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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 209 usable: 167 with permanent-surface runways: 70 with runway over 3,659 m: 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 47 with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 78 note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 360,629 km (excluding farm, factory and forest roads) paved: 220,000 km (220 km of which are limited access expressways) unpaved: 140,629 km (1988)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

3,997 km navigable rivers and canals (1991)

Merchant marine [time series]

173 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,327,855 GRT/3,458,445 DWT, bulk 89, cargo 57, chemical tanker 4, container 8, oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 5 note: Poland owns 3 ships operating under Liberian registry

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 1,986 km; petroleum products 360 km; natural gas 4,600 km (1992)

Ports [time series]

Gdansk, Gdynia, Szczecin, Swinoujscie; principal inland ports are Gliwice on Kanal Gliwicki, Wrocaw on the Oder, and Warsaw on the Vistula

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

26,250 km total; 23,857 km 1.435-meter gauge, 397 km 1.520-meter gauge, 1,996 km narrow gauge; 8,987 km double track; 11,510 km electrified; government owned (1991)

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

severely underdeveloped and outmoded system; cable, open wire and microwave; phone density is 10.5 phones per 100 residents (October 1990); 3.6 million telephone subscribers; exchanges are 86% automatic (1991); broadcast stations - 27 AM, 27 FM, 40 (5 Soviet repeaters) TV; 9.6 million TVs; 1 satellite earth station using INTELSAT, EUTELSAT, INMARSAT and Intersputnik

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

30.8 trillion zlotych, 1.8% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 10,046,993; fit for military service 7,856,680; reach military age (19) annually 316,339 (1994 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 7% of GDP and a much larger share of labor force; 75% of output from private farms, 25% from state farms; productivity remains low by European standards; leading European producer of rye, rapeseed, and potatoes; wide variety of other crops and livestock; major exporter of pork products; normally self-sufficient in food

Budget [time series]

revenues: $24.3 billion expenditures: $27.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.5 billion (1993 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy

Economic aid [time series]

donor: bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed countries (1954-89), $2.2 billion recipient: Western governments and institutions have pledged $8 billion in grants and loans since 1989, but most of the money has not been disbursed

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 31,530,000 kW production: 137 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,570 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 21,080 (January 1994), 18,115 (1993), 13,626 (1992), 10,576 (1991), 9,500 (1990), 1,439.18 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$13.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery 24%, metals 17%, chemicals 12%, fuels and power 11%, food 10% (1992) partners: Germany 31.4%, Netherlands 6.0%, Italy 5.6%, Russia 5.5% (1992)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$47 billion (1993); note - Poland's Western government creditors promised in 1991 to forgive 30% of Warsaw's $35 billion official debt immediately and to forgive another 20% in 1994; foreign banks agreed in early 1994 to forgive 45% of their $12 billion debt claim

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producers of opium for domestic consumption and amphetamines for the international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe

Imports [time series]

$15.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: fuels and power 17%, machinery 36%, chemicals 17%, food 8% (1992) partners: Germany 23.9%, Russia 8.5%, Italy 6.9%, UK 6.7% (1992)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 7% (1993)

Industries [time series]

machine building, iron and steel, extractive industries, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

37% (1993)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $180.4 billion (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$4,680 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

4.1% (1993 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Poland is continuing the difficult transition to a market economy that began on 1 January 1990, when the new democratic government instituted "shock therapy" by decontrolling prices, slashing subsidies, and drastically reducing import barriers. The economy contracted sharply in 1990 and 1991, but in 1992 real GDP grew 1% despite a severe drought. Real GDP expanded about 4% in 1993, the highest rate in Europe except for Albania. About half of GDP now comes from the private sector even though privatization of the large state-owned enterprises is proceeding slowly and most industry remains in state hands. The pattern of industrial production is changing rapidly; output of textiles and construction materials is well above 1990 levels, while output of basic metals remains depressed. Inflation, which had exceeded 50% monthly in late 1989, was down to about 37% for all of 1993, as the government held the budget deficit below 3% of GDP. Unemployment has risen steadily, however, to about 16%. The trade deficit is also a problem, in part due to recession in Western Europe, Poland's main customer. The new government elected in September 1993 is politically to the left of its predecessor but is continuing the reform process.

