Poland is one of the largest countries in Europe. Its area is more than 312 thousand km2. The population of Poland according to 2017 is about 38 638 000 people. In this article we will consider the ethnic composition, linguistic affiliation, the general demographic picture of this state.
Population growth in 2017
According to statistics, the population of Poland over the past year has grown by only 7,340 people. The total annual increase is 0.02%. At the beginning of 2017, the number of inhabitants of the country was 38 630 559 people. During this period, 401,372 children were born, and 379,352 people died. More than 14 thousand citizens emigrated from the country. Natural increase - 22 019 people. At the beginning of 2018, the exact number of the population of Poland is 38 637 899 people. Moreover, women are 1.5 million more than men.
Forecast for 2018
No special demographic changes are expected in 2018. It is estimated that the population of Poland, as in 2017, will increase by a little more than 7 thousand people. According to forecasts, mortality rates will also be unchanged. In terms of migration, the number of citizens traveling abroad will be higher than the number of people arriving in the country. By the end of 2018, the population of Poland could be 38,645,240 people.
Ethnic composition
Poland can be called a mono-ethnic state, since 97% of its citizens are Poles. The remaining 3% (according to 2011) are other nationalities.
The largest ethnic group after the Poles is Silesians. There are about 809 thousand people in the state. Silesians are an ethnic group living in Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Another large nation is the kashub. There are about 228 thousand people. They live mainly in Kashubia - Polish Primorye. 109 thousand citizens of Poland are ethnic Germans. Ukrainians and Belarusians living in the state - about 47-48 thousand people. Also in Poland there are 10-15 thousand Gypsies, Russians, Americans, Lemks and English.
But all this is official data, the real picture may differ radically from these indicators, as the flow of migrants has increased in recent years. For example, in Poland, representatives of the Belarusian people, there are about 50 thousand people. However, according to unofficial data, this number is too underestimated, and in fact, up to 230 thousand Belarusians live here. This is also the case with other national groups.
Jews in Poland
Before the start of World War II, the population of Poland reached 34,923 thousand people. At that time, one of the largest national communities was Jews. In the territory of pre-war Poland, about 3.5 million people lived there. As a result of the Holocaust, a huge number of Jews were destroyed.
After the war ended, many representatives of this people left the country forever. According to the census in 2002, no more than 1 thousand Jews live in Poland. There are up to 50 thousand people who have Jewish roots in the family.
State language and languages of national minorities
The official language is Polish. However, in addition to the literary language in Poland, there are several main dialects:
- Mazovian;
- Greater Poland;
- Lesser Poland;
- Silesian.
In addition to them, there are so-called peripheral dialects. They arose as a result of the expansion of the Polish language. These dialects are found in the western regions of Ukraine and Belarus, as well as Lithuania.
The official status of the regional is assigned to the Kushubian language. He is studied in more than 380 educational institutions. The official languages of national minorities are:
- Czech;
- Ukrainian;
- Belorussian;
- Hebrew;
- Lithuanian;
- Yiddish;
- Russian;
- Deutsch;
- Slovak;
- Armenian;
- Karaite
- Gypsy;
- Tatar;
- Lemkovsky.
Literacy
The population of Poland is considered quite literate. The level of education among young people is 100%. In addition to their native language, most Poles can speak English, or another European language. The total number of literate people among adults (people over 15) is 99.79%. Illiterate are just over 68 thousand citizens of the country.
average life expectancy
Life expectancy is one of the most important indicators of the demographic picture. In Poland, this level is significantly higher than the world average. The life expectancy of the Poles is 76 years. The global figure is 71 years. The female population of Poland lives on average up to 80 years, but for men this mark is 8 years lower.
Religious movements
Most of the population of Poland professes Catholicism. Members of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic Church are more than 33 million citizens of the country. Orthodoxy professes about 500 thousand people. In Poland, a rather large denomination of Jehovah's Witnesses (about 130 thousand people).
In 2005, the Eurobar organization conducted a survey, during which it turned out that about 80% of Poles are believers who adhere to one religion or another. Another 15% are citizens who recognize the existence of supernatural forces, but are not related to any of the faiths. 3% of respondents recognized themselves as atheists, the remaining 2% of people could not give an answer to the question.
The population of cities in Poland
Warsaw is the capital of the Polish Republic; moreover, it is the largest city in the country. According to statistics, in 2017, 1,753,977 people lived in it.
In Krakow and Lodz, the number of inhabitants exceeds 700 thousand. The population of other large cities in Poland, according to 2010, looks like this:
- Wroclaw - about 633 thousand people.
- Poznan - over 550 thousand citizens.
- Gdansk - more than 450 thousand inhabitants.
- Szczecin - 405 thousand people.
In the cities of Lublin, Bydgoszcz, Katowice, 300-360 thousand citizens live.
In Poland there are seven settlements, where the population is from 200 to 300 thousand people. These include:
- Gdynia
- Bialystok;
- Radom;
- Kielce;
- Sosnowiec;
- Torun;
- Czestochowa.
There are also 27 cities in which from 80 to 200 thousand people live.
Characteristics of Poles
The Poles are a rather proud and conservative nation. They honor the traditions of their people and have special respect for the memory of their ancestors. If a relative is buried outside the homeland, the Pole is ready to travel long distances to come to the grave of a loved one and honor his memory.
The people of Poland are distinguished by hospitality and friendliness. Poles willingly receive guests, almost always keep in touch with close and distant relatives, as well as with friends.
They are humorous to everyday troubles. What can not be attributed to the Poles in any way is wastefulness and commercialism. This people knows how to handle money with care, without creating a special cult from it.
Many Poles traditions are closely related to religious dates (Easter, Christmas, etc.).