PLN to JPY Live Rate

Central Europe, east of Germany

Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

52 00 N, 20 00 E

36 00 N, 138 00 E

Europe

Asia

total: 312,685 sq km

land: 304,255 sq km

water: 8,430 sq km

country comparison to the world: 71

total: 377,915 sq km

land: 364,485 sq km

water: 13,430 sq km

note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

country comparison to the world: 63

total: 3,071 km

border countries (7): Belarus 418 km, Czech Republic 796 km, Germany 467 km, Lithuania 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 210 km, Slovakia 541 km, Ukraine 535 km

0 km

440 km

29,751 km

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties

territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

mostly rugged and mountainous

mean elevation: 173 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m

highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

mean elevation: 438 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m

highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m

coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land

negligible mineral resources, fish

note: with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil

agricultural land: 48.2%

arable land 36.2%; permanent crops 1.3%; permanent pasture 10.7%

forest: 30.6%

other: 21.2% (2011 est.)

agricultural land: 12.5%

arable land 11.7%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 0%

forest: 68.5%

other: 19% (2011 est.)

970 sq km (2012)

24,690 sq km (2012)

population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk

all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one-third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain)

flooding

many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

volcanism: both Unzen (1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu

decreased emphasis on heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-communist governments has improved environment; air pollution remains serious because of 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

0air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere; following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan originally planned to phase out nuclear power, but it has now implemented a new policy of seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards; waste management is an ongoing isue; Japanese municipal facilities used to burn high volumes of trash, but air pollution issues forced the government to adopt an aggressive recycling policy

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, 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

party to: 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, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

strategic location in northeast Asia; composed of four main islands - from north: Hokkaido, Honshu (the largest and most populous), Shikoku, and Kyushu (the "Home Islands") - and 6,848 smaller islands and islets

38,476,269 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 36

126,451,398 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

noun: Pole(s)

adjective: Polish

noun: Japanese (singular and plural)

adjective: Japanese

Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7%

note: represents ethnicity declared first (2011 est.)

Japanese 98.5%, Korean 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%

note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil (2004 est.)

Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.3%

note: data represents the language spoken at home; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; Poland ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2009 recognizing Kashub as a regional language, Czech, Hebrew, Yiddish, Belarusian, Lithuanian, German, Armenian, Russian, Slovak, and Ukrainian as national minority languages, and Karaim, Lemko, Romani (Polska Roma and Bergitka Roma), and Tatar as ethnic minority languages (2011 est.)

Japanese

Catholic 87.2% (includes Roman Catholic 86.9% and Greek Catholic, Armenian Catholic, and Byzantine-Slavic Catholic .3%), Orthodox 1.3% (almost all are Polish Autocephalous Orthodox), Protestant 0.4% (mainly Augsburg Evangelical and Pentacostal), other 0.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness, Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Muslim, Jewish, Mormon), unspecified 10.8% (2012 est.)

Shintoism 79.2%, Buddhism 66.8%, Christianity 1.5%, other 7.1%

note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism (2012 est.)

total dependency ratio: 43.9

youth dependency ratio: 21.4

elderly dependency ratio: 22.5

potential support ratio: 4.5 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 64

youth dependency ratio: 21.3

elderly dependency ratio: 42.7

potential support ratio: 2.3 (2015 est.)

total: 40.7 years

male: 39 years

female: 42.4 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 47

total: 47.3 years

male: 46 years

female: 48.7 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

-0.13% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 206

-0.21% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 211

9.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 202

7.7 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 223

10.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

9.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 45

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk

all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one-third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain)

urban population: 60.5% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.02% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population: 94.3% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.15% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

WARSAW (capital) 1.722 million; Krakow 760,000 (2015)

TOKYO (capital) 38.001 million; Osaka-Kobe 20.238 million; Nagoya 9.406 million; Kitakyushu-Fukuoka 5.51 million; Shizuoka-Hamamatsu 3.369 million; Sapporo 2.571 million (2015)

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

27.4 years (2014 est.)

30.7 years (2015 est.)

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 182

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 171

total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 182

total: 2 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 224

total population: 77.8 years

male: 73.9 years

female: 81.8 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

total population: 85.3 years

male: 81.9 years

female: 88.8 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

1.35 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 215

1.41 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 209

6.4% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 97

10.2% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 23

2.29 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

2.37 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

6.5 beds/1,000 population (2013)

13.4 beds/1,000 population (2012)

improved:

urban: 99.3% of population

rural: 96.9% of population

total: 98.3% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.7% of population

rural: 3.1% of population

total: 1.7% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 97.5% of population

rural: 96.7% of population

total: 97.2% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.5% of population

rural: 3.3% of population

total: 2.8% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

degree of risk: intermediate

vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis (2016)

23.1% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 69

4.3% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 186

4.9% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 65

3.6% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 115

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.7% (2015 est.)

total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 17 years (2013)

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 15 years (2014)

total: 20.8%

male: 20.7%

female: 20.9% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 62

total: 5.1%

male: 5.7%

female: 4.5% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

40.4%

note: percent of women aged 20-49 (2015)

3.4% (2010)

conventional long form: Republic of Poland

conventional short form: Poland

local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska

local short form: Polska

etymology: name derives from the Polanians, a west Slavic tribe that united several surrounding Slavic groups (9th-10th centuries A.D.) and who passed on their name to the country; the name of the tribe likely comes from the Slavic "pole" (field or plain), indicating the flat nature of their country

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Japan

local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku

local short form: Nihon/Nippon

etymology: the English word for Japan comes via the Chinese name for the country "Cipangu"; both Nihon and Nippon mean "where the sun originates" and are frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun"

parliamentary republic

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

name: Warsaw

geographic coordinates: 52 15 N, 21 00 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

name: Tokyo

geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E

time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie (Lodz), Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie (Opole), Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie (Holy Cross), Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)

47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)

3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933); note - celebrates the birthday of the current emperor

history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997

amendments: proposed by at least one-fifth of Sejm deputies, by the Senate, or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Sejm and absolute majority vote in the Senate; amendments to articles relating to sovereignty, personal freedoms, and constitutional amendment procedures also require passage by majority vote in a referendum; amended 2006, 2009, 2015 (2016)

history: previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947

amendments: proposed by the Diet; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of both houses of the Diet and approval by majority in a referendum; note - the constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1947 (2017)

civil law system; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final

civil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Poland

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Japan

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

18 years of age; universal

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Andrzej DUDA (since 6 August 2015)

head of government: Prime Minister Mateusz MORAWIECKI (since 11 December 2017); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and National Heritage Piotr GLINSKI (since 16 November 2015), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Higher Education Jaroslaw GOWIN (since 16 November 2015), Beata SZYDLO, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Policy (since 11 December 2017)

cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 May 2015 with a second round on 24 May 2015 (next to be held in May 2020); prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm

election results: Andrzej DUDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51.5%, Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (independent) 48.5%

chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989); note - The Imperial Council ruled on 2 December 2017 that the Emperor will be allowed to abdicate in April 2019

head of government: Prime Minister Shinzo ABE (since 26 December 2012); Deputy Prime Minister Taro ASO (since 26 December 2012)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister

description: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) and the Sejm (460 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote with a 5% threshold of total votes cast for a party to gain a seat; members serve 4-year terms); note - the designation National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the 2 houses meet jointly

note: all minorities are exempt from the 5% threshold requirement for seats to the Sejm

elections: Senate - last held on 25 October 2015 (next to be held in October or November 2019); Sejm - last held on 25 October 2015 (next to be held in October or November 2019)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PiS 61, PO 34, PSL 1, independent 4; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PiS 37.6%, PO 24.1%, K15 8.8%, N 7.6%, PSL 5.1% other 16.8%; seats by party - PiS 235, PO 138, K15 42, N 28, PSL 16, German minority 1

