Capital: Warsaw
Terytory: 312,683 tys. km2
Neighbours: Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belorus, Lithuania, Russia, (Kaliningrad district)
Population: 38,191,000
Ethnic groups: Polish (96.7 percent), German (1 percent), Ukrainian and Belorussian (1 percent)

Polity: Presidential-parliamentary democracy
Economy: capitalist
GDP per capita: 11,600 USD
Size of private sector as % of GDP: 75

Territory
The country's territory is 312.683 km2, which classifies Poland as the 9th country in Europe. Poland is also the biggest among new Member States of the EU in terms of territory and population.
The eastern boarders of Poland became the boarders of the European Union. Four out of seven Polish neighbors do not belong to the EU, which determines Poland's active participation in creating and realization of the new European Neighborhood Policy.

Population
According to the data from 2003, Poland had 38,191 mln inhabitants which classifies Poland on the 8th position in Europe.
Poland is a nationally homogeneous country as national and ethnic minorities constitute 3.3% of the population. Polish national minorities are: German, Bielorussian, Ukrainian, Czech, Slovak, Russian, Jewish, Lithuanian, Armenian; ethnic minorities: Roma, Tatar, Lemkos and Karaim.
Among ethnic and national minorities, mainly the Roma are affected by social problems.

In recent years the number of immigrants and refugees has increased. In 2002 there were 34,000 immigrants in Poland. Two thirds of this group were long term immigrants, who reside in Poland for 12 months and longer.

An average inhabitant of the country is today almost 35 years old (woman- 37 years old, man- 33 years old). In comparison to other European countries, Poland is still young in a demographical sense. Nevertheless, the age average is increasing every year. Since 1999 the population growth has been negative. Poland experiences population aging. Those changes will be the main challenges in the sphere of the labour market, social security, health care and the social welfare system.