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NAVIGATION
Republic of Poland
Rzeczpospolita Polska
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived around the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation, until an agreement in 1772 between Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland. 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 country following the war, but one that 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 and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, boosting hopes for acceptance to the EU. Poland joined the NATO alliance in 1999. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Central Europe, east of Germany |
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Geographic coordinates:
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52 00 N, 20 00 E |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 312,685 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km land: 304,465 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than New Mexico |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,788 km
border countries: Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 526 km |
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Coastline:
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491 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m |
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Natural resources:
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coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land: 45.81%
permanent crops: 1.23% other: 52.96% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,000 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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flooding |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
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Geography - note:
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historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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38,625,478 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 17.9% (male 3,535,701; female 3,361,515)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 13,358,128; female 13,500,443) 65 years and over: 12.6% (male 1,860,274; female 3,009,417) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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-0.02% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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10.29 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.97 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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9.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 73.66 years
female: 78.05 years (2002 est.) male: 69.52 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.37 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.07% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 100 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish |
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Ethnic groups:
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Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Belarusian 0.5% (1990 est.) |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5% |
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Languages:
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Polish |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1978 est.) |