20 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 312,685 km²
Rank: 69
Land: 304,255 km²
Water: 8,430 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Mexico

Land boundaries
Total: 3,047 km
Border countries: (6) Belarus 605 km; Czech Republic 615 km; Germany 456 km; Lithuania 91 km; Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km; Slovakia 420 km; Ukraine 428 km

Coastline: 440 km

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

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

Natural resources: coal sulfur copper natural gas silver lead salt amber arable land

Land use
Arable land: 40.25%
Permanent crops: 1%
Other: 58.75% (2005)

Irrigated land: 1000 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 63.1 km³ (2005)

Natural hazards: flooding

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

Population: 38,463,689 (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 34
Growth rate: -0.053% (2010 est.)
Growth rate rank: 203
Below poverty line: 17% (2003 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Pole
Adjective: Polish

Ethnic groups: Polish 96.7% German 0.4% Belarusian 0.1% Ukrainian 0.1% other and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)

Languages: Polish (official) 97.8% other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)

Religions: Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing) Eastern Orthodox 1.3% Protestant 0.3% other 0.3% unspecified 8.3% (2002)

Age structure
0-14 years: 15%
15-64 years: 71.6% (male 13,713,078/female 13,845,251)
65 years and over: 13.4% (male 1,966,406/female 3,190,911) (2010 est.)

Median age
Total: 38.2 years
Male: 36.5 years
Female: 40 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.053% (2010 est.)
Rank: 203

Birth rate: 10.04 births/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 195

Death rate: 10.1 deaths/1000 population (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 56

Net migration rate: -0.47 migrant(s)/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 141

Urbanization
Urban population: 61% of total population
Rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Environment
Current issues: situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist 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; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code but at substantial cost to business and the government
International agreements party to: Air Pollution Antarctic-Environmental Protocol Antarctic-Marine Living Resources Antarctic Seals Antarctic Treaty Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Kyoto Protocol Law of the Sea Marine Dumping Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.061 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 6.66 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 171
Male: 7.38 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 5.9 deaths/1000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.85 years
Rank: 75
Male: 71.88 years
Female: 80.06 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.29 children born/woman (2010 est.)
Rank: 209

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 128
People living with hivaids: 20,000 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 80
Deaths: fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
Deaths rank: 119

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: intermediate
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis
Note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible ri

Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2007)
Rank: 78

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.8%
Male: 99.8%
Female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 15 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 16 years (2007)

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

Government type: republic

Capital
Name: Warsaw
Geographic coordinates: 52 15 N 21 00 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (wojewodztwa singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia) Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania) Lodzkie Lubelskie (Lublin) Lubuskie (Lubusz) Malopolskie (Lesser Poland) Mazowieckie (Masovia) Opolskie Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia) Podlaskie Pomorskie (Pomerania) Slaskie (Silesia) Swietokrzyskie Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria) Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland) Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)

Independence: 11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday: Constitution Day 3 May (1791)

Constitution: adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 25 May 1997; effective 17 October 1997

Legal system: based on a 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 but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI
Head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar PAWLAK (since 16 November 2007)
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 (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 June and 4 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm
Election results: Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI elected president; percent of popular vote - Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI 53% Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI 47%

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of an upper house the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms) and a lower house the Sejm (460 seats; members elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms); the designation of National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly
Elections: Senate - last held on 21 October 2007 (next to be held by October 2011); Sejm - last held on 21 October 2007 (next to be held by October 2011)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 60 PiS 39 independents 1; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PO 41.5% PiS 32.1% LiD 13.2% PSL 8.9% other 4.3%; seats by party - PO 209 PiS 166 LiD 53 PSL 31 German minorities 1; note - seats by party as of December 2010 - PO 203 PiS 147 SLD 44 PSL 31 PJN 17 SPDL 4 DKP_SD 3 German minorities 1 Independents 9 Vacant 1
Note: one seat is assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejm only

