Poland

Broadcast media

state-run public TV operates 2 national channels supplemented by 16 regional channels and several niche channels; privately owned entities operate several national TV networks and a number of special interest channels; many 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 many privately owned local radio stations (2007)

Internet country code

.pl

Internet users

total: 25.9 million | percent of population: 67.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Radio broadcast stations

AM 14, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2008)

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 four nation-wide networks; 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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 5.04 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 59.8 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 155 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26

Television broadcast stations

75 (2008)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $92.96 billion | expenditures: $101.5 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2012) | 4% (31 December 2010) | country comparison to the world: 87

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.3% (31 December 2014 est.) | 7.07% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Current account balance

-$6.675 billion (2014 est.) | -$7.014 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Debt - external

$395.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $377.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.1 (2009) | 31.6 (1998) | country comparison to the world: 95

Economy - overview

Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and Poland's economy was the only one in the EU to avoid a recession through the 2008-09 economic downturn. Although EU membership and access to EU structural funds have provided a major boost to the economy since 2004, GDP per capita remains significantly below the EU average. The unemployment rate is now below the EU average. The government of Prime Minister Donald TUSK steered the Polish economy through the economic downturn by skillfully managing public finances and adopting controversial pension and tax reforms to further shore up public finances. While the Polish economy has performed well over the past five years, growth slowed in 2013 and picked back up in 2014. Short-term, the key policy challenge will be to consolidate debt and spending without stifling economic growth. Over the longer term, Poland's economic performance could improve if the country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure, business environment, rigid labor code, commercial court system, government red tape, and burdensome tax system, especially for entrepreneurs. Poland’s long-term challenges include diversifying Poland’s energy mix and sources of supply, as well as stemming the outflow of educated young Poles to other EU Member States, especially in light of a coming demographic contraction as the Solidarity-era baby boom generation ages.

Exchange rates

zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - | 3.139 (2014 est.) | 3.1606 (2013 est.) | 3.26 (2012 est.) | 2.9639 (2011 est.) | 3.0153 (2010 est.)

Exports

$218.9 billion (2014 est.) | $197.8 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2012 est.)

Exports - partners

Germany 27.1%, UK 6.6%, Czech Republic 6.6%, France 5.8%, Italy 4.7%, Netherlands 4.3%, Russia 4.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$546.6 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$954.5 billion (2014 est.) | $923.9 billion (2013 est.) | $908.8 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 25

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 61.1% | government consumption: 17.9% | investment in fixed capital: 18.7% | investment in inventories: 0.6% | exports of goods and services: 49.2% | imports of goods and services: -47.5% | (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.7% | industry: 32% | services: 64.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$25,100 (2014 est.) | $24,300 (2013 est.) | $23,900 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 72

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2014 est.) | 1.7% (2013 est.) | 1.8% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Gross national saving

19% of GDP (2014 est.) | 17.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | 17.1% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.3% | highest 10%: 27.1% (2009 est.)

Imports

$217 billion (2014 est.) | $196.9 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 15%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9% (2011 est.)

Imports - partners

Germany 28%, Russia 9.1%, China 6.5%, Netherlands 5.9%, Italy 5.5%, France 4.2%, Czech Republic 4.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

5.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0% (2014 est.) | 1.1% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Labor force

18.26 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 12.9% | industry: 30.2% | services: 57% (2010)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$177.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $138.2 billion (31 December 2011) | $190.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Population below poverty line

10.6% (2008 est.)

Public debt

45.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | 49.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, the data include subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions | country comparison to the world: 79

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$105.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $106.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Stock of broad money

$306.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $318.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$69.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $68.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$273.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $269.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Stock of domestic credit

$352 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $362.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Stock of narrow money

$181.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $184.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Taxes and other revenues

16.8% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Unemployment rate

8.2% (2014 est.) | 10% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

289.5 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Crude oil - exports

4,269 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Crude oil - imports

489,700 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Crude oil - production

25,220 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Crude oil - proved reserves

156.5 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity - consumption

137.5 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Electricity - exports

12.32 billion kWh (2013) | country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity - from fossil fuels

91.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

2.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - from other renewable sources

5.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity - imports

7.8 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Electricity - installed generating capacity

34.32 million kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Electricity - production

150.9 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Natural gas - consumption

