Home

Geography of Poland

Location:Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates:52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 312,685 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 3,056 km
border countries: Belarus 416 km, Czech Republic 790 km, Germany 467 km, Lithuania 103 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 210 km, Slovakia 541 km, Ukraine 529 km
Coastline:491 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Climate:temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain:mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation extremes:lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources:coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
Land use:arable land: 40.25%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 58.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:1,000 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:flooding
Environment - current issues:situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist 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; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but at substantial cost to business and the government
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

Poland Quickstats

  • Population: 38,518,241 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 312,685 sq km
  • Density: 122 /km² (83rd)
  • GDP (total): $566.886 billion (23rd)
  • GDP (per capita): $14,880 (52nd)
  • Literacy: 99.8%

Languages of Poland

Useful to know

  • Currency: Zloty (PLN)
  • Dial code: +48

International Trade

External sites

More Resources

Poland Internet

  • Usage: 10,600,000
  • Penetration: 27.8 %
  • Top Domain: .pl

WT eBusiness info:

  • Success Ranking: 100
  • Market testing: Untested
  • Overall risk: High
  • Overall reward: Low

e-maturity:

  • Tourism: 10%
  • eCommerce: 10%
  • Gaming: 10%
  • eLearning: 10%

Recent blog posts