Literacy:
Government ::Pitcairn Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Capital:
name: Adamstown
geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W
time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
30 November 1838; reformed 1904 with additional reforms in 1940; further refined by the Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system:
local island by-laws
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands George FERGUSSON (since April 2006); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since September 2003) serves as liaison between the governor and the Island Council
head of government: Governor George FERGUSSON (since April 2006); Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Mike WARREN (since 1 January 2008)
cabinet: NA
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor elected by popular vote for a three-year term; election last held December 2007 (next to be held in December 2010)
election results: Mike WARREN elected mayor and chairman of the Island Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Island Council (10 seats; 5 members elected by popular vote, 1 nominated by the 5 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor including 1 seat for the Island Secretary, the Island Mayor, and a commissioner liaising between the governor and council; elected members serve one-year terms)
elections: last held 24 December 2008 (next to be held in 24 December 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch:
Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judicial officers are appointed by the governor
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
Economy ::Pitcairn Islands
Economy - overview:
The inhabitants of this tiny isolated economy exist on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships. In October 2004, more than one-quarter of Pitcairn's small labor force was arrested, putting the economy in a bind, since their services were required as lighter crew to load or unload passing ships.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Labor force:
15 able-bodied men (2004) country comparison to the world: 221
Labor force - by occupation:
note: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Budget:
revenues: $746,000
expenditures: $1.028 million (FY04/05)
Agriculture - products:
honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables; goats, chickens, fish
Industries:
postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a small diesel-powered generator
Exports:
Exports - commodities:
fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps
Imports:
Imports - commodities:
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Communications ::Pitcairn Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line); (2004) country comparison to the world: 230
Telephone system:
general assessment: satellite phone services
domestic: domestic communication via radio (CB)
international: country code - 872; satellite earth station - 1 (Inmarsat)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (15 ham radio operators (VP6)) (2004)
Internet country code:
.pn
Internet hosts:
26 (2009) country comparison to the world: 213
Transportation ::Pitcairn Islands
Ports and terminals:
Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)
Military ::Pitcairn Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Pitcairn Islands
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on October 28, 2009
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@Poland (Europe)
Introduction ::Poland
Background:
Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near 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. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland amongst 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 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, but Poland still faces the lingering challenges of high unemployment, underdeveloped and dilapidated infrastructure, and a poor rural underclass. Solidarity suffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country largely completed, Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.
Geography ::Poland
Location:
Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 312,685 sq km country comparison to the world: 69 land: 304,255 sq km
water: 8,430 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 3,047 km
border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 615 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 420 km, Ukraine 428 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:
arable land: 40.25%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 58.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
63.1 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.73 cu km/yr (13%/79%/8%)
per capita: 304 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
flooding
Environment - current issues:
situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist 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; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but at substantial cost to business and the government
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, 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 ::Poland
Population:
38,482,919 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15% (male 2,964,995/female 2,802,278)
15-64 years: 71.6% (male 13,713,078/female 13,845,251)
65 years and over: 13.4% (male 1,966,406/female 3,190,911) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.9 years
male: 36.1 years
female: 39.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.047% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Birth rate:
10.04 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195
Death rate:
10.05 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63
Net migration rate:
-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 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 (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 172 male: 7.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.63 years country comparison to the world: 75 male: 71.65 years
female: 79.85 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.28 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
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 (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups:
Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox 1.3%,Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002)
Languages:
Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 51
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,Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland),Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie, Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia),Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie,Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (GreaterPoland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)
Independence:
11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution:
adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 25 May 1997; effective 17 October 1997
Legal system:
based on a 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, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lech KACZYNSKI (since 23 December 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar PAWLAK (since 16 November 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 9 and 23 October 2005 (next to be held in the fall 2010); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm
election results: Lech KACZYNSKI elected president; percent of popular vote - Lech KACZYNSKI 54%, Donald Tusk 46%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of an upper house, the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms); the designation of National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly
elections: Senate - last held 21 October 2007 (next to be held by October 2011); Sejm elections last held 21 October 2007 (next to be held by October 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PO 60, PiS 39, independents 1; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PO 41.5%, PiS 32.1%, LiD 13.2%, PSL 8.9%, other 4.3%; seats by party - PO 209, PiS 166, LiD 53, PSL 31, German minorities 1; note - seats by parliamentary grouping as of February 2009 - PO 208, PiS 156, Left 42, PSL 31, SDPL-New Left 5, Polska XXI 6, Democratic Caucus 3, German minorities 1, nonaffiliated 8
note: one seat is assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejm only
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an indefinite period); Constitutional Tribunal (judges are chosen by the Sejm for nine-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:
Civic Platform or PO [chairman Donald TUSK; parliamentary caucus leader Grzegorz SCHETYNA]; Democratic Caucus of the Democratic Party (SD) or DKP SD [parliamentary caucus leader Bogdan LIS]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [chairman Grzegorz NAPIERALSKI]; Democratic Party or PD [chairwoman Brygida KUZNIAK]; Democratic Party or SD [chairman Pawel PISKORSKI]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [representative Henryk KROLL]; Law and Justice or PiS [chairman Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI; parliamentary caucus leader Przemyslaw GOSIEWSKI]; League of Polish Families or LPR [acting chairman Arnold MASIN]; Left (Democratic Left Alliance and independents) [parliamentary caucus leader Grzegorz NAPIERALSKI]; Polish People's Party or PSL [chairman Waldemar PAWLAK; parliamentary caucus leader Stanislaw ZELICHOWSKI]; Polska XXI (political grouping of former PiS members; not officially registered) [chairman Jaroslaw SELLIN; parliamentary caucus leader Kazimierz Michal UJAZDOWSKI]; Samoobrona or SO [chairman Andrzej LEPPER]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [chairman Wojciech FILEMONOWICZ]; Social Democratic Party of Poland-New Left (SDPL-New Left) [parliamentary caucus leader Marek BOROWSKI]; Union of Labor or UP [chairman Waldemar WITKOWSKI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan GUZ];Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Stanislaw DZIWISZ, Archbishop JozefMICHALIK]; Solidarity Trade Union [Janusz SNIADEK]
International organization participation:
Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer),CBSS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU,FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SchengenConvention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert KUPIECKI
chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Victor ASHE
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
consulate(s) general: Krakow
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
Economy ::Poland
Economy - overview:
Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization since 1990 and today stands out as a success story among transition economies. In 2008, GDP grew an estimated 4.8%, based on rising private consumption, a jump in corporate investment, and EU funds inflows. GDP per capita is still much below the EU average, but is similar to that of the three Baltic states. Since 2004, EU membership and access to EU structural funds have provided a major boost to the economy. Unemployment is falling rapidly, though at roughly 9.7% in 2008, it remains above the EU average. In 2008 inflation reached 4.3%, more than the upper limit of the National Bank of Poland's target range, but has been falling due to global economic slowdown. Poland's economic performance could improve further if the country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its business environment. An inefficient commercial court system, a rigid labor code, bureaucratic red tape, and persistent low-level corruption keep the private sector from performing up to its full potential. Rising demands to fund health care, education, and the state pension system present a challenge to the Polish Government's effort to hold the consolidated public sector budget deficit under 3.0% of GDP, a target which was achieved in 2007-08. The PO/PSL coalition government which came to power in November 2007 plans to further reduce the budget deficit with the aim of eventually adopting the euro by 2012. The new government has also announced its intention to enact business-friendly reforms, reduce public sector spending growth, lower taxes, and accelerate privatization. The government, however, has moved slowly on major reforms. Pension and health-care bills passed through the legislature, but the legislature failed to overturn a presidential veto.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$670.7 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $638.8 billion (2007 est.)
$598.1 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$527.9 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 6.8% (2007 est.)
6.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $16,600 (2007 est.)