18.23 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - exports

94 million cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas - imports

12.47 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Natural gas - production

6.206 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Natural gas - proved reserves

92 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Refined petroleum products - consumption

511,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Refined petroleum products - exports

68,970 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Refined petroleum products - imports

109,900 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Refined petroleum products - production

553,700 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Area

total: 312,685 sq km | land: 304,255 sq km | water: 8,430 sq km | country comparison to the world: 70

Area - comparative

about twice the size of Georgia; 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

decreased emphasis on heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-communist governments has improved environment; air pollution remains serious because of 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, 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: 11.96 cu km/yr (31%/60%/10%) | per capita: 312.3 cu m/yr (2009)

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

1,157 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

total: 3,071 km | border countries (7): Belarus 418 km, Czech Republic 796 km, Germany 467 km, Lithuania 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 210 km, Slovakia 541 km, Ukraine 535 km

Land use

agricultural land: 48.2% | arable land 36.2%; permanent crops 1.3%; permanent pasture 10.7% | forest: 30.6% | other: 21.2% (2011 est.)

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

61.6 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie (Lodz), Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie (Opole), Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie (Holy Cross), 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

several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997; amended 2006, 2009 (2013)

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 Stephen MULL (since 24 October 2012) | 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 | FAX: [48] (22) 504-2688 | consulate(s) general: Krakow

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ryszard SCHNEPF (since 28 September 2012) | chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802 | FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271 | consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Andrzej DUDA (since 6 August 2015) | head of government: Prime Minister Ewa KOPACZ (since 22 September 2014); Deputy Prime Ministers Janusz PIECHOCINSKI (since 6 December 2012) and Tomasz SIEMONIAK (since 22 September 2014) | cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 and 24 May 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm | election results: Andrzej DUDA elected president; percent of vote in runoff - Andrzej DUDA 51.5%, Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (independent) 48.5%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 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, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, 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 (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Sad Najwyzszy (consists of the president of the Supreme Court and 116 judges organized in criminal, civil, labor and social insurance, and military chambers) | judge selection and term of office: president of the Supreme Court nominated by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court and selected by the president of Poland; other judges nominated by the 25-member National Judiciary Council, and appointed by the president of Poland; judges appointed until retirement, usually at age 65, but tenure can be extended | subordinate courts: Constitutional Tribunal; regional and appellate courts subdivided into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts

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

description: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the Sejm (460 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the designation National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly | note: the German minority is exempt from the 5% threshold requirement for seats to the Sejm | 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 on 25 October 2015) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 63, PiS 29, PSL 2, SP 2, independent 4; seats by party as of 26 February 2015 - PO 63, PiS 31, PSL 2, independent 4; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PO 39.2%, PiS 29.9%, RP 10%, PSL 8.4%, SLD 8.2%, other 4.3%; seats by party - PO 206, PiS 137, RP 43, PSL 28, SLD 25, SP 19, independent 1, German minority 1; seats by party as of 26 February 2015 - PO 202, PiS 132, TR 16, PSL 39, SLD 34, KPSP (coalition of smaller parties) 15, independent 21, German Minority 1

National anthem

name: "Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka) | lyrics/music: 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

National holiday

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

National symbol(s)

white eagle; national colors: white, red

Political parties and leaders

A Just Poland (union of PR and SP) [Jaroslaw GOWIN] | Civic Platform or PO [Ewa KOPACZ,chairperson; Rafal GRUPINSKI, parliamentary caucus leader] | Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Leszek MILLER, chairman, parliamentary caucus leader] | German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Ryszard GALLA, representative] | Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI, chairman; Mariusz BLASZCZAK, parliamentary caucus leader] | New Right Congress or KNP [Michal MARUSIK, chairman] | Poland Together or PR [Jaroslaw GOWIN, chairman] | Polish People's Party or PSL [Janusz PIECHOCINSKI, chairman; Jan BURY, parliamentary caucus leader] | Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [Wojciech FILEMONOWICZ, chairman] | United Poland or SP [Zbigniew ZIOBRO, chairperson] | Your Movement or TR [Janusz PALIKOT, chairman, parliamentary caucus leader]