description: bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats; 146 members directly elected in multi-seat districts by simple majority vote and 96 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (475 seats; 295 members directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote and 180 directly elected in multi-seat districts by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - Japan's amended electoral law, changed in May 2017, reduced the total number of House seats to 465 - the number of House of Representatives seats in single-seat districts is reduced to 289 and the number of House of Representatives seats in multi-seat districts reduced to 176; the change is effective for the December 2018 House of Representatives election

note: the Diet in June 2017 redrew Japan's electoral district boundaries and reduced the current 275 seats in the House of Representatives to 265; the law, which cuts 6 seats in single-seat districts and 4 in multi-seat districts, was reportedly intended to reduce voting disparities between densely and sparsely populated voting districts

elections: House of Councillors - last held on 10 July 2016 (next to be held in July 2019); House of Representatives - last held on 22 October 2017 (next to be held by 21 October 2021)

election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 55, DP 32, Komeito 14, JCP 6, Osaka Ishin no Kai (Initiatives from Osaka) 7, PLPTYF 1, SDP 1, independent 5

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 284, CDP 55, Party of Hope 50, Komeito 29, JCP 12, JIP 11, SDP 2, independent 22

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Sad Najwyzszy (consists of the president of the Supreme Court and 116 justices organized in criminal, civil, labor and social insurance, and military chambers)

judge selection and term of office: president of the Supreme Court nominated by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court and selected by the president of Poland; other judges nominated by the 25-member National Judiciary Council, and appointed by the president of Poland; judges appointed until retirement, usually at age 65, but tenure can be extended

subordinate courts: Constitutional Tribunal; State Tribunal; administrative courts; regional and appellate courts subdivided into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum at the first general election of the House of Representatives following each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward

subordinate courts: 8 High Courts (Koto-saiban-sho), each with a Family Court (Katei-saiban-sho); 50 District Courts (Chiho saibansho), with 203 additional branches; 438 Summary Courts (Kani saibansho)

Civic Platform or PO [Grzegorz SCHETYNA]

Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Wlodzimierz CZARZASTY]

German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Ryszard GALLA]

Kukiz 15 or K15 [Pawel KUKIZ]

Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]

Liberty (formerly the Coalition for the Renewal of the Republic-Liberty and Hope or KORWiN) [Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE]

Nowoczesna ("Modern") or N [Katarzyna LUBNAUER]

Polish People's Party or PSL [Wladyslaw KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ]

Razem (Together) [collective leadership]

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan or CDP [Yukio EDANO]

Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Kohei OTSUKA]

Group of Reformists [Sakihito OZAWA]

Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]

Japan Innovation Party or JIP [Ichiro MATSUI]

Party of Hope or Kibo no To [Yuichiro TAMAKI]

Komeito [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI]

Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Shinzo ABE]

Liberal Party [Ichiro OZAWA] (formerly People's Life Party & Taro Yamamoto and Friends or PLPTYF)

New Renaissance Party [Hiroyuki ARAI]

Party for Japanese Kokoro or PJK [Masashi NAKANO]

Social Democratic Party or SDP [Tadatomo YOSHIDA]

The Assembly to Energize Japan and the Independents [Kota MATSUDA]

All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ [Jan GUZ] (trade union)

Independent Self-Governing Trade Union or Solidarity [Piotr DUDA]

Roman Catholic Church [Archbishop Wojciech POLAK, Archbishop Stanislaw GADECKI]

other: business groups; trade unions

Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, CPLP (associate), EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

chief of mission: Ambassador Piotr Antoni WILCZEK (since 18 January 2017)

chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 499-1700

FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271

consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission: Ambassador Shinsuke SUGIYAMA (since 28 March 2018)

chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700

FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187

consulate(s) general: Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver (CO), Detroit (MI), Honolulu (HI), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City (OK), Orlando (FL), Philadelphia (PA), Phoenix (AZ), Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle, Saipan (Puerto Rico), Tamuning (Guam)

