CapitalWarsaw
Population38,746,310
Area312,685 km²
GDP per capita$45,100
LanguagesPolish, Silesian, other, unspecified
Currencyzlotych
Life Expectancy76.7 yr
Governmentparliamentary republic
Introduction
Background
The origins of Poland as a nation trace back to approximately the mid-10th century. By the mid-16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had established control over a significant expanse of territory in Central and Eastern Europe. However, during the 18th century, political instability undermined the country's strength, leading to a series of partitions carried out by Russia, Prussia, and Austria between 1772 and 1795. Poland was able to reclaim its sovereignty in 1918, but soon faced invasion by Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. Following the war, it became a satellite state of the Soviet Union. In 1980, labor unrest resulted in the establishment of the independent trade union Solidarity, which grew into a major political entity with more than 10 million members. The free elections held in 1989 and 1990 allowed Solidarity to gain control of both the parliament and the presidency, effectively ending the communist period. A "shock therapy" initiative in the early 1990s facilitated the transformation of Poland's economy, making it one of the most vigorous in Central Europe. Poland became a member of NATO in 1999 and joined the EU in 2004.
Geography
Area
land
304,255 sq km
water
8,430 sq km
total
312,685 sq km
Climate
characterized by a temperate climate featuring cold, overcast, and moderately harsh winters accompanied by frequent precipitation; summers are mild with regular rainfall and thunderstorms
Terrain
predominantly a flat plain with mountainous regions located along the southern border
Land use
other
21% (2023 est.)
forest
31% (2023 est.)
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.)
Location
situated in Central Europe, to the east of Germany
Coastline
440 km
Elevation
lowest point
near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point
Rysy 2,499 m
mean elevation
173 m
Irrigated land
1,327 sq km (2016)
Map references
Europe
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
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
defined by international treaties
Natural hazards
flooding
Geography - note
historically, this region has been a site of conflict due to its flat landscape and the absence of natural barriers on the North European Plain
Natural resources
resources include coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, and fertile agricultural land
Area - comparative
approximately double the area of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico
Geographic coordinates
52 00 N, 20 00 E
Population distribution
the population is primarily concentrated in the southern region around Krakow and the central region encompassing Warsaw and Lodz, extending to the northern coastal city of Gdansk
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Zalew Szczecinski/Stettiner Haff (shared with Germany) - 900 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
(Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
the Wisla (Vistula) river, stretching 1,213 km from its source to its mouth (shared with Belarus and Ukraine)
note: it is the longest river in Poland
People & Society
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.
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.)
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
total population
0.91 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.67 male(s)/female
Birth rate
8.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
11.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
41.5 years
total
43.4 years (2025 est.)
female
44.3 years
Population
male
18,441,415
total
38,746,310 (2024 est.)
female
20,304,895
Nationality
noun
Pole(s)
adjective
Polish
Tobacco use
male
25.6% (2025 est.)
total
21.6% (2025 est.)
female
17.8% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
60.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
-0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
Ethnic groups
Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
51.6 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
21.6 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
3.3 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
30.1 (2024 est.)
Physician density
4.03 physicians/1,000 population (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.)
Net migration rate
-6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
6.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.33 children born/woman (2025 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.)
Infant mortality rate
male
5.3 deaths/1,000 live births
total
4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
-0.98% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.65 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The population is primarily located in the southern region surrounding Krakow and the central region encompassing Warsaw and Lodz, extending to the northern coastal city of Gdansk.
Life expectancy at birth
male
72.8 years
female
80.9 years
total population
76.7 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
2 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
5.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
10.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
4.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.798 million WARSAW (capital), 769,000 Krakow (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
23.1% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
27.9 years (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58.6% (2021 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
0.7% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
16 years (2023 est.)
total
17 years (2023 est.)
female
18 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
characterized by temperate conditions featuring cold, overcast, and moderately harsh winters accompanied by frequent precipitation; summers are mild with regular occurrences of showers and thunderstorms
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks
Region of Extinct Volcanoes; Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa (including Germany); Holy Cross Mountains (2024)
total global geoparks and regional networks
3 (2024)
Land use
other
21% (2023 est.)
forest
31% (2023 est.)
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.)
Urbanization
urban population
60.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
-0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
36.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
292 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
954.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
595.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
12.758 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
38.3% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
air quality issues (despite improvements in environmental policies) caused by coal combustion in residential areas and power generation facilities; acid rain resulting in forest degradation; water contamination from industrial and municipal activities; management of hazardous waste
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.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
264.031 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
36.835 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.)
