PEOPLE
Poland today is ethnically almost homogeneous (98%
Polish), in contrast with the World War II period, when there
were significant ethnic minorities 4.5 million Ukrainians, 3
million Jews, 1 million Belorussians, and 800,000 Germans. The
majority of the Jews were murdered during the German occupation
in World War II, and many others emigrated in the succeeding
years.
Most Germans left Poland at the end of the war, while many
Ukrainians and Belorussians lived in territories incorporated
into the then-U.S.S.R. Small Ukrainian, Belorussian, Slovakian,
and Lithuanian minorities reside along the borders, and a German
minority is concentrated near the southwest city of Opole.
Nationality: Noun--Pole(s). Adjective--Polish.
Population (2007): 38.2 million.
Annual growth rate: Unchanging.
Ethnic groups: Polish 98%, German, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Lithuanian.
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Eastern Orthodox, Uniate, Protestant, Judaism.
Language: Polish.
Education: Literacy--98%.
Health (2006): Infant mortality rate--7.2/1,000. Life expectancy--males 71 yrs., females 79 yrs.
Work force: 17.2 million. Industry and construction--29%; agriculture--16%; services--54%.
