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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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

Internet country code [time series]

.pl

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

10.51 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 11

Internet users [time series]

22.452 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 19

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning operations in late 2006; 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 (2009)

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

9.451 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 23

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

46 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 28

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $82.96 billion expenditures: $97.74 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-3.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Central bank discount rate [time series]

4% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 3.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

8.367% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 8.513% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$15.9 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 -$17.16 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$365.4 billion (30 June 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $272.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

34.2 (2008) country comparison to the world: 93 31.6 (1998)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and today stands out as a success story among transition economies. It is the only country in the European Union to maintain positive GDP growth through the 2008-2009 economic downturn. GDP per capita is still much below the EU average, but is similar to that of the three Baltic states. Since 2004, EU membership and access to EU structural funds have provided a major boost to the economy. Unemployment fell rapidly to 6.4% in October 2008, but climbed back to 11.8% for the year 2010, exceeding the EU average by more than 2%. Inflation reached a low of about 2.6% in 2010 due to the global economic slowdown but has since climbed and is expected to remain around 3%, and close to the upper limit of the National Bank of Poland's target rate. Poland's economic performance could improve over the longer term if the country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure and its business environment. An inefficient commercial court system, a rigid labor code, bureaucratic red tape, burdensome tax system, and persistent low-level corruption keep the private sector from performing up to its full potential. Rising demands to fund health care, education, and the state pension system caused the public sector budget deficit to rise to 7.9% of GDP in 2010. The PO/PSL coalition government, which came to power in November 2007, has planned to reduce the budget deficit in 2011 and has also announced its intention to enact business-friendly reforms, increase workforce participation, reduce public sector spending growth, lower taxes, and accelerate privatization. The government has moved slowly on most major reforms, but has sped up privatization.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

132.2 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Electricity - exports [time series]

9.594 billion kWh (2009)

Electricity - imports [time series]

2.191 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

141.8 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Exchange rates [time series]

zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 3.0718 (2010) 3.1214 (2009) 2.3 (2008) 2.81 (2007) 3.1032 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$162.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $142.1 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6%

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 26.9%, France 7.1%, UK 6.4%, Italy 6.3%, Czech Republic 6.2%, Netherlands 4.3%, Russia 4.1% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$468.5 billion (2010 est.)

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

$721.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $694.8 billion (2009 est.) $683.5 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 3.4% industry: 33% services: 63.5% (2010 est.)

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

$18,800 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $18,100 (2009 est.) $17,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

3.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 1.7% (2009 est.) 5.1% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 27.2% (2008)

Imports [time series]

$173.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $149.7 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 15%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9%

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 29.1%, Russia 8.8%, Netherlands 6%, Italy 5.8%, China 5.6%, France 4.5%, Czech Republic 4.2% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

11.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 3.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Labor force [time series]

17.66 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 17.4% industry: 29.2% services: 53.4% (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$190.2 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 34 $135.3 billion (31 December 2009) $90.23 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

17.2 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - exports [time series]

47 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Natural gas - imports [time series]

10.89 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Natural gas - production [time series]

6.084 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

164.8 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Oil - consumption [time series]

564,500 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Oil - exports [time series]

50,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Oil - imports [time series]

531,300 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Oil - production [time series]

28,230 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

96.38 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Population below poverty line [time series]

17% (2003 est.)

Public debt [time series]

52.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 49.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$93.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $79.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$261.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $250.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$36.84 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 $29.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$193.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $186.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$303.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $289.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$151.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $136.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

17.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Unemployment rate [time series]

12.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 11% (2009 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

440 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: near 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 post-Communist 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; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but at substantial cost to business and the government

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

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, Kyoto Protocol, 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%) per capita: 304 cu m/yr (2002)

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]

1,160 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,047 km border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 615 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 420 km, Ukraine 428 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 40.25% permanent crops: 1% other: 58.75% (2005)

Location [time series]

Central Europe, east of Germany

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

flooding

Natural resources [time series]

coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Total renewable water resources [time series]

63.1 cu km (2005)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie, Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie, Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)

Capital [time series]

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 [time series]

adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 25 May 1997; effective 17 October 1997

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Lee FEINSTEIN 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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert KUPIECKI 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 [time series]

chief of state: President Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (since 6 August 2010) head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar PAWLAK (since 16 November 2007) 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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 June and 4 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm election results: Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI elected president; percent of popular vote - Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI 53%, Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI 47%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: A.D. 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, 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]

