Poland: Forest Cover, 2005
| Total Land Area (ha) | 30,629,000 | | Total Forest Area (ha) | 9,192,000 | | Percent Forest Cover | 30.01% | | Primary Forest Cover (ha) | 53,000 | | Primary Forest, % total forest | 0.58% | | Primary Forest, % total land | 0.17% | | Other wooded land (ha) | - |
Poland : Forest types
| Tropical (% forest area) | 0% | | Subtropical (% forest area) | 0% | | Temperate (% forest area) | 100% | | Boreal/polar (% forest area) | 0% |
Poland: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
| Primary forest (ha | %) | 53,000 | 0.6% | | Modified natural (ha | %) | - | - | | Semi-natural (ha | %) | 9,107,000 | 99.1% | | Production plantation (ha | %) | 32,000 | 0.3% | | Production plantation (ha | %) | - | - |
Poland: Change in Forest Cover
| TOTAL FOREST COVER | | Forest 1990 (ha) | 8,881,000 | | Forest 2000 (ha) | 9,059,000 | | Forest 2005 (ha) | 9,192,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 17,800 | 0.20% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | 26,600 | 0.29% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | 311,000 | 3.50% | | Change in rate (%) | 46.50% | | PRIMARY FOREST COVER | | Primary 1990 (ha) | 30,000 | | Primary 2000 (ha) | 51,000 | | Primary 2005 (ha) | 53,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 2,100 | 7.00% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | 400 | 0.78% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | 23,000 | 76.67% | | Change in rate (%) | -88.80% | | OTHER WOODED LAND | | Other 1990 (ha) | - | | Other 2000 (ha) | - | | Other 2005 (ha) | - | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | - | - | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | - | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | - | | Change in rate (%) | - | | PLANTATIONS | | Other 1990 (ha) | 32,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 32,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 32,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Change in rate (%) | #DIV/0! | TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations | | Other 1990 (ha) | 8,849,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 9,027,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 9,160,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 17,800 | 0.20% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | 26,600 | 0.29% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | 311,000 | 3.51% | | Change in rate (%) | 46.49% |
Poland: Primary
| Primary or "old-growth" vegetation | | Primary Forest 2005 (ha) | 53,000 | | Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) | - | | Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) | 53,000 | | Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area) | 0.17% |
Poland: Forest designation
| Ownership of forest land, 2000 | | Public (%) | 83.2% | | Private (%) | 16.8% | | Other (%) | 0.0% | | Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 | | Public (%) | - | | Private (%) | - | | Other (%) | - | | Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005 | | Production (%) | 63.5% | | Protection (%) | 20.7% | | Conservation (%) | 4.8% | | Social Services (%) | 11.0% | | Multiple Services (%) | 0.0% | | None of Unknown (%) | 0.0% |
Poland: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
| Forest Area annually affected by | | Fire (%) | 0.07% | | Insects (ha) | 1.32% | | Diseases (ha) | 0.82% | | Other (ha) | 0.22% |
Poland: Protected areas
| Protected areas | | Biosphere reserves, 2005 | 9 | Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 | 8 | | World Heritage sites, 2004 | 11 | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land | 11.0% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land | 0.77% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 | 10.16% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 | 0.00% |
Poland: Biodiversity - Wildlife
| Amphibians | | total species | 18 | | endemic species | 0 | | threatened species | 0 | | Birds | | total species | 424 | | endemic species | 2 | | threatened species | 12 | | Mammals | | total species | 110 | | endemic species | 0 | | threatened species | 12 | | Reptiles | | total species | 11 | | endemic species | 0 | | threatened species | 0 | | Wildlife diversity | | total species | 563 | | endemic species | 2 | | threatened species | 24 |
Poland: Biodiversity - Plants
| Growing stock composition | 3 most common species
% of total growing stock | - | | Growing stock composition | 3 most common species
% of total growing stock | - | | Number of Native tree species | | | Native tree species | 57 | | Number of tree species in IUCN red list | | Critically Endangered | | 0 | | Endangered | 0 | | Vulnerable | 1 | | Vascular Plant Species, 2004 | | Total | 2450 | | Number endemic | 3 | | Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 | | Species threatened | 4 |
Poland: Value of forests
| Biomass stock in forest, 2005 | | Above-ground biomass (M t) | 1,379 | | Below-ground biomass (M t) | 412 | | Dead wood (M t) | 13 | | Total (M t) | 1,804 | | Carbon stock in forest, 2005 | | Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) | 690 | | Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) | 206 | | Carbon in dead wood (M t) | 7 | | Carbon in litter (M t) | - | | Soil carbon (M t) | - | | Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 | | Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) | | 1990-2000 | 25,120 | | 2000-2005 | 25,660 | | Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 | | Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) | | 1990-2000 | 2.44 | | 2000-2005 | 2.24 | | Wood removal 2005 | | Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) | 31,692 | | Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) | 1,323 | | Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) | 33,015 | | Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) | 2 | | Plant products 2005 | | Food (t) | 15,088 | | Fodder (t) | - | | Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) | - | | Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) | - | | Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) | - | | Ornamental plants (t) | 843 | | Exudates (t) | - | | Other plant products (t) | 1,000 | | Animal products 2005 | | Living animals (units) | 3,469 | | Hides, skins and trophies (units) | - | | Wild honey and bee-wax (t) | - | | Bush meat (t) | 10,456 | | Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) | - | | Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) | - | | Other edible animal products (t) | - | | Other non-edible animal products (t) | - | | Value of wood and non-wood forest product removal 2005 | | Industrial roundwood (US$) | $833,344,000 | | Wood fuel (US$) | $29,957,000 | | Non-wood forest products (US$) | $21,739,000 | | Total value (US$) | $885,040,000 | | Total value ($USD/ha) | $96 | | Employment in forestry 2000 | | Total people employed | 60,000 |
