Country guide - Poland  

 
 

Introduction: Poland in Central Europe is bound by the Baltic Sea to the north, Germany to the west, Lithuania to the northeast, Belarus and the Ukraine to the east as well as the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south.

Official Name: Republic of Poland
Area: 312,612 Sq Km (120,700 Sq Miles)
Population: 38,622,660
Continent: Europe
Density per square mile: 320
Capital City: Warsaw
Religions: 95% Roman Catholic, the remainder are Eastern Orthodox or Protestant

Language: Polish
Government: Parliamentary Republic
Member of EU: No

Currency: Zloty
GDP: $368.1 billion
GDP Per Head: $9,500

Natural Resources: Coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
Land Use: Arable Land 46%
Agriculture: Potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat, poultry, eggs & pork.
Industry: Machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles and clothing.

Tourism: Poland sees 8 million tourists arrive each year. Both Poland's capital and its largest cities are attractive destinations for those interested in history and the cultural heritage of other nations A journey across Poland is not only an opportunity to visit historical points of interest, but also to taste local cuisine, take advantage of Poland's strong ties to the European tradition of contemporary culture and art, such as painting, poster art, music and applied art such as artisitc glassware, tapestries and cermaics.

Natural Hazards: Flooding
Health Risks: None

Climate: Poland has a continental climate with severe winters and mild summers. Rainfall mostly occurs during the summer months and the average annual rainfall varies from 20 - 40 inches depending on the area. Average temperature ranges in Warsaw are from -5 to 0 degrees Celsius in January to 15 to 24 degrees Celsius in July.

Time: GMT/UTC + 1 hours
National Days: May 3 National Day, June 19 Corpus Christi, August 15 Assumption, November 1 All Saints’ Day, November 11 Independence Day.

Visas: Visitors remaining in Poland for up to six months do not require visas. Under Polish law a Polish passport holder must be treated as a Polish national while in Poland, even if he or she holds another country’s passport. The Polish authorities, therefore, require dual nationals to enter and exit Poland on a Polish passport. Australians still need visas currently but matters are changing so please check before leaving.

British Embassy Details

 

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