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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: 28,237,820 | percent of population: 73.3% (July 2016 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: 9.345 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 55,878,845 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 145 (July 2016 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: $79.75 billion | expenditures: $91.45 billion (2016 est.)

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

-2.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Central bank discount rate [time series]

1.5% (31 December 2016) | 2% (31 December 2015) | country comparison to the world: 122

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

4.74% (31 December 2016 est.) | 4.92% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Current account balance [time series]

$-959 million (2016 est.) | $-2.949 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Debt - external [time series]

$347.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $330.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

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

30.8 (2015) | 33.7 (2008) | country comparison to the world: 122

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Poland has the sixth-largest economy in the EU and has long had a reputation as a business-friendly country with largely sound macroeconomic policies. Since 1990, Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization. During the 2008-09 economic slowdown Poland was the only EU country to avoid a recession, in part because of the government’s loose fiscal policy combined with a commitment to rein in spending in the medium-term. However, since 2015 Warsaw’s prioritization of spending on social welfare programs has prompted investors to decrease Poland’s economic growth projections for the next few years. | The Polish economy performed well during the 2014-16 period, with the real GDP growth rate exceeding 3%, in part because of the government’s fiscal prudence. Poland’s economic growth in 2017 is projected by some credit rating agencies to slow, however, because of Poland’s government’s increase in social spending since 2015, including the provision of cash transfers for low income families, families with more than one child, and the reduction of the retirement age which will take effect in October 2017. The government has tried to introduce new taxes and boost tax compliance to offset the costs of the social spending programs and relieve upward pressure on the budget deficit. Some credit ratings agencies estimate that Poland will exceed the EU’s 3%-of-GDP limit on budget deficits, possibly impacting its access to future EU funds. | Poland faces several systemic 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, strengthening investments in innovation, research, and development, 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 - | 3.9459 (2016 est.) | 3.9459 (2015 est.) | 3.7721 (2014 est.) | 3.1538 (2013 est.) | 3.26 (2012 est.)

Exports [time series]

$195.7 billion (2016 est.) | $191.1 billion (2015 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 27.3%, UK 6.6%, Czech Republic 6.6%, France 5.4%, Italy 4.8%, Netherlands 4.5% (2016)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$469.3 billion (2016 est.)

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

$1.051 trillion (2016 est.) | $1.011 trillion (2015 est.) | $963.1 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 25

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 2.4% | industry: 40.2% | services: 64.2% (2016 est.)

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

$27,700 (2016 est.) | $27,000 (2015 est.) | $25,900 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 67

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

2.6% (2016 est.) | 3.9% (2015 est.) | 3.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

Gross national saving [time series]

19.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | 19.9% of GDP (2015 est.) | 18.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% | highest 10%: 23.9% (2015 est.)

Imports [time series]

$193.6 billion (2016 est.) | $188.6 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

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 28.3%, China 7.9%, Netherlands 6%, Russia 5.8%, Italy 5.3%, France 4.2%, Czech Republic 4.1% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-0.4% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-0.6% (2016 est.) | -0.9% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Labor force [time series]

17.64 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 11.5% | industry: 30.4% | services: 57.6% (2015)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$261.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $277.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $351.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Population below poverty line [time series]

17.6% (2015 est.)

Public debt [time series]

48.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | 44.7% of GDP (2015 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: 101

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$114.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $94.91 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Stock of broad money [time series]

$300.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $293.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$64.52 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $61.39 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

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

$224.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $223 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$336.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $337.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$195.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $177.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

17.1% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.2% (2016 est.) | 10.5% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Energy

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

296 million Mt (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Crude oil - exports [time series]

4,520 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Crude oil - imports [time series]

490,300 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Crude oil - production [time series]

20,100 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

137.8 million bbl (1 January 2017) | country comparison to the world: 69

Electricity - consumption [time series]

141.3 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Electricity - exports [time series]

12.02 billion kWh (2016) | country comparison to the world: 19

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

77.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

1.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

18.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Electricity - imports [time series]

14.02 billion kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

37.32 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29

Electricity - production [time series]

152.1 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

26.78 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Natural gas - exports [time series]

56 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Natural gas - imports [time series]

12.12 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas - production [time series]

6.132 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

81.66 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 58

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

578,200 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

135,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

173,500 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

557,700 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 312,685 sq km | land: 304,255 sq km | water: 8,430 sq km | country comparison to the world: 71

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 area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, 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]

history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997 | amendments: proposed by at least one-fifth of Sejm deputies, by the Senate, or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Sejm and absolute majority vote in the Senate; amendments to articles relating to sovereignty, personal freedoms, and constitutional amendment procedures also require passage by majority vote in a referendum; 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 Wayne 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 Piotr Antoni WILCZEK (since 18 January 2017) | chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 499-1700 | 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 Mateusz MORAWIECKI (since 11 December 2017); 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), Beata SZYDLO, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Policy (since 11 December 2017) | 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 in second round; percent of vote in runoff - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 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; State Tribunal; administrative courts; 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 2 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 61, PO 34, PSL 1, independent 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 235, PO 138, K15 42, N 28, PSL 16, 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] | Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Wlodzimierz CZARZASTY] | German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Ryszard GALLA] | Kukiz 15 or K15 [Pawel KUKIZ] | Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI] | Liberty (formerly the Coalition for the Renewal of the Republic-Liberty and Hope or KORWiN) [Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE] | Nowoczesna ("Modern") or N [Katarzyna LUBNAUER] | Polish People's Party or PSL [Wladyslaw KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ] | Razem (Together) [collective leadership]

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 or 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 Force, Special Forces, Territorial Defense Force (2017) | note: Territorial Defense Force only began recruitment in winter 2016

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: 14.76% (male 2,919,353/female 2,757,923) | 15-24 years: 10.7% (male 2,113,358/female 2,003,033) | 25-54 years: 43.48% (male 8,447,418/female 8,283,757) | 55-64 years: 14.21% (male 2,586,097/female 2,880,031) | 65 years and over: 16.86% (male 2,560,847/female 3,924,452) (2017 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

Death rate [time series]

10.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 43.9 | youth dependency ratio: 21.4 | elderly dependency ratio: 22.5 | potential support ratio: 4.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.9% of GDP (2013) | 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]

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: 97

Hospital bed density [time series]

6.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 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: 77.8 years | male: 73.9 years | female: 81.8 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

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 [time series]

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Median age [time series]

total: 40.7 years | male: 39 years | female: 42.4 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

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

27.4 years (2014 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Pole(s) | adjective: Polish

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

23.1% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 69

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.27 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population [time series]

38,476,269 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Population distribution [time series]

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

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.13% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

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]

1.35 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 215

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

total: 20.8% | male: 20.7% | female: 20.9% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 60.5% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.02% annual rate of change (2015-20 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): 71,302 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015); 9,864 (Russia) (2016) | stateless persons: 10,825 (2016)

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 (2017)

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: 152 | by type: container ship 1, general cargo 13, oil tanker 7, other 131 (2017) | country comparison to the world: 73

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: 19,231 km | broad gauge: 395 km 1.524-m gauge | standard gauge: 18,836 km 1.435-m gauge (11,865 km electrified) (2015) | country comparison to the world: 15

Roadways [time series]

total: 417,026 km | paved: 287,650 km (includes 1,492 km of expressways) | unpaved: 129,376 km (2014) | country comparison to the world: 17

Waterways [time series]

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