Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/191.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 16KB | 368 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Poland.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Poland"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Poland, click {z,"14.008658,48.504015,24.443824,56.231733",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Central Europe, east of Germany

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 312,683 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 304,510 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly smaller than New Mexico

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2,888 km
{3}border countries:{4} Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 428 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 491 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} defined by international treaties
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild
summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

{2}Terrain:{4} mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
{3}lowest point:{4} Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
{3}highest point:{4} Rysy 2,499 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 48%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 13%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 29%
{3}other:{4} 10% (1992)

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 1,000 sq km (1989 est.)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased
environmental concern by postcommunist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious
because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has
caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as
is disposal of hazardous wastes

{2}natural hazards:{4} NA

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law
of the Sea

{2}Geographic note:{4} historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural
barriers on the North European Plain


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 38,642,565 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 22% (male 4,399,649; female 4,188,824)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 66% (male 12,754,272; female 12,930,275)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 12% (male 1,654,526; female 2,715,019) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 0.14% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 11.92 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 10.08 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.06 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.99 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.61 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 72.1 years
{3}male:{4} 68.02 years
{3}female:{4} 76.41 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 1.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Pole(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Polish

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)

{2}Religions:{4} Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other
5%

{2}Languages:{4} Polish

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1978 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 99%
{3}male:{4} 99%
{3}female:{4} 98%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Poland
{3}conventional short form:{4} Poland
{3}local long form:{4} Rzeczpospolita Polska
{3}local short form:{4} Polska

{2}Type of government:{4} democratic state

{2}Capital:{4} Warsaw

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 49 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska,
Bialystok, Bielsko Biala, Bydgoszcz, Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa, Elblag, Gdansk, Gorzow,
Jelenia Gora, Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin, Koszalin, Krakow, Krosno, Legnica, Leszno, Lodz,
Lomza, Lublin, Nowy Sacz, Olsztyn, Opole, Ostroleka, Pila, Piotrkow, Plock, Poznan, Przemysl,
Radom, Rzeszow, Siedlce, Sieradz, Skierniewice, Slupsk, Suwalki, Szczecin, Tarnobrzeg,
Tarnow, Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa, Wloclawek, Wroclaw, Zamosc, Zielona Gora

{2}Independence:{4} 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)

{2}National holiday:{4} Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

{2}Constitution:{4} interim "small constitution" came into effect in December 1992 replacing the
communist-imposed constitution of 22 July 1952; new democratic constitution being drafted

{2}Legal system:{4} mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover communist legal theory;
changes being gradually introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December 1995) was elected for a
five-year term by popular vote; election first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19
November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); results - second round Aleksander
KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%, Lech WALESA 48.3%
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Wlodimierz CIMOSZEWICZ (since 7 February 1996), Deputy
Prime Ministers Roman JAGIELINSKI (since NA), Grzegorz KOLODKO (since NA), and Miroslaw
PIETRIEWICZ (since NA) were appointed by the Sejm
{3}cabinet:{4} Council of Ministers is responsible to the president and the Sejm; the prime minister
appointed and the Sejm approved the Council of Ministers

{2}Legislative branch:{4} bicameral National Assembly (Zgromadzenie Narodowe)
Senate (Senat): elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held no later than 19
September 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total)
Sejm: elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held no later than 19 September 1997);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (460 total)
{3}note:{4} four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German parties

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the National Council of Judiciary

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4}
post-Communist: Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) (Social Democracy of Poland), Jozef OLEKSY;
Polish Peasant Party (PSL), Waldemar PAWLAK
post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union (UW; Democratic Union and Liberal Democratic Congress
merged to form Freedom Union), Leszek BALCEROWICZ; Christian-National Union (ZCHN),
Marian PILKA; Center Alliance Party (PC), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI; Peasant Alliance (PL), Gabriel
JANOWSKI; Solidarity Caucus (NSZZ), Marian KRZAKLEWSKI; Union of Labor (UP), Ryszard
BUGAJ; Christian-Democratic Party (PCHD), Pawel LACZKOWSKI; Conservative Party,
Aleksander HALL; Nonparty Reform Bloc (BBWR)
non-Communist, non-Solidarity: Confederation for an Independent Poland (KPN), Leszek
MOCZULSKI; German Minority (MN), Georg PORYLKA; Union of Real Politics (UPR), Janusz
KORWIN-MIKKE; Democratic Party (SD), Antoni MACKIEWICZ

{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} powerful Roman Catholic Church; Solidarity (trade union); All
Poland Trade Union Alliance (OPZZ), trade union

{2}International organization participation:{4} Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE,
CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NACC, NAM
(guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNDOF,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL,
WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI
{3}chancery:{4} 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone] through 3802
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Nicholas Andrew REY
{3}embassy:{4} Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw
{3}mailing address:{4} American Embassy Warsaw, Unit 1340, APO AE 09213-1340
{3}telephone:{4} [48] (2) 628-30-41
{3}FAX:{4} [48] (2) 628-82-98
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} Krakow

{2}Flag:{4} two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and
Monaco which are red (top) and white