$15,500 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 31.2%
services: 64.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
17.01 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17.4%
industry: 29.2%
services: 53.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 12.8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
17% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 27.2% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.9 (2005) country comparison to the world: 87 31.6 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
22% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 83
Budget:
revenues: $105.5 billion
expenditures: $115.7 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
45.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 49.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 2.5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 105 5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.99% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 135 5.72% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$118.2 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 10 $137.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$109 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 21 $93.98 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$258.3 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 27 $223.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$90.23 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 38 $207.3 billion (31 December 2007)
$149.1 billion (31 December 2006)
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:
4.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - production:
149.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Electricity - consumption:
129.3 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Electricity - exports:
9.703 billion kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
8.48 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
35,560 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Oil - consumption:
544,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Oil - exports:
67,340 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Oil - imports:
595,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Oil - proved reserves:
96.38 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - production:
5.719 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas - consumption:
16.55 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - exports:
39 million cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - imports:
11.2 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - proved reserves:
164.8 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Current account balance:
-$26.91 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 -$20.12 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$178.4 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $145.3 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2003)
Exports - partners:
Germany 24.9%, France 6.2%, Italy 6%, UK 5.7%, Czech Republic 5.6%,Russia 5.3% (2008)
Imports:
$204.4 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $162.4 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 14.8%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9.1% (2003)
Imports - partners:
Germany 28.3%, Russia 9.9%, Italy 6.2%, Netherlands 5.4%, France 4.8%, China 4.5%, Czech Republic 4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$62.18 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $65.75 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$243.5 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 28 $233.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$161.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $176.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$21.81 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $19.39 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 2.3 (2008 est.), 2.81 (2007), 3.1032 (2006), 3.2355 (2005), 3.6576 (2004)
note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty
Communications ::Poland
Telephones - main lines in use:
10.336 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 22
Telephones - mobile cellular:
44.004 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 25
Telephone system:
general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has accelerated with market based competition finalized in 2003; fixed-line service, dominated by the former state-owned company, is dwarfed by the growth in wireless telephony
domestic: mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and provided by three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning operations in late 2006; cellular coverage is generally good with some gaps in the east; fixed-line service is growing slowly and still 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 (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 14, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
75 (2008)
Internet country code:
.pl
Internet hosts:
8.906 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 12
Internet users:
18.679 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 19
Transportation ::Poland
Airports:
125 (2009) country comparison to the world: 46
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 84
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 41
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 20 (2009)
Heliports:
7 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 13,631 km; oil 1,384 km; refined products 777 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 22,314 km country comparison to the world: 12 broad gauge: 633 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 21,681 km 1.435-m gauge (11,769 km electrified) (2007)
Roadways:
total: 423,997 km country comparison to the world: 15 paved: 295,356 km (includes 662 km of expressways)
unpaved: 128,641 km (2006)
Waterways:
3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2007) country comparison to the world: 28
Merchant marine:
total: 15 country comparison to the world: 106 by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Cyprus 1, Nigeria 1)
registered in other countries: 98 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Bahamas 17, Cyprus 18, Liberia 13, Malta 24, Norway 3, Panama 11, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Slovakia 2, Vanuatu 7) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin
Military ::Poland
Military branches:
Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense AviationForces, Special Forces (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18-28 years of age for male voluntary or compulsory military service; service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005; conscription is to end in 2012; only soldiers who have completed their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for professional service; as of April 2004, women are only allowed to serve as officers and noncommissioned officers; reserve obligation to age 50 (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 9,741,508
females age 16-49: 9,514,843 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,898,892
females age 16-49: 7,888,035 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 246,667
female: 235,698 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.71% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
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
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
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Portugal (Europe)
Introduction ::Portugal
Background:
Following its heyday as a global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of its wealthiest colony of Brazil in 1822. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
Geography ::Portugal
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west ofSpain
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 92,090 sq km country comparison to the world: 110 land: 91,470 sq km
water: 620 sq km
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,214 km
border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline:
1,793 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain:
mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m
Natural resources:
fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 17.29%
permanent crops: 7.84%
other: 74.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:
6,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
73.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 11.09 cu km/yr (10%/12%/78%)
per capita: 1,056 cu m/yr (1998)
Natural hazards:
Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People ::Portugal
Population:
10,707,924 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 912,147/female 834,941)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 3,525,717/female 3,554,513)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 772,413/female 1,108,193) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.4 years
male: 37.3 years
female: 41.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.275% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Birth rate:
10.29 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
Death rate:
10.68 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 54
Net migration rate:
3.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Urbanization:
urban population: 59% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.78 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 195 male: 5.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.21 years country comparison to the world: 48 male: 74.95 years
female: 81.69 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.49 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
34,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Nationality:
noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups:
homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
Religions:
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.3% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 50
Government ::Portugal
Country name:
conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
conventional short form: Portugal
local long form: Republica Portuguesa
local short form: Portugal
Government type:
republic; parliamentary democracy
Capital: