Knelstrom Intelligence · World Factbook

Poland

Rzeczpospolita Polska

PL / POLeurope

CapitalWarsaw

Population36,435,861

GDP$1.04tn

Area312,683 km²

RegionEurope & Central Asia

Data sources current · last checked September 20, 2026 2:11 am

Country facts

Official nameRzeczpospolita Polska

CapitalWarsaw

Area312,683 km²

Currencyzłoty (PLN)

Official language(s)Polish

Calling code+48

RegionEurope & Central Asia

Income levelHigh income

Form of governmentparliamentary system, unitary state, semi-presidential system

Time zoneUTC+01:00, Central European Summer Time, Central European Time, UTC+02:00

Overview

Population36,435,8612025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate37,843,1892026 · Estimated

GDP (current US$)$1,035,491,784,1972025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$28,4202025 · Verified

GDP growth3.6%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices3.8%2025 · Verified

Unemployment3.0%2025 · Verified

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.

Reference: 2004, 1999, 1990, 1989

Geography

Latitude52.2600°current · Verified

Longitude21.0200°current · Verified

Location

Central Europe, east of Germany

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 312,685 sq km
land: 304,255 sq km
water: 8,430 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

total: 2,865 km
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

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: 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.)

Reference: 2023

Irrigated land

1,327 sq km (2016)

Reference: 2016

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

Population & Society

Population36,435,8612025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate37,843,1892026 · Estimated

Fertility rate1.12024 · Verified

Urban population60.1%2025 · Verified

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: note: represents ethnicity declared first

Reference: 2011

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.
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 home
note 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

Reference: 2011

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.)

Reference: 2021

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)

Reference: 2024

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.6 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 21.6 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 30.1 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.3 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Median age

total: 42.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 41.5 years
female: 44.3 years

Reference: 2024

Population growth rate

-1% (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Birth rate

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

Reference: 2024

Death rate

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

Reference: 2024

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

Major urban areas - population

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

Reference: 2023

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
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
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.9 years (2020 est.)

Reference: 2020

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Reference: 2023

Gross reproduction rate

0.64 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Drinking water source

improved: urban: urban: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 82.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 90.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 17.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 9.6% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

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.)

Reference: 2022

Physician density

4.03 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Reference: 2023

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2020

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.1% (2016)

Reference: 2016

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.)

Reference: 2019

Tobacco use

total: 21.6% (2025 est.)
male: 25.6% (2025 est.)
female: 17.8% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.7% (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56.6% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years (2023 est.)
male: 16 years (2023 est.)
female: 18 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Migration & Displacement

Immigrant/emigrant stock measures the number of international migrants resident in, or originating from, the country; it is not the same as annual immigration/emigration flows.

International migrant stock (immigrants)1,739,9012024 · Verified

International migrant stock4.5%2024 · Verified

International emigrant stock4,572,6132024 · Estimated

Net migration-330,8202025 · Verified

Refugees hosted15,5372010 · Verified

Asylum seekers hosted2,1112010 · Verified

Refugees from this country1,3682025 · Verified

Asylum seekers from this country4072025 · Verified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 1,019,863 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 1,486 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Government & Politics

Form of governmentparliamentary system, unitary state, semi-presidential systemcurrent · Reported

Office	Holder	Affiliation	From	Status	Evidence
Head of state	Karol Nawrocki	—	2025-08-06	Current	Reported
Head of government	Donald Tusk	—	2023-12-13	Current	Reported

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

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; Warszawa was the name of a fishing village, and several legends link the city's founding to a man named Wars or Warsz

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)

Legal system

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

Constitution

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

Reference: 1997

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 Karol NAWROCKI (since 6 August 2025)
head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 11 December 2023)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm
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
most recent election date: 18 May 2025, with the second round on 1 June 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%
expected date of next election: July 2030

Reference: 2030, 2025, 2023, 2020

Legislative branch

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

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: Sejm
number of seats: 460 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/15/2023
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%
expected date of next election: October 2027

Reference: 2027, 2023

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Senat)
number of seats: 100 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/15/2023
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%
expected date of next election: October 2027

Reference: 2027, 2023

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Bogdan Adam KLICH (since 21 November 2024)
chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 499-1700
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2152
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

Reference: 2024

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas ROSE (since 6 November 2025)
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

Reference: 2088, 2025, 2000

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

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)

Reference: 1918

National holiday

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

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

National symbol(s)

white crowned eagle

National color(s)

white, red

National anthem(s)

title: "Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)
lyrics/music: Jozef WYBICKI/traditional
history: adopted 1927;

Reference: 1927

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)

Government & Official Links

No official institutional links have yet been verified for this country.