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} In 1995, Poland continued to make good progress in the difficult transition to
a market economy that began on 1 January 1990, when the new democratic government instituted
"shock therapy" by decontrolling prices, slashing subsidies, and drastically reducing import
barriers. Although real GDP fell sharply in 1990 and 1991, in 1992 Poland became the first country
in the region to resume economic growth with a 2.6% increase. Growth advanced to 3.8% in
1993, 5.2% in 1994, and 6.5% in 1995. Most of the growth since 1991 had come from the
booming private sector, which now accounts for about 60% of GDP, due in large part to the
creation of new private firms. The slow pace of privatization picked up somewhat in 1995, as 512
smaller state enterprises were transferred to private National Investment Funds under the Mass
Privatization Program, but large-scale industry remains largely in state hands. Industrial
production increased 10.2% in 1995, following a 13.2% rise in 1994, yet remains about 13%
below the 1989 level. Inflation, which had approached 1,200% annually in early 1990, fell to
21.6% in December 1995, as the government held the 1995 budget deficit to less than 3% of
GDP. After peaking at 16.9% in July 1994, unemployment gradually fell to 14.9% in December
1995 - although the rate still approaches 30% in some regions. The trade and current account
balances officially are in deficit but in fact both have comfortable surpluses because of large,
unrecorded sales to cross-border visitors. Prospects for 1996 are good, with the government
promising to push privatization and social welfare reform. Economic growth should remain above
5%, with inflation dropping below 20% by yearend 1996 and unemployment continuing its slow
decline. As for external debt, the burden was sharply reduced by reschedulings and write-offs of
both private and official debt during 1991-94.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $226.7 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 6.5% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $5,800 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 7%
{3}industry:{4} 38%
{3}services:{4} 55% (1993)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 21.6% (December 1995)

{2}Labor force:{4} 17.743 million (1994 annual average)
{3}by occupation:{4} industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%, trade, transport, and
communications 14.7%, government and other 25.7% (1992)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 14.9% (December 1995)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $34.5 billion
{3}expenditures:{4} $37.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing,
glass, beverages, textiles

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 10.2% (1995)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 31,120,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 133.7 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 3,000 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} potatoes, milk, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry and eggs; pork, beef

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} illicit producer of opium for domestic consumption and amphetamines for the
international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western
Europe; producer of precursor chemicals

{2}Exports:{4} $22.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} intermediate goods 27.5%, machinery and transport equipment 19.8%,
miscellaneous manufactures 20.5%, foodstuffs 11.6%, fuels 9.1% (1994)
{3}partners:{4} Germany 35.7%, Netherlands 5.9%, Russia 5.4%, Italy 4.9% (1994)

{2}Imports:{4} $23.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} machinery and transport equipment 28.9%, intermediate goods 20.2%, chemicals
14.7%, fuels 10.4%, miscellaneous manufactures 9.9%
{3}partners:{4} Germany 27.5%, Italy 8.4%, Russia 6.8%, UK 5.3% (1994)

{2}External debt:{4} $42.1 billion (yearend 1995 est.)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} Western governments and institutions pledged $22 billion in grants and loans during
1990-94, but much of the money has not been disbursed

{2}Currency:{4} 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy

{2}Exchange rates:{4} zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 2.55 (January 1996) 2.4250 (1995); note - a currency
reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1 new zloty; 22,723 (1994), 18,115
(1993), 13,626 (1992), 10,576 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 25,166 km
{3}broad gauge:{4} 656 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 22,655 km 1.435-m gauge (11,496 km electrified; 8,978 km double track)
narrow gauge: 1,855 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m, 0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1995)

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 367,000 km (excluding farm, factory, and forest roads)
{3}paved:{4} 235,247 km (including 257 km of expressways)
{3}unpaved:{4} 131,753 km (1992 est.)

{2}Waterways:{4} 3,997 km navigable rivers and canals (1991)

{2}Pipelines:{4} crude oil 1,986 km; petroleum products 360 km; natural gas 4,600 km (1992)

{2}Ports:{4} Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin, Swinoujscie, Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,093,491 GRT/3,167,660 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 73, cargo 36, chemical tanker 4, container 7, oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-
on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 5
{3}note:{4} Poland owns an additional 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 179,913 DWT operating
under the registries of The Bahamas, Liberia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Vanuatu, and
Cyprus (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 134
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 2
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 30
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 27
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 3
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 7
{3}with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 5
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 10
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 32
{3}with unpaved runways under 914 m:{4} 18 (1994 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 5 million (1994)

{2}Telephone system:{4} underdeveloped and outmoded system; government aims to have 10 million
phones in service by the year 2000
{3}domestic:{4} cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay
{3}international:{4} satellite earth stations - NA Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian
Ocean Regions), and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 27, FM 27, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 10.9 million (1993 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 40 (Russian repeaters 5)

{2}Televisions:{4} 9.6 million


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 10,267,551
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 7,994,460
males reach military age (19) annually: 324,960 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion, 2.4% of GDP (1995)