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Poland
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.
Location :
Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic Coordinates Center :
52 00 N, 20 00 E (Latitude, Longtitude)
Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :
| West | 14.12 |
| North | 54.84 |
| East | 24.15 |
| South | 49.01 |
Map references :
Europe
Area :
| total | 312 685 | square km |
| land | 304 255 | square km |
| water | 8 430 | square km |
Land boundaries :
| total | 3 047 | km |
| Belarus (by) | 605 | km |
| Czech Republic (cz) | 615 | km |
| Germany (de) | 456 | km |
| Lithuania (lt) | 91 | km |
| Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) | 432 | km |
| Slovakia (sk) | 420 | km |
| Ukraine (ua) | 428 | km |
Coastline :
440.00 km
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 | 2 | metres |
| highest point | 2 499 | metres |
Natural resources :
| amber | arable land |
| coal | copper |
| lead | natural gas |
| salt | silver |
| sulfur |
Land use :
| arable land | 40.25 | % |
| permanent crops | 1.00 | % |
| other | 58.75 | % |
Irrigated land :
1 000 square km
Total renewable water resources :
63 cubic km
Natural hazards :
| flooding |
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 :
| Air Pollution | Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides |
| Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants | Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 |
| Antarctic Seals | Antarctic Treaty |
| Antarctic-Environmental Protocol | Antarctic-Marine Living Resources |
| 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 |
Population :
38 482 919
Indicators :
| Growth rate | -0.05 | % |
| Birth rate | 10.04 | births/1,000 population |
| Total fertility rate | 1.28 | children born/woman |
| Death rate | 10.05 | deaths/1,000 population |
| Net migration rate | -0.47 | migrant(s)/1,000 population |
Age structure :
| 0-14 years | 15.00 | % |
| 15-64 years | 71.60 | % |
| 65 years and over | 13.40 | % |
Median age :
| total | 37.90 | years |
| male | 36.10 | years |
| female | 39.70 | years |
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 |
Health :
| Infant mortality rate | 6.80 | deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth - total population | 75.63 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - male | 71.65 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - female | 79.85 | years |
| HIV-AIDS adult prevalence rate | 0.10 | % |
| HIV-AIDS people living with HIV-AIDS | 20 000 | |
| HIV-AIDS deaths | 200 |
Religions :
| Roman Catholic | 89.80 | % |
| Eastern Orthodox | 1.30 | % |
| Protestant | 0.30 | % |
| other | 0.30 | % |
| unspecified | 8.30 | % |
Languages :
| Polish | 97.80 | % |
Literacy :
| total population | 99.80 | % |
| male | 99.80 | % |
| female | 99.70 | % |
Country name :
| conventional long form | Republic of Poland |
| conventional short form | Poland |
| local long form | Rzeczpospolita Polska |
| local short form | Polska |
Country Codes :
| ISO 3166 | PL |
| ISO Numeric | 616 |
| ISO3 | POL |
| FIPS | PL |
| ccTLD | pl |
| English | Poland |
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 | 1.00 |
| daylight saving time | 1 |
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 | IOC |
| IOM | IPU |
| ISO | ITSO |
| ITU | ITUC |
| Interpol | MIGA |
| MINURCAT | MINURSO |
| MONUC | NATO |
| NSG | OAS (observer) |
| OECD | OIF (observer) |
| OPCW | OSCE |
| PCA | SECI (observer) |
| Schengen Convention | UN |
| UNCTAD | UNDOF |
| UNESCO | UNHCR |
| UNIDO | UNIFIL |
| UNMIL | UNMIS |
| UNOCI | UNWTO |
| UPU | WCO |
| WEU (associate) | WFTU |
| WHO | WIPO |
| WMO | WTO |
| ZC |
Independence :
1918-11-11
National holiday :
Constitution Day
1791-05-03
Executive branch :
| President Lech KACZYNSKI | Prime Minister Donald TUSK |
Legislative branch :
| PO | 41.50 | % |
| PiS | 32.10 | % |
| LiD | 13.20 | % |
| PSL | 8.90 | % |
| other | 4.30 | % |
GDP - Gross Domestic product :
