People |
Population: |
38,792,442 |
Population Density: |
321 per sq.mi. |
Urban: |
62% |
Ethnic groups: |
- Polish 98%
- Germans
- Ukrainians
- Belarussians
|
Principle languages: |
Polish |
Religions: |
Roman Catholic 95% |
Geography |
Area: |
120,728 sq. mi. |
Location: |
On the Baltic Sea in E Central Europe |
Neighbors: |
- Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine on E
- Germany on W
- Czech Rep., Slovakia on S
- Russia on N
|
Topography: |
Mostly lowlands forming part of the Northern European Plain. The
Carpathian
Mts. along the southern border rise to 8,200 ft. |
Capital: |
Warsaw (1993 est.): 1.6 mil. |
Government |
Type: |
Democratic state |
Head of state: |
Pres. Lech Walesa; b. Sept. 29, 1943; in office: Dec. 22, 1990 |
Defense: Active Troop Strength: |
283,600 est. |
Economy |
Industries: |
Shipbuilding, chemicals, metals, machinery, food processing |
Chief crops: |
Grains, potatoes, sugar beets, tobacco, flax |
Minerals: |
Coal, copper, silver, lead, sulphur, natural gas |
Finance |
Monetary unit: |
Zloty (April 1995: 2.40 = $1 US) |
Gross domestic product (1993): |
$180.4 bln. |
Per capita GDP: |
$4,680. |
Health |
Life expectancy at birth (1995): |
|
Births (per 1,000 pop.): |
13 |
Deaths (per 1,000 pop.): |
9 |
Natural increase: |
0.4% |
Hospital beds: |
1 per 177 persons |
Physicians: |
1 per 459 persons |
Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births 1995): |
12 |
Education |
Literacy (1993): |
99% |
Major International
Organizations |
UN |
(WTO, WHO) |
Embassy |
2640 16th St. NW 20009; 234-3800 |