Poland : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
| Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 1,536 | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | 47 | | Consumption | 1,499 | | Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 25,040 | | Imports | 726 | | Exports | 676 | | Consumption | 25,090 | | Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 2,910 | | Imports | 496 | | Exports | 789 | | Consumption | 2,617 | | Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 5,197 | | Imports | 946 | | Exports | 1,610 | | Consumption | 4,533 | | Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | 1,013 | | Imports | 370 | | Exports | 29 | | Consumption | 1,354 | | Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | 2,230 | | Imports | 1,475 | | Exports | 1,125 | | Consumption | 2,580 |
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Poland: Environment
| 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 European Union 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 | | Natural hazards | flooding |
Poland: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 45.91%
permanent crops: 1.12%
other: 52.97% (2001) | | Natural resources | coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land |
Poland: Economy
| Economy - overview: | Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of economic liberalization throughout the 1990s and today stands out as a success story among transition economies. Even so, much remains to be done, especially in bringing down the unemployment rate-currently the highest in the EU. The privatization of small and medium-sized state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms has encouraged the development of the private business sector, but legal and bureaucratic obstacles alongside persistent corruption are hampering its further development. Poland's agricultural sector remains handicapped by surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, railroads, and energy), while recently initiated, have stalled. Reforms in health care, education, the pension system, and state administration have resulted in larger-than-expected fiscal pressures. Further progress in public finance depends mainly on reducing losses in Polish state enterprises, restraining entitlements, and overhauling the tax code to incorporate the growing gray economy and farmers, most of whom pay no tax. The previous Socialist-led government introduced a package of social and administrative spending cuts to reduce public spending by about $17 billion through 2007, but full implementation of the plan was trumped by election-year politics in 2005. The right-wing Law and Justice party won parliamentary elections in September, and Lech KACZYNSKI won the presidential election in October, running on a state-interventionist fiscal and monetary platform. Poland joined the EU in May 2004, and surging exports to the EU contributed to Poland's strong growth in 2004, though its competitiveness could be threatened by the zloty's appreciation. GDP per capita roughly equals that of the three Baltic states. Poland stands to benefit from nearly $23.2 billion in EU funds, available through 2006. Farmers have already begun to reap the rewards of membership via booming exports, higher food prices, and EU agricultural subsidies. | | GDP - per capita | $12,700 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 3.3% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, dairy | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 2.8%, industry: 31.7%, services: 65.5% (2005 est.) | | Industries | machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles | | Economic aid - recipient | $13.9 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004-06) | | Debt - external | $123.4 billion (30 June 2005 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | 17% (2003 est.) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 16.1%, industry 29%, services 54.9% (2002) |
Poland: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 38,635,144 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 0.03% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 126.9 | | Percent rural (2003) | 38.1% | | Median age (years) | total: 36.43 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 1.39 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census) |
Largest Cities in Poland
Cities and urban areas in Poland with population over 100,000
[For more population information including updated figures and a wider selection of cities please visit The World Gazetteer]
--> All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Warszawa | Poland | 1609800 | 2202000 |
| Lodz | Poland | 783700 | 1013300 |
| Krakow | Poland | 734400 | 783100 |
| Wroclaw | Poland | 633400 | 633400 |
| Poznan | Poland | 580700 | 635900 |
| Gdansk | Poland | 457100 | 866800 |
| Szczecin | Poland | 416000 | 505300 |
| Bydgoszcz | Poland | 385100 | 385100 |
| Lublin | Poland | 354700 | 354700 |
| Katowice | Poland | 336400 | 2657100 |
| Bialystok | Poland | 286900 | 286900 |
| Gdynia | Poland | 258700 | 258700 |
| Czestochowa | Poland | 252900 | 252900 |
| Sosnowiec | Poland | 237800 | 237800 |
| Radom | Poland | 230200 | 230200 |
| Kielce | Poland | 209800 | 209800 |
| Gliwice | Poland | 207400 | 207400 |
| Torun | Poland | 205900 | 205900 |
| Bielsko-Biala | Poland | 177600 | 177600 |
| Olsztyn | Poland | 176100 | 176100 |
| Rzeszow | Poland | 163100 | 163100 |
| Rybnik | Poland | 143000 | 143000 |
| Walbrzych | Poland | 133200 | 133200 |
| Plock | Poland | 130700 | 130700 |
| Elblag | Poland | 130600 | 130600 |
| Opole | Poland | 129100 | 129100 |
| Gorzow Wielkopolski | Poland | 127300 | 127300 |
| Wloclawek | Poland | 123600 | 123600 |
| Tarnow | Poland | 121500 | 121500 |
| Zielona Gora | Poland | 120100 | 120100 |
| Koszalin | Poland | 113300 | 113300 |
| Legnica | Poland | 108800 | 108800 |
| Kalisz | Poland | 106500 | 106500 |
| Grudziadz | Poland | 102600 | 102600 |
| Slupsk | Poland | 102100 | 102100 |
| Jastrzebie-Zdroj | Poland | 100600 | 100600 |
 Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005
Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005) and the State of the World�s Forests (2005, 2003, 2001)
Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.
Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.
RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site
The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund
With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com
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