2011 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 among 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. 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

312,685 sq km 304,255 sq km 8,430 sq km

total

312,685 sq km

water

8,430 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

near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m Rysy 2,499 m

highest point

Rysy 2,499 m

lowest point

near Raczki Elblaskie -2 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

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 Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

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)

11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%) 304 cu m/yr (2002)

per capita

304 cu m/yr (2002)

total

11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%)

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

1,160 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

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

total

3,047 km

Land use

40.25% 1% 58.75% (2005)

arable land

40.25%

other

58.75% (2005)

permanent crops

1%

Location

Central Europe, east of Germany

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

12 nm defined by international treaties

exclusive economic zone

defined by international treaties

territorial sea

12 nm

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

14.7% (male 2,910,324/female 2,748,546) 71.6% (male 13,698,363/female 13,834,779) 13.7% (male 2,004,550/female 3,245,026) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

14.7% (male 2,910,324/female 2,748,546)

15-64 years

71.6% (male 13,698,363/female 13,834,779)

65 years and over

13.7% (male 2,004,550/female 3,245,026) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

10.01 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

10.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population (2008)

urban

100% of population

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

7.1% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1%; 0.1% note - no country specific models provided (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

27,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

6.62 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

6.54 deaths/1,000 live births 7.25 deaths/1,000 live births 5.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

5.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

6.54 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

76.05 years 72.1 years 80.25 years (2011 est.)

female

80.25 years (2011 est.)

total population

76.05 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 99.8% 99.8% 99.7% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.7% (2003 est.)

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

Major cities - population

WARSAW (capital) 1.71 million; Krakow 756,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

intermediate bacterial diarrhea tickborne encephalitis 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 (2009)

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne disease

tickborne encephalitis

Maternal mortality rate

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

38.5 years 36.8 years 40.3 years (2011 est.)

female

40.3 years (2011 est.)

male

36.8 years

total

38.5 years

Nationality

Pole(s) Polish

adjective

Polish

noun

Pole(s)

Net migration rate

-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

18% (2001)

Physicians density

2.144 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

38,441,588 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.062% (2011 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96% of population rural: 80% of population total: 90% of population urban: 4% of population rural: 20% of population total: 10% of population (2008)

rural

20% of population

total

10% of population (2008)

urban

4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

15 years 15 years 16 years (2008)

female

16 years (2008)

male

15 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

1.061 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.62 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.62 male(s)/female

at birth

1.061 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.3 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

20.7% 20.2% 21.2% (2009)

female

21.2% (2009)

total

20.7%

Urbanization

61% of total population (2010) -0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

-0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

61% of total population (2010)

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

Warsaw 52 15 N, 21 00 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

52 15 N, 21 00 E

name

Warsaw

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

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

Country name

Republic of Poland Poland Rzeczpospolita Polska Polska

conventional long form

Republic of Poland

conventional short form

Poland

local long form

Rzeczpospolita Polska

local short form

Polska

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Lee FEINSTEIN Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) [48] (22) 504-2000 [48] (22) 504-2688 Krakow

chief of mission

Ambassador Lee FEINSTEIN

consulate(s) general

Krakow

embassy

Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw

FAX

[48] (22) 504-2688

mailing address

American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)

telephone

[48] (22) 504-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Robert KUPIECKI 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802 [1] (202) 328-6271 Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

chancery

2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert KUPIECKI

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 328-6271

telephone

[1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802

Executive branch

President Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (since 6 August 2010) Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar PAWLAK (since 16 November 2007) 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 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 Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI elected president; percent of popular vote - Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI 53%, Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI 47%

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

chief of state

President Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (since 6 August 2010)

election results

Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI elected president; percent of popular vote - Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI 53%, Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI 47%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar PAWLAK (since 16 November 2007)

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: A.D. 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)

11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates

A.D. 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, 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, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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

civil law system; changes gradually being introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final

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 Senate - last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held by October 2015); Sejm - last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held by October 2015) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 63, PiS 31, PSL 2, independents 4; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PO 39.2%, PiS 29.9%, RD 10%, PSL 8.4%, SLD 8.2%, other 4.3%; seats by party - PO 207, PiS 157, RD 40, PSL 28, SLD 27, German minorities 1 one seat is assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejm only

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 63, PiS 31, PSL 2, independents 4; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PO 39.2%, PiS 29.9%, RD 10%, PSL 8.4%, SLD 8.2%, other 4.3%; seats by party - PO 207, PiS 157, RD 40, PSL 28, SLD 27, German minorities 1

elections

Senate - last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held by October 2015); Sejm - last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held by October 2015)

