

Topic: Photos of Poland

Topic: 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.

Topic: Geography
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E
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 (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: 970 sq km (2012)
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): 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
Map description: Poland map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea.Poland map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 38,093,101 (2022 est.)
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 1.3%; 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: 14.83% (male 2,918,518/female 2,756,968)

15-24 years: 9.8% (male 1,928,637/female 1,823,894)

25-54 years: 43.33% (male 8,384,017/female 8,203,646)

55-64 years: 13.32% (male 2,424,638/female 2,675,351)

65 years and over: 18.72% (2020 est.) (male 2,867,315/female 4,299,341)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 51.4

youth dependency ratio: 23

elderly dependency ratio: 28.4

potential support ratio: 3.5 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 41.9 years

male: 40.3 years

female: 43.6 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.26% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 8.5 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 10.71 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
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: 60.1% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.795 million WARSAW (capital), 770,000 Krakow (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.9 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 2 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.58 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.76 years

male: 75.02 years

female: 82.73 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (2022 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% (2019)
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.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2016)

vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.1% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 24% (2020 est.)

male: 27.9% (2020 est.)

female: 20.1% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.7% (2010/12)
Education expenditures: 4.6% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.7% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years

male: 15 years

female: 17 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.8%

male: 10.3%

female: 11.6% (2020 est.)

Topic: 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
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 20.54 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 299.04 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 46.62 megatons (2020 est.)
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: 60.1% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.17% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.27% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2016)

vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2016)
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): 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: 2.028 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 7.035 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 1.018 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 60.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: 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 Mateusz MORAWIECKI (since 11 December 2017); Deputy Prime Ministers Piotr GLINSKI (since 16 November 2015), Jacek SASIN (since 15 November 2019), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI (6 October 2020) and Henryk KOWALCZYK (26 October 2021)

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

election results: 
2020: Andrzej DUDA reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49%

2015: Andrzej DUDA elected president in runoff; 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 statutory - current 459; 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; minorities exempt from threshold; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: 
Senate - last held on 13 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023)
Sejm - last held on 13 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023)

election results: 
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PiS 48, KO 43, PSL 3, SLD 2, independent 4; composition (as of October 2021) - men 76, women 24, percent of women 24%
Sejm - percent of vote by party - PiS 43.6%, KO 27.4%, SLD 12.6%, PSL 8.5% Confederation 6.8%, other 1.1%; seats by party - PiS 235, KO 134, SLD 49, PSL 30, KWiN 11, MN 1; men 329, women 130, percent of women 28.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 27.5%

note: the designation National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the 2 houses meet jointly
Judicial branch: highest courts: 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: Civic Coalition or KO [Donald TUSK]
Confederation Liberty and Independence or KWiN [Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE, Robert WINNICKI, Grzegorz BRAUN]
New Left [Wlodzimierz CZARZASTY]
German Minority or MN [Ryszard GALLA]
Kukiz 15 or K15 [Pawel KUKIZ]
Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]
TERAZ! (NOW!) [Ryszard PETRU]
Nowoczesna (Modern) or N [Adam SZLAPKA]
Poland 2050 or PL2050 [Szymon HOLOWNIA]
Polish People's Party or PSL [Wladyslaw KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ]
Razem (Together) [collective leadership]
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, 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

