Introduction
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 disorders 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.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates
52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references
Europe
Area - comparative
about twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries
total: 2,865 km
border countries (6): Belarus 375 km; Czechia 699 km; Germany 467 km; Lithuania 100 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 209 km; Slovakia 517 km; Ukraine 498 km
Coastline
440 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Climate
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
mean elevation: 173 m
Natural resources
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 48.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 36.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 30.6% (2018 est.)
other: 21.2% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
760 sq km (2013)
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)
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
Natural hazards
flooding
Geography - note
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups
Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.)
note: represents ethnicity declared first
Languages
Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.2%; note - data represent the language spoken at home; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; Poland ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2009 recognizing 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 (2011 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Księga Faktów Świata, niezbędne źródło podstawowych informacji. (Polish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Catholic 85% (includes Roman Catholic 84.8% 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% (includes Jehovah's Witness, Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Muslim, Jewish, Church of Jesus Christ), unspecified 12.9% (2020 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.53% (male 2,839,788/female 2,680,401)
15-64 years: 64.87% (male 12,364,282/female 12,280,814)
65 years and over: 20.6% (2023 est.) (male 3,171,838/female 4,654,643)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 51.4
youth dependency ratio: 23.4
elderly dependency ratio: 28.6
potential support ratio: 3.5 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 42.4 years (2023 est.)
male: 41.1 years
female: 43.7 years
comparison ranking: total 40
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
Urbanization
urban population: 60.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.798 million WARSAW (capital), 769,000 Krakow (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
27.9 years (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 175
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.8 years (2023 est.)
male: 71.7 years
female: 80 years
comparison ranking: total population 115
Gross reproduction rate
0.64 (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
62.3% (2014)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99.9% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
6.5% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
3.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density
6.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: intermediate (2023)
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 10.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 5.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 4.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 13
Tobacco use
total: 24% (2020 est.)
male: 27.9% (2020 est.)
female: 20.1% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 59
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
56.6% (2023 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2020)
Environment
Environment - current issues
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
Environment - international 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
Climate
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Land use
agricultural land: 48.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 36.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 30.6% (2018 est.)
other: 21.2% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 60.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 18.83 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 299.04 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 46.62 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
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.)
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)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 1.96 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 5.87 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 1.39 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
60.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Poland
conventional short form: Poland
local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form: Polska
former: Polish People's Republic
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
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Warsaw
geographic coordinates: 52 15 N, 21 00 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
Administrative divisions
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)
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)
National holiday
Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997
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
Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Andrzej DUDA (since 6 August 2015)
head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 11 December 2023); Deputy Prime Ministers Piotr GLINSKI (since 16 November 2015), Jacek SASIN (since 15 November 2019), Henryk KOWALCZYK (since 26 October 2021), and Mariusz BLASZCZAK (since 22 June 2022)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm
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
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%
Legislative branch
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)
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)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
Sejm (preliminary results as of 10/15/2023): PiS 35.4%, KO 30.7%, TD 14.4%, Lewica 8.6%, Konf 7.2%; seats by party - PiS 194, KO 157, TD 65, Lewica 26, Konf 18
note: the designation National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the 2 houses meet jointly
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
Political parties and leaders
Agreement [Jaroslaw GOWIN]
Civic Platform or PO [Donald TUSK]
Konfederajca [Krzysztof BOSAK]
Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]
New Left or NL [Wlodzimierz CZARZASTY and Robert BIEDRON]
Poland 2050 [Szymon HOLOWNIA]
Polish People's Party or PSL [Wladyslaw KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ]
Republican Party or R [Adam BIELAN]
United Poland or SP [Zbigniew ZIOBRO]
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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Marek Grzegorz MAGIEROWSKI (since 13 January 2022)
chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 499-1700
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2152; [1] (202) 328-6271
email address and website:
washington.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl
https://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/embassy-washington
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark BRZEZINSKI (since 19 January 2022)
embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, 00-540 Warsaw
mailing address: 5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010
telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000
FAX: [48] (22) 504-2088
email address and website:
acswarsaw@state.gov
https://pl.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; colors derive from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field
note: similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
National symbol(s)
white crowned eagle; national colors: white, red
National anthem
name: "Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)
lyrics/music: Jozef WYBICKI/traditional
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
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 17 (15 cultural, 2 natural)
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)
Economy
Economic overview
diversified, high-growth European economy; COVID-19 led to first recession in nearly 3 decades, albeit small; EU and NATO member; bolstering US relations; economic concentration in western region; aging labor force; growing debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.318 trillion (2021 est.)
$1.233 trillion (2020 est.)
$1.259 trillion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 19
Real GDP per capita
$34,900 (2021 est.)
$32,500 (2020 est.)
$33,200 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 59
GDP (official exchange rate)
$595.72 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.06% (2021 est.)
3.37% (2020 est.)
2.23% (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 66
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: A- (2007)
Moody's rating: A2 (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: A- (2018)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.)
industry: 40.2% (2017 est.)
services: 57.4% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 139; industry 30; agriculture 165
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 58.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 17.7% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 17.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 2% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 54% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -49.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, triticale, maize, barley, apples, mixed grains, rye
Industries
machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 13.4% (2021 est.)
male: 12.3%
female: 15%
comparison ranking: total 131
Population below poverty line
15.4% (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food: 16.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 5.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 23.9% (2015 est.)
