Republic of Poland
Rzeczpospolita Polska
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The Official Website of Poland
Poland
Regional Directory of Poland
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Basics
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Government Type
republic Capital
Warsaw National Holiday
Constitution Day, 3 May (1791);
Independence Day, November 11 (1918)
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Nationality (noun)
Pole(s) Nationality (adjective)
Polish Flag Description
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
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Background
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Area
312,685 sq km Highest Point
Rysy 2,499 m Climate
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers Terrain
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border Natural Resources
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, arable land Languages
Polish Ethnic Groups
Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.) Religions
Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5% | Population
38,646,023 (July 2000 est.) Population Growth Rate
-0.04% (2000 est.) Net Migration Rate
-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Life Expectancy (male/female)
77.6 years (2000 est.) / ? Sex Ratio
0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Fertility
1.38 children born/woman (2000 est.) Infant Mortality Rate
9.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Literacy
99% |
Economics |
Poland today is one of the most successful and open transition economies. Structural reforms advanced in pensions, health care, and public administration in 1999, but resulted in larger than anticipated fiscal pressures. Further progress on public finance depends mainly on privatization of Poland's remaining state sector. |
GDP
$276.5 billion (1999 est.) GDP Growth
3.8% (1999 est.) GDP per Capita
$7,200 (1999 est.) GDP from Agriculture
5% GDP from Industry
35% GDP from Services
60% (1998) Military Expenditures vs. GDP
2.1% (FY00) External Depts
$44 billion (1998) Currency
1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
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8.4% (1999 est.) Unemployment Rate
11% (1999 est.) Population below Poverty Line
23.8% (1993 est.) Exports
$27.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Export Commodities
manufactured goods and chemicals 57%, machinery and equipment 21%, food and live animals 12%, mineral fuels 7% (1997) Export Partners
Germany 36%, Italy 5.8%, Russia 5.6%, Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.6%, Ukraine 3.8%, UK 3.8 (1998) Imports
$40.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Import Commodities
manufactured goods and chemicals 43%, machinery and equipment 36%, mineral fuels 9%, food and live animals 8% (1997) Import Partners
Germany 25.8%, Italy 9.4%, France 6.5%, Russia 5.1%, UK 4.9%, US 3.8%, Netherlands 3.8% (1998) |
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