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul Wayne JONES (since 7 October 2015)

embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw

mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)

telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000

FAX: [48] (22) 504-2688

consulate(s) general: Krakow

chief of mission: Ambassador William F. "Bill" HAGERTY, IV (since 31 August 2017)

embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420

mailing address: Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300

telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000

FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862

consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo

consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; colors derive from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field

note: similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

white crowned eagle; national colors: white, red

red sun disc, chrysanthemum; national colors: red, white

name: "Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)

lyrics/music: Jozef WYBICKI/traditional

note: adopted 1927; the anthem, commonly known as "Jeszcze Polska nie zginela" (Poland Has Not Yet Perished), was written in 1797; the lyrics resonate strongly with Poles because they reflect the numerous occasions in which the nation's lands have been occupied

name: "Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign)

lyrics/music: unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI

note: adopted 1999; unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor

Poland has the sixth-largest economy in the EU and has long had a reputation as a business-friendly country with largely sound macroeconomic policies. Since 1990, Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization. During the 2008-09 economic slowdown Poland was the only EU country to avoid a recession, in part because of the government’s loose fiscal policy combined with a commitment to rein in spending in the medium-term Poland is the largest recipient of EU development funds and their cyclical allocation can significantly impact the rate of economic growth.

The Polish economy performed well during the 2014-17 period, with the real GDP growth rate generally exceeding 3%, in part because of increases in government social spending that have helped to accelerate consumer-driven growth. However, since 2015, Poland has implemented new business restrictions and taxes on foreign-dominated economic sectors, including banking and insurance, energy, and healthcare, that have dampened investor sentiment and has increased the government’s ownership of some firms. The government reduced the retirement age in 2016 and has had mixed success in introducing new taxes and boosting tax compliance to offset the increased costs of social spending programs and relieve upward pressure on the budget deficit. Some credit ratings agencies estimate that Poland during the next few years is at risk of exceeding the EU’s 3%-of-GDP limit on budget deficits, possibly impacting its access to future EU funds. Poland’s economy is projected to perform well in the next few years in part because of an anticipated cyclical increase in the use of its EU development funds and continued, robust household spending.

Poland faces several systemic challenges, which include addressing some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure, business environment, rigid labor code, commercial court system, government red tape, and burdensome tax system, especially for entrepreneurs. Additional long-term challenges include diversifying Poland’s energy mix, strengthening investments in innovation, research, and development, as well as stemming the outflow of educated young Poles to other EU member states, especially in light of a coming demographic contraction due to emigration, persistently low fertility rates, and the aging of the Solidarity-era baby boom generation.

Over the past 70 years, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (slightly less than 1% of GDP) have helped Japan develop an advanced economy. Two notable characteristics of the post-World War II economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, known as keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features have significantly eroded under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change.

Measured on a purchasing power parity basis that adjusts for price differences, Japan in 2017 stood as the fourth-largest economy in the world after first-place China, which surpassed Japan in 2001, and third-place India, which edged out Japan in 2012. For three postwar decades, overall real economic growth was impressive - averaging 10% in the 1960s, 5% in the 1970s, and 4% in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the aftereffects of inefficient investment and the collapse of an asset price bubble in the late 1980s, which resulted in several years of economic stagnation as firms sought to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. Modest economic growth continued after 2000, but the economy has fallen into recession four times since 2008.

Japan enjoyed an uptick in growth since 2013, supported by Prime Minister Shinzo ABE’s “Three Arrows” economic revitalization agenda - dubbed “Abenomics” - of monetary easing, “flexible” fiscal policy, and structural reform. Led by the Bank of Japan’s aggressive monetary easing, Japan is making modest progress in ending deflation, but demographic decline – a low birthrate and an aging, shrinking population – poses a major long-term challenge for the economy. The government currently faces the quandary of balancing its efforts to stimulate growth and institute economic reforms with the need to address its sizable public debt, which stands at 235% of GDP. To help raise government revenue, Japan adopted legislation in 2012 to gradually raise the consumption tax rate. However, the first such increase, in April 2014, led to a sharp contraction, so Prime Minister ABE has twice postponed the next increase, which is now scheduled for October 2019. Structural reforms to unlock productivity are seen as central to strengthening the economy in the long-run.

