Poland Nature & Economy

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 5.3%, based on rising private consumption, a jump in corporate investment, and EU funds inflows. GDP per capita 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. Poland's economic performance could improve further if the country addresses some of the remaining deficiencies in its business environment. 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. In 2007, the government 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.

Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Population: 38,530,725 (2013 est.)
Land Area: 312,685 km2
Capital: Warsaw
Main cities: Lodz, Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk, Szczecin
Language: Polish
GDP: $517.543 billion  (2013 est.)
Monetary unit: Zloty
Exports: $184.661 billion f.o.b. (2012 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 27.2%, Italy 6.4%, France 6.3%, UK 5.7%, Czech Republic 5.6%, Russia 4.3% (2006)
Imports: $198.463 billion f.o.b. (2012 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 28.8%, Russia 9.6%, Italy 6.3%, Netherlands 5.7%, France 5.4% (2006)
Land use:
arable land: 40.25%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 58.75% (2005)
Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land




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