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Europe :: Poland

- ## Introduction :: POLAND

- Background:
  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 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.

- ## Geography :: POLAND

- Location:
  Central Europe, east of Germany
  Geographic coordinates:
  52 00 N, 20 00 E
  Map references:
  Europe
  Area:
  total: 312,685 sq km
  land: 304,255 sq km
  water: 8,430 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Area - comparative:
  about twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  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
  Coastline:
  440 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
  highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
  Natural resources:
  coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 48.2%
  arable land 36.2%; permanent crops 1.3%; permanent pasture 10.7%
  forest: 30.6%
  other: 21.2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  1,157 sq km (2007)
  Total renewable water resources:
  61.6 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 11.96 cu km/yr (31%/60%/10%)
  per capita: 312.3 cu m/yr (2009)
  Natural hazards:
  flooding
  Environment - current issues:
  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
  Environment - international agreements:
  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
  Geography - note:
  historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

- ## People and Society :: POLAND

- Nationality:
  noun: Pole(s)
  adjective: Polish
  Ethnic groups:
  Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7%
  note: represents ethnicity declared first (2011 est.)
  Languages:
  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.)
  Religions:
  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.)
  Population:
  38,562,189 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 14.7% (male 2,915,674/female 2,753,218)
  15-24 years: 11.52% (male 2,279,404/female 2,163,621)
  25-54 years: 43.56% (male 8,471,593/female 8,326,656)
  55-64 years: 14.54% (male 2,645,228/female 2,962,305)
  65 years and over: 15.67% (male 2,362,421/female 3,682,069) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 43.8%
  youth dependency ratio: 21.5%
  elderly dependency ratio: 22.3%
  potential support ratio: 4.5% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 39.9 years
  male: 38.2 years
  female: 41.6 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  -0.09% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Birth rate:
  9.74 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Death rate:
  10.19 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Net migration rate:
  -0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 60.5% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: -0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  WARSAW (capital) 1.722 million; Krakow 760,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 4.89 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 4.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 77.4 years
  male: 73.53 years
  female: 81.5 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Total fertility rate:
  1.33 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Health expenditures:
  6.7% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Physicians density:
  2.22 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
  Hospital bed density:
  6.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 99.3% of population
  rural: 96.9% of population
  total: 98.3% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0.7% of population
  rural: 3.1% of population
  total: 1.7% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 97.5% of population
  rural: 96.7% of population
  total: 97.2% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.5% of population
  rural: 3.3% of population
  total: 2.8% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.07% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Major infectious diseases:
  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)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  27% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Education expenditures:
  4.9% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99.8%
  male: 99.9%
  female: 99.7% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 15 years
  male: 15 years
  female: 16 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 26.5%
  male: 24.1%
  female: 30% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34

- ## Government :: POLAND

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Poland
  conventional short form: Poland
  local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
  local short form: Polska
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  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
  Administrative divisions:
  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)
  Independence:
  11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)
  National holiday:
  Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997; amended 2006, 2009 (2013)
  Legal system:
  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
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Andrzej DUDA (since 6 August 2015)
  head of government: Prime Minister Ewa KOPACZ (since 22 September 2014); Deputy Prime Ministers Janusz PIECHOCINSKI (since 6 December 2012) and Tomasz SIEMONIAK (since 22 September 2014)
  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 and deputy prime 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%
  Legislative branch:
  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 9 October 2011 (next to be held by October 2015); Sejm - last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held on 25 October 2015)
  election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 63, PiS 29, PSL 2, SP 2, independent 4; seats by party as of 26 February 2015 - PO 63, PiS 31, PSL 2, independent 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; seats by party as of 26 February 2015 - PO 202, PiS 132, TR 16, PSL 39, SLD 34, KPSP (coalition of smaller parties) 15, independent 21, German Minority 1
  Judicial branch:
  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
  Political parties and leaders:
  A Just Poland (union of PR and SP) [Jaroslaw GOWIN]
  Civic Platform or PO [Ewa KOPACZ,chairperson; Rafal GRUPINSKI, parliamentary caucus leader]
  Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Leszek MILLER, chairman, parliamentary caucus leader]
  German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Ryszard GALLA, representative]
  Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI, chairman; Mariusz BLASZCZAK, parliamentary caucus leader]
  New Right Congress or KNP [Michal MARUSIK, chairman]
  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]
  United Poland or SP [Zbigniew ZIOBRO, chairperson]
  Your Movement or TR [Janusz PALIKOT, chairman, parliamentary caucus leader]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  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]
  International organization participation:
  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
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  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
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  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
  Flag description:
  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
  National symbol(s):
  white eagle; national colors: white, red
  National anthem:
  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

