Country (long form)
Republic of Poland

Capital
Warsaw

Total Area
120,728.35 sq mi
312,685.00 sq km
(slightly smaller than New Mexico)

Population
38,646,023 (July 2000 est.)

Estimated Population in 2050
33,779,568

Languages
Polish

Literacy
99.0% total, 99.0% male, 98% female (1978 est.)

Religions
Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%

Life Expectancy
69.01 male, 77.6 female (2000 est.)

Government Type
republic

Currency
1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy

GDP (per capita)
$7,200 (1999 est.)

Labor Force (by occupation)
industry 25%, agriculture 25%, services 50% (1999 est.)

Industry
machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Agriculture
potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, beef, milk, cheese

Arable Land
47%

Exports
manufactured goods and chemicals 57%, machinery and equipment 21%, food and live animals 12%, mineral fuels 7% (1997)

Imports
manufactured goods and chemicals 43%, machinery and equipment 36%, mineral fuels 9%, food and live animals 8% (1997)

Natural Resources
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, arable land

Current Environmental Issues
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

Telephones (main lines in use)
8.07 million (1998)

Telephones (mobile cellular)
1.58 million (1998)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
161 (1999)