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
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, boosting hopes for acceptance to the EU. Poland joined
the NATO alliance in 1999.
Government type: republic
Capital: Warsaw
Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Geography of Poland
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E
Area:
total: 312,685 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km
Land boundaries:
total: 2,888 km
border countries: 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
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, arable
land
Land use:
arable land: 47%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 29%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1993 est.)
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.
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, 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
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and
the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
More Geography
People of Poland
Poland today is ethnically almost homogeneous (98% Polish), in contrast
with the World War II period, when there were significant ethnic
minorities 4.5 million Ukrainians, 3 million Jews, 1 million Belorussians,
and 800,000 Germans. The majority of the Jews were murdered during the
German occupation in World War II, and many others emigrated in the
succeeding years.
Most Germans left Poland at the end of the war, while many Ukrainians
and Belorussians lived in territories incorporated into the then-U.S.S.R.
Small Ukrainian, Belorussian, Slovakian, and Lithuanian minorities reside
along the borders, and a German minority is concentrated near the
southwest city of Opole.
Population: 38,635,144 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.39%
15-64 years: 69.17%
65 years and over: 12.44%
Population growth rate: -0.03%
Birth rate: 10.2 births/1,000 population
Death rate: 9.98 deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: 9.39 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.42 years
male: 69.26 years
female: 77.82 years
Total fertility rate: 1.37 children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5%
(1990 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox,
Protestant, and other 5%
Languages: Polish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1978 est.)
SOURCES: The World Factbook, U.S. Department of State |