Budget
revenues: $244.485 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $248.868 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
50.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
54.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
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
comparison ranking: 105
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
-$4.568 billion (2021 est.)
$17.319 billion (2020 est.)
$2.832 billion (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 184
Exports
$411.621 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$336.317 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$330.934 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
comparison ranking: 20
Exports - partners
Germany 28%, UK 6%, Czechia 6%, France 6%, Netherlands 4% (2020)
Exports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, seats, furniture, electric batteries, computers (2020)
Imports
$380.699 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$295.897 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$302.525 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
comparison ranking: 19
Imports - partners
Germany 25%, China 12%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 5%, Czechia 4% (2020)
Imports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, office machinery/parts (2020)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$166.03 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$154.219 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$128.392 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 21
Exchange rates
zlotych (PLN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
3.862 (2021 est.)
3.9 (2020 est.)
3.839 (2019 est.)
3.612 (2018 est.)
3.779 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 47.269 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 149.203 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 7.357 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 20.624 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 9.995 billion kWh (2020 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 31; imports 10; exports 25; consumption 25; installed generating capacity 26
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 79.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 10.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 108.152 million metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 110.674 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 11.063 million metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 13.281 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 26.932 billion metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 28,400 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 697,700 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 6,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 542,100 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 113 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 5.667 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
consumption: 21.464 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 704.975 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
imports: 16.633 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 91.492 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
304.04 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 176.938 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 89.944 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 37.158 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 21
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 5,308,497 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 25
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 50,588,785 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 33
Telecommunication systems
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 (2021)
domestic: fixed-line is 14 per 100 (service lags in rural areas), mobile-cellular is 132 per 100 persons (2021)
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)
Broadcast media
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)
Internet users
total: 32.3 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 85% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 32
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 8,369,218 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 24
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 169
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 9,277,538 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 271.49 million (2018) mt-km
Airports - with paved runways
87
civil airports: 13
military airports: 13
joint use (civil-military) airports: 0
other airports: 61
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
39
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Heliports
6 (2021)
Pipelines
14,198 km gas, 1,374 km oil, 2,483 km refined products (2018)
Roadways
total: 420,000 km (2016)
paved: 291,000 km (2016) (includes 1,492 km of expressways, 1,559 of motorways)
unpaved: 129,000 km (2016)
comparison ranking: total 18
Merchant marine
total: 149 (2022)
by type: general cargo 7, oil tanker 6, other 136
comparison ranking: total 73
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie
container port(s) (TEUs): Gdansk (2,117,829) (2021)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Swinoujscie
river port(s): Szczecin (River Oder)
Military and Security
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)
Ministry of Interior and Administration: Polish National Police (Policja); Border Guard (Straż Graniczna or SG) (2023)
note: as of 2023, Cyberspace Defense Forces (Wojska Obrony Cyberprzestrzeni) were in development
Military expenditures
3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2021)
2.2% of GDP (2020)
2% of GDP (2019)
comparison ranking: 20
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 120,000 active-duty personnel (65,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force; 3,000 Special Forces; 30,000 joint service/other); approximately 40,000 Territorial Defense Forces (2023)
note: in June 2019, the Polish Government approved a plan to increase the size of the military over a period of 10 years to over 200,000 troops, including doubling the size of the Territorial Defense Forces; in 2021, it announced additional plans to increase the size of the military to over 300,000 personnel
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory consists of a mix of Soviet-era and 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 large 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 (2023)
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, it signed large military weapons contracts with South Korea and the US
Military service age and obligation
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 (2023)
note 1: as of 2019, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnel
note 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
Military deployments
250 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); up to 180 Latvia (NATO); 200 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 230 Romania (NATO) (2023)
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
note 2: in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Poland, have committed additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in the Baltic States and eastern Europe
Military - note
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, particularly following Moscow’s seizure of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in 2022, which has led to increased defense spending and modernization efforts, as well as efforts to boost the NATO and US military presence; since 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); in 2022, the US announced it would establish 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
the Polish military is a professional and volunteer force that exercises regularly, including with NATO partners; it is organized into a General Staff, an Armed Forces General Command, an Armed Forces Operational Command, Territorial Defense Forces (established 2017), Military Police, and the Warsaw Garrison Command; the Army is comprised of several armored cavalry and mechanized infantry divisions, which are complemented by independent airborne, air mobile, and aviation brigades, as well as armored reconnaissance and artillery regiments ; the active forces are backed up by the Territorial Defense Forces, which have nearly 20 light infantry brigades manned by part-time reserve personnel; the Navy is a compact force for defending Poland's territorial waters, coastline, and its interests abroad, as well as providing support to NATO missions; its principal warships are two frigates, two corvettes, three attack submarines, and a few fast-attack craft; it also has a considerable force of mine warfare vessels, as well as a naval aviation brigade focused on anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrolling; the Air Force has a mix of about 80 Soviet-era and more modern US fighter aircraft; it has more advanced US (F-35s) and South Korean (FA-50s) on order to replace its Soviet-era inventory beginning in 2024; Poland also has a joint special forces command with air, ground, and maritime components (2023)
Space
Space agency/agencies
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) (2023)
Space program overview
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 (2023)
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 Appendix S
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
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 Appendix-T
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Poland-Belarus-Ukraine: as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented the strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus and Ukraine
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 954,600 (Ukraine) (as of 20 November 2023)
stateless persons: 1,435 (2022)
Illicit drugs
a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics