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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

161 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios [time series]

20.2 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

underdeveloped and outmoded system; government aims to have 10 million telephones in service by 2000; the process of partial privatization of the state-owned telephone monopoly has begun domestic: cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellular networks; local exchanges 56.6% digital international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

8.07 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.58 million (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

150 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

13.05 million (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $31.6 billion expenditures: $34.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy

Debt - external [time series]

$44 billion (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$4.312 billion (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Poland today stands out as one of the most successful and open transition economies. The privatization of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms marked the rapid development of a private sector now responsible for 70% of economic activity. In contrast to the vibrant expansion of private non-farm activity, the large agriculture component remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. The government's determination to enter the EU as soon as possible affects most aspects of its economic policies. Improving Poland's worsening current account deficit and tightening monetary policy, now focused on inflation targeting, also are priorities. Warsaw continues to hold the budget deficit to around 2% of GDP. Structural reforms advanced in pensions, health care, and public administration in 1999, but resulted in larger than anticipated fiscal pressures. Further progress on public finance depends mainly on privatization of Poland's remaining state sector. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal and steel) has begun, but work remains to be done. Growth in 2000 should be moderately above 1999.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

121.938 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

8.1 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

4.6 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

134.879 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 96.47% hydro: 3.18% nuclear: 0% other: 0.35% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 4.1696 (December 1999), 3.9671 (1999), 3.4754 (1998), 3.2793 (1997), 2.6961 (1996), 2.4250 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$27.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities [time series]

manufactured goods and chemicals 57%, machinery and equipment 21%, food and live animals 12%, mineral fuels 7% (1997)

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 36%, Italy 5.8%, Russia 5.6%, Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.6%, Ukraine 3.8%, UK 3.8 (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $276.5 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 5% industry: 35% services: 60% (1998)

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

purchasing power parity - $7,200 (1999 est.)

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

3.8% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 4% highest 10%: 22.1% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$40.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities [time series]

manufactured goods and chemicals 43%, machinery and equipment 36%, mineral fuels 9%, food and live animals 8% (1997)

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 25.8%, Italy 9.4%, France 6.5%, Russia 5.1%, UK 4.9%, US 3.8%, Netherlands 3.8% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.5% (1999 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

8.4% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

15.3 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

industry 25%, agriculture 25%, services 50% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

23.8% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (1999 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 312,685 sq km land: 304,465 sq km water: 8,220 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, 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

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, arable land

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie, Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie

Capital [time series]

Warsaw

Constitution [time series]

16 October 1997; adopted by the National Assembly on 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 23 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 Daniel FRIED embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-054, Warsaw P1 mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) telephone: [48] (22) 628-30-41 FAX: [48] (22) 625-67-31 consulate(s) general: Krakow

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Jerzy BUZEK (since 31 October 1997), Deputy Prime Ministers Leszek BALCEROWICZ (since 31 October 1997), Longin KOMOLOWSKI (since 19 October 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president 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 appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI elected president; percent of popular vote, second round - Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%, Lech WALESA 48.3%

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]

republic

Independence [time series]

11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate), 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 the Judiciary for an indefinite period; Constitutional Tribunal, judges are chosen by the Sejm for nine-year terms

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 although under the new constitution, the Constitutional Tribunal ruling will become final as of October 1999; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe consists of the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms) elections: Sejm elections last held 21 September 1997 (next to be held by NA September 2001); Senate - last held 21 September 1997 (next to be held by NA September 2001) election results: Sejm - percent of vote by party - RS-AWS 33.8%, SLD 27.1%, UW 13.4%, PSL 7.3%, ROP 5.6%, MNSO 0.4%, other 12.4%; seats by party - AWS 201, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 27, ROP 6, MNSO 2; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AWS 51, SLD 28, UW 8, ROP 5, PSL 3, independents 5; note - seats by party in the Sejm as of January 2000: AWS 186, SLD 159, UW 60, PSL 26, PP 7, ROP 4, MNSO 2, KPN-O 5, PPS-RLP 3, other 8 note: two seats are assigned to ethnic minority parties

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791); Independence Day, November 11 (1918)

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

Center Alliance Party or PC [Antoni TOKARCZUK]; Christian National Union or ZCHN [Marian PILKA]; Confederation for an Independent Poland or KPN [Leszek MOCZULSKI]; Confederation for an Independent Poland-Patriotic Camp or KPN-OP (KPN-Fatherland or KPN-O is a small group within the KPN-OP) [Adam SLOMKA]; Conservative Peasant Party or SKL [Miroslaw STYCZEN]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD (Social Democracy of Poland) [Leszek MILLER]; Freedom Union or UW [Leszek BALCEROWICZ]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Henryk KROLL]; Labor Party or PP [leader NA]; Labor Union or UP [Marek POL]; Movement of Polish Working People or RLP [leader NA]; Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland or ROP [Jan OLSZEWSKI]; Polish Christian Democrats or PPChD [Antoni TOKARCZUK]; Polish Peasant Party or PSL [Jaroslaw KALINOWSKI]; Polish Socialist Party or PPS [Piotr IKONOWICZ]; Realpolitik Union or UPR [Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE]; Solidarity Electoral Action or AWS (includes RS-AWS and Solidarity) [Marek KOTLARSKI]; Social Movement-Solidarity Electoral Action or RS-AWS [Jerzy BUZEK] note: post-Communist - SLD and PSL; post-Solidarity - UW, Freedom Union, ZCHN, PC, PL, RS AWS, UP, and PK; non-Communist, non-Solidarity - ROP, KPN, MN, and UPR

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 an independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. Complete freedom came with the implosion of the USSR in 1991. 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 early acceptance to the EU. Poland joined the NATO alliance in 1999.

Military

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

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$3.2 billion (FY00)

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

2.1% (FY00)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 10,454,717 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 8,138,723 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 336,293 (2000 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 19% (male 3,767,454; female 3,587,822) 15-64 years: 69% (male 13,201,825; female 13,352,950) 65 years and over: 12% (male 1,809,839; female 2,926,133) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.13 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.99 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

9.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

Polish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.19 years male: 69.01 years female: 77.6 years (2000 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]

-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

38,646,023 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.04% (2000 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: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.38 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

major illicit producer of amphetamines for the international market; minor transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Transportation

Airports [time series]

123 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 85 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 42 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 20 (1999 est.)

Heliports [time series]

3 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 381,046 km paved: 249,966 km (including 268 km of expressways) unpaved: 131,080 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,120,165 GRT/1,799,569 DWT ships by type: bulk 50, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1999 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil and petroleum products 2,280 km; natural gas 17,000 km (1996)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 23,420 km broad gauge: 646 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 21,639 km 1.435-m gauge (11,626 km electrified; 8,978 km double track) narrow gauge: 1,135 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m, 0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1998)

Waterways [time series]

3,812 km navigable rivers and canals (1996)