Scarce in critical natural resources, Japan has long been dependent on imported energy and raw materials. After the complete shutdown of Japan’s nuclear reactors following the earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011, Japan's industrial sector has become even more dependent than before on imported fossil fuels. However, ABE’s government is seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards and is emphasizing nuclear energy’s importance as a base-load electricity source. In August 2015, Japan successfully restarted one nuclear reactor at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima prefecture, and several other reactors around the country have since resumed operations; however, opposition from local governments has delayed several more restarts that remain pending. Reforms of the electricity and gas sectors, including full liberalization of Japan’s energy market in April 2016 and gas market in April 2017, constitute an important part of Prime Minister Abe’s economic program.

Under the Abe Administration, Japan’s government sought to open the country’s economy to greater foreign competition and create new export opportunities for Japanese businesses, including by joining 11 trading partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Japan became the first country to ratify the TPP in December 2016, but the United States signaled its withdrawal from the agreement in January 2017. In November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Japan also reached agreement with the European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement in July 2017, and is likely seek to ratify both agreements in the Diet this year.

$1.111 trillion (2017 est.)

$1.07 trillion (2016 est.)

$1.042 trillion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 25

$5.405 trillion (2017 est.)

$5.325 trillion (2016 est.)

$5.27 trillion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 5

$510 billion (2017 est.)

$4.884 trillion (2017 est.)

3.8% (2017 est.)

2.6% (2016 est.)

3.9% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

1.5% (2017 est.)

1% (2016 est.)

1.1% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 174

$29,300 (2017 est.)

$28,200 (2016 est.)

$27,400 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 66

$42,700 (2017 est.)

$41,900 (2016 est.)

$41,500 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 41

19% of GDP (2017 est.)

19.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

19.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 96

27% of GDP (2017 est.)

27.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

27% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 41

household consumption: 58.8%

government consumption: 18.1%

investment in fixed capital: 17.8%

investment in inventories: 0.8%

exports of goods and services: 56.2%

imports of goods and services: -51.8% (2017 est.)

household consumption: 55.9%

government consumption: 19.5%

investment in fixed capital: 23.5%

investment in inventories: 0.2%

exports of goods and services: 17.8%

imports of goods and services: -16.8% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 2.4%

industry: 40.2%

services: 64.3% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 1%

industry: 29.7%

services: 69.3% (2017 est.)

potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, dairy

vegetables, rice, fish, poultry, fruit, dairy products, pork, beef, flowers, potatoes/taros/yams, sugarcane, tea, legumes, wheat and barley

machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

among world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

4.2% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 64

1.4% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 155

17.6 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 37

67.77 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

agriculture: 11.5%

industry: 30.4%

services: 57.6% (2015 est.)

agriculture: 2.9%

industry: 26.2%

services: 70.9% (February 2015 est)

4.8% (2017 est.)

6.2% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

2.9% (2017 est.)

3.1% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

17.6% (2015 est.)

16.1% (2013 est.)

lowest 10%: 3%

highest 10%: 23.9% (2015 est.)

lowest 10%: 2.7%

highest 10%: 24.8% (2008 est.)

30.8 (2015 est.)

33.7 (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

37.9 (2011 est.)

24.9 (1993 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

revenues: $90.8 billion

expenditures: $102.2 billion (2017 est.)

revenues: $1.678 trillion

expenditures: $1.902 trillion (2017 est.)

17.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 171

34.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 58

-2.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 93

-4.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 152

46.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

48.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, the data include subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

country comparison to the world: 115

223.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

222.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

calendar year

1 April - 31 March

1.9% (2017 est.)

-0.6% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 87

0.4% (2017 est.)

-0.1% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 19

1.5% (31 December 2017 est.)

2% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 123

0.3% (31 December 2015 est.)

0.3% (31 December 2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 135

4.8% (31 December 2017 est.)

4.74% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

1.5% (31 December 2017 est.)

