2020 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

304,255 sq km

total

312,685 sq km

water

8,430 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Climate

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

Coastline

440 km

Elevation

highest point

Rysy 2,499 m

lowest point

near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m

mean elevation

173 m

Geographic coordinates

52 00 N, 20 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

1,327 sq km (2016)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

agricultural land

47.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 36.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9.8% (2023 est.)

forest

31% (2023 est.)

other

21% (2023 est.)

Location

Central Europe, east of Germany

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

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

Major rivers (by length in km)

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

(Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

defined by international treaties

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

flooding

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

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

Terrain

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

8.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.7% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58.6% (2021 est.)

Death rate

11.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

30.1 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

3.3 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.6 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

21.6 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 82.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 90.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 17.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 9.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

10% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.65 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.7% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

10.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

6.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.9 years

male

72.8 years

total population

76.7 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Maternal mortality ratio

2 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

44.3 years

male

41.5 years

total

43.4 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.9 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Polish

noun

Pole(s)

Net migration rate

-6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.1% (2016)

Physician density

4.03 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

20,304,895

male

18,441,415

total

38,746,310 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.98% (2025 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 70.7%, refused to answer 20.9%, no religion 6.9%; less than 1 percent: Orthodox, Jehovah Witness, Evangelic of Augsburg, Greek Catholic, Pentecostal, other Protestant, not stated, old Catholic Mariavite Church, other Christians, Islam, Buddhist, Polish Catholic Church, other, Baptist Union of Poland, Pagan, Seventh Day Adventist, Hindu, other Catholic (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

18 years (2023 est.)

male

16 years (2023 est.)

total

17 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

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.)

Tobacco use

female

17.8% (2025 est.)

male

25.6% (2025 est.)

total

21.6% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.33 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

60.2% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

16 provinces or voivodships (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)

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

the origin of the name is unknown; Warszawa was the name of a fishing village, and several legends 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

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

Constitution

amendment process

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

history

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

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Poland

conventional short form

Poland

etymology

the name probably comes from the Slavic word pole (field or plain), indicating the flat nature of the country

former

Polish People's Republic

local long form

Rzeczpospolita Polska

local short form

Polska

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Thomas ROSE (since 6 November 2025)

consulate(s) general

Krakow

email address and website

acswarsaw@state.gov https://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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Bogdan Adam KLICH (since 21 November 2024)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

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

FAX

[1] (202) 328-2152

telephone

[1] (202) 499-1700

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Karol NAWROCKI (since 6 August 2025)

election results

2025: Karol NAWROCKI elected president in second round; percent of vote - Karol NAWROCKI (PiS) 50.9%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49.1%; NAWROCKI takes office 6 August 2025 2025: First round Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 31.4%, Karol NAWROCKI 29.5% (PiS), Slawomir MENTZEN 14.8%, Grzegorz BRAUN 6.3%, and Szymon HOLOWNIA 5.0%; second round to be held on 1 June 2025;  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%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); 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

expected date of next election

July 2030

head of government

Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 11 December 2023)

most recent election date

18 May 2025, with the second round on 1 June 2025

Flag

description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red meaning: colors derive from the Polish emblem, a white eagle on a red field

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

Sejm

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

October 2027

most recent election date

10/15/2023

number of seats

460 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Law and Justice (PiS) (194); Civic Coalition (KO) (157); The Third Way (65); The New Left (Nowa Lewica) (26); Other (18)

percentage of women in chamber

31.3%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate (Senat)

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

October 2027

most recent election date

10/15/2023

number of seats

100 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Civic Coalition (KO) (41); Law and Justice (PiS) (34); The Third Way (11); The New Left (Nowa Lewica) (9); Independents (5)

percentage of women in chamber

19%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1927;

lyrics/music

Jozef WYBICKI/traditional

title

"Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)

National coat of arms

Poland’s coat of arms was designed in 1927 by noted Polish graphic artist and educator Zygmunt Kaminski. The white crowned eagle is the national symbol, and white and red are the national colors, with white representing purity and truth and red symbolizing courage and the blood shed for freedom.

National color(s)

white, red

National heritage

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)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

National symbol(s)

white crowned eagle

Political parties

Civic Coalition Confederation Free Republicans Polish Coalition or PSL The Left United Right or PiS

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugar beets, milk, wheat, maize, potatoes, triticale, apples, rapeseed, barley, rye (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

6.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

18.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$328.497 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$291.603 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$15.822 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$14.535 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$1.789 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, diversified, EU-member economy; significant growth in GDP, trade, and investment since joining EU in 2004; private consumption and EU-funded public investments driving GDP growth; increased social spending, flooding recovery costs, and defense spending have added to public debt

Exchange rates

Currency

zlotych (PLN) per US dollar -

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.)

