Poland

Poland's history as a state began near the middle of the 10th century. By the mid-16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ruled a vast tract of land in Central and Eastern Europe. During the 18th century, internal disorder weakened the nation, and in a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland among themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union Solidarity that over time became a political force with over 10 million members. Free elections in 1989 and 1990 won Solidarity control of the parliament and the presidency, bringing the communist era to a close. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.

land

304,255 sq km

total

312,685 sq km

water

8,430 sq km

about twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico

temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

440 km

highest point

Rysy 2,499 m

lowest point

near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m

mean elevation

173 m

52 00 N, 20 00 E

historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

760 sq km (2013)

border countries

Belarus 375 km; Czechia 699 km; Germany 467 km; Lithuania 100 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 209 km; Slovakia 517 km; Ukraine 498 km

total

2,865 km

agricultural land

48.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 36.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)

forest

30.6% (2018 est.)

other

21.2% (2018 est.)

Central Europe, east of Germany

salt water lake(s)

Zalew Szczecinski/Stettiner Haff (shared with Germany) - 900 sq km

Wisla (Vistula) river source and mouth (shared with Belarus and Ukraine) - 1,213 kmnote - longest river in Poland

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Europe

exclusive economic zone

defined by international treaties

territorial sea

12 nm

flooding

coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land

population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

0-14 years

14.2% (male 2,830,048/female 2,676,300)

15-64 years

65.9% (male 12,513,402/female 13,036,977)

65 years and over

19.8% (2024 est.) (male 3,097,965/female 4,591,618)

beer

5.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

4.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

10.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

8.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

62.3% (2014)

6.5% of GDP (2020)

56.6% (2023 est.)

12.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

28.6

potential support ratio

3.5 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.4

youth dependency ratio

23.4

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population

5.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.)

note

note: represents ethnicity declared first

0.64 (2024 est.)

6.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)

female

4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.2% (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Księga Faktów Świata, niezbędne źródło podstawowych informacji. (Polish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note

note 1: shares of languages sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; data represent language spoken at homenote 2: Poland also recognizes Kashub as a regional language; Czech, Hebrew, Yiddish, Belarusian, Lithuanian, German, Armenian, Russian, Slovak, and Ukrainian as national minority languages; and Karaim, Lemko, Romani (Polska Roma and Bergitka Roma), and Tatar as ethnic minority languages

female

80.9 years

male

72.8 years

total population

76.7 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.8% (2021)

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

1.798 million WARSAW (capital), 769,000 Krakow (2023)

2 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

44.3 years

male

41.5 years

total

42.9 years (2024 est.)

27.9 years (2020 est.)

adjective

Polish

noun

Pole(s)

-6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

23.1% (2016)

3.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

20,304,895 (2024 est.)

male

18,441,415

total

38,746,310

population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk

-1% (2024 est.)

Catholic 84.6% (Roman Catholic 84.6% and other Catholic 0.3%), Orthodox 1.3% (almost all are Polish Autocephalous Orthodox), Protestant 0.4% (mainly Augsburg Evangelical and Pentecostal), other 0.3%, unspecified 13% (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

female

17 years (2020)

male

15 years

total

16 years

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.67 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.91 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

20.1% (2020 est.)

male

27.9% (2020 est.)

total

24% (2020 est.)

1.32 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

-0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

60.2% of total population (2023)

16 voivodships [provinces] (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie (Lodz), Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie (Opole), Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie (Holy Cross), Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology

the origin of the name is unknown; the Polish designation "Warszawa" was the name of a fishing village and several legends/traditions link the city's founding to a man named Wars or Warsz

geographic coordinates

52 15 N, 21 00 E

name

Warsaw

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

both parents must be citizens of Poland

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

amendments

proposed by at least one fifth of Sejm deputies, by the Senate, or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Sejm and absolute majority vote in the Senate; amendments to articles relating to sovereignty, personal freedoms, and constitutional amendment procedures also require passage by majority vote in a referendum; amended 2006, 2009

history

several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997

conventional long form

Republic of Poland

conventional short form

Poland

etymology

name derives from the Polanians, a west Slavic tribe that united several surrounding Slavic groups (9th-10th centuries A.D.) and who passed on their name to the country; the name of the tribe likely comes from the Slavic "pole" (field or plain), indicating the flat nature of their country

former

Polish People's Republic

local long form

Rzeczpospolita Polska

local short form

Polska

chief of mission

Ambassador Mark BRZEZINSKI (since 19 January 2022)

consulate(s) general

Krakow

email address and website

acswarsaw@state.govhttps://pl.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, 00-540 Warsaw