| PPP - Purchasing Power Parity | 686 200 000 000 | $ |
| Official Exchange Rate | 423 000 000 000 | |
| RGR - Real Growth rate | 1.10 | % |
| PPP - per capita | 17 800 | $ |
GDP Composition by sector :
| agriculture | 4.60 | % |
| industry | 28.10 | % |
| services | 67.30 | % |
Labor force - by occupation :
| agriculture | 17.40 | % |
| industry | 29.20 | % |
| services | 53.40 | % |
Other Indicators :
| Labor force | 16 990 000 | people |
| Unemployment rate | 11.00 | % |
| Population below poverty line | 17.00 | % |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 34.90 | |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.40 | % |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 20.70 | % of GDP |
| Current account balance | - 3 585 000 000 | $ |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 67 290 000 000 | $ |
| Debt external | 201 200 000 000 | $ |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 23 310 000 000 | $ |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 167 900 000 000 | $ |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 90 230 000 000 | $ |
| Military expenditures | 1.71 | % of GDP |
| Public debt | 47.50 | % of GDP |
Household income or consumption by percentage share :
| lowest 10% | 3.00 | % |
| highest 10% | 27.20 | % |
Budget :
| revenues | 83 680 000 000 | $ |
| expenditures | 93 470 000 000 | $ |
Agriculture - products :
| dairy | eggs |
| fruits | pork |
| potatoes | poultry |
| vegetables | wheat |
Industries :
| beverages | chemicals |
| coal mining | food processing |
| glass | iron |
| machine building | shipbuilding |
| steel | textiles |
Energy :
| Electricity Production | 149 100 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Consumption | 129 300 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Exports | 9 703 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Imports | 8 480 000 000 | kWh |
| Oil Production | 35 560 | bbl/day |
| Oil Consumption | 544 800 | bbl/day |
| Oil Exports | 67 340 | bbl/day |
| Oil Imports | 595 400 | bbl/day |
| Oil Proved reserves | 96 380 000 | bbl |
| Natural gas Production | 5 719 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Natural gas Consumption | 16 550 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Natural gas Exports | 39 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Natural gas Imports | 11 200 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Electricity Exports | 164 800 000 000 | cubic metres |
Value :
134 699 999 999 $
Partners :
| Germany (de) | 24.40 | % |
| France (fr) | 6.00 | % |
| Italy (it) | 5.90 | % |
| United Kingdom (gb) | 5.60 | % |
| Czech Republic (cz) | 5.50 | % |
| Russia (ru) | 5.20 | % |
Commodities :
| food and live animals | intermediate manufactured products |
| machinery and transportation equipment | manufactured products |
Value :
141 700 000 000 $
Partners :
| Germany (de) | 28.00 | % |
| Russia (ru) | 9.70 | % |
| Italy (it) | 6.10 | % |
| Netherlands (nl) | 5.30 | % |
| France (fr) | 4.70 | % |
| China (cn) | 4.40 | % |
Commodities :
| and related materials | chemicals |
| fuels | intermediate manufactured products |
| lubricants | machinery and transportation equipment |
| minerals |
Currency-code :
PLN
Currency-name :
zloty
Communications :
| Telephons Main lines in use | 10 336 000 | |
| Telephons Mobile, Cellular | 44 004 000 | |
| FM Radio broadcast stations | 63 | |
| Television broadcast stations | 75 | |
| Internet Country code (ccTLD) | pl | |
| Internet Hosts | 8 906 000 | |
| Internet Users | 18 679 000 |
Transportation :
| Airports with paved runways | 84 | |
| Heliports | 7 | |
| Pipelines - gas | 13 631 | km |
| Pipelines - oil | 1 384 | km |
| Pipelines - refined products | 777 | km |
| Roadways - total | 423 997 | km |
| Roadways - expressways | 662 | km |
| Roadways - paved | 295 356 | km |
| Roadways - unpaved | 128 641 | km |
| Railways | 22 314 | km |
| Waterways | 3 997 | km |
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