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: Civic Platform or PO [Donald TUSK chairman; Tomasz TOMCZYKIEWICZ parliamentary caucus leader]; Democratic Caucus of the Democratic Party (SD) or DKP SD [Bogdan LIS parliamentary caucus leader]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Grzegorz NAPIERALSKI chairman parlimentary caucus leader]; Democratic Party or PD [Brygida KUZNIAK chairwoman]; Democratic Party or SD [Pawel PISKORSKI chairman]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Richard GALL representative]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI chairman; Mariusz BLASZCZAK parliamentary caucus leader]; League of Polish Families or LPR [Witold BALAZAK chairman]; Poland is the most important or PJN [Joanna KLUZIK-ROSTKOWSKA president]; Polish People's Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK chairman; Stanislaw ZELICHOWSKI parliamentary caucus leader]; Samoobrona or SO [Andrzej LEPPER chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [Wojciech FILEMONOWICZ chairman; Marek BOROWSKI parliamentary caucus leader]; Union of Labor or UP [Waldemar WITKOWSKI chairman]

International organization participation: Arctic Council (observer) Australia Group BIS BSEC (observer) CBSS CD CE CEI CERN EAPC EBRD EIB ESA (cooperating state) EU FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt ICRM IDA IEA IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA MINURSO MONUSCO NATO NEA NSG OAS (observer) OECD OIF (observer) OPCW OSCE PCA Schengen Convention UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR UNIDO UNMIL UNMIS UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO ZC

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Robert KUPIECKI
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 consulate general: Chicago Los Angeles New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Lee FEINSTEIN
From the us embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw
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) 504-2000
From the us fax: [48] (22) 504-2,688
From the us consulate general: Krakow

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; colors derive from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field
Note: similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

National anthem
Name: 'Mazurek Dabrowskiego'
Lyricsmusic: Jozef WYBICKI/traditional
Note: adopted 1927; the anthem commonly known as 'Jeszcze Polska nie zginela' (Poland Has Not Yet Perished) was written in 1797; the lyrics resonate strongly with Poles because they reflect the numerous occasions in which the nation's lands have been occupied

Economy overview: Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and today stands out as a success story among transition economies. Before 2009 GDP had grown about 5% annually based on rising private consumption a jump in corporate investment and EU funds inflows. GDP per capita is still much below the EU average but is similar to that of the three Baltic states. Since 2004 EU membership and access to EU structural funds have provided a major boost to the economy. Unemployment fell rapidly to 6.4% in October 2008 but climbed back to 11.8% for the year 2010 exceeding the EU average by more than 2%. In 2008 inflation reached 4.2% more than the upper limit of the National Bank of Poland's target range but fell to 2.4% in 2010 due to global economic slowdown. Poland's economic performance could improve over the longer term if the country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure and its business environment. An inefficient commercial court system a rigid labor code bureaucratic red tape burdensome tax system and persistent low-level corruption keep the private sector from performing up to its full potential. Rising demands to fund health care education and the state pension system caused the public sector budget deficit to rise to 7.9% of GDP in 2010. The PO/PSL coalition government which came to power in November 2007 plans to reduce the budget deficit in 2011 and has also announced its intention to enact business-friendly reforms increase workforce participation reduce public sector spending growth lower taxes and accelerate privatization. The government however has moved slowly on major reforms. The legislature passed a law significantly limiting early retirement benefits. A health-care bill also passed through the legislature but the legislature fail

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 21
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 108

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 65
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3.9%
Industry: 31.8%
Services: 63% (2010 est.)