FAX

[48] (22) 504-2088

mailing address

5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010

telephone

[48] (22) 504-2000

chancery

2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Bogdan KLICH (since 18 November 2024)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

washington.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.plhttps://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/embassy-washington

FAX

[1] (202) 328-2152

telephone

[1] (202) 499-1700

cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm

chief of state

President Andrzej DUDA (since 6 August 2015)

election results

2020: Andrzej DUDA reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49%2015: Andrzej DUDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51.5%, Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (independent) 48.5%  

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 June 2020 with a second round on 12 July 2020 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm; all presidential candidates resign their party affiliation

head of government

Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 11 December 2023)

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; colors derive from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field

note

note: similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

parliamentary republic

11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 14 April 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Sad Najwyzszy (consists of the first president of the Supreme Court and 120 justices organized in criminal, civil, labor and social insurance, and extraordinary appeals and public affairs and disciplinary chambers); Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president)

judge selection and term of office

president of the Supreme Court nominated by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court and selected by the president of Poland; other judges nominated by the 25-member National Judicial Council and appointed by the president of Poland; judges serve until retirement, usually at age 65, but tenure can be extended; Constitutional Tribunal judges chosen by the Sejm for single 9-year terms

subordinate courts

administrative courts; military courts; local, regional and appellate courts subdivided into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts

civil law system; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final

description

bicameral Parliament consists of:Senate or Senat (100 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)Sejm (460 seats; members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote with 5% threshold of total votes needed for parties and 8% for coalitions to gain seats; minority parties exempt from threshold; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by coalition/party - United Right 34.8%, Civic Coalition 28.9%, Third Way 11.5%, The Left 5.3%, Senate Pact Independents 2.7%, independent 3%; seats by coalition/party - Civic Coalition 41, United Right 34, Third Way 11, The Left 9, Senate Pact Independents 4, independent 1Sejm - percent of vote by coalition/party - PiS 35.4%, KO 30.7%, TD 14.4%, Lewica 8.6%, Konf 7.2%; seats by coalition/party - United Way 194, Civic Coalition 157, Third Way 65, The Left 26, Confederation 18

elections

Senate - last held on 15 October 2023 (next to be held in 2027)Sejm - last held on 15 October 2023 (next to be held in 2027)

note

note: the designation "National Assembly" (or Zgromadzenie Narodowe) is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly

lyrics/music

Jozef WYBICKI/traditional

name

"Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)

note

note: adopted 1927; the anthem, commonly known as "Jeszcze Polska nie zginela" (Poland Has Not Yet Perished), was written in 1797; the lyrics resonate strongly with Poles because they reflect the numerous occasions in which the nation's lands have been occupied

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Krakow (c); Historic Warsaw (c); Medieval Torun (c); Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (c); Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (c); Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (c); Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration Camp (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Białowieza Forest (n); Old City of Zamość (c)

total World Heritage Sites

17 (15 cultural, 2 natural)

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

white crowned eagle; national colors: white, red

AGROunion or AUCenter for Poland or CdPCivic Platform or POConfederation of the Polish Crown or KKPKukiz' 15 or K'15Labor Union or UPLaw and Justice or PiSLeft Together or LRModern or .NNational Movement or NNNew Hope or RNNew Left or NLPoland 2050 or PL2050Polish Initiative or iPLPolish People's Party or PSLPolish Socialist Party or PPSRenewal of the Republic of Poland or ON RPSovereign Poland or SPThe Greens or ZieloniUnion of European Democrats or UEDYes! For Poland or T!DPL

18 years of age; universal

milk, sugar beets, wheat, maize, potatoes, triticale, apples, rapeseed, barley, rye (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

6.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

19.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$250.097 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$234.98 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

A- (2007)

Moody's rating

A2 (2002)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

A- (2018)

Current account balance 2021

-$8.515 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$16.697 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$12.689 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income, diversified, EU-member economy; significant growth in GDP, trade, and investment since joining EU in 2004; rebounding from slowdown triggered by inflation and fall in consumer demand; strong foreign investment supported by EU structural funds; income tax reform and defense spending have added to public debt

Currency

zlotych (PLN) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

3.839 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

3.9 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3.862 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

4.458 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

4.204 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$392.694 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$434.008 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$469.264 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products, garments, electric batteries, computers (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 27%, Czechia 6%, France 6%, UK 5%, Netherlands 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

57.8% (2023 est.)

government consumption

18.6% (2023 est.)

household consumption

57.2% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-51.7% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.8% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

2.9% (2023 est.)

industry

28.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

58.8% (2023 est.)