Legislature & Elections

Legislature

Name	Chamber	Seats	Electoral system
Parliament of Poland	—	560	—

Economy

GDP (current US$)$1,035,491,784,1972025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$28,4202025 · Verified

GDP growth3.6%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices3.8%2025 · Verified

Unemployment3.0%2025 · Verified

Income levelHigh incomecurrent · Verified

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

Reference: 2004

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.649 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.602 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.598 trillion (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $45,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $43,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $43,400 (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.)
industry: 26.4% (2024 est.)
services: 59.9% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Reference: 2024

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 57.6% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 20.8% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 52.3% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -48.3% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Reference: 2024

Agricultural products

sugar beets, milk, wheat, maize, potatoes, triticale, apples, rapeseed, barley, rye (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Reference: 2023

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

-0.6% (2023 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Reference: 2023

Labor force

18.245 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Reference: 2024

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 9.9% (2024 est.)
male: 10.1% (2024 est.)
female: 9.6% (2024 est.)
note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Reference: 2024

Population below poverty line

12.2% (2023 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Reference: 2023

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 28.9 (2022 est.)
note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Reference: 2022

Average household expenditures

on food: 18.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 6.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.3% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 23.1% (2022 est.)
note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Reference: 2022

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Budget

revenues: $291.603 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $328.497 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Reference: 2023

Public debt

Public debt 2017: 50.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
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

Reference: 2017

Taxes and other revenues

18% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Reference: 2023

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: $1.789 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $14.535 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$15.822 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Exports 2024: $478.579 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $471.571 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $436.388 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

Germany 25%, UK 6%, Czechia 6%, France 6%, Italy 5% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, plastic products, cars, seats (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Imports 2024: $441.945 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $423.797 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $421.765 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

Germany 22%, China 12%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 4%, USA 4% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $223.115 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $193.783 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $166.664 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exchange rates

Currency: zlotych (PLN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 3.981 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 4.204 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 4.458 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 3.862 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 3.9 (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Trade

Exports of goods and services50.0%2025 · Verified

Imports of goods and services47.1%2025 · Verified

Trade97.0%2025 · Verified

Current account balance

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

Germany 25%, UK 6%, Czechia 6%, France 6%, Italy 5% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, plastic products, cars, seats (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

Germany 22%, China 12%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 4%, USA 4% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Energy & Resources

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Electric power consumption4,370 kWh/person2024 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption15.2%2021 · Verified

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 64.806 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 159.639 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 11.403 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 15.14 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 8.549 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 72.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Coal

production: 96.72 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 99.932 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 10.805 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 10.041 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 27.758 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 743,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 113 million barrels (2021 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2021

Natural gas

production: 5.345 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 20.602 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 747.124 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 15.111 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 91.492 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2021

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 103.651 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Infrastructure

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions25.4 per 1002024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions138.0 per 1002024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 4.987 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Health

Life expectancy at birth78.4 years2024 · Verified

Current health expenditure8.1%2024 · Verified

Infant mortality rate3.6 per 1,0002024 · Verified

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Reference: 2023

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.)

Reference: 2022

Physician density

4.03 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Reference: 2023

Hospital bed density

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

Reference: 2020

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.1% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Tobacco use

total: 21.6% (2025 est.)
male: 25.6% (2025 est.)
female: 17.8% (2025 est.)

Education

Adult literacy rate98.7%1978 · Verified

Secondary school enrolment, gross107.9%2024 · Verified

Government education expenditure4.3%2022 · Verified

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years (2023 est.)
male: 16 years (2023 est.)
female: 18 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Rights, Freedoms & Society

Press & Media Freedom

V-Dem expert-coded/modelled source measures. Knelstrom does not create a press-freedom ranking or composite score.

