2008 Edition

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.

Area

total: 312,679 sq km land: 304,459 sq km water: 8,220 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Mexico

Climate

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

Coastline

440 km

Elevation extremes

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

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

Environment - 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 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%) per capita: 304 cu m/yr (2002)

Geographic coordinates

52 00 N, 20 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

1,000 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 3,047 km border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 615 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 420 km, Ukraine 428 km

Land use

arable land: 40.25% permanent crops: 1% other: 58.75% (2005)

Location

Central Europe, east of Germany

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties

Natural hazards

flooding

Natural resources

coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land

Terrain

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Total renewable water resources

63.1 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.2% (male 3,013,109/female 2,849,977) 15-64 years: 71.4% (male 13,681,481/female 13,808,412) 65 years and over: 13.4% (male 1,964,477/female 3,183,240) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

10.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

9.99 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

14,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.41 years male: 71.42 years female: 79.65 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

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 risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Median age

total: 37.6 years male: 35.8 years female: 39.5 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish

Net migration rate

-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

38,500,696 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.045% (2008 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/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 (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

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)

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

Constitution

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

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Poland conventional short form: Poland local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska local short form: Polska

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Victor ASHE embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert KUPIECKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802

Executive branch

chief of state: President Lech KACZYNSKI (since 23 December 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November 2007); Deputy Prime Ministers Waldemar PAWLAK (since 16 November 2007) and Grzegorz SCHETYNA (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 9 and 23 October 2005 (next to be held in the fall 2010); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm election results: Lech KACZYNSKI elected president; percent of popular vote - Lech KACZYNSKI 54%, Donald Tusk 46%

FAX

[1] (202) 328-6271 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

[48] (22) 504-2688 consulate(s) 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

Government type

republic

Independence

11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

International organization participation

Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, 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, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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)

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

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of an upper house, the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, the Sejm (460 seats; members are 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 21 October 2007 (next to be held by October 2011); Sejm elections last held 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 February 2008 - PO 209, PiS 159, LiD 53, PSL 31, German minorities 1, nonaffiliated 7 note: one seat is assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejm only

National holiday

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

Political parties and leaders

Civic Platform or PO [Donald TUSK]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Grzegorz NAPIERALSKI]; Democratic Party or PD [Janusz ONYSZKIEWICZ]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Henryk KROLL]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]; League of Polish Families or LPR [Sylwester CHRUSZCZ]; Left and Democrats or LiD [Wojciech OLEJNICZAK] (a coalition formed by the SLD, PD, SDPL, and UP); Polish People's Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK]; Samoobrona or SO [Andrzej LEPPER]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [Bartosz DOMINIK, acting]; Union of Labor or UP [Andrzej SPYCHALSKI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan GUZ]; Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Stanislaw DZIWISZ, Archbishop Jozef MICHALIK]; Solidarity Trade Union [Janusz SNIADEK]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, dairy

Budget

revenues: $85.39 billion expenditures: $91.16 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.48% (31 December 2006)

Currency (code)

zloty (PLN)

Currency code

PLN

Current account balance

-$15.91 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$169.8 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36 (2005)

Economic aid - recipient

$1.524 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004)

Economy - overview

Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and today stands out as a success story among transition economies. In 2007, GDP grew an estimated 6.5%, 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 is falling rapidly, though at roughly 12.8% in 2007, it remains well above the EU average. Tightening labor markets, and rising global energy and food prices, pose a risk to consumer price stability. In December 2007 inflation reached 4.1% on a year-over-year basis, or higher than the upper limit of the National Bank of Poland's target range. Poland's economic performance could improve further if the country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its business environment. An inefficient commercial court system, a rigid labor code, bureaucratic red tape, 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 present a challenge to the Polish government's effort to hold the consolidated public sector budget deficit under 3.0% of GDP, a target which was achieved in 2007. The PO/PSL coalition government which came to power in November 2007 plans to further reduce the budget deficit with the aim of eventually adopting the euro. The new government has also announced its intention to enact business-friendly reforms, reduce public sector spending growth, lower taxes, and accelerate privatization. However, the government does not have the necessary three-fifths majority needed to override a presidential veto, and thus may have to water down initiatives in order to garner enough support to pass its pro-business policies.

Electricity - consumption

126.2 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

13.11 billion kWh (2007)

Electricity - imports

7.761 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

149.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 98.1% hydro: 1.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)

Exchange rates

zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 2.81 (2007), 3.1032 (2006), 3.2355 (2005), 3.6576 (2004), 3.8891 (2003) note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty

Exports

$144.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2003)

Exports - partners

Germany 25.9%, Italy 6.6%, France 6.1%, UK 5.9%, Czech Republic 5.5%, Russia 4.6% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 4.1% industry: 31.6% services: 64.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$16,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.6% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$420.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$623.1 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 27% (2002)

Imports

$160.2 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 14.8%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9.1% (2003)

Imports - partners

Germany 29%, Russia 8.7%, Italy 6.6%, Netherlands 5.7%, France 5.1%, China 4.2% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

8.9% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

16.86 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 16.1% industry: 29% services: 54.9% (2002)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$149.1 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

16.38 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

45 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

10.12 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

6.025 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

164.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

524,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports

57,920 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

499,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

37,670 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

96.38 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

17% (2003 est.)

Public debt

43.1% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$65.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$19.69 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$143 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$223.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$137.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$93.99 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

12.8% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.pl

Internet hosts

7.808 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

19 (2000)

Internet users

16 million (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

20.2 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has accelerated with market based competition finalized in 2003; fixed-line service, dominated by the former state-owned company, is dwarfed by the growth in wireless telephony domestic: mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and provided by three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning operations in late 2006; cellular coverage is generally good with some gaps in the east; fixed-line service is growing slowly and still 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 (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

10.336 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

41.389 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

40 (2006)

Televisions

13.05 million (1997)

Airports

123 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 83 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 40 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Heliports

7 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 15 by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 2 (Cyprus 1, Nigeria 1) registered in other countries: 98 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Bahamas 17, Cyprus 18, Liberia 13, Malta 24, Norway 3, Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Slovakia 2, Vanuatu 7) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 13,552 km; oil 1,384 km; refined products 777 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin

Railways

total: 23,072 km broad gauge: 629 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 22,443 km 1.435-m gauge (20,555 km operational; 11,910 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways

total: 423,997 km paved: 295,356 km (includes 662 km of expressways) unpaved: 128,641 km (2006)

Waterways

3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 9,741,508 females age 16-49: 9,514,843 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 7,937,840 females age 16-49: 7,949,677 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 257,605 female: 245,832 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

1.71% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for male compulsory military service after January 1st of the year of 18th birthday; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscript service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005; by 2008, plans call for at least 60% of military personnel to be volunteers; 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 (2006)

Polish Armed Forces

Land Forces (includes Navy (Marynarka Wojenna, MW)), Polish Air Force (Sily Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, SPRP) (2008)

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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008