$811.229 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

28.5 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

22.8% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

3.4% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$369.82 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$421.226 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$419.701 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

garments, crude petroleum, cars, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 23%, China 11%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 5%, Czechia 4% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

0.55% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

5.06% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

14.43% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

11.53% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

18.387 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

11.8% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, the data include subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Public debt 2017

50.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$1.527 trillion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.613 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.616 trillion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

6.93% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.64% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.16% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$40,500 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$43,800 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$44,100 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

1.05% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.93% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.84% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$166.03 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$166.664 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$193.783 billion (2023 est.)

17.27% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

3.36% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

2.89% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.91% (2023 est.)

female

11.1% (2023 est.)

male

12% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

11.6% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

163.359 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

35.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

94.138 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

293.356 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

123.782 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

12.047 million metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

13.347 million metric tons (2022 est.)

production

116.682 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

28.531 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

156.869 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

16.915 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

15.238 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

58.719 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

8.659 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

biomass and waste

4.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

78.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

0.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

4.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

11% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

106.196 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

20.056 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

587.771 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

14.42 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

5.551 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

91.492 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

113 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

722,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2020 est.)

total

8,369,218 (2020 est.)

state-run public TV operates 2 national channels supplemented by 16 regional channels and several niche channels; privately owned entities operate several national TV networks and a number of special interest channels; many privately owned channels broadcasting locally; roughly half of all households are linked to either satellite or cable TV systems providing access to foreign television networks; state-run public radio operates 5 national networks and 17 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks, several commercial stations broadcasting to multiple cities, and many privately owned local radio stations (2019)

.pl

percent of population

85% (2021 est.)

total

32.3 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line is 13 per 100 (service lags in rural areas), mobile-cellular is 132 per 100 persons (2022)

general assessment

the liberalized telecom market has seen considerable development in the broadband and mobile sectors; the regulatory environment has encouraged market competition, partly by encouraging operators to secure spectrum and also by ensuring access to cable and fiber infrastructure; the mobile market in recent years has been characterized by the rapid extension of LTE and 5G networks, and the development of mobile data services based on newly released and re-farmed spectrum; the regulator’s attempts to auction spectrum in a range of bands has been delayed, with spectrum in the 5G-suitable 3.4-3.8GHz range having been put back to later in 2023 as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and changes to legislation (2024)

international

country code - 48; landing points for the Baltica and the Denmark-Poland2 submarine cables connecting Poland, Denmark and Sweden; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

13 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

5.277 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

132 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

52.589 million (2022 est.)

288 (2024)

SP

11 (2024)

by type

general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 140

total

152 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

271.49 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

9,277,538 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

169

number of registered air carriers

6 (2020)

14,198 km gas, 1,374 km oil, 2,483 km refined products (2018)

key ports

Gdansk, Gdynia, Port Polnochny, Szczecin

large

2

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

5

small

4

total ports

10 (2024)

very small

2

total

19,461 km (2020) 11,946 km electrified

total

427,580 km (2022)

3,997 km (2009) (navigable rivers and canals)

Poland’s geographic location on NATO’s eastern flank and its history of foreign invasion underpin the Polish military’s heavy focus on territorial and border defense and supporting its NATO and EU security commitments; its chief concern is Russian aggression against neighboring Ukraine since 2014, which has led to efforts to boost border defenses and military capabilities and to increase the NATO and US military presence in Polandsince 2014, Poland has been hosting several NATO military formations designed to enhance the defense of Poland and NATO’s eastern flank, including a US-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative, NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base, a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania, and a corps-level NATO field headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast); since 2022, the US has established a permanent corps headquarters in Poland to command US rotational forces in Europe; Poland also participates in a variety of EU and NATO military deployments in Africa, the Baltic States, Southern Europe, and the Middle East; Poland provided considerable support to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, where more than 30,000 military personnel served over a 20-year period before the mission ended in 2021 (2024)

