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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 [time series]

total: 26.221 million | percent of population: 68% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

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: several nation-wide networks provide mobile-cellular service; coverage is generally good; 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 (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 4.245 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 56.838 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $76.65 billion | expenditures: $87.95 billion (2015 est.)

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

-2.4% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Central bank discount rate [time series]

2.5% (31 December 2014) | 1.5% (31 December 2013) | country comparison to the world: 109

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

4.92% (31 December 2015 est.) | 6.25% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Current account balance [time series]

-$2.215 billion (2015 est.) | -$11.13 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Debt - external [time series]

$332.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $338.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

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

32.4 (2012) | 33.7 (2008) | country comparison to the world: 108

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and Poland's economy was the only EU country 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 and the unemployment rate is now below 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 2013 and picked back up in 2014-15. Poland’s new center-right Law and Justice government plans to introduce expansionary economic policies to spur long-term growth, but social spending programs are expected to lead to increased deficit spending over the medium term. | Poland faces several challenges, which include addressing 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, especially for entrepreneurs. Additional long-term challenges include diversifying Poland’s energy mix and sources of supply, strengthening investments in innovation, research, and development, and as well as stemming the outflow of educated young Poles to other EU member states, especially in light of a coming demographic contraction due to emigration, persistently low fertility rates, and the aging of the Solidarity-era baby boom generation.

Exchange rates [time series]

zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - | 3.7721 (2015 est.) | 3.1538 (2014 est.) | 3.1538 (2013 est.) | 3.26 (2012 est.) | 2.9639 (2011 est.)

Exports [time series]

$190.8 billion (2015 est.) | $210.7 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

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% (2012 est.)

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 27.1%, UK 6.8%, Czech Republic 6.6%, France 5.5%, Italy 4.8%, Netherlands 4.4% (2015)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$474.9 billion (2015 est.)

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

$1.005 trillion (2015 est.) | $970.2 billion (2014 est.) | $938.9 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 25

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 3.3% | industry: 41.1% | services: 55.6% (2015 est.)

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

$26,500 (2015 est.) | $25,500 (2014 est.) | $24,700 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 68

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

3.6% (2015 est.) | 3.3% (2014 est.) | 1.3% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Gross national saving [time series]

20.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | 18.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | 17.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.3% | highest 10%: 25.6% (2012 est.)

Imports [time series]

$188.4 billion (2015 est.) | $215 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

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 27.6%, China 7.5%, Russia 7.2%, Netherlands 5.9%, Italy 5.2%, France 4.1% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-1% (2015 est.) | 0.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

Labor force [time series]

17.76 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 12.6% | industry: 30.4% | services: 57% (2012)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$177.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $138.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $190.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Population below poverty line [time series]

17.3% (2012 est.)

Public debt [time series]

45% of GDP (2015 est.) | 43.9% of GDP (2014 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 | country comparison to the world: 99

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$94.91 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $100.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Stock of broad money [time series]

$306.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $318.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$62.12 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $65.85 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

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

$221.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $249.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$337.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $348 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$177.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $172.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

16.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.5% (2015 est.) | 12.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Energy

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

322 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Crude oil - exports [time series]

5,162 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Crude oil - imports [time series]

532,300 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

Crude oil - production [time series]

18,420 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

100 million bbl (1 January 2010 es) | country comparison to the world: 68

Electricity - consumption [time series]

142 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Electricity - exports [time series]

11 billion kWh (2014) | country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

89.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

1.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

8.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - imports [time series]

14 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

36 million kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26

Electricity - production [time series]

150 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

17.66 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - exports [time series]

76 million cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Natural gas - imports [time series]

11.82 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Natural gas - production [time series]

6.08 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

81.66 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 56

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

536,700 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

160,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

128,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

568,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

about twice the size of Georgia; 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 [time series]

mean elevation: 173 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m | highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

decreased emphasis on heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-communist governments has improved environment; air pollution remains serious because of 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-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

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]

970 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,071 km | border countries (7): 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]

agricultural land: 48.2% | arable land 36.2%; permanent crops 1.3%; permanent pasture 10.7% | forest: 30.6% | other: 21.2% (2011 est.)

