{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "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." } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Central Europe, east of Germany" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "52 00 N, 20 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Europe" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "312,685 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "304,255 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "8,430 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "about twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "2,865 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Belarus 375 km; Czechia 699 km; Germany 467 km; Lithuania 100 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 209 km; Slovakia 517 km; Ukraine 498 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "440 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "defined by international treaties" } }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers" }, "Terrain": { "text": "mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Rysy 2,499 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "173 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "48.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 36.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "30.6% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "21.2% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "760 sq km (2013)" }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "salt water lake(s)": { "text": "Zalew Szczecinski/Stettiner Haff (shared with Germany) - 900 sq km" } }, "Major rivers (by length in km)": { "text": "Wisla (Vistula) river source and mouth (shared with Belarus and Ukraine) - 1,213 km
note - longest river in Poland" }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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": { "text": "flooding" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "38,746,310" }, "male": { "text": "18,441,415" }, "female": { "text": "20,304,895 (2024 est.)" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Pole(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Polish" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "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" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.2% (2011 est.)" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "
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" }, "Religions": { "text": "Catholic 84.6% (Roman Catholic 84.6% 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%, unspecified 13% (2022 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "14.2% (male 2,830,048/female 2,676,300)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "65.9% (male 12,513,402/female 13,036,977)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "19.8% (2024 est.) (male 3,097,965/female 4,591,618)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "51.4" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "23.4" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "28.6" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "3.5 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "42.9 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "41.5 years" }, "female": { "text": "44.3 years" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "-1% (2024 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "8.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "12.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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": { "text": "60.2% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "-0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "1.798 million WARSAW (capital), 769,000 Krakow (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.06 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.06 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.96 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.67 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.91 male(s)/female (2024 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "27.9 years (2020 est.)" }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "2 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "5.3 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "4.4 deaths/1,000 live births" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "76.7 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "72.8 years" }, "female": { "text": "80.9 years" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.32 children born/woman (2024 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "0.64 (2024 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "62.3% (2014)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 99.9% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0.1% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "6.5% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physician density": { "text": "3.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "6.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "23.1% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "10.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "5.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "4.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "24% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "27.9% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "20.1% (2020 est.)" } }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "56.6% (2023 est.)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "5.2% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "99.8%" }, "male": { "text": "99.8%" }, "female": { "text": "99.8% (2021)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "16 years" }, "male": { "text": "15 years" }, "female": { "text": "17 years (2020)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants" } }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "48.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 36.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 1.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "30.6% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "21.2% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "60.2% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "-0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "0.17% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0.27% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "18.83 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "299.04 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "46.62 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "10.863 million tons (2015 est.)" }, "municipal solid waste recycled annually": { "text": "2,866,746 tons (2015 est.)" }, "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": { "text": "26.4% (2015 est.)" } }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "salt water lake(s)": { "text": "Zalew Szczecinski/Stettiner Haff (shared with Germany) - 900 sq km" } }, "Major rivers (by length in km)": { "text": "Wisla (Vistula) river source and mouth (shared with Belarus and Ukraine) - 1,213 km
note - longest river in Poland" }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)" }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "1.96 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "5.87 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "1.39 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "60.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "Geoparks": { "total global geoparks and regional networks": { "text": "3 (2024)" }, "global geoparks and regional networks": { "text": "Land of Extinct Volcanoes; Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa (includes Germany); Holy Cross Mountains (2024)" } } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Republic of Poland" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Poland" }, "local long form": { "text": "Rzeczpospolita Polska" }, "local short form": { "text": "Polska" }, "former": { "text": "Polish People's Republic" }, "etymology": { "text": "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": { "text": "parliamentary republic" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Warsaw" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "52 15 N, 21 00 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "daylight saving time": { "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October" }, "etymology": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)" }, "Legal system": { "text": "civil law system; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997" }, "amendments": { "text": "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" } }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "both parents must be citizens of Poland" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "5 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Andrzej DUDA (since 6 August 2015)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 11 December 2023)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "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 on 18 May 2025); prime minister, deputy prime ministers, and Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm; all presidential candidates resign their party affiliation" }, "election results": { "text": "
2020: Andrzej DUDA reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49%

2015: Andrzej DUDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51.5%, Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (independent) 48.5%

 

" } }, "Legislative branch": { "legislative structure": { "text": "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": { "text": "Sejm" }, "number of seats": { "text": "460 (all directly elected)" }, "electoral system": { "text": "proportional representation" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "full renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "4 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "10/15/2023" }, "parties elected and seats per party": { "text": "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": { "text": "31.3%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "October 2027" } }, "Legislative branch - upper chamber": { "chamber name": { "text": "Senate (Senat)" }, "number of seats": { "text": "100 (all directly elected)" }, "electoral system": { "text": "plurality/majority" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "full renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "4 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "10/15/2023" }, "parties elected and seats per party": { "text": "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": { "text": "19%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "October 2027" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "administrative courts; military courts; local, regional and appellate courts subdivided into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts" } }, "Political parties": { "text": "AGROunion or AU
Center for Poland or CdP
Civic Platform or PO
Confederation of the Polish Crown or KKP
Kukiz' 15 or K'15
Labor Union or UP
Law and Justice or PiS
Left Together or LR
Modern or .N
National Movement or NN
New Hope or RN
New Left or NL
Poland 2050 or PL2050
Polish Initiative or iPL
Polish People's Party or PSL
Polish Socialist Party or PPS
Renewal of the Republic of Poland or ON RP
Sovereign Poland or SP
The Greens or Zieloni
Union of European Democrats or UED
Yes! For Poland or T!DPL" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Bogdan Adam KLICH (since 21 November 2024)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 499-1700" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 328-2152" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
washington.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl

https://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/embassy-washington" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Daniel LAWTON (since 20 January 2025)" }, "embassy": { "text": "Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, 00-540 Warsaw" }, "mailing address": { "text": "5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010" }, "telephone": { "text": "[48] (22) 504-2000" }, "FAX": { "text": "[48] (22) 504-2088" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
acswarsaw@state.gov

https://pl.usembassy.gov/" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Krakow" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; 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)": { "text": "white crowned eagle; national colors: white, red" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Mazurek Dabrowskiego\" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Jozef WYBICKI/traditional" }, "note": "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": { "text": "17 (15 cultural, 2 natural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Historic Krakow (c); Historic Warsaw (c); Medieval Torun (c); Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (c); Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (c); Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (c); Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration Camp (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Białowieza Forest (n); Old City of Zamość (c)" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "high-income, diversified, EU-member economy; significant growth in GDP, trade, and investment since joining EU in 2004; rebounding from slowdown triggered by inflation and fall in consumer demand; strong foreign investment supported by EU structural funds; income tax reform and defense spending have added to public debt" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$1.628 trillion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$1.626 trillion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$1.545 trillion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "0.14% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "5.26% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "6.93% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$44,400 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$44,200 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$41,800 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$809.201 billion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "11.53% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "14.43% (2022 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "5.06% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "A- (2007)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "A2 (2002)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "A- (2018)" }, "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "2.7% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "30.1% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "57.5% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "57.7% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "19% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "17.7% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "-0.2% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "58.1% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-52.4% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "milk, sugar beets, wheat, maize, potatoes, triticale, apples, rapeseed, barley, rye (2022)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "-0.57% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "18.355 million (2023 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "2.91% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "2.89% (2022 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "3.36% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "11.6% (2023 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "12% (2023 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "11.1% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "11.8% (2022 est.)", "note": "note: % of population with income below national poverty line" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021": { "text": "28.5 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "18.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "6.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "3.4% (2021 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "22.8% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "1.06% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "1.09% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "1.15% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$234.98 billion (2022 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$250.097 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "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" }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "17.12% (of GDP) (2022 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "$14.535 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "-$15.822 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "-$8.97 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2023": { "text": "$471.571 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$436.388 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Exports 2021": { "text": "$392.702 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Germany 27%, Czechia 6%, France 6%, UK 5%, Netherlands 5% (2022)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products, garments, electric batteries, computers (2022)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2023": { "text": "$423.797 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$421.765 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Imports 2021": { "text": "$370.252 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "Germany 23%, China 11%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 5%, Czechia 4% (2022)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "garments, crude petroleum, cars, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2022)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$193.783 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$166.664 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": { "text": "$166.03 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "zlotych (PLN) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "4.204 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "4.458 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "3.862 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "3.9 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "3.839 (2019 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "58.719 million kW (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "156.869 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "16.915 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "15.238 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "8.659 billion kWh (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "78.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "4.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "11% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "0.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "4.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "116.682 million metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "123.782 million metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "12.047 million metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "13.347 million metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "28.531 billion metric tons (2022 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "722,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "113 million barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "5.551 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "20.056 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "587.771 million cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "14.42 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "91.492 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "293.356 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "163.359 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "94.138 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "35.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": { "text": "106.196 million Btu/person (2022 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "4.987 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "13 (2023 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "52.4 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "132 (2022 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "the liberalized telecom market has seen considerable development in the broadband and mobile sectors; the regulatory environment has encouraged market competition, partly by encouraging operators to secure spectrum and also by ensuring access to cable and fiber infrastructure; the mobile market in recent years has been characterized by the rapid extension of LTE and 5G networks, and the development of mobile data services based on newly released and re-farmed spectrum; the regulator’s attempts to auction spectrum in a range of bands has been delayed, with spectrum in the 5G-suitable 3.4-3.8GHz range having been put back to later in 2023 as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and changes to legislation (2024)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line is 13 per 100 (service lags in rural areas), mobile-cellular is 132 per 100 persons (2022)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 48; landing points for the Baltica and the Denmark-Poland2 submarine cables connecting Poland, Denmark and Sweden; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2019)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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": { "text": ".pl" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "86% (2023 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "10.1 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "26 (2023 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "6 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "169" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "9,277,538 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "271.49 million (2018) mt-km" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "SP" }, "Airports": { "text": "288 (2024)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "11 (2024)" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "14,198 km gas, 1,374 km oil, 2,483 km refined products (2018)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "19,461 km (2020) 11,946 km electrified" } }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "427,580 km (2022)" } }, "Waterways": { "text": "3,997 km (2009) (navigable rivers and canals)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "152 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 140" } }, "Ports": { "total ports": { "text": "10 (2024)" }, "large": { "text": "2" }, "medium": { "text": "2" }, "small": { "text": "4" }, "very small": { "text": "2" }, "ports with oil terminals": { "text": "5" }, "key ports": { "text": "Gdansk, Gdynia, Port Polnochny, Szczecin" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "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) (2024)" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2024": { "text": "4.1% of GDP (2024 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2023": { "text": "3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "2.2% of GDP (2022)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "2.2% of GDP (2021)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "2.2% of GDP (2020)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "approximately 210,000 including air, ground, naval, special forces, and Territorial Defense Forces (2024)", "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" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "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" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "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 (2024)", "note": "note 1: as of 2024, women made up about 16.5% of the military's full-time personnel

note 2: in May 2022, Poland announced a new 12-month voluntary military service program with recruits going through a one-month basic training period with a military unit, followed by 11 months of specialized training; upon completion of service, the volunteers would be allowed to join the Territorial Defense Forces or the active reserve, and have priority to join the professional army and be given preference for employment in the public sector; the program is part of an effort to increase the size of the Polish military" }, "Military deployments": { "text": "210 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); up to 180 Latvia (NATO); 190 Lebanon (UNIFIL); approximately 230 Romania (NATO) (2024)", "note": "note 1: Poland has obligated about 2,500 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation" }, "Military - note": { "text": "Poland’s geographic location on NATO’s eastern flank and its history of foreign invasion underpin the Polish military’s heavy focus on territorial and border defense and supporting its NATO and EU security commitments; its chief concern is Russian aggression against neighboring Ukraine since 2014, which has led to efforts to boost border defenses and military capabilities and to increase the NATO and US military presence in Poland

since 2014, Poland has been hosting several NATO military formations designed to enhance the defense of Poland and NATO’s eastern flank, including a US-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative, NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base, a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania, and a corps-level NATO field headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast); since 2022, the US has established a permanent corps headquarters in Poland to command US rotational forces in Europe; Poland also participates in a variety of EU and NATO military deployments in Africa, the Baltic States, Southern Europe, and the Middle East; Poland provided considerable support to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, where more than 30,000 military personnel served over a 20-year period before the mission ended in 2021 (2024)" } }, "Space": { "Space agency/agencies": { "text": "Polish Space Agency (POLSA; established 2014; operational in 2015); Space Research Center (SRC, interdisciplinary research institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences that acted as Poland’s space agency until POLSA was established in 1977) (2024)" }, "Space program overview": { "text": "space program is integrated within the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA); builds satellites, including nano/cube remote sensing (RS) and educational/scientific/technology satellites; researches and develops communications, RS, navigational, and other scientific applications for satellite payloads; creating infrastructure for receiving, storing, processing and distributing data from meteorological and environmental satellites; researches and develops other space-related technologies, including sensors and robotic probes for interplanetary landers, and launcher systems; participates in international space programs and cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, Canada, China, ESA/EU member states (particularly France, Germany, Italy), India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, UK, and the US; has a growing commercial space sector with more than 300 active enterprises (2024)", "note": "note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide" } }, "Terrorism": { "Terrorist group(s)": { "text": "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" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { "text": "956,635 (Ukraine) (as of 15 December 2023)" }, "stateless persons": { "text": "1,435 (2022)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "

a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

" } } }