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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 27, FM 27, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

10.9 million (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

underdeveloped and outmoded system; government aims to have 10 million phones in service by the year 2000 domestic: cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations - NA Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions), and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

5 million (1994)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

40 (Russian repeaters 5)

Televisions [time series]

9.6 million

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

potatoes, milk, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry and eggs; pork, beef

Budget [time series]

revenues: $37.1 billion expenditures: $40.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy

Debt - external [time series]

$45.8 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: Western governments and institutions pledged $22 billion in grants and loans during 1990-94, but much of the money has not been disbursed

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

In 1996, Poland continued to make good progress in the difficult transition to a market economy. The transition began on 1 January 1990, when the new democratic government instituted shock therapy by decontrolling prices, slashing subsidies, and drastically reducing import barriers. Although real GDP fell sharply in 1990 and 1991, in 1992 Poland became the first country in the region to resume economic growth with a 2.6% increase. Growth advanced to 3.8% in 1993, 5.2% in 1994, 6.5% in 1995, and 6.0% in 1996. Most of the growth since 1991 has come from the booming private sector, which now accounts for more than 60% of GDP, attributable mostly to the creation of new private firms. Large-scale industry still remains largely in state hands. The trade and current account balances officially are in deficit but in fact both have comfortable surpluses because of large, unrecorded sales to cross-border visitors. The government has promised to extend privatization and social welfare reform and to maintain fiscal and monetary discipline. As for external debt, the burden was sharply reduced by reschedulings and write-offs of both private and official debt during 1991-95.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

29.64 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

3,124 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

127.42 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 2.8158 (January 1997), 2.4250 (1995); note - a currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1 new zloty; 22,723 (1994), 18,115 (1993), 13,626 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $30.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: intermediate goods 38%, machinery and transport equipment 23%, consumer goods 21%, foodstuffs 10%, fuels 7% (1996 est.) partners : Germany 35.7%, Netherlands 5.9%, Russia 5.4%, Italy 4.9% (1994)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $246.3 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture : 6% industry: 40% services: 54% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $6,400 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

6% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $34.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 32%, intermediate goods 20%, chemicals 15%, consumer goods 9%, food 9%, fuels 8% (1996 est.) partners: Germany 27.5%, Italy 8.4%, Russia 6.8%, UK 5.3% (1994)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8.5% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

18.8% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 17.662 million (1996 est.) by occupation: industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%, trade, transport, and communications 14.7%, government and other 25.7% (1992)

Unemployment rate [time series]

13.3% (yearend 1996)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 312,683 sq km land: 304,510 sq km water: 8,173 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

52 00 N, 20 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

1,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 47% permanent crops : 1% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 29% other: 10% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Central Europe, east of Germany

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone : defined by international treaties territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

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

Constitution [time series]

interim "small constitution" came into effect in December 1992 supplementing the heavily amended constitution of 22 July 1952; referendum for a new constitution to be held 25 May 1997

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas Andrew REY embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 telephone: [48] (2) 628-30-41

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission : Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state : President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Wlodimierz CIMOSZEWICZ (since 7 February 1996), Deputy Prime Ministers Roman JAGIELINSKI (since 7 March 1995), Marek BELKA (since NA February 1997), and Miroslaw PIETRIEWICZ (since 7 February 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister appoints and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); prime minister and deputy prime ministers elected by the Sejm; election last held NA 1996 (next to be held September 1997) election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI elected president; percent of legislative vote, second round - Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%, Lech WALESA 48.3%; Wlodimierz CIMOSZEWICZ selected prime minister

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

[1] (202) 328-6271 consulate(s) general : Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

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

[48] (2) 628-82-98 consulate(s) general: Krakow

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

democratic state

Independence [time series]

11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of Judiciary

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 or Zgromadzenie Narodowe consists of the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms) and the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held 14 September 1997); Sejm elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held 14 September 1997) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - post-communist parties (PSL 34, SLD 37), post-Solidarity parties (UW 6, NSZZ 12, BBWR 2), non-communist, non-Solidarity (independents 7, unaffiliated 1, vacant 1); Sejm - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - post-communist parties (SLD 171, PSL 132), post-Solidarity parties (UW 74, UP 41, BBWR 16), non-communist, non-Solidarity (KPN 22) note: four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German parties

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Warsaw

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

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

post-Communist: Democratic Left Alliance or SLD (Social Democracy of Poland) [Jozef OLEKSY]; Polish Peasant Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK] post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union or UW (Democratic Union and Liberal Democratic Congress merged to form Freedom Union) [Leszek BALCEROWICZ]; Christian-National Union or ZCHN [Marian PILKA]; Center Alliance Party or PC [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]; Peasant Alliance or PL [Gabriel JANOWSKI]; Solidarity Electoral Action or AWS [Marian KRZAKLEWSKI]; Union of Labor or UP [Ryszard BUGAJ]; Conservative Party or PK [Aleksander HALL]; Nonparty Reform Bloc or BBWR [Jacek LIPINSKI]; Nonparty Reform Block United for Elections or BBWR-SW [Jerzy GWIZDZ] non-Communist, non-Solidarity : Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland or ROP [Jan OLSZEWSKI]; Confederation for an Independent Poland or KPN [Leszek MOCZULSKI]; German Minority or MN [Gerhardt BARTODZIEJ]; Union of Real Politics or UPR [Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE]

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$3.46 billion (1997)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

2.3% (1997)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 10,321,399 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 8,030,056 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 327,862 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 21% (male 4,235,659; female 4,038,016) 15-64 years : 67% (male 12,842,909; female 13,020,736) 65 years and over: 12% (male 1,698,505; female 2,779,414) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.18 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.82 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Polish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.47 years male : 68.27 years female: 76.91 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

38,615,239 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth : 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.43 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

major illicit producer of amphetamines for the international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe PORTUGAL

Transportation

Airports [time series]

134 (1994 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 69 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m : 3 under 914 m: 7 (1994 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 65 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m : 32 under 914 m: 18 (1994 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 372,479 km paved : 243,229 km (including 257 km of expressways) unpaved: 129,250 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 125 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,952,937 GRT/2,933,887 DWT ships by type: bulk 72, cargo 30, chemical tanker 4, container 7, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 5 note: Poland owns an additional 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,906 DWT operating under the registries of The Bahamas, Cyprus, Liberia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vanuatu (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin, Swinoujscie, Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw

Railways [time series]

total: 24,313 km broad gauge : 652 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 22,243 km 1.435-m gauge (11,648 km electrified; 8,978 km double track) narrow gauge: 1,418 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m, 0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1995)

Waterways [time series]

3,997 km navigable rivers and canals (1991)