Date of independence, or formation date: 1918
Date when current borders were established: 1945
National day: May 3
Vehicle country identifying code: PL
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): +1
International telephone dialling code: +48
Internet country identifying code: .pl

Located in the heart of Europe, Poland's low-lying plains extend from the Baltic shore in the north to the Tatra Mountains on its southern border with Slovakia. Since the collapse of communism, Poland has undergone massive social, economic, and political change. Opting for a radical form of economic "shock therapy" in the early 1990s to kick-start the switch to a market economy, it has experienced rapid growth, is one of the ten countries set to join the EU in 2004, and has already been accepted as a member of NATO.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004