Poland

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 6,114,926 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2018 est.)

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: 29,791,401 | percent of population: 77.54% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: fixed-line service is dominated by the former state-owned company, yet it is dwarfed by the growth in mobile-cellular services; regulatory is framed by EU principles of competition; regulator measures have improved wholesale market access; rapid extension of LTE networks and development of mobile data service; mobile penetration is above European average; regulator to auction 700MHz spectrum of 5G services; good market competition (2020) | domestic: several nation-wide networks provide mobile-cellular service; coverage is generally good; fixed-line 18 per 100 service lags in rural areas, mobile-cellular 138 per 100 persons (2019) | 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 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 6,907,937 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18.01 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 52,916,105 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137.96 (2019 est.)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, dairy

Budget

revenues: 207.5 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 216.2 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: A- (2007) | Moody's rating: A2 (2002) | Standard & Poors rating: A- (2018)

Current account balance

$2.92 billion (2019 est.) | -$7.52 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external

$241 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $347.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores

82.9 (2020)

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.

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.)

Exports

$394.848 billion (2019 est.) | $375.525 billion (2018 est.) | $351.125 billion (2017 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2012 est.)

Exports - partners

Germany 27.4%, Czech Republic 6.4%, UK 6.4%, France 5.6%, Italy 4.9%, Netherlands 4.4% (2017)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$595.72 billion (2019 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity) - real

$1,189,207,000,000 (2019 est.) | $1,137,551,000,000 (2018 est.) | $1,079,745,000,000 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

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.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.4% (2017 est.) | industry: 40.2% (2017 est.) | services: 57.4% (2017 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,768 (2019 est.) | $17,937 (2018 est.) | $17,011 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

GDP real growth rate

4.55% (2019 est.) | 5.36% (2018 est.) | 4.83% (2017 est.)

Gross national saving

20% of GDP (2017 est.) | 19.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | 19.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% | highest 10%: 23.9% (2015 est.)

Imports

$364.993 billion (2019 est.) | $353.423 billion (2018 est.) | $328.919 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 15%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9% (2011 est.)

Imports - partners

Germany 27.9%, China 8%, Russia 6.4%, Netherlands 6%, Italy 5.3%, France 4.2%, Czech Republic 4% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate

7.5% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2019 est.) | 1.7% (2018 est.) | 2% (2017 est.)

Labor force

9.561 million (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 11.5% | industry: 30.4% | services: 57.6% (2015)

Population below poverty line

17.6% (2015 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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$113.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $114.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

39.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.43% (2019 est.) | 6.08% (2018 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

359 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports

4,451 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - imports

493,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - production

21,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

126 million bbl (1 January 2018)

Electricity - consumption

149.4 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

12.02 billion kWh (2016)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

14.02 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

38.11 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

156.9 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

20.1 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

1.246 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

15.72 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

5.748 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

79.79 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

649,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

104,800 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

222,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

554,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)

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 | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Poland Print Image Description about twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico

Climate

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

Coastline

440 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 173 m | lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m | highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

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, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Geographic coordinates

52 00 N, 20 00 E

Geography - note

historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

Irrigated land

970 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 3,071 km | border countries (7): Belarus 418 km, Czech Republic 796 km, Germany 467 km, Lithuania 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 210 km, Slovakia 541 km, Ukraine 535 km

Land use

agricultural land: 48.2% (2011 est.) | arable land: 36.2% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.3% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 10.7% (2011 est.) | forest: 30.6% (2011 est.) | other: 21.2% (2011 est.)

Location

Central Europe, east of Germany

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties

Natural hazards

flooding

Natural resources

coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land

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

Terrain

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

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)

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

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; 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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Georgette MOSBACHER (since 6 September 2018) | telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000 | embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw | mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) | FAX: [48] (22) 504-2226 | consulate(s) general: Krakow

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Piotr Antoni WILCZEK (since 18 January 2017) | chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 499-1700 | FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271 | consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

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 and Jaroslaw GOWIN (since 16 November 2015), Jacek SASIN (since 4 June 2019) | 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: Andrzej DUDA reelected president in runoff; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49%

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

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)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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 9-year terms | subordinate courts: administrative courts; military courts; local, regional and appellate courts subdivided into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: bicameral legislature consists of: Senate or Senat (100 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) Sejm (460 seats; members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote with 5% threshold of total votes needed for parties and 8% for coalitions to gain seats; 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 - men 87, women 13, percent of women 13% 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 334, women 126, percent of women 27.4%; note - total legislature percent of women 24.8% | note: the designation National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the 2 houses meet jointly