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)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Poland has the sixth-largest economy in the EU and has long had a reputation as a business-friendly country with largely sound macroeconomic policies. Since 1990, Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization. During the 2008-09 economic slowdown Poland was the only EU country to avoid a recession, in part because of the government’s loose fiscal policy combined with a commitment to rein in spending in the medium-term Poland is the largest recipient of EU development funds and their cyclical allocation can significantly impact the rate of economic growth.   The Polish economy performed well during the 2014-17 period, with the real GDP growth rate generally exceeding 3%, in part because of increases in government social spending that have helped to accelerate consumer-driven growth. However, since 2015, Poland has implemented new business restrictions and taxes on foreign-dominated economic sectors, including banking and insurance, energy, and healthcare, that have dampened investor sentiment and has increased the government’s ownership of some firms. The government reduced the retirement age in 2016 and has had mixed success in introducing new taxes and boosting tax compliance to offset the increased costs of social spending programs and relieve upward pressure on the budget deficit. Some credit ratings agencies estimate that Poland during the next few years is at risk of exceeding the EU’s 3%-of-GDP limit on budget deficits, possibly impacting its access to future EU funds. Poland’s economy is projected to perform well in the next few years in part because of an anticipated cyclical increase in the use of its EU development funds and continued, robust household spending.   Poland faces several systemic challenges, which include addressing some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure, business environment, rigid labor code, commercial court system, government red tape, and burdensome tax system, especially for entrepreneurs. Additional long-term challenges include diversifying Poland’s energy mix, strengthening investments in innovation, research, and development, as well as stemming the outflow of educated young Poles to other EU member states, especially in light of a coming demographic contraction due to emigration, persistently low fertility rates, and the aging of the Solidarity-era baby boom generation.Poland has the sixth-largest economy in the EU and has long had a reputation as a business-friendly country with largely sound macroeconomic policies. Since 1990, Poland has pursued a policy of economic liberalization. During the 2008-09 economic slowdown Poland was the only EU country to avoid a recession, in part because of the government’s loose fiscal policy combined with a commitment to rein in spending in the medium-term Poland is the largest recipient of EU development funds and their cyclical allocation can significantly impact the rate of economic growth. The Polish economy performed well during the 2014-17 period, with the real GDP growth rate generally exceeding 3%, in part because of increases in government social spending that have helped to accelerate consumer-driven growth. However, since 2015, Poland has implemented new business restrictions and taxes on foreign-dominated economic sectors, including banking and insurance, energy, and healthcare, that have dampened investor sentiment and has increased the government’s ownership of some firms. The government reduced the retirement age in 2016 and has had mixed success in introducing new taxes and boosting tax compliance to offset the increased costs of social spending programs and relieve upward pressure on the budget deficit. Some credit ratings agencies estimate that Poland during the next few years is at risk of exceeding the EU’s 3%-of-GDP limit on budget deficits, possibly impacting its access to future EU funds. Poland’s economy is projected to perform well in the next few years in part because of an anticipated cyclical increase in the use of its EU development funds and continued, robust household spending. Poland faces several systemic challenges, which include addressing some of the remaining deficiencies in its road and rail infrastructure, business environment, rigid labor code, commercial court system, government red tape, and burdensome tax system, especially for entrepreneurs. Additional long-term challenges include diversifying Poland’s energy mix, strengthening investments in innovation, research, and development, as well as stemming the outflow of educated young Poles to other EU member states, especially in light of a coming demographic contraction due to emigration, persistently low fertility rates, and the aging of the Solidarity-era baby boom generation.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,223,460,000,000 (2020 est.)

$1,257,440,000,000 (2019 est.)

$1,202,820,000,000 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 4.55% (2019 est.)

5.36% (2018 est.)

4.83% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $32,200 (2020 est.)

$33,100 (2019 est.)

$31,700 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $595.72 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (2019 est.)

1.7% (2018 est.)

2% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A- (2007)

Moody's rating: A2 (2002)

Standard & Poors rating: A- (2018)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.)

industry: 40.2% (2017 est.)

services: 57.4% (2017 est.)
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 beet, wheat, potatoes, triticale, maize, barley, apples, mixed grains, rye
Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 9.561 million (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11.5%

industry: 30.4%

services: 57.6% (2015)
Unemployment rate: 5.43% (2019 est.)

6.08% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.8%

male: 10.3%

female: 11.6% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 15.4% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 29.7 (2017 est.)

33.7 (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3%

highest 10%: 23.9% (2015 est.)
Budget: revenues: 207.5 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 216.2 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.7% (of GDP) (2017 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
Taxes and other revenues: 39.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $2.92 billion (2019 est.)

-$7.52 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $333.54 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$330.68 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$324.22 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Germany 27%, Czechia 6%, United Kingdom 6%, France 6%, Italy 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, seats, furniture, computers, video displays (2019)
Imports: $292.44 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$302.87 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$306.43 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Germany 25%, China 10%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum,  packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, office machinery/parts (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $113.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$114.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $351.77 billion (2019 est.)