Exchange rates 2024

3.981 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$436.388 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$471.571 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$478.579 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, plastic products, cars, seats (2023)

Exports - partners

Germany 25%, UK 6%, Czechia 6%, France 6%, Italy 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

52.3% (2024 est.)

government consumption

20.8% (2024 est.)

household consumption

57.6% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-48.3% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

16.9% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.6% (2024 est.)

industry

26.4% (2024 est.)

services

59.9% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$914.696 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

28.9 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

23.1% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

3.3% (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$421.765 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$423.797 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$441.945 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2023)

Imports - partners

Germany 22%, China 12%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 4%, USA 4% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.6% (2023 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

14.4% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

11.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.8% (2024 est.)

Labor force

18.245 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.2% (2023 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

50.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.598 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.602 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.649 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

2.9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$43,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$43,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$45,100 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$166.664 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$193.783 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$223.115 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

2.9% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.8% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

9.6% (2024 est.)

male

10.1% (2024 est.)

total

9.9% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

99.932 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

10.805 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

10.041 million metric tons (2023 est.)

production

96.72 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

27.758 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

159.639 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

11.403 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

15.14 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

64.806 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

8.549 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

72.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

103.651 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

20.602 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

747.124 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

15.111 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

5.345 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

91.492 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

113 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

743,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

total petroleum production

24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

26 (2023 est.)

total

10.1 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.pl

Internet users

percent of population

86% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

13 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

4.987 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

132 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

52.4 million (2023 est.)

Airports

318 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

SP

Heliports

16 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 140

total

152 (2023)

Ports

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

Railways

total

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

Military - note

the Polish Armed Forces are responsible for defense of the country's sovereignty and territory, deterring potential threats, and fulfilling Poland's commitments to NATO, EU, and European security; Poland’s geographic location on NATO’s eastern flank and its history of foreign invasion underpin the Polish military’s focus on territorial and border defense; in peacetime, the Armed Forces provide support to the Border Guard; other security concerns include hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus, such as cyberattacks, sabotage, and weaponized migration; since the 2010s, Poland has taken steps to enhance the security of its borders with Russia and Belarus since 2014, Poland has hosted 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); Poland also has increased the the US military presence in the country; Poland participates in a variety of EU and NATO military deployments in Africa, the Baltic States, Southern Europe, and the Middle East; Poland also provided support to the NATO mission in Afghanistan (2025)

Military and security forces

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) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 235,000 active military personnel (2025)

Military deployments

250 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); up to 300 Latvia (NATO); 190 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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, significant suppliers of armaments have included Finland, South Korea, and the US; Poland has a domestic defense sector that produces or provides upgrades to various weapons systems, particularly ground systems such as tanks and other armored vehicles; it also cooperates with the European and US defense sectors (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2021

2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

3.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

3.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

4.5% of GDP (2025 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; 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 (2025)

Illicit drugs

USG identification

major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

1,019,863 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

1,486 (2024 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1978 - first Polish astronaut in space on Soviet spacecraft 1991 - began cooperating with the ESA 1994 - began participating in Russia's Koronas solar research missions  2012 - joined ESA; first domestically built scientific nanosatellite (PW-Sat) launched on European rocket 2021 - joined US-led Artemis Accords for lunar and space exploration 2024 - successfully launched domestically developed experimental suborbital rocket (ILR-33 Amber 2K) to altitude of 101 kms 2025 - first Polish astronaut and scientific mission on International Space Station

Space agency/agencies

Polish Space Agency (POLSA; established 2014; operational in 2015) (2025)

Space program overview

builds satellites, including nano/cube remote sensing (RS) and scientific/technology satellites; researches and develops communications, RS, navigational, and other scientific applications for satellite payloads; creating infrastructure for data from meteorological and environmental satellites; researches and develops other space-related technologies, including sensors and robotic probes for interplanetary landers, and launcher systems; space program is integrated with the ESA and the EU; participates in a variety of ESA/EU and international programs; cooperates with a variety of other 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 commercial space sector with more than 300 active enterprises (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

132.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

36.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

95.095 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

264.031 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

air pollution (despite environmental policy improvements) because of coal-burning in homes and power plants; acid rain leading to forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources; disposal of hazardous wastes

Geoparks

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)

International environmental agreements

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

Methane emissions

agriculture

595.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

954.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

36.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

292 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

18.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

60.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

6.44 billion cubic meters (2022)

municipal

2.113 billion cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

12.758 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

38.3% (2022 est.)