Survey reveals what Poles think about minorities (10/03/99)

Survey reveals what Poles think about minorities

RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, Ukraine Report

PRAGUE - It is estimated that ethnic minorities in Poland make up 3.5 percent of the country's 40 million people. According to estimates reported by the PAP news agency on September 9, Poland has 700,000 Germans, 250,000 to 300,000 Ukrainians, 250,000 Belarusians, 25,000-30,000 Slovaks, 15,000-20,000 Lithuanians, 10,000 Roma, 5,000 Jews, and a small number of Czechs, Russians and Greeks.

In a poll conducted by CBOS in August among 1,030 Poles, respondents were asked to answer a number of questions about their knowledge of and attitude toward Poland's minorities. Some 35 percent of respondents correctly estimated the number of people of non-Polish ethnic origin; 34 percent overestimated and 8 percent underestimated that number; 23 percent were unable to answer this question.

Asked to indicate the largest minorities in Poland, the respondents named Germans, Jews, Roma, Ukrainians and Belarusians. "It seems that the respondents overestimate the numerical strength of Jews and Roma," CBOS commented.

Asked to indicate whom they like and dislike, more than one-third of those polled declared their dislike of Roma, Jews and Ukrainians. The most likable Polish minorities, according to the survey, are Czechs (43 percent of respondents) and Slovaks (42 percent).

| Home Page |