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 [time series]

bicameral legislature consists of an upper house, the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, the Sejm (460 seats; members elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms); the designation of National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly 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 by October 2015) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 63, PiS 31, PSL 2, independents 4; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PO 39.2%, PiS 29.9%, RD 10%, PSL 8.4%, SLD 8.2%, other 4.3%; seats by party - PO 207, PiS 157, RD 40, PSL 28, SLD 27, German minorities 1 note: one seat is assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejm only

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 [time series]

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

National symbol(s) [time series]

white eagle

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

Civic Platform or PO [Donald TUSK, chairman; Tomasz TOMCZYKIEWICZ, parliamentary caucus leader]; Democratic Caucus of the Democratic Party (SD) or DKP SD [Bogdan LIS, parliamentary caucus leader]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Grzegorz NAPIERALSKI, chairman, parliamentary caucus leader]; Democratic Party or PD [Brygida KUZNIAK, chairwoman]; Democratic Party or SD [Pawel PISKORSKI, chairman]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Ryszard GALLA, representative]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI, chairman; Mariusz BLASZCZAK, parliamentary caucus leader]; League of Polish Families or LPR [Witold BALAZAK, chairman]; Palikot's Movement or RP [Janusz PALIKOT, chairman]; Poland Comes First or PJN [Joanna KLUZIK-ROSTKOWSKA, chairwoman, parliamentary caucus leader]; Polish People's Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK, chairman; Stanislaw ZELICHOWSKI, parliamentary caucus leader]; Samoobrona or SO [Andrzej LEPPER, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [Wojciech FILEMONOWICZ, chairman; Marek BOROWSKI, parliamentary caucus leader]; Union of Labor or UP [Waldemar WITKOWSKI, chairman]

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

All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan GUZ]; Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Stanislaw DZIWISZ, Archbishop Jozef MICHALIK]; Solidarity Trade Union [Piotr DUDA]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. 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 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, but Poland still faces the lingering challenges of high unemployment, underdeveloped and dilapidated infrastructure, and a poor rural underclass. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country largely completed, Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

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

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

Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Aviation Forces, Special Forces (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.71% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-28 years of age for male voluntary or compulsory military service; service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005; conscription is to end in 2012; only soldiers who have completed their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for professional service; as of April 2004, women are only allowed to serve as officers and noncommissioned officers; reserve obligation to age 50 (2009)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.7% (male 2,910,324/female 2,748,546) 15-64 years: 71.6% (male 13,698,363/female 13,834,779) 65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,004,550/female 3,245,026) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.01 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Death rate [time series]

10.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.9% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 65

Ethnic groups [time series]

Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1%; 0.1% note - no country specific models provided (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 200 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

27,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

7.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 76

Hospital bed density [time series]

6.62 beds/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 16

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 6.54 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 170 male: 7.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

Polish (official) 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.05 years country comparison to the world: 76 male: 72.1 years female: 80.25 years (2011 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

WARSAW (capital) 1.71 million; Krakow 756,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea 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 (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 162

Median age [time series]

total: 38.5 years male: 36.8 years female: 40.3 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

18% (2001) country comparison to the world: 24

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.144 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 60

Population [time series]

38,441,588 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.062% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox 1.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 96% of population rural: 80% of population total: 90% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population rural: 20% of population total: 10% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.061 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.3 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 20.7% country comparison to the world: 52 male: 20.2% female: 21.2% (2009)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 61% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

129 (2010) country comparison to the world: 45

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 86 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 6 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 43 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 21 (2010)

Heliports [time series]

7 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 10 country comparison to the world: 115 by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 1 registered in other countries: 104 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Bahamas 32, Cyprus 20, Liberia 13, Malta 22, Norway 2, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Slovakia 2, Vanuatu 7) (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 13,860 km; oil 1,384 km; refined products 777 km; unknown 35 km (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin

Railways [time series]

total: 19,428 km country comparison to the world: 15 broad gauge: 399 km 1.524-m gauge standard gauge: 19,029 km 1.435-m gauge (11,805 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways [time series]

total: 423,997 km country comparison to the world: 15 paved: 295,356 km (includes 765 km of expressways) unpaved: 128,641 km (2008)

Waterways [time series]

3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2009) country comparison to the world: 28