10 Facts about Poland
1. Poland is located in Central Europe and bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast).
2. Poland is the 9th largest country in Europe and is approximately the size of the state of New Mexico.
3. The population is about 38 million. 97% of the population is Polish. There is a 99% literacy rate.
4. Poland’s Constitution (adopted on May 3, 1791) was Europe’s first constitution and the world’s second modern constitution after the U.S. Constitution. Soon after adopting this constitution Poland was partitioned among Russia, Prussia, and Austria. It regained its independence in 1918. After World War II, it was Soviet satellite state until the first democratic presidential elections were held in 1990.
5. Poland is primarily flat plains. There are mountains along the southern border and the Baltic Sea along the northern border.
6. The language is Polish, a Slavic language related to Czech, Slovak, and Russian. Younger people (<30) learn English and/or German in school, and older people speak German or Russian.
7. Polish culture is influenced by Western European culture and Eastern world culture. Poland is the birthplace of famous individuals including Pope John Paul II, Marie Curie, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Frederick Chopin.
8. 90% of Poles are Roman Catholic (about 75% practicing). Approximately 76,000 Poles are members of the Evangelical-Augsburg (Lutheran) Church in Poland, with 170 pastors and 190 congregations. Website:
http://www.luteranie.pl/eng/index.htm9. The unit of money is the zloty (PLN). Find the current exchange rate.
10. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.