Particulate matter emissions
18.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
60.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
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 Quality-Heavy Metals, Air Quality-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Quality-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Government
Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red
meaning: the colors are derived from the Polish coat of arms, which depicts a white eagle on a red background
Capital
name
Warsaw
etymology
the etymology of the name remains unclear; Warszawa referred to a fishing settlement, and various legends associate the city's origins with a figure named Wars or Warsz
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, commences on the last Sunday in March; concludes on the last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
52 15 N, 21 00 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
history
several previous; the most recent was adopted on 2 April 1997, sanctioned by a referendum on 25 May 1997, and became effective on 17 October 1997
amendment process
proposed by a minimum of one-fifth of the Sejm deputies, by the Senate, or by the president of the republic; enactment demands a two-thirds majority vote in the Sejm and an absolute majority in the Senate; changes to articles concerning sovereignty, individual freedoms, and the procedures for constitutional amendments also require a majority vote in a referendum
Country name
former
Polish People's Republic
etymology
the name likely originates from the Slavic term pole (meaning field or plain), reflecting the flat characteristics of the nation
local long form
Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form
Polska
conventional long form
Republic of Poland
conventional short form
Poland
Independence
11 November 1918 (republic declared); significant earlier dates include: 14 April 966 (Christianity adopted, traditionally regarded as the founding date), 1 July 1569 (creation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth)
Legal system
civil law framework; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental actions; decisions made by the Constitutional Tribunal regarding constitutional law are final
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Sad Najwyzszy (comprising the first president of the Supreme Court and 120 justices organized into chambers for criminal, civil, labor and social insurance, extraordinary appeals, public affairs, and disciplinary matters); Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 15 judges, including the court's president and vice president)
subordinate courts
administrative courts; military courts; local, regional, and appellate courts categorized into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts
judge selection and term of office
the president of the Supreme Court is nominated by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court and appointed by the president of Poland; other judges are nominated by the 25-member National Judicial Council and appointed by the president of Poland; judges serve until retirement, typically at age 65, although their terms can be extended; judges of the Constitutional Tribunal are selected by the Sejm for a single 9-year term
Executive branch
cabinet
the Council of Ministers is proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and requires approval from 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%
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
election/appointment process
the president is directly elected by an absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if necessary, for a term of 5 years (eligible for a second term); the prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and the Council of Ministers are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm; all candidates for the presidency must resign their party affiliations
expected date of next election
July 2030
National holiday
Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
National color(s)
white, red
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)
Political parties
Civic Coalition
Confederation
Free Republicans
Polish Coalition or PSL
The Left
United Right or PiS
Legislative branch
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)
history
adopted 1927;
lyrics/music
Jozef WYBICKI/traditional
National symbol(s)
white crowned eagle
National coat of arms
Poland’s coat of arms was crafted in 1927 by the distinguished Polish graphic artist and educator Zygmunt Kaminski. The white crowned eagle serves as the national emblem, while white and red represent the national colors, with white symbolizing purity and truth, and red signifying bravery and the blood shed for freedom.
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)
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Sejm
term in office
4 years
number of seats
460 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/15/2023
expected date of next election
October 2027
percentage of women in chamber
31.3%
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)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Senat)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
100 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/15/2023
expected date of next election
October 2027
percentage of women in chamber
19%
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)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 328-2152
chancery
2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 499-1700
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
[email protected]
https://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/embassy-washington
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[48] (22) 504-2088
embassy
Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, 00-540 Warsaw
telephone
[48] (22) 504-2000
mailing address
5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010
chief of mission
Ambassador Thomas ROSE (since 6 November 2025)
consulate(s) general
Krakow
email address and website
[email protected]
https://pl.usembassy.gov/
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$291.603 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$328.497 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$436.388 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$471.571 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$478.579 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$421.765 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$423.797 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$441.945 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
machine engineering, steel and iron production, coal extraction, chemical manufacturing, ship construction, food manufacturing, glass production, beverage industry, textile production
Labor force
18.245 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2017
50.6% of GDP (2017 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.)
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.)
Economic overview
high-income, diversified economy that is a member of the EU; notable GDP, trade, and investment growth since EU accession in 2004; increases in private consumption and public investments funded by the EU are propelling GDP growth; augmented social expenditures, costs related to flood recovery, and defense spending have contributed to public debt levels
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
2.9% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
2.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
2.5% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 25%, UK 6%, Czechia 6%, France 6%, Italy 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
Germany 22%, China 12%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 4%, USA 4% (2023)
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.)
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.)
Agricultural products
sugar beets, milk, wheat, maize, potatoes, triticale, apples, rapeseed, barley, rye (2023)
Exports - commodities
vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, plastic products, cars, seats (2023)
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2023)
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.)
Taxes and other revenues
18% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$914.696 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
57.6% (2024 est.)
government consumption
20.8% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
0.8% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
16.9% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
52.3% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-48.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
12.2% (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
18.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
6.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
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.)
