Poland Demographics

What is the population of Poland?

Population	38,282,325
Population Growth Rate	-0.09%
Urban Population	60.9%
Population in Major Urban Areas	WARSAW (capital) 1.723 million; Krakow 756,000
Nationality Noun	Pole(s)
Nationality Adjective	Polish
Ethnic Groups	Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other 2.7% (2002)
Languages Spoken	Polish

What is school like in Poland?

Classroom

A typical school in Poland was built during the decade of socialism and is at least 30 years old. The appearance of every construction established between 1945-1989 can be describe like a cubic made of homogeneous concrete. The range of kids enrolled in schoolhouse is from 2000 to 10 000. This number is systematically decreasing and the main reason is a negative population growth. Classrooms are modestly furnished and can accommodate up to 40 students. The layout of every room at school looks almost identically consisting of desks, chairs and a table in front. Of course there are classrooms which are designated for chemistry, biology, physics, informatics where the additional equipment like microscopes, computers, or projectors can be found.

Education Culture

Poland is one of the main leaders of European countries in terms of education progress. Since 2000 the number of students graduated from Universities has risen 133%, when the European norm is 33%. The role of education in society has been growing systematically since the fall of socialism. This situation is caused by needs of the developing industry. More and more parents understand this situation and force children to continue their education. Even if they finish education in High School there is always a need to take special courses to improve their qualification. Additionally unemployment has been above 10 % for about ten years. It means that a low level of education makes it impossible to find a job. The education system perceives exact science as something more valuable in relation to the humanities so art is not treated seriously at school. Most of schools don't provide any additional lessons related to music or drama.

Learning

A day spent at school is almost the same for younger and older children, but there are some differences. It depends on the level of classes they attend. A short day with not many lessons typically no more than 5 is reserved for classes from 1 to 3. The length of classes is 45 minutes and is obligatory for the whole education system. The breaks last for 5 to 25 minutes. The longest is used for lunch time, but only 50% of children eat lunch at school. Meals can be bought at school but most of the kids bring their lunch prepared by their parents. A primary school consists of nine years of teaching and is divided into three parts. The last one ends with the general exam, which classifies them to high school and is passed by about 90%. The teaching at primary school is focused on maths, informatics, environment, music, one foreign language and Polish. The schedule is not to overstrain children and to facilitate them a return home earlier. All lessons are in Polish and there is no exception to this rule. Children do not have a possibility to be taught in other primary languages at schools. A statistical school can contain up to 3000 students and it is recommended that the number of kids in one room should not be greater than 30. There is no prescribed uniforms for children. Teachers usually are strict. They pay attention to behavior, punctuality and cleanliness.

The principals of schools want to change the image of education. It is known that children do not like to go to school. One of the main reasons is the relation between a teacher and a child, which is so far very stiff. According to children's reports most of the teachers are tough and unpleasant which often reflects on their results. In order to improve school achievement and the comfort of children teachers are asked to connect with care, warm and trust for children. All these efforts are focused on better relationships between student and teacher. It is also believed that making kids feel secured and valued would be beneficial in the future. Schools are constantly evolving but there are some rules that are permanent for teachers and children namely a proper etiquette. Kids call for a teacher starting with Mr, Misses or just Professor. Teachers always refer to the first name of a child.

To School

School for most kids is not located far from their place of living so they usually go on foot or by bicycle. Getting to school in urban areas is by public transport like buses and trams. Children attending grades 1 to 3 use orange painted school buses called Gimbus. This kind of transportation is provided by the local authority and is the best way in rural areas where distances from school to villages are quite large. Children in some cases are driven by their parents, but only when the school and the parents workplace are not far from each other.

What are the health conditions in Poland?

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	10.31
Diseases - note	highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved	100%
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP	6.7%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate	0.1%
HIV/Aids Deaths	150
HIV/AIDS Prevalence - note	no country specific models provided
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population	6.6
Infant Mortality Rate - female deaths/1,000 live births	5.56
Infant Mortality Rate - male deaths/1,000 live births	7
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births	6.3
Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk	intermediate
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	5
Mean Age for Mother's First Birth	26.6
Obesity - adult prevalence rate	25.3%
People Living with HIV/AIDS	27,000
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population	2.07
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of total population unimproved	10.5%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved	95.7%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of rural population improved	79.7%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	1.32
Vectorborne Disease (s)	tickborne encephalitis

How long do people live in Poland?

Life Expectancy at Birth	76 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - female	80 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - male	72 Years
Median Age	39 Years
Median Age - female	40 Years
Median Age - male	37 Years

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population	10
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	10.31
Median Age	39 Years
Median Age - female	40 Years
Median Age - male	37 Years
Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population	-0.47
Population Growth Rate	-0.09%
Sex Ratio 0-14 Years - male/female	1.06
Sex Ratio 15-24 Years - male/female	1.04
Sex Ratio 25-54 Years - male/female	1.01
Sex Ratio 55-64 Years - male/female	.94
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female	1.06
Sex Ratio of Total Population - male/female	.94
Sex Ratio Over 64 Years - male/female	.62

What are the health conditions in Poland?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Adequate medical care is available in Poland, but hospital facilities and nursing support are not comparable to American standards. Physicians are generally well trained, but specific emergency services may be lacking in certain regions, especially in Poland's small towns and rural areas. Younger doctors generally speak English, but nursing staff usually do not. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Medications are generally available, although they may not be specific U.S. brand-name drugs.