- ## Economy :: POLAND

- Economy - overview:
  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. 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. 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, especially for entrepreneurs. Poland’s long-term challenges include diversifying Poland’s energy mix and sources of supply, as well as stemming the outflow of educated young Poles to other EU Member States, especially in light of a coming demographic contraction as the Solidarity-era baby boom generation ages.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $954.5 billion (2014 est.)
  $923.9 billion (2013 est.)
  $908.8 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 25
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $546.6 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.3% (2014 est.)
  1.7% (2013 est.)
  1.8% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $25,100 (2014 est.)
  $24,300 (2013 est.)
  $23,900 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Gross national saving:
  19% of GDP (2014 est.)
  17.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
  17.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 61.1%
  government consumption: 17.9%
  investment in fixed capital: 18.7%
  investment in inventories: 0.6%
  exports of goods and services: 49.2%
  imports of goods and services: -47.5%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 3.7%
  industry: 32%
  services: 64.3% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, dairy
  Industries:
  machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
  Industrial production growth rate:
  5.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Labor force:
  18.26 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 12.9%
  industry: 30.2%
  services: 57% (2010)
  Unemployment rate:
  8.2% (2014 est.)
  10% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Population below poverty line:
  10.6% (2008 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.3%
  highest 10%: 27.1% (2009 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  34.1 (2009)
  31.6 (1998)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Budget:
  revenues: $92.96 billion
  expenditures: $101.5 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  16.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -1.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Public debt:
  45.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  49.7% of GDP (2013 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: 79
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0% (2014 est.)
  1.1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Central bank discount rate:
  4.25% (31 December 2012)
  4% (31 December 2010)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  6.3% (31 December 2014 est.)
  7.07% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Stock of narrow money:
  $181.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $184.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Stock of broad money:
  $306.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $318.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $352 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $362.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $177.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $138.2 billion (31 December 2011)
  $190.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Current account balance:
  -$6.675 billion (2014 est.)
  -$7.014 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Exports:
  $218.9 billion (2014 est.)
  $197.8 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Exports - commodities:
  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:
  Germany 27.1%, UK 6.6%, Czech Republic 6.6%, France 5.8%, Italy 4.7%, Netherlands 4.3%, Russia 4.2% (2014)
  Imports:
  $217 billion (2014 est.)
  $196.9 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 15%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9% (2011 est.)
  Imports - partners:
  Germany 28%, Russia 9.1%, China 6.5%, Netherlands 5.9%, Italy 5.5%, France 4.2%, Czech Republic 4.2% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $105.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $106.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  Debt - external:
  $395.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $377.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $273.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $269.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $69.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $68.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Exchange rates:
  zlotych (PLN) per US dollar -
  3.139 (2014 est.)
  3.1606 (2013 est.)
  3.26 (2012 est.)
  2.9639 (2011 est.)
  3.0153 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: POLAND

- Electricity - production:
  150.9 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Electricity - consumption:
  137.5 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Electricity - exports:
  12.32 billion kWh (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Electricity - imports:
  7.8 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  34.32 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  91.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  2.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  5.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Crude oil - production:
  25,220 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Crude oil - exports:
  4,269 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Crude oil - imports:
  489,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  156.5 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  553,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  511,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  68,970 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  109,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Natural gas - production:
  6.206 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Natural gas - consumption:
  18.23 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Natural gas - exports:
  94 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Natural gas - imports:
  12.47 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  92 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  289.5 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25

- ## Communications :: POLAND

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 5.04 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 59.8 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 155 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Telephone system:
  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 four nation-wide networks; 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)
  Broadcast media:
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 14, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2008)
  Television broadcast stations:
  75 (2008)
  Internet country code:
  .pl
  Internet users:
  total: 25.9 million
  percent of population: 67.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22

- ## Transportation :: POLAND

- Airports:
  126 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Airports - with paved runways:
  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:
  total: 39
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 17
  under 914 m:
  21 (2013)
  Heliports:
  6 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 14,198 km; oil 1,374 km; refined products 777 km (2013)
  Railways:
  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: 15
  Roadways:
  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:
  3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Merchant marine:
  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
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie
  river port(s): Szczecin (River Oder)
  LNG terminal(s) (import): Swinoujscie

- ## Military :: POLAND

- Military branches:
  Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Aviation Forces, Special Forces (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  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)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 9,531,855
  females age 16-49: 9,298,593 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 7,817,556
  females age 16-49: 7,766,361 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 221,889
  female: 211,172 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.95% of GDP (2014)
  1.95% of GDP (2013)
  1.91% of GDP (2012)
  1.83% of GDP (2011)
  1.91% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 44

- ## Transnational Issues :: POLAND

- Disputes - international:
  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
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 14,277 (Russia) (2014); 71,302 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015)
  stateless persons: 10,825 (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  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

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