1.48% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 185

$255.1 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$195.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

$6.426 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.651 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

$374.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$300.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

$8.917 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$8.023 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

$413.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$336.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 31

$13.63 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$12.11 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

$261.5 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$277.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$351.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

$4.895 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$4.378 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.543 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

$-4.958 billion (2017 est.)

$-959 million (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 175

$175 billion (2017 est.)

$188.1 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

$221.4 billion (2017 est.)

$195.7 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

$683.3 billion (2017 est.)

$634.9 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2012 est.)

motor vehicles 14.9%; iron and steel products 5.4%; semiconductors 5%; auto parts 4.8%; power generating machinery 3.5%; plastic materials 3.3% (2014 est.)

Germany 27.3%, UK 6.6%, Czech Republic 6.6%, France 5.4%, Italy 4.8%, Netherlands 4.5% (2016)

US 20.2%, China 17.7%, South Korea 7.2%, Hong Kong 5.2%, Thailand 4.3% (2016)

$221.8 billion (2017 est.)

$193.6 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

$625.7 billion (2017 est.)

$583.5 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 15%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9% (2011 est.)

petroleum 16.1%; liquid natural gas 9.1%; clothing 3.8%; semiconductors 3.3%; coal 2.4%; audio and visual apparatus 1.4% (2014 est.)

Germany 28.3%, China 7.9%, Netherlands 6%, Russia 5.8%, Italy 5.3%, France 4.2%, Czech Republic 4.1% (2016)

China 25.8%, US 11.4%, Australia 5%, South Korea 4.1% (2016)

$115 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$114.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

$1.217 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

$1.233 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

$362 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$347.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

$3.24 trillion (31 March 2016 est.)

$2.83 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

$235.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$224.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 27

$268.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$238.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

$68.22 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$64.52 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

$1.548 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.363 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

zlotych (PLN) per US dollar -

3.75 (2017 est.)

3.95 (2016 est.)

3.95 (2015 est.)

3.77 (2014 est.)

3.15 (2013 est.)

yen (JPY) per US dollar -

111.1 (2017 est.)

108.76 (2016 est.)

108.76 (2015 est.)

121.02 (2014 est.)

97.44 (2013 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

152.1 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 27

976.3 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

141.3 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

933.6 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

12.02 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 19

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 152

14.02 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 18

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 163

37.32 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

322.2 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

77.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 92

59.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 130

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 164

12.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 14

1.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 142

7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

18.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 34

15% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 48

20,100 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 68

3,918 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

4,520 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 64

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 142

490,300 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 19

3.181 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

137.8 million bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

44.12 million bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 80

557,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

3.536 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

578,200 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

4.026 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

135,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 38

381,100 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

173,500 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 37

1.141 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

6.132 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 48

4.453 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

26.78 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

123.6 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

56 million cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 50

0 cu m (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 125

12.12 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

114.7 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

81.66 billion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 58

20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 76

296 million Mt (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 22

1.257 billion Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

total subscriptions: 8,143,145

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

total subscriptions: 64,099,179

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

total: 53,001,776

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

total: 166,852,753

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has accelerated with market-based competition; fixed-line service, dominated by the former state-owned company, is dwarfed by the growth in mobile-cellular services

domestic: several nation-wide networks provide mobile-cellular service; coverage is generally good; fixed-line service lags in rural areas

international: country code - 48; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2015)

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service

domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind

international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 2 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2012)

state-run public TV operates 2 national channels supplemented by 16 regional channels and several niche channels; privately owned entities operate several national TV networks and a number of special interest channels; many privately owned channels broadcasting locally; roughly half of all households are linked to either satellite or cable TV systems providing access to foreign television networks; state-run public radio operates 5 national networks and 17 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks, several commercial stations broadcasting to multiple cities, and many privately owned local radio stations (2007)

a mixture of public and commercial broadcast TV and radio stations; 6 national terrestrial TV networks including 1 public broadcaster; the large number of radio and TV stations available provide a wide range of choices; satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2012)