Freedom of expression & alternative information index0.9172025 · Estimated

Government censorship effort — media2.1442025 · Estimated

Harassment of journalists2.4532025 · Estimated

Print/broadcast media critical of government1.7712025 · Estimated

Range of perspectives in major media2.1652025 · Estimated

Media bias0.9282025 · Estimated

Media self-censorship1.5282025 · Estimated

LGBTQ+ Rights & Law

Concrete legal-status fields only; Knelstrom does not generate an LGBTQ rights score or country ranking.

Same-sex sexual activityYes Always legal in Polish legislation (Russian Empire, Kingdom of Prussia and Austria-Hungary Empire laws criminalizing same-sex intercourse were in force to 1932; German laws criminalizing same-sex intercourse were in force from 1939 to 1945 during Nazi Germany occupation); + UN decl. sign.Reported

Recognition of same-sex relationshipsNoReported

Same-sex marriageNo / Yes Constitutional ban since 1997 (Article 18 of the Constitution is generally interpreted as limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples ) Marriages performed in other EU countries recognised under EU LawReported

Same-sex adoptionNo LGBT individuals may adopt, but not same-sex couplesReported

Open military serviceYesReported

Sexual-orientation anti-discrimination lawYes Bans some anti-gay discriminationReported

Gender identity / expression lawYes Transgender people allowed to change gender. No provisions for nonbinary people.Reported

Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country or territory (CC BY-SA 4.0). Community-edited legal-status summary; retrieved by Knelstrom and not legal advice.

Crime & Justice

Legal system

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

Judicial branch

Military & 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), Cyberspace Defense Forces (Wojska Obrony Cyberprzestrzeni)
Ministry of Interior and Administration: Polish National Police (Policja); Border Guard (Straż Graniczna or SG) (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2025: 4.5% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024: 3.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 3.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Reference: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 235,000 active military personnel (2025)
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

Reference: 2025, 2022

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, 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

Reference: 2026, 2024, 2023, 2022

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)
note: note 1: as of 2024, women made up about 16.5% of the military's full-time personnel
note 2: in 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

Reference: 2025, 2024, 2022

Military deployments

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

Reference: 2025, 2014

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)

Reference: 2025, 2014

International Relations

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic representation in the US

Reference: 2024

Diplomatic representation from the US

Reference: 2088, 2025, 2000

International organization participation

Treaties & Organisations

Organisation	Status	Joined
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)	member	1973-06-25
European Union (EU)	member	2004-05-01
NATO (NATO)	member	1999-03-12
OECD (OECD)	member	1996-11-22
United Nations (UN)	member	1945-10-24
World Trade Organization (WTO)	member	1995-07-01

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Conflict & Security

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 1,019,863 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 1,486 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Illicit drugs

USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

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

Transportation & Logistics

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

318 (2025)

Heliports

16 (2025)

Railways

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

Reference: 2020

Merchant marine

total: 152 (2023)
by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 140

Reference: 2023

Ports

total ports: 10 (2024)
large: 2
medium: 2
small: 4
very small: 2
ports with oil terminals: 5
key ports: Gdansk, Gdynia, Port Polnochny, Szczecin

Reference: 2024

Environment

Forest area31.1%2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption15.2%2021 · Verified

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

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

Reference: 2006

Climate

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

Land use

Reference: 2023

Urbanization

urban population: 60.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2020

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions: 264.031 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 132.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 95.095 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 36.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Particulate matter emissions

18.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Methane emissions

energy: 954.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 595.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 292 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 36.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.758 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 38.3% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 2.113 billion cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 6.44 billion cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 1.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Total renewable water resources

60.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024)
global geoparks and regional networks: Land of Extinct Volcanoes; Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa (includes Germany); Holy Cross Mountains (2024)

Reference: 2024

Communications & Media

Individuals using the Internet88.6%2024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions138.0 per 1002024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions25.4 per 1002024 · Verified

Secure Internet servers41,132 per million2024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 4.987 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

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)

Reference: 2019