As a result of the migrations and the Communist Soviet Union's radically altered borders (under the rule of Joseph Stalin), the population of Poland became one of the most ethnically homogeneous in the world. Virtually all of Poland's people claim Polish nationality, with Polish as their native tongue. Ukrainians, the largest minority group, are scattered in various northern districts. Lesser numbers of Belarusians and Lithuanians live in areas adjoining Belarus and Lithuania. The Jewish community, almost entirely Polonized, has been greatly reduced. In Silesia a significant segment of the population, of mixed Polish and German ancestry, tends to declare itself as Polish or German according to political circumstances. Minorities of Germans remain in their little homeland of Pomerania, Silesia, East Prussia, and Lubus. Small populations of Polish Tartars still exist and still practice Islam. Some Polish towns, mainly in northeastern Poland have mosques. Tartar arrived as mercenary soldiers beginning in the late 1300's. The Tartar population reached approximately 100,000 in 1630 but is less than 5,000 in 2000.
In detail: Age structure:
Population growth rate:
-0.04% (2000 est.)
Birth rate:
10.13 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate:
9.99 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate:
9.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate:
1.38 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
Ethnic groups:
Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%
Languages:
Polish
Literacy:
Biggest cities
Population:
38,646,023 (July 2000 est.)
0-14 years:
19% (male 3,767,454; female 3,587,822)
15-64 years:
69% (male 13,201,825; female 13,352,950)
65 years and over:
12% (male 1,809,839; female 2,926,133) (2000 est.)
at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.62 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
total population:
73.19 years
male:
69.01 years
female:
77.6 years (2000 est.)
noun:
Pole(s)
adjective:
Polish
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
98% (1978 est.)
See also: