Discover Polska

Discover Polska

BASIC FACTS ABOUT POLAND

Poland is at the very heart of Europe. It is a stable democracy with one of the most dynamic economies on the continent. It has been said that the 21st century will be the ‘New Golden Age’ for Poland.

BASIC FACTS ABOUT POLAND

Key information Area

37.5 million

Capital city

Climate

Warsaw

moderate

GDP in 2025 (nominal, current dollars)

GDP in 2025 (purchasing power parity)

$1.04 trillion Poland lies on the European Plain, by some measurements in the very centre of Europe. The Baltic Sea in the north and the Sudetes and Carpathian mountain ranges in the south form natural borders. Seven countries share land borders with Poland: Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia. Poland’s location at the heart of Europe between major powers has had a profound effect on its culture and history, and the country is now benefiting as a crossroads of Europe.

Population

313,932 km

2

R

$2.02 trillion

Political system

parliamentary democracy Member of

UN, EU, NATO, WTO, OECD, Weimar Triangle, Visegrad Group, Council of the Baltic Sea States, Three Seas Initiative, Bucharest Nine Border countries:

Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Russia

R

LT BY

PL

D

UA

CZ SK

BASIC FACTS ABOUT POLAND

National symbols Official name:

The Republic of Poland

Poland, officially known as the Republic of Poland (Rzeczpospolita Polska in Polish), is a country situated in Central Europe. It covers an area of 313,932 square kilometres, making it the 70th largest country worldwide and the 9th largest in Europe.

With a population of approximately 37.5 million people, Poland ranks 42nd globally in terms of population and is the 5th most populous country within the European Union.

National flag:

National emblem:

National anthem:

white and red

the white eagle

Mazurek Dąbrowskiego

National currency:

National phone code:

National Internet suffix:

National road traffic code:

PLN

+48

.pl

PL

BASIC FACTS ABOUT POLAND

The Polish language

The Polish alphabet, which has 32 characters,

A favourite tongue twister (by Jan Brzechwa, 1898-1966):

Polish is part of the West Slavic language group, which also includes Czech and Slovak, and belongs to the Indo-European language family.

It is estimated that Polish is the native language of around 44 million people worldwide. An increasing number of people choose to learn it. The number of foreigners taking the official state exam certifying their knowledge of Polish increased from just 1,111 in 2006 to 27,518 in 2025. Polish is characterized by complex grammar and rich inflection which make it an exceptionally precise language. In 2025, researchers from the University of Maryland and Microsoft published the results of a study examining which languages are best understood by artificial intelligence. Among the 26 languages analyzed, Polish proved to be the most effective for prompting, while English ranked sixth.

W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie i Szczebrzeszyn z tego słynie.

does not include the Latin letters Q, V and X.

Eng: In Szczebrzeszyn a beetle buzzes in the reed, for which Szczebrzeszyn is famous.

Aa

Ąą

Bb

Cc

Ćć Dd

Ee

Ęę

Ff

Gg Hh

Ii

Jj

Kk

Ll

Łł

Mm Nn Ńń Oo Óo

Pp

Rr

Ss

Zz

Źź

Żż

Śś

Tt

Uu Ww Yy

BASIC FACTS ABOUT POLAND

Main cities in Poland

Poland has several large cities, forming the economic backbone of the country. They are a diverse set with varying histories, but all offer a wide array of business opportunities and cultural activities.

Cities populations as of January 2025

Warsaw

Kraków

Łódź

Wrocław

Poznań

Gdańsk

Katowice

city population: 1,862,000 (3.3 m people in the whole agglomeration)

city population: 807,000 (1.5 m people in the whole agglomeration)

city population: 648,000 (1 m people in the whole agglomeration)

city population: 673,000 (0.7 m people in the whole agglomeration)

city population: 536,000 (1.25 m people in the whole agglomeration)

city population: 487,000 (1.4 m people in the whole Tri-City conurbation)

city population: 278,000 (2.5 m people in the whole Silesia conurbation)

Located in southwestern Poland, at various times the city has been part of Poland, Bohemia, the Austrian Empire, Prussia, and Germany.