National anthem

"Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka) Jozef WYBICKI/traditional 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

lyrics/music

Jozef WYBICKI/traditional

name

"Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

National symbol(s)

white eagle

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, parliamentary caucus leader]; Democratic Party or PD [Brygida KUZNIAK, chairwoman]; Democratic Party or SD [Pawel PISKORSKI, chairman]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Ryszard GALLA, representative]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI, chairman; Mariusz BLASZCZAK, parliamentary caucus leader]; League of Polish Families or LPR [Witold BALAZAK, chairman]; Palikot's Movement or RP [Janusz PALIKOT, chairman]; Poland Comes First or PJN [Joanna KLUZIK-ROSTKOWSKA, chairwoman, parliamentary caucus leader]; 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]

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 [Piotr DUDA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$82.96 billion $97.74 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$97.74 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$82.96 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4% (31 December 2010 est.) 3.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.367% (31 December 2010 est.) 8.513% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$15.9 billion (2010 est.) -$17.16 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$365.4 billion (30 June 2011 est.) $272.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.2 (2008) 31.6 (1998)

Economy - overview

Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and today stands out as a success story among transition economies. It is the only country in the European Union to maintain positive GDP growth through the 2008-2009 economic downturn. 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%. Inflation reached a low of about 2.6% in 2010 due to the global economic slowdown but has since climbed and is expected to remain around 3%, and close to the upper limit of the National Bank of Poland's target rate. 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, has planned 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 has moved slowly on most major reforms, but has sped up privatization.

Electricity - consumption

132.2 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

9.594 billion kWh (2009)

Electricity - imports

2.191 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

141.8 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$162.3 billion (2010 est.) $142.1 billion (2009 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%

Exports - partners

Germany 26.9%, France 7.1%, UK 6.4%, Italy 6.3%, Czech Republic 6.2%, Netherlands 4.3%, Russia 4.1% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

3.4% 33% 63.5% (2010 est.)

agriculture

3.4%

industry

33%

services

63.5% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,800 (2010 est.) $18,100 (2009 est.) $17,800 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.8% (2010 est.) 1.7% (2009 est.) 5.1% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$468.5 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$721.3 billion (2010 est.) $694.8 billion (2009 est.) $683.5 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.2% 27.2% (2008)

highest 10%

27.2% (2008)

lowest 10%

3.2%

Imports

$173.7 billion (2010 est.) $149.7 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 15%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9%

Imports - partners

Germany 29.1%, Russia 8.8%, Netherlands 6%, Italy 5.8%, China 5.6%, France 4.5%, Czech Republic 4.2% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

11.1% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2010 est.) 3.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

17.66 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

17.4% 29.2% 53.4% (2005)

agriculture

17.4%

industry

29.2%

services

53.4% (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$190.2 billion (31 December 2010) $135.3 billion (31 December 2009) $90.23 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

17.2 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

47 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

10.89 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

6.084 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

164.8 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

564,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

50,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

531,300 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

28,230 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

96.38 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

17% (2003 est.)

Public debt

52.8% of GDP (2010 est.) 49.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$93.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $79.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$261.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $250.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$36.84 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $29.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$193.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $186.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$303.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $289.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$151.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $136.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

12.1% (2010 est.) 11% (2009 est.)

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

Internet hosts

10.51 million (2010)

Internet users

22.452 million (2009)

Telephone system

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 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 country code - 48; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2009)

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

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

international

country code - 48; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

9.451 million (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

46 million (2010)

Airports

129 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

6 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

39

2,438 to 3,047 m

30

914 to 1,523 m

7

over 3,047 m

4

total

86

under 914 m

6 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

21 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

16

total

43

under 914 m

21 (2010)

Heliports

7 (2010)

Merchant marine

cargo 6, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 1 104 (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)

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)

total

10

Pipelines

gas 13,860 km; oil 1,384 km; refined products 777 km; unknown 35 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin

Railways

19,428 km 399 km 1.524-m gauge 19,029 km 1.435-m gauge (11,805 km electrified) (2010)

standard gauge

19,029 km 1.435-m gauge (11,805 km electrified) (2010)

total

19,428 km

Roadways

423,997 km 295,356 km (includes 765 km of expressways) 128,641 km (2008)

total

423,997 km

unpaved

128,641 km (2008)

Waterways

3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2009)

Manpower available for military service

9,531,855 9,298,593 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

9,298,593 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

9,531,855

Manpower fit for military service

7,817,556 7,766,361 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

7,766,361 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

7,817,556

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

221,889 211,172 (2010 est.)

female

211,172 (2010 est.)

male

221,889

Military branches

Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Aviation Forces, Special Forces (2010)

Polish Armed Forces

Land Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Aviation Forces, Special Forces (2010)

Military expenditures

1.71% of GDP (2005 est.)

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)

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