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

Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]

population concentrated in the southern (Krakow) and central (Warsaw, Lodz) areas, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

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

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Poland | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution [time series]

several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997; amended 2006, 2009, 2015 (2016)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Poland | conventional short form: Poland | local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska | local short form: Polska | etymology: name derives from the Polanians, a west Slavic tribe that united several surrounding Slavic groups (9th-10th centuries A.D.) and who passed on their name to the country; the name of the tribe likely comes from the Slavic "pole" (field or plain), indicating the flat nature of their country

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul JONES (since 7 October 2015) | 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 Andrzej DUDA (since 6 August 2015) | head of government: Prime Minister Beata SZYDLO (since 16 November 2015); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and National Heritage Piotr GLINSKI (since 16 November 2015), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Higher Education Jaroslaw GOWIN (since 16 November 2015), and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Mateusz MORAWIECKI (since 16 November 2015) | cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 and 24 May 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm | election results: Andrzej DUDA elected president; percent of vote in runoff - Andrzej DUDA 51.5%, Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (independent) 48.5%

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]

parliamentary 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, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, usually 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; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final

Legislative branch [time series]

description: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the Sejm (460 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the designation National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly | note: the German minority is exempt from the 5% threshold requirement for seats to the Sejm | elections: Senate - last held on 25 October 2015 (next to be held in October 2019); Sejm - last held on 25 October 2015 (next to be held in October 2019) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PiS 62, PO 33, PSL 1, independents 4; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PiS 37.6%, PO 24.1%, K15 8.8%, N 7.6%, PSL 5.1% other 16.8%; seats by party - PiS 234, PO 138, K15 40, N 29, PSL 16, independent 2, German minority 1

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; national colors: white, red

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

Civic Platform or PO [Grzegorz SCHETYNA, chairperson; Slawomir NEUMANN, parliamentary caucus leader] | Congress of the New Right or KNP [Michal MARUSIK, chairman] | Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Wlodzimierz CZARZASTY, chairman] | German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Ryszard GALLA, representative] | Kukiz 15 [Pawel KUKIZ; chairman, parliamentary caucus leader] | Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI, chairman; Ryszard TERLECKI, parliamentary caucus leader] | Nowoczesna ("Modern") or N [Ryszard PETRU; chairman, parliamentary caucus leader] | Polish People's Party or PSL [Wladyslaw KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ; chairman, parliamentary caucus leader] | Razem (Together) [no party chair, led by nine-member management board]

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

All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ [Jan GUZ] (trade union) | Independent Self-Governing Trade Union "Solidarity" [Piotr DUDA] | Roman Catholic Church [Archbishop Wojciech POLAK, Archbishop Stanislaw GADECKI]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Poland's history as a state began 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 10 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 EU 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 and Security

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]

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: 14.72% (male 2,915,840/female 2,754,098) | 15-24 years: 11.11% (male 2,195,587/female 2,082,634) | 25-54 years: 43.5% (male 8,456,789/female 8,301,167) | 55-64 years: 14.42% (male 2,623,838/female 2,931,215) | 65 years and over: 16.26% (male 2,460,648/female 3,801,445) (2016 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.6 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

Death rate [time series]

10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 43.8% | youth dependency ratio: 21.5% | elderly dependency ratio: 22.3% | potential support ratio: 4.5% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.8% of GDP (2012) | 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]

0.07% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

6.4% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 89

Hospital bed density [time series]

6.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Languages [time series]

Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.3% | note: data represents the language spoken at home; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; Poland ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2009 recognizing Kashub as a regional language, Czech, Hebrew, Yiddish, Belarusian, Lithuanian, German, Armenian, Russian, Slovak, and Ukrainian as national minority languages, and Karaim, Lemko, Romani (Polska Roma and Bergitka Roma), and Tatar as ethnic minority languages (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.6 years | male: 73.7 years | female: 81.7 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.8% | male: 99.9% | female: 99.7% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate | vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis (2016)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

WARSAW (capital) 1.722 million; Krakow 760,000 (2015)

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

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Median age [time series]

total: 40.3 years | male: 38.6 years | female: 42 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

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

27.2 (2013 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Pole(s) | adjective: Polish

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

27% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 56

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.22 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population [time series]

38,523,261 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Population distribution [time series]

population concentrated in the southern (Krakow) and central (Warsaw, Lodz) areas, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.11% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209

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]

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

total: 16 years | male: 16 years | female: 17 years (2013)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.34 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 215

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

total: 23.9% | male: 22.7% | female: 25.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 60.5% of total population (2015) | 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 12,304 (Russia) (2015); 71,302 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015) | stateless persons: 10,825 (2015)

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)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

SP (2016)

Heliports [time series]

6 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 9 | 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) | country comparison to the world: 118

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 6 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 92 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,841,128 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 120,016,466 mt-km (2015)

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) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Swinoujscie

Railways [time series]

total: 19,837 km | broad gauge: 395 km 1.524-m gauge | standard gauge: 19,442 km 1.435-m gauge (11,899 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 16

Roadways [time series]

total: 412,035 km | paved: 280,719 km (includes 2,418 km of expressways) | unpaved: 131,316 km (2012) | country comparison to the world: 16

Waterways [time series]

3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2009) | country comparison to the world: 27