Located in westcentral Poland, it lies close to the country's first capital, Gniezno.

Poland's first rulers are buried there.

The city is known for the oldest fairs in Poland.

Home of Poland's shipbuilding industry and birthplace of Poland's southern the Solidarność industrial hub, movement. Lies historically known on the coast of the for coal mining.

Baltic Sea and is Katowice is the main the main city of the city of the Silesia Tri-City conurbation conurbation which of Gdańsk, Gdynia consist of 14 cities and Sopot. of the region.

Poland's capital city, and its most important business and economic centre. Almost entirely destroyed during WWII and rebuilt over the second half of the 20th century.

Capital of Poland from 1038 to 1569.

Considered the cultural capital of Poland, it is famous for its historic sites, including Wawel Castle.

Located in central Poland. Mostly known for textile production in the 19th century. Now famous for its film school and its 150 years old industrial architecture.

BASIC FACTS ABOUT POLAND

Life in Poland, compared to other EU countries:

Living in Poland

With a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.906, Poland is classified among the world's top-tier developed nations by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is neither the wealthiest nor the most powerful among them, but thanks to its strong social cohesion and respect for human labor, it offers its inhabitants a solid and steadily improving quality of life that goes well beyond purely economic metrics, making Poland an excellent place to live.

Trust towards other people:

Crime, violence and vandalism:

Poverty rate:

Income equality:

rating poll, full trust: 10 (2024)

percent of households affected (2023)

percent of people at risk of poverty (2024)

Gini indicator, full equality: 0 (2024)

- Romania: 7.3 - Finland: 7.2 - Poland: 7.0 - Ireland: 6.7 - Netherlands: 6.7 - Croatia: 6.5 - Belgium: 6.4 - Latvia: 6.3 - Spain: 6.2 - Italy: 6.2 - Slovakia: 6.1 - Denmark: 5.6 - Luxembourg: 5.6 - Sweden: 5.6 - Germany: 5.5 - Estonia: 5.5 - Austria: 5.5 - Portugal: 5.5 - Bulgaria: 5.4 - Czechia: 5.3 - Malta: 5.2 - Hungary: 5.1 - Greece: 4.9 - Slovenia: 4.6 - Lithuania: 4.5 - France: 4.3 - Cyprus: 3.7

- Croatia: 1.4 - Lithuania: 2.7 - Poland: 2.8 - Slovakia: 3.4 - Estonia: 4.3 - Latvia: 5.4 - Romania: 5.9 - Hungary: 6.1 - Denmark: 6.3 - Italy: 6.4 - Czechia: 6.6 - Slovenia: 6.8 - Portugal: 6.9 - Austria: 7.0 - Luxembourg: 7.4 - Malta: 7.4 - Sweden: 9.4 - Ireland: 9.6 - Cyprus: 9.6 - Germany: 10.7 - Finland: 11.5 - Belgium: 12.4 - Spain: 13.6 - France: 14.7 - Bulgaria: 15.6 - Netherlands: 16.7 - Greece: 20.9

- Czechia: 11.3 - Slovenia: 14.4 - Netherlands: 15.4 - Poland: 16.0 - Finland: 16.8 - Austria: 16.9 - Ireland: 17.1 - Cyprus: 17.1 - Sweden: 17.5 - Denmark: 18.0 - Slovakia: 18.3 - Belgium: 18.3 - Hungary: 19.3 - Malta: 19.7 - Portugal: 19.7 - Luxembourg: 20.0 - France: 20.5 - Germany: 21.1 - Croatia: 21.7 - Estonia: 22.2 - Italy: 23.1 - Latvia: 24.3 - Spain: 25.8 - Lithuania: 25.8 - Greece: 26.9 - Romania: 27.9 - Bulgaria: 30.3

- Slovakia: 21.7 - Czechia: 23.7 - Slovenia: 23.8 - Belgium: 24.6 - Netherlands: 25.9 - Poland: 26.0 - Finland: 26.1 - Ireland: 26.4 - Sweden: 27.6 - Hungary: 28.0 - Romania: 28.0 - Austria: 28.4 - Denmark: 28.6 - Germany: 29.5 - Croatia: 29.8 - France: 30.0 - Luxembourg: 30.1 - Cyprus: 30.1 - Malta: 30.8 - Estonia: 30.8 - Spain: 31.2 - Greece: 31.8 - Portugal: 31.9 - Italy: 32.2 - Latvia: 34.2 - Lithuania: 35.3 - Bulgaria: 38.4

BASIC FACTS ABOUT POLAND

Visiting Poland for pleasure In 2024 the number of foreign tourists visiting Poland has reached

In 2024 foreign tourists visiting Poland have spent close to

19.7 million people

$9 billion + 11% (y/y)

What encourages tourists to visit Poland? (% of answers)

96%

- places of historical significance (50%) - attractive prices (40%) - tasty cuisine (34%) - friendly people (32%) - nature (23%) - safety (22%)

of tourists indicated "definitely high" or "rather high" as the overall assessment of their visit to Poland.

(2025 survey by the Polish Tourism Organisation)

(2025 survey by the PTO)

+ 3.9% (y/y)

Poland’s UNESCO World Heritage sites

Poland has something to offer for every visitor. Nature lovers can enjoy miles of seaside, rugged mountains, clear lakes and flowing rivers.

History buffs can tour churches that are hundreds of years old and castles that played a key role in shaping European history. Those interested in culture can get their fill of museums, monuments and architecture.

No wonder an increasing number of tourists visit Poland each year.

- Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork - Centennial Hall in Wrocław - Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica - Historic Centre of Kraków - Historic Centre of Warsaw - Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: the Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park - Krzemionki Prehistoric Striped Flint Mining region - Medieval Town of Toruń - Muskauer Park / Park Mużakowski - Old City of Zamość - Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines - Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region - Wooden Churches of Southern Małopolska - Białowieża Forest - Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp - Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine and its underground water management system – Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians

The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork The red-brick castle was the seat of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order and the largest fortress in medieval Europe.

Białowieża Forest Last part of the primeval forest which long time ago covered the whole continent. Now home to the European bison, one of the symbols of Poland.

Wieliczka Salt Mine The oldest active salt mine in the world. In the mine there is an underground post office, a restaurant and a cinema, as well as a health resort in which allergies and asthma are treated.

BASIC FACTS ABOUT POLAND

Visiting Poland for business 37.5 million

Poland’s population makes it the largest market in the region. Domestic demand has risen steadily since the fall of communism.

Net inflow of Foreign Direct Investment to Poland:

Poland stands out as a highly attractive destination for investment and business expansion.

According to FDI Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times, Warsaw was ranked as the third most appealing city for Foreign Direct Investments in 2025 among Europe’s major cities. Poland's key strengths include a skilled and productive workforce, a business-friendly environment, and transparent tax and legal systems.

$13.9 bn

$11.0 bn

Poland ranked

Poland ranked

39th out of 184 countries in the 2026 Index of Economic Freedom ranking by the Heritage Foundation.

The country ranked higher than such competitors for investment as Spain, France, Italy or Turkey.

- 4th in "Regulatory Framework" - 23rd in "Public Services" - 27th in "Operational Efficiency"

By 2024 the total stock of Foreign Direct Investment allocated in Poland was worth

out of 101 countries evaluated in the Business Ready 2025 report published by the World Bank.

$345 billion

Poland also ranked 9th on the list of the world's most desirable emerging markets in the 2026 Kearney FDI Confidence Index

$21.5 $25.0 $14.6 $14.0 $18.8 bn bn bn bn bn

$18.8 bn

$7.6 bn

$1.3 bn

$20.8 $15.8 $18.0 $12.5 bn bn bn bn

$19.9 $19.0 $20.1 $37.5 $41.8 $35.6 $20.6 bn bn bn bn bn bn bn

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2018

2015

2016

2017

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023