Polish Armed Forces (Polskie Siły Zbrojne): Land Forces (Wojska Ladowe), Navy (Marynarka Wojenna), Air Force (Sily Powietrzne), Special Forces (Wojska Specjalne), Territorial Defense Forces (Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej), Cyberspace Defense Forces (Wojska Obrony Cyberprzestrzeni)Ministry of Interior and Administration: Polish National Police (Policja); Border Guard (Straż Graniczna or SG) (2024)

approximately 210,000 including air, ground, naval, special forces, and Territorial Defense Forces (2024)

note

note: a new national defense law in 2022 set a goal to double the size of Poland’s armed forces to 300,000 personnel, including 250,000 professional soldiers and 50,000 territorials

210 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); up to 180 Latvia (NATO); 190 Lebanon (UNIFIL); approximately 230 Romania (NATO) (2024)

note

note 1: Poland has obligated about 2,500 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation

the military's inventory consists of a mix of some Soviet-era and a growing amount of more modern, NATO-compatible weapons systems; in recent years, the leading suppliers of armaments have included several European countries, South Korea, and the US; Poland has a domestic defense sector that produces or provides upgrades to a wide variety of weapons systems, particularly ground systems such as tanks and other armored vehicles; it also cooperates with the European and US defense sectors (2024)

note

note: in late 2018, Poland announced a 7-year (through 2026) approximately $50 billion defense modernization plan that would include such items as 5th generation combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket artillery, helicopters, submarines, frigates, and improved cyber security; in 2022-2023, it signed large military weapons contracts with South Korea, the UK, and the US

Military Expenditures 2020

2.2% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

2.2% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.2% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

4.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription phased out in 2009-12; professional soldiers serve on a permanent basis (for an unspecified period of time) or on a contract basis (for a specified period of time); initial contract period is 24 months; women serve in the military on the same terms as men (2024)

note

note 1: as of 2024, women made up about 16.5% of the military's full-time personnelnote 2: in May 2022, Poland announced a new 12-month voluntary military service program with recruits going through a one-month basic training period with a military unit, followed by 11 months of specialized training; upon completion of service, the volunteers would be allowed to join the Territorial Defense Forces or the active reserve, and have priority to join the professional army and be given preference for employment in the public sector; the program is part of an effort to increase the size of the Polish military

a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

refugees (country of origin)

956,635 (Ukraine) (as of 15 December 2023)

stateless persons

1,435 (2022)

Polish Space Agency (POLSA; established 2014; operational in 2015); Space Research Center (SRC, interdisciplinary research institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences that acted as Poland’s space agency until POLSA was established in 1977) (2024)

space program is integrated within the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA); builds satellites, including nano/cube remote sensing (RS) and educational/scientific/technology satellites; researches and develops communications, RS, navigational, and other scientific applications for satellite payloads; creating infrastructure for receiving, storing, processing and distributing data from meteorological and environmental satellites; researches and develops other space-related technologies, including sensors and robotic probes for interplanetary landers, and launcher systems; participates in international space programs and cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, Canada, China, ESA/EU member states (particularly France, Germany, Italy), India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, UK, and the US; has a growing commercial space sector with more than 300 active enterprises (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

299.04 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

46.62 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

18.83 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

decreased emphasis on heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-communist governments has improved environment; air pollution remains serious because of emissions from burning low-quality coals in homes and from coal-fired power plants; the resulting acid rain causes forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic- Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

global geoparks and regional networks

Land of Extinct Volcanoes; Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa (includes Germany); Holy Cross Mountains (2024)

total global geoparks and regional networks

3 (2024)

agricultural land

48.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 36.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)

forest

30.6% (2018 est.)

other

21.2% (2018 est.)

salt water lake(s)

Zalew Szczecinski/Stettiner Haff (shared with Germany) - 900 sq km

Wisla (Vistula) river source and mouth (shared with Belarus and Ukraine) - 1,213 kmnote - longest river in Poland

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

0.27% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.17% of GDP (2018 est.)

60.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

1.39 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

5.87 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

1.96 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

-0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

60.2% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

10.863 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

2,866,746 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

26.4% (2015 est.)