$373.721 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: zlotych (PLN) per US dollar -

3.6684 (2020 est.)

3.8697 (2019 est.)

3.76615 (2018 est.)

3.7721 (2014 est.)

3.1538 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
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.)
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 barrels/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 542,100 barrels/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves: 113 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 554,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 104,800 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 222,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Natural gas: Production: 5,666,815,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

Consumption: 21,463,908,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

Exports: 704.975 million cubic meters (2019 est.)

Imports: 16,633,345,000 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.)
Energy consumption per capita: 112.831 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 5,777,428 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 49,350,724 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the liberalized telecom market has seen considerable development in the broadband and mobile sectors; the incumbent telco, Orange Poland, dominates the broadband market and has invested in fiber infrastructure to support the growing adoption of bundled services among customers; 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 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 suspended to later in 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and legislative changes.  (2021)

domestic: several nation-wide networks provide mobile-cellular service; fixed-line roughly 15 per 100 (service lags in rural areas), mobile-cellular over 130 per 100 persons (2020)

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)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
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 country code: .pl
Internet users: total: 31,456,228 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 83% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 8,369,218 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.)

Topic: 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
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: SP
Airports: total: 126 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 87

over 3,047 m: 5

2,438 to 3,047 m: 30

1,524 to 2,437 m: 36

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 6 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 39

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 17

under 914 m: 21 (2021)
Heliports: 6 (2021)
Pipelines: 14,198 km gas, 1,374 km oil, 2,483 km refined products (2018)
Railways: total: 19,231 km (2016)

standard gauge: 18,836 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (11,874 km electrified)

broad gauge: 395 km (2016) 1.524-m gauge
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)
Waterways: 3,997 km (2009) (navigable rivers and canals)
Merchant marine: total: 143

by type: general cargo 7, oil tanker 6, other 130 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie

container port(s) (TEUs): Gdansk (2,073,215) (2019)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Swinoujscie

river port(s): Szczecin (River Oder)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces (Wojska Ladowe), Navy (Marynarka Wojenna), Air Force (Sily Powietrzne), Special Forces (Wojska Specjalne), Territorial Defense Force (Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej); Ministry of Interior and Administration: Border Guard (includes coast guard duties) (2022)

note - the Polish Armed Forces are 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
Military expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

2.2% of GDP (2020)

2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $17.5 billion)

2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $16.8 billion)

1.9% of GDP (2017) (approximately $14.9 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 115,000 active duty personnel (60,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force; 3,000 Special Forces; 25,000 joint service/other; 5,000 Territorial Defense Forces); approximately 25,000 other Territorial Defense Forces (reserves) (2022)

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 further announced plans to increase the size of military to over 300,000 personnel
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Polish Armed Forces consists of a mix of Soviet-era and more modern Western weapons systems; since 2010, the leading suppliers of armaments to Poland are Finland, Germany, Italy, and the US (2021)

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
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 (2021)

note - as of 2019, women made up about 7% of the military's full-time personnel
Military deployments: 240 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); up to 180 Latvia (NATO); 190 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2022)

note: Poland contributes 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
Military - note: Poland joined NATO in 1999; Czechia, Hungary, and Poland were invited to begin accession talks at NATO's Madrid Summit in 1997, and in March 1999 they became the first former members of the Warsaw Pact to join the Alliance
 since 2017, Poland has hosted a US-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; since 2014, Poland has also hosted NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base under NATO's enhanced air policing arrangements

Poland hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast; operational in 2018), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania; Poland also hosts a corps-level headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast) (2022)since 2017, Poland has hosted a US-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; since 2014, Poland has also hosted NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base under NATO's enhanced air policing arrangements

Poland hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast; operational in 2018), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania; Poland also hosts a corps-level headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast) (2022)

Topic: Terrorism
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

Topic: 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 UkrainePoland-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): 9,870 (Russia) (2019); 1,221,596 (Ukraine) (as of 12 July 2022)

stateless persons: 1,389 (mid-year 2021)
Illicit drugs: source country for amphetaminessource country for amphetamines