Political pressure groups and leaders

All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ [Jan GUZ] (trade union) | Independent Self-Governing Trade Union "Solidarity" [Piotr DUDA] | Roman Catholic Church [Archbishop Wojciech POLAK, Archbishop Stanislaw GADECKI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Poland's history as a state began near the middle of the 10th century. By the mid-16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ruled a vast tract of land in central and eastern Europe. During the 18th century, internal disorders weakened the nation, and 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 with over 10 million members. Free elections in 1989 and 1990 won Solidarity control of the parliament and the presidency, bringing the communist era to a close. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country largely completed and with large investments in defense, energy, and other infrastructure, Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 9,531,855 | females age 16-49: 9,298,593 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 7,817,556 | females age 16-49: 7,766,361 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 221,889 | female: 211,172 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Aviation Forces, Special Forces (2013)

Military expenditures

1.95% of GDP (2014) | 1.95% of GDP (2013) | 1.91% of GDP (2012) | 1.83% of GDP (2011) | 1.91% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 44

Military service age and obligation

18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription phased out in 2009-12; service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005; women only allowed to serve as officers and noncommissioned officers (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.7% (male 2,915,674/female 2,753,218) | 15-24 years: 11.52% (male 2,279,404/female 2,163,621) | 25-54 years: 43.56% (male 8,471,593/female 8,326,656) | 55-64 years: 14.54% (male 2,645,228/female 2,962,305) | 65 years and over: 15.67% (male 2,362,421/female 3,682,069) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

9.74 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Death rate

10.19 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 43.8% | youth dependency ratio: 21.5% | elderly dependency ratio: 22.3% | potential support ratio: 4.5% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 99.3% of population | rural: 96.9% of population | total: 98.3% of population | urban: 0.7% of population | rural: 3.1% of population | total: 1.7% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 65

Ethnic groups

Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7% | note: represents ethnicity declared first (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.07% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

6.7% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 89

Hospital bed density

6.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 4.89 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 4.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Languages

Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.3% | note: data represents the language spoken at home; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; Poland ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2009 recognizing Kashub as a regional language, Czech, Hebrew, Yiddish, Belarusian, Lithuanian, German, Armenian, Russian, Slovak, and Ukrainian as national minority languages, and Karaim, Lemko, Romani (Polska Roma and Bergitka Roma), and Tatar as ethnic minority languages (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.4 years | male: 73.53 years | female: 81.5 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.8% | male: 99.9% | female: 99.7% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate | 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 (2013)

Major urban areas - population

WARSAW (capital) 1.722 million; Krakow 760,000 (2015)

Median age

total: 39.9 years | male: 38.2 years | female: 41.6 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Pole(s) | adjective: Polish

Net migration rate

-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 56

Physicians density

2.22 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

38,562,189 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Population growth rate

-0.09% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Religions

Catholic 87.2% (includes Roman Catholic 86.9% and Greek Catholic, Armenian Catholic, and Byzantine-Slavic Catholic .3%), Orthodox 1.3% (almost all are Polish Autocephalous Orthodox), Protestant 0.4% (mainly Augsburg Evangelical and Pentacostal), other 0.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness, Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Muslim, Jewish, Mormon), unspecified 10.8% (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97.5% of population | rural: 96.7% of population | total: 97.2% of population | urban: 2.5% of population | rural: 3.3% of population | total: 2.8% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years | male: 15 years | female: 16 years (2012)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female | total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.33 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 216

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 26.5% | male: 24.1% | female: 30% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Urbanization

urban population: 60.5% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 14,277 (Russia) (2014); 71,302 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015) | stateless persons: 10,825 (2014)

Airports

126 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 47

Airports - with paved runways

total: 87 | over 3,047 m: 5 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 36 | 914 to 1,523 m: 10 | under 914 m: 6 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 39 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 17 | 21 (2013)

Heliports

6 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 9 | by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 1 | registered in other countries: 106 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Bahamas 34, Cyprus 24, Liberia 13, Malta 21, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Vanuatu 9) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 118

Pipelines

gas 14,198 km; oil 1,374 km; refined products 777 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie | river port(s): Szczecin (River Oder) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Swinoujscie

Railways

total: 19,837 km | broad gauge: 395 km 1.524-m gauge | standard gauge: 19,442 km 1.435-m gauge (11,899 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 15

Roadways

total: 412,035 km | paved: 280,719 km (includes 2,418 km of expressways) | unpaved: 131,316 km (2012) | country comparison to the world: 16

Waterways

3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2009) | country comparison to the world: 27