Agriculture products: potatoes fruits vegetables wheat; poultry eggs pork dairy

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

Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (2010 est.)
Rank: 48

Labor force: 17 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 35
By occupation agriculture: 17.4%
By occupation industry: 29.2%
By occupation services: 53.4% (2005)

Unemployment rate: 11% (2009 est.)
Rank: 126

Population below poverty line: 17% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3%
Highest 10: 27.2% (2005)

Distribution of family income gini index: 31.6 (1998)
Rank: 87

Public debt: 46.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 50

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.5% (2009 est.)
Rank: 72

Central bank discount rate: 5% (31 December 2008)
Rank: 89

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 5.72% (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 142

Stock of narrow money: $124.6 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Rank: 24

Stock of broad money: $229.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 37

Stock of domestic credit: $264.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 35

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 38

Current account balance: -$9.598 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 177

Exports: $142.1 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 28
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment 37.8% intermediate manufactured goods 23.7% miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1% food and live animals 7.6%
Partners: Germany 26.06% Italy 6.84% France 6.78% UK 6.38% Czech Republic 5.85% Netherlands 4.14% (2009)

Imports: $146.4 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 23
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment 38% intermediate manufactured goods 21% chemicals 15% minerals fuels lubricants and related materials 9%
Partners: Germany 28.08% Russia 8.65% Italy 6.5% Netherlands 5.59% China 5.27% France 4.6% Czech Republic 4.05% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $79.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 15

Debt external: $239.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 27

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $182.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 22

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $26.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 37

Exchange rates: zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 3.0718 (2010) 3.1214 (2009) 2.3 (2008) 2.81 (2007) 3.1032 (2006)

Electricity
Production: 149.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 23
Consumption: 129.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 25
Exports: 9.703 billion kWh (2008)
Imports: 8.48 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 5.842 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 48
Consumption: 16.33 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 40
Exports: 40 million m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 43
Imports: 9.954 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 21
Proven reserves: 164.8 billion m³ (1 January 2010 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 48

Telephones
Main lines in use: 9.556 million (2009)
Main lines in use rank: 23
Mobile cellular: 44.553 million (2009)
Mobile cellular rank: 28

Telephone system
General assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has accelerated with market-based competition; fixed-line service dominated by the former state-owned company is dwarfed by the growth in mobile-cellular services
Domestic: mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and provided by three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning operations in late 2006; coverage is generally good with some gaps in the east; fixed-line service lags in rural areas
International: country code - 48; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat Eutelsat Inmarsat and Intersputnik (2009)

Broadcast media: state-run public television operates 2 national channels supplemented by 16 regional channels and several niche channels; privately-owned entities operate several national TV broadcast networks and a number of special interest channels; large number of privately-owned channels broadcasting locally; roughly half of all households are linked to either satellite or cable TV systems providing access to foreign television networks; state-run public radio operates 5 national networks and 17 regional radio stations; 2 privately-owned national radio networks several commercial stations broadcasting to multiple cities and a large number of privately-owned local radio stations (2007)

Internet
Country code: .pl
Hosts: 10.51 million (2010)
Hosts rank: 11
Users: 22.452 million (2009)
Users rank: 19

Military expenditures: 1.71% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 87

Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for male voluntary or compulsory military service; service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005; conscription is to end in 2012; only soldiers who have completed their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for professional service; as of April 2004 women are only allowed to serve as officers and noncommissioned officers; reserve obligation to age 50 (2009)

Airports: 129 (2010)
Rank: 47
With paved runways total: 86
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 30
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 39
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With paved runways under 914 m: 6 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 43
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 16
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 21 (2010)

Heliports: 7 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 13,631 km; oil 1384 km; refined products 777 km (2009)

Railways
Total: 22,314 km
Rank: 12
Broad gauge: 633 km 1.524-m gauge
Standard gauge: 21,681 km 1.435-m gauge (11,769 km electrified) (2007)

Roadways
Total: 423,997 km
Rank: 15
Paved: 295,356 km (includes 765 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 128,641 km (2008)

Waterways: 3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2009)
Rank: 28

Merchant marine
Total: 10
Rank: 116
By type: cargo 6 chemical tanker 3 passenger/cargo 1
Registered in other countries: 104 (Antigua and Barbuda 2 Bahamas 32 Cyprus 20 Liberia 13 Malta 22 Norway 2 Panama 3 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1 Slovakia 2 Vanuatu 7) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Gdansk Gdynia Swinoujscie Szczecin

Disputes international: as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine

Illicit drugs: despite diligent counternarcotics measures and international information sharing on cross-border crimes a major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe