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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.pl

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

13.265 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 12

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 (2011)

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

6.125 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 28

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

50.84 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 27

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $92.5 billion expenditures: $92.47 billion (2013 est.)

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

0% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Central bank discount rate [time series]

4.25% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 4% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

6.9% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 8.73% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$11.06 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 -$18.14 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$365.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $364.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

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

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

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 while unemployment continues to exceed 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 2012 and 2013, in part due to the ongoing economic difficulties in the euro zone. 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 3.175 (2013 est.) 3.2565 (2012 est.) 3.0153 (2010 est.) 3.1214 (2009) 2.3 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$202.3 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $191 billion (2012 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%, UK 7%, Czech Republic 6.5%, France 6%, Russia 5.2%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 4.6% (2012)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$513.9 billion (2013 est.)

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

$814 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $803.3 billion (2012 est.) $788.6 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 61.5% government consumption: 17.6% investment in fixed capital: 18.3% investment in inventories: 0.6% exports of goods and services: 46.7% imports of goods and services: -44.7% (2013 est.)

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

agriculture: 4% industry: 33.3% services: 62.7% (2013 est.)

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

$21,100 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $20,800 (2012 est.) $20,500 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

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

1.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 1.9% (2012 est.) 4.5% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

16.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 17.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 16.7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$207.4 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $197.7 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 27.3%, Russia 12.2%, Netherlands 5.9%, China 5.4%, Italy 5.2%, Czech Republic 4.3%, France 4.2% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5.2% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 3.7% (2012 est.)

Labor force [time series]

18.22 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

10.6% (2008 est.)

Public debt [time series]

48.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 48.3% of GDP (2012 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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$107.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $108.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$291.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $290.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$69.78 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $70.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

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

$248.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $246.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$344.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 $328.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$162 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $156.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

18% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 10.1% (2012 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

307.9 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

3,615 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Crude oil - imports [time series]

547,900 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Crude oil - production [time series]

27,680 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

156.5 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - consumption [time series]

155 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Electricity - exports [time series]

12.64 billion kWh (2012) country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

89.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

2.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

3.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Electricity - imports [time series]

9.803 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

33.36 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Electricity - production [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

14.38 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Natural gas - exports [time series]

25.01 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Natural gas - imports [time series]

37.38 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Natural gas - production [time series]

6.193 billion cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

92 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

576,600 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

68,970 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

137,700 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

636,000 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

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, 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: 11.96 cu km/yr (31%/60%/10%) per capita: 312.3 cu m/yr (2009)

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]

1,157 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,071 km border countries: 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 [time series]

arable land: 35.49% permanent crops: 1.25% other: 63.26% (2011)

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]

61.6 cu km (2011)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [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]

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

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 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 [time series]

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 [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 Ministers Janusz PIECHOCINSKI (since 6 December 2012) and Elzbieta BIENKOWSKA (since 27 November 2013) 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: 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, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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 [time series]

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, normally 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 [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 and current seat distribution: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 63, PiS 29, PSL 2, SP 2, independents 4; as of 25 January 2014 - PO 62, PiS 30, PSL 2, SP 2, independents 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; as of 25 January 2014 - PO 203, PiS 136, TR 36, PSL 33, SLD 26, SP 17, independent 8, German Minority 1 note: the German minority is exempt from the 5% threshold requirement for seats to the Sejm

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

name: "Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)

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; Rafal GRUPINSKI, parliamentary caucus leader] Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Leszek MILLER, chairman, parliamentary caucus leader] Democratic Party or PD [Andrzej CELINSKI, chairman] 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] Poland Comes First or PJN [Pawel KOWAL, chairperson] 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] Union of Labor or UP [Waldemar WITKOWSKI, chairman] United Poland or SP [Zbigniew ZIOBRO, chairperson; Arkadiusz MULARCZYK, parliamentary caucus leader] Your Movement or TR [Janusz PALIKOT, chairman, parliamentary caucus leader] (formerly Palikot's Your Movement)

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] Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union "Solidarity" [Piotr DUDA]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Poland's history as a state begins 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 ten 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.

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 (2013)

Military expenditures [time series]

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

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.6% (male 2,876,264/female 2,716,569) 15-24 years: 11.9% (male 2,333,627/female 2,235,228) 25-54 years: 43.8% (male 8,459,153/female 8,355,491) 55-64 years: 14.7% (male 2,658,106/female 2,973,933) 65 years and over: 14.5% (male 2,224,569/female 3,513,339) (2014 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.77 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Death rate [time series]

10.37 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 42.3 % youth dependency ratio: 21.4 % elderly dependency ratio: 21.2 % potential support ratio: 4.7 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.2% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 65

Ethnic groups [time series]

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 [time series]

0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 200 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

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

27,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

6.7% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 91

Hospital bed density [time series]

6.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 168 male: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages [time series]

Polish (official) 96.2%, Polish and non-Polish 2%, non-Polish 0.5%, unspecified 1.3% note: Kashub is recognized as a regional language under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.65 years country comparison to the world: 76 male: 72.74 years female: 80.8 years (2014 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.9% female: 99.6% (2011 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

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 [time series]

WARSAW (capital) 1.723 million; Krakow 756,000 (2011)

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

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 175

Median age [time series]

total: 39.5 years male: 37.9 years female: 41.3 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

26.9 (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

25.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 56

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.07 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population [time series]

38,346,279 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.11% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Religions [time series]

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 [time series]

improved: urban: 95.7% of population rural: 79.7% of population total: 89.5% of population unimproved: urban: 4.3% of population rural: 20.3% of population total: 10.5% of population (2008 est.)

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

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.33 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

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

total: 26.5% country comparison to the world: 36 male: 24.1% female: 30% (2012)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 60.9% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: -0.04% 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 15,149 (Russia) (2013) stateless persons: 10,825 (2012)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

126 (2013) country comparison to the world: 47

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Heliports [time series]

6 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 9 country comparison to the world: 117 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)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie river port(s): Szczecin (River Oder)

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) (2007)

Roadways [time series]

total: 412,035 km country comparison to the world: 15 paved: 280,719 km (includes 2,418 km of expressways) unpaved: 131,316 km (2012)

Waterways [time series]

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