.pl

.jp

total: 28,237,820

percent of population: 73.3% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 28

total: 116,565,962

percent of population: 92.0% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

number of registered air carriers: 6

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 92

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,841,128

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 120,016,466 mt-km (2015)

number of registered air carriers: 23

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 627

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 113.762 million

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 8,868.745 million mt-km (2015)

SP (2016)

JA (2016)

126 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 47

175 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 33

total: 87

over 3,047 m: 5

2,438 to 3,047 m: 30

1,524 to 2,437 m: 36

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 6 (2017)

total: 142

over 3,047 m: 6

2,438 to 3,047 m: 45

1,524 to 2,437 m: 38

914 to 1,523 m: 28

under 914 m: 25 (2017)

total: 39

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 17

under 914 m: 21 (2013)

total: 33

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 28 (2013)

6 (2013)

16 (2013)

gas 14,198 km; oil 1,374 km; refined products 2,483 km (2016)

gas 4,456 km; oil 174 km; oil/gas/water 104 km (2013)

total: 19,231 km

broad gauge: 395 km 1.524-m gauge

standard gauge: 18,836 km 1.435-m gauge (11,874 km electrified) (2016)

country comparison to the world: 15

total: 27,311 km

standard gauge: 4,800 km 1.435-m gauge (4,800 km electrified)

dual gauge: 132 km 1.435-1.067-m gauge (132 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 124 km 1.372-m gauge (124 km electrified); 22,207 km 1.067-m gauge (15,430 km electrified); 48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified) (2015)

country comparison to the world: 11

total: 420,000 km

paved: 291,000 km (includes 1,492 km of expressways, 1,559 of motorways)

unpaved: 129,000 km (2016)

country comparison to the world: 17

total: 1,218,772 km

paved: 992,835 km (includes 8,428 km of expressways)

unpaved: 225,937 km (2015)

country comparison to the world: 6

3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2009)

country comparison to the world: 27

1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2010)

country comparison to the world: 44

total: 152

by type: container ship 1, general cargo 13, oil tanker 7, other 131 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 73

total: 5,289

by type: bulk carrier 150, container ship 20, general cargo 1,963, oil tanker 714, other 2,442 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 3

major seaport(s): Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie

river port(s): Szczecin (River Oder)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Swinoujscie

major seaport(s): Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Tomakomai, Yokohama

container port(s) (TEUs): Kobe (2,707,000), Nagoya (2,631,000), Osaka (1,970,000), Tokyo (4,150,000), Yokohama (2,787,000) (2015)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Chita, Fukwoke, Futtsu, Hachinone, Hakodate, Hatsukaichi, Higashi Ohgishima, Higashi Niigata, Himeiji, Joetsu, Kagoshima, Kawagoe, Kita Kyushu, Mizushima, Nagasaki, Naoetsu, Negishi, Ohgishima, Oita, Sakai, Sakaide, Senboku, Shimizu, Shin Minato, Sodegaura, Tobata, Yanai, Yokkaichi; Okinawa - Nakagusuku

1.99% of GDP (2017)

1.99% of GDP (2016)

2.14% of GDP (2015)

1.9% of GDP (2014)

1.77% of GDP (2013)

country comparison to the world: 49

0.93% of GDP (2016)

0.94% of GDP (2015)

0.96% of GDP (2014)

0.95% of GDP (2013)

0.97% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 119

Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Special Forces, Territorial Defense Force (2017)

note: Territorial Defense Force only began recruitment in winter 2016

Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou Jieitai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jieitai, MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koukuu Jieitai, ASDF) (2011)

18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription phased out in 2009-12; professional soldiers serve on a permanent basis (for an unspecified period of time) or on a contract basis (for a specified period of time); initial contract period is 18 months; women serve in the military on the same terms as men (2018)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; mandatory retirement at age 53 for senior enlisted personnel and at 62 years for senior service officers (2012)

as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine

the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan

refugees (country of origin): 71,302 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015); 9,864 (Russia) (2016)

stateless persons: 10,825 (2016)

stateless persons: 626 (2016)

despite diligent counternarcotics measures and international information sharing on cross-border crimes, a major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe