Key Features:

Area 313,000 sq km. Central European plain.

Capital: Warsaw 1,700,000. Urbanization 60%.
Christian: 97.6%

Economy: The centralized command economy under Communism impoverished and polluted the country. Since 1989 the gradual transition to an export-oriented market economy has been slowed by world recession and the difficulty of restructuring unprofitable heavy industry. The painful reform programme is bearing fruit, and by mid-1993 Poland was the first post-Communist economy to show real growth through private enterprise. Unemployment 14% (1993). Public debt/person $912. Income/person $4,560 (21% of USA).

Politics: Centuries of conflict and occupation by surrounding regional superpowers - Austria, Russia, Germany, France. One quarter of the population died in World War 2. The Soviet army imposed a Communist regime in 1945. Popular discontent and the grass-roots Solidarity movement helped to bring democracy to Poland in 1989. A multi-party democracy with 29 parliamentary parties. Unstable coalitions to mid-1992 and dispites over the division of powers between parliament and president delayed implementation of some reforms. More stability since then as economic improvements become more obvious. Membership of the EU is being sought.

Religion: Since the collapse of Communist rule, the Catholic Church has reasserted its traditionally strong role in national affairs and its traditionally strong role in national affairs and its desire to establish a state based on Catholic principles and theology. Non-Catholics fear the erosion of their present freedoms that could lead to discrimination and even intolerance.

All Statistics taken from Johnstone, P. (1995) Operation World: Pray for the World. OM Publishing: Carlisle.

Work Living Hope Does:

Living Hope Ministries exists to support the church with sound Christian teaching.


Key Contacts:

Andrzej Nedzusiak
Contact number: +48 22 6793720
Office: +48 22 8446468

Click here to email Andrzej