Industrial production growth rate
-0.6% (2023 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.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
10.1% (2024 est.)
total
9.9% (2024 est.)
female
9.6% (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.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
26.4% (2024 est.)
services
59.9% (2024 est.)
agriculture
2.6% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3.3% (2022 est.)
highest 10%
23.1% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
28.9 (2022 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
10.805 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
10.041 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production
96.72 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
99.932 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
27.758 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
113 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
743,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Electricity
exports
11.403 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
15.14 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
159.639 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
64.806 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
8.549 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
747.124 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
15.111 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
5.345 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
20.602 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
91.492 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
103.651 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
6.9% 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.)
biomass and waste
4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
86% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The public television system, managed by the state, runs 2 national channels alongside 16 regional channels and various niche channels. Additionally, privately owned companies manage several national television networks and a number of special interest channels, as well as numerous privately owned local channels. Approximately 50% of households are connected to satellite or cable television services, which provide access to foreign programming. The state-operated public radio features 5 national networks and 17 regional stations, while there are also 2 privately owned national radio networks, several commercial stations, and many privately owned local radio stations as of 2019.
Internet country code
.pl
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
4.987 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
13 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
52.4 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
132 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
10.1 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
26 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
2
small
4
medium
2
key ports
Gdansk, Gdynia, Port Polnochny, Szczecin
very small
2
total ports
10 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
5
Airports
318 (2025)
Railways
total
19,461 km (2020) 11,946 km electrified
Heliports
16 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
152 (2023)
by type
general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 140
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
SP
Military & Security
Military - note
The Polish Armed Forces are tasked with safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and territory, deterring possible threats, and meeting Poland's obligations to NATO, the EU, and European security; Poland's geographical position on NATO's eastern flank and its historical experiences with foreign invasions inform the military's emphasis on territorial and border defense. In times of peace, the Armed Forces assist the Border Guard. Additional security challenges include hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus, such as cyberattacks, sabotage, and weaponized migration. Since the 2010s, Poland has implemented measures to bolster the security of its borders with Russia and Belarus.
Since 2014, Poland has hosted multiple NATO military units aimed at strengthening the defense of both 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 stationed at Malbork Air Base, a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast) that oversees training and preparatory operations for its subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania, and a corps-level NATO field headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast). Additionally, Poland has increased the presence of US military forces within its borders. The country engages in various EU and NATO military deployments in Africa, the Baltic States, Southern Europe, and the Middle East, and has contributed support to the NATO mission in Afghanistan (2025).
Military deployments
250 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); up to 300 Latvia (NATO); 190 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (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 and security forces
Polish Armed Forces (Polskie Siły Zbrojne): Land Forces (Wojska Lądowe), Navy (Marynarka Wojenna), Air Force (Siły 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 service age and obligation
The minimum age for voluntary military service is 18 years for both men and women; there is no conscription. Professional soldiers serve either on a permanent basis (for an indefinite duration) or on a contractual basis (for a defined period). The initial contract duration is 24 months (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military's inventory features a combination of some Soviet-era equipment and an increasing quantity of modern, NATO-compatible weapon systems. In recent years, significant arms suppliers have included Finland, South Korea, and the United States. Poland also possesses a domestic defense industry that manufactures or upgrades various weapon systems, particularly in ground systems such as tanks and armored vehicles, and collaborates with both European and US defense sectors (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
Approximately 235,000 active military personnel (2025)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues
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.)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Polish Space Agency (POLSA; founded in 2014; began operations in 2015) (2025)
Space program overview
develops satellites, encompassing nano/cube remote sensing (RS) and scientific/technology satellites; engages in research and development of communications, RS, navigation, and various scientific applications for satellite payloads; establishing infrastructure for data derived from meteorological and environmental satellites; conducts research and development of additional space-related technologies, such as sensors and robotic probes for interplanetary landers, as well as launcher systems; the space program is integrated with the ESA and the EU; actively participates in numerous ESA/EU and global initiatives; collaborates with various foreign space agencies and industries, including those from Brazil, Canada, China, ESA/EU member countries (notably France, Germany, Italy), India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, the UK, and the US; maintains a commercial space sector with over 300 active enterprises (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1978 - the first Polish astronaut travels to space aboard a Soviet spacecraft
1991 - commenced collaboration with the ESA
1994 - started involvement in Russia's Koronas solar research missions
2012 - became an ESA member; the first domestically produced scientific nanosatellite (PW-Sat) was launched on a European rocket
2021 - signed onto the US-led Artemis Accords for lunar and space exploration
2024 - achieved a successful launch of a domestically developed experimental suborbital rocket (ILR-33 Amber 2K) reaching an altitude of 101 kilometers
2025 - marks the first Polish astronaut and scientific mission aboard the International Space Station