Unemployment rate [time series]

15.7% (December 1993)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 312,680 sq km land area: 304,510 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than New Mexico

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

491 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: forest damage due to air pollution; improper means for disposal of large amounts of hazardous and industrial waste; severe water pollution from industrial and municipal sources; severe air pollution results from emissions of sulfur dioxide from coal-fired power plants natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

1,000 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 3,114 km, Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 428 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 46% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 28% other: 12%

Location [time series]

Central Europe, between Germany and Belarus

Map references [time series]

Asia, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

49 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska, Bialystok, Bielsko Biala, Bydgoszcz, Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa, Elblag, Gdansk, Gorzow, Jelenia Gora, Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin, Koszalin, Krakow, Krosno, Legnica, Leszno, Lodz, Lomza, Lublin, Nowy Sacz, Olsztyn, Opole, Ostroleka, Pila, Piotrkow, Plock, Poznan, Przemysl, Radom, Rzeszow, Siedlce, Sieradz, Skierniewice, Slupsk, Suwalki, Szczecin, Tarnobrzeg, Tarnow, Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa, Wloclawek, Wroclaw, Zamosc, Zielona Gora

Capital [time series]

Warsaw

Communist origin or linked [time series]

PSL 34, SLD 37

Communist origin or linked [time series]

SLD 171, PSL 132 note: 4 seats were won by ethnic Germans

Communist origin or linked [time series]

Social Democracy (SDRP, party of Poland), Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI; Polish Peasants' Party (PSL), Waldemar PAWLAK; Democratic Left Alliance, Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI

Constitution [time series]

interim "small constitution" came into effect in December 1992 replacing the Communist-imposed Constitution of 22 July 1952; new democratic Constitution being drafted

Legislative branch (Diet (Sejm)) [time series]

elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held no later than NA October 1997); seats - (460 total) post-Solidarity bloc: UW 74, UP 41, BBWR 16 non-Communist, non-Solidarity: KPN 22

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 234-3800 through 3802

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Lech WALESA (since 22 December 1990); election first round held 25 November 1990, second round held 9 December 1990 (next to be held NA November 1995); results - second round Lech WALESA 74.7%, Stanislaw TYMINSKI 25.3% head of government: Prime Minister Waldemar PAWLAK (since 26 October 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; responsible to the president and the Sejm

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[48] (2) 628-8298 consulate(s) general: Krakow, Poznan

Flag [time series]

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

Independence [time series]

11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly (Zgromadzenie Narodowe)

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNDOF, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

powerful Roman Catholic Church; Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance (OPZZ), populist program

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union (WD; UD and Liberal Democratic Congress merged to form Freedom Union), Tadeusz MAZOWIECKI; Christian-National Union (ZCHN), Wieslaw CHRZANOWSKI; Centrum (PC), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI; Peasant Alliance (PL), Gabriel JANOWSKI; Solidarity Trade Union (NSZZ), Marian KRZAKLEWSKI; Union of Labor (UP), Ryszard BUGAJ; Christian-Democratic Party (PCHD), Pawel LACZKOWSKI; Conservative Party, Alexander HALL; Nonparty Bloc for the Support of the Reforms (BBWR) non-Communist, non-Solidarity: Confederation for an Independent Poland (KPN), Leszek MOCZULSKI; Polish Economic Program (PPG), Janusz REWINSKI; Christian Democrats (CHD), Andrzej OWSINSKI; German Minority (MN), Henryk KROL; Union of Real Politics (UPR), Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE; Democratic Party (SD), Antoni MACKIEWICZ; Party X, Stanislaw Tyminski

Legislative branch (Senate (Senat)) [time series]

elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held no later than NA October 1997); seats - (100 total) post-Solidarity bloc: UW 6, NSZZ 12, BBWR 2 non-Communist, non-Solidarity: independents 7, unaffiliated 1, vacant 1 (to be filled in a 19 June election)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

democratic state

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas A. REY embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, Unit 1340, or APO AE 09213-1340 telephone: [48] (2) 628-3041

People

Birth rate [time series]

13.44 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.4 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

17.329 million by occupation: industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%, trade, transport, and communications 14.7%, government and other 24.6% (1992)

Languages [time series]

Polish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.66 years male: 68.64 years female: 76.91 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1978) total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

38,654,561 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.35% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.94 children born/woman (1994 est.)