Poland

National name: Rzeczpospolita Polska

Government: Democratic republic

Geography
Poland, is in north-central Europe. Most of the country is a plain with no natural boundaries except the Carpathian Mountains in the south and the Oder and Neisse rivers in the west. Other major rivers, are the Vistula, Warta, and Bug.

Historical Background
Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.

Facts & Figures

Name

POLAND

Capital

Warsaw

Government

Parliamentary republic

Language

Polish

Religion

Until World War II, Poland was a religiously diverse society, in which substantial Jewish, Protestant and Christian Orthodox minorities coexisted with a Roman Catholic majority

Area

312,685 km2

Population

June 2010 estimate 38,192,000

Currency

Złoty (PLN)

GDP(PPP)

2009 estimate Total  $727.086 billion

GDP(nominal)

2010 estimate Total  $479.026 billion

Time Zone

CET (UTC+1) Summer (DST)  CEST (UTC+2)

National Anthem

Mazurek Dąbrowskiego (Dąbrowski's Mazurka)