What is school like in Poland?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP	5.2%
Literacy - female	99.7%
Literacy - male	99.8%
Literacy - total population	99.8%
Literacy Definition	age 15 and over can read and write
School Life Expectancy - female	16 Years
School Life Expectancy - male	15 Years
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)	16 Years

Can people in Poland read?

Literacy - female	99.7%
Literacy - male	99.8%
Literacy - total population	99.8%
Literacy Definition	age 15 and over can read and write
Predominant Language	Polish

Is Poland a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

While Poland generally has a low rate of violent crime, the incidence of street crime, which sometimes involves violence, is moderate. Major cities have higher rates of crime against residents and foreign visitors than other areas.

Organized groups of thieves and pick-pockets operate at major tourist destinations, in train stations, and on trains, trams, and buses in major cities. Thieves often target overnight trains. Most pick-pocketing on trains occurs while boarding or disembarking. In a common scenario, a group of well-dressed young men surround you in the narrow aisle of the train, jostling and pick-pocketing you as they supposedly attempt to get around you. You should guard your passport, money, credit cards, and cell phone. The number of car thefts and carjacking has significantly declined, but theft from vehicles and attempted highway robberies remain a concern. Be wary of people indicating you should pull over or signaling that something is wrong with your car. If you pull over, you may find yourself suddenly surrounded by thieves from another vehicle. If you encounter someone indicating that there is trouble with your car, continue driving until you reach a safe spot (a crowded gas station, supermarket, or even police station) to inspect your vehicle. There have been incidents of thieves opening or breaking passenger-side doors and windows in slow or stopped traffic to take purses or briefcases from the passenger seat. Remember to keep windows closed and doors locked, and use parking garages and anti-theft devices. You should not leave valuables in plain sight inside vehicles, as this increases the opportunity for theft.

U.S. citizens of Asian and African descent have reported being targets of verbal harassment and physical attacks while traveling in Poland.

Under Polish law, if asked by Polish police, you must verify your identity by presenting a travel document, a residence permit card, or an identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Recently, the Border Guards (Stra%u017C Graniczna) have increased random travel document checks on trains originating from or transiting border countries. Border Guards may appear in plain clothes when requesting passports and other travel documents, which are scanned into a handheld scanner for verification. If you are a tourist, this means that you are expected to carry your passport with you. Please ensure the security of your passport while traveling to prevent incidents of pick-pocketing or theft. Keep a copy of your passport biodata page (and any pages with valid visas) in a safe place separate from the passport itself; this can help you when applying for a new passport if yours is lost or stolen.

You should change money only at banks or legitimate money kiosks. A legitimate offer to change money by an unknown person on the street is extremely rare and would almost certainly be a scam. Automated teller machines (ATMs) are widely available throughout major cities in Poland. Most Polish ATMs offer instructions in multiple languages and allow access to U.S. bank accounts.

The press has reported that criminal organizations have illegally obtained users' ATM card numbers and PIN codes by electronically "skimming" the information from victims' cards at public ATMs. Try to use machines at more secure or heavily traveled and monitored locations, such as commercial banks, large hotels, shopping malls, and airports. You should notify your bank of all international travel before you leave the United States, and monitor your personal bank account after traveling.

Polish bars and dance clubs are generally safe for the vast majority of visitors. However, as in many cities, people may approach you with offers of illicit drugs, which are against the law in Poland. Be mindful that security personnel at nightclubs could respond more forcefully than at similar venues in the United States. Whereas casinos and gaming establishments are government-regulated, some are affiliated with, or have attracted the interest of, organized crime.

Don't buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only is it illegal to bring such items into the United States, if you purchase them, you may also be breaking Polish or EU law.

Criminal Penalties

While traveling in Poland, you are subject to its laws, even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don't have your passport with you. It is illegal in Poland to take pictures of military buildings and other national security or restricted objects. Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. Likewise, riding a bike while under the influence is also illegal and can result in being jailed, paying steep fines and banned from riding a bike in Poland for half a year or more. Criminal penalties in Poland vary from the United States. There are some things that might be legal in Poland, but illegal in the United States, for which you can be prosecuted under U.S. law, such as buying pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in Poland is a crime prosecutable in Poland and in the United States. If you break local laws in Poland, your U.S. passport won't help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It's very important to know what's legal and what's not wherever you visit.

Penalties are severe for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Poland, and you can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines if convicted.

If you are arrested in Poland, the authorities are required to notify the nearestU.S.embassy or consulate of your arrest, but this does not always happen quickly. If you are concerned that the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, you should request the policeor prison officials to notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest. This pertains in particular to dual U.S.-Polish nationals, since Poland does not recognize (although it does not prohibit) dual nationality. A person holding Polish and U.S. citizenship is deemed by Poland to be a Polish citizen.