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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:
52 00 N, 20 00 E
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:
Current Weather
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, Antarctic Treaty, 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:
38,463,689 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.8% (male 2,931,732/female 2,769,021)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 13,725,939/female 13,863,103)
65 years and over: 13.5% (male 1,971,763/female 3,202,131) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.2 years
male: 36.5 years
female: 40 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.053% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Birth rate:
10.04 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Death rate:
10.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Net migration rate:
-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.061 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 174
male: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.85 years
country comparison to the world: 75
male: 71.88 years
female: 80.06 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.29 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1%; note - no country specific models provided (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
20,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
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: 49
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
(Greater Poland), 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: Acting President Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (10 April 2010-8 July
2010), Grzegorz SCHETYNA (8 July 2010-August 2010)
note: KOMOROWSKI became acting president following the death of President Lech
KACZYNSKI in an airplane crash; he reliquished his duties following his
presidential election victory allowing SCHETYNA - as Marshal of the Sejm - to
become Acting President until the inauguration in August 2010
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for
a second term); election last held on 20 June and 4 July 2010 (next to be held
2015); Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI will be formally inaugurated in August 2010; prime
minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by
the Sejm
election results: Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI elected president; percent of popular
vote - Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI 53%, Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI 47%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of an upper house, the Senate or Senat (100
seats; members elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve
four-year terms), and a lower house, the Sejm (460 seats; members 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 on 21 October 2007 (next to be held by October
2011); Sejm - last held on 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
December 2009 - PO 206, PiS 154, Left 43, PSL 31, SDPL 4, Polska Plus 9, DKP SD
3, German minorities 1, nonaffiliated 9
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 Tomasz
TOMCZYKIEWICZ]; 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 Marek KUCHCINSKI];
League of Polish Families or LPR [chairman Witold BALAZAK]; 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 Plus (chairman Jerzy
POLACZEK; parliamentary caucus leader Ludwik DORN] ; Samoobrona or SO [chairman
Andrzej LEPPER]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [chairman Wojciech
FILEMONOWICZ, 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 Jozef MICHALIK]; Solidarity Trade
Union [Janusz SNIADEK]
International organization participation:
Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, 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, NATO, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, 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
FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lee FEINSTEIN
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
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. Before 2009, GDP had
grown about 5% annually, 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 fell rapidly to 6.4% in October 2008, climbed back to
8.9% by January 2010, but remains below the EU average. In 2008 inflation
reached 4.2%, more than the upper limit of the National Bank of Poland's target
range, but fell to 3.5% in January 2010 due to global economic slowdown.
Poland's economic performance could improve over the longer term if the country
addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure
and its business environment. An inefficient commercial court system, a rigid
labor code, bureaucratic red tape, burdensome tax system, 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 2007-09. The PO/PSL coalition government, which came to power in
November 2007, plans to reduce the budget deficit in 2010 and has also announced
its intention to enact business-friendly reforms, increase workforce
participation, reduce public sector spending growth, lower taxes, and accelerate
privatization. The government, however, has moved slowly on major reforms. The
legislature passed a law significantly limiting early retirement benefits. A
health-care bill also passed through the legislature, but the legislature failed
to overturn a presidential veto.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$690.1 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$678.6 billion (2008 est.)
$646.3 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$427.9 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
5% (2008 est.)
6.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$17,600 (2008 est.)
$16,800 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 28.1%
services: 67.3% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
17.28 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17.4%
industry: 29.2%
services: 53.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
8.9% (January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
6.5% (December 2008 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):
20.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Budget:
revenues: $87.9 billion
expenditures: $95.52 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
46.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
44.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
4.2% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 94
5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 141
5.72% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$118.2 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 15
$137.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$109 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 26
$93.98 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$258.3 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
$223.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$147.2 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
$90.23 billion (31 December 2008)
$207.3 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
-0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
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:
34,140 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Oil - consumption:
545,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
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: 21
Oil - proved reserves:
96.38 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - production:
5.842 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas - consumption:
16.33 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - exports:
40 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - imports:
9.954 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Natural gas - proved reserves:
164.8 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Current account balance:
-$7.172 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
-$26.85 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
$139.5 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$178.7 billion (2008 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%
Exports - partners:
Germany 26.06%, Italy 6.84%, France 6.78%, UK 6.38%, Czech Republic 5.85%,
Netherlands 4.14% (2009)
Imports:
$144.3 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$204.7 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%,
chemicals 15%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9%
Imports - partners:
Germany 28.08%, Russia 8.65%, Italy 6.5%, Netherlands 5.59%, China 5.27%, France
4.6%, Czech Republic 4.05% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$79.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$62.17 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$201.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$243.5 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$182.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$163.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$26.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$22.56 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
zlotych (PLN) per US dollar - 3.1 (2009), 2.3 (2008), 2.81 (2007), 3.1032
(2006), 3.2355 (2005)
note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty
Communications - Poland
Telephones - main lines in use:
10.336 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 21
Telephones - mobile cellular:
44.004 million (2008)
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 three
nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning operations in late 2006;
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 (2009)
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: 16
paved: 295,356 km (includes 765 km of expressways)
unpaved: 128,641 km (2008)
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 Aviation Forces,
Special Forces (2010)
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: 9,597,047
females age 16-49: 9,364,939 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,860,841
females age 16-49: 7,828,221 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 235,248
female: 224,801 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.71% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
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
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