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 holiday

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

National symbol(s)

white crowned eagle; national colors: white, red

Political parties and leaders

Civic Coalition or KO [Grzegorz SCHETYNA] Confederation Liberty and Independence or KWiN [Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE, Robert WINNICKI, Grzegorz BRAUN] Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [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 [Katarzyna LUBNAUER] Polish People's Party or PSL [Wladyslaw KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ] Razem (Together) [collective leadership] Wiosna (Spring) [Robert BIEDRON]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country largely completed and with large investments in defense, energy, and other infrastructure, Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.

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 the Interior: Border Guard (includes coast guard duties) (2019)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Polish Armed Forces have approximately 105,000 total active duty personnel (60,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 17,000 Air Force; 3,500 Special Forces; 3,000 Territorial Defense Forces; 14,000 other); approximately 20,000 total Territorial Defense Forces including reservists (2019 est.) | note - in June 2019, the Polish Government approved a plan to increase the size of the military by 50,000 troops over the coming decade

Military deployments

360 Afghanistan (NATO); 230 Kosovo (NATO); up to 200 Latvia (NATO); 220 Lebanon (UNIFIL); contributes about 3,500 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Warsaw and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units (2020)

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 (2019 est.)

Military expenditures

2% of GDP (2019 est.) | 2.02% of GDP (2018) | 1.89% of GDP (2017) | 1.99% of GDP (2016) | 2.22% of GDP (2015)

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 (2019)

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% (male 2,867,315/female 4,299,341) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Poland Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Poland. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate

8.9 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

62.3% (2014)

Current Health Expenditure

6.5% (2017)

Death rate

10.6 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.4 | youth dependency ratio: 23 | elderly dependency ratio: 28.4 | potential support ratio: 3.5 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source

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 (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2017)

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

6.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Languages

Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.3% (2011 est.) | note: data represents 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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.3 years | male: 74.5 years | female: 82.3 years (2020 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.8% | male: 99.9% | female: 99.7% (2015)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate (2016) | vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2016)

Major urban areas - population

1.783 million WARSAW (capital), 769,000 Krakow (2020)

Maternal mortality rate

2 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

total: 41.9 years | male: 40.3 years | female: 43.6 years (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.8 years (2017 est.)

Nationality

noun: Pole(s) | adjective: Polish

Net migration rate

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.1% (2016)

Physicians density

2.38 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

38,282,325 (July 2020 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

Population growth rate

-0.19% (2020 est.)

Religions

Catholic 85.9% (includes Roman Catholic 85.6% and Greek Catholic, Armenian Catholic, and Byzantine-Slavic Catholic .3%), Orthodox 1.3% (almost all are Polish Autocephalous Orthodox), Protestant 0.4% (mainly Augsburg Evangelical and Pentacostal), other 0.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness, Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Muslim, Jewish, Mormon), unspecified 12.1% (2017 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 99.7% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 99.8% of population | unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0.2% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years | male: 15 years | female: 17 years (2018)

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: 0.91 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female | total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.38 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 11.7% | male: 11.5% | female: 12.1% (2018 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 60% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: -0.25% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Disputes - international

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

Illicit drugs

despite diligent counternarcotics measures and international information sharing on cross-border crimes, a major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 9,870 (Russia) (2019) | stateless persons: 1,328 (2019)

Airports

126 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 87 (2017) | over 3,047 m: 5 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 36 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2017) | under 914 m: 6 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 39 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 17 (2013) | under 914 m: 21 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

SP (2016)

Heliports

6 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 144 | by type: general cargo 12, oil tanker 7, other 125 (2019)

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 mt-km (2018)

Pipelines

14198 km gas, 1374 km oil, 2483 km refined products (2016)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie | container port(s) (TEUs): Gdansk (1,593,761) (2017) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Swinoujscie | river port(s): Szczecin (River Oder)

Railways

total: 19,231 km (2016) | standard gauge: 18,836 km 1.435-m gauge (11,874 km electrified) (2016) | broad gauge: 395 km 1.524-m gauge (2016)

Roadways

total: 420,000 km (2016) | paved: 291,000 km (includes 1,492 km of expressways, 1,559 of motorways) (2016) | unpaved: 129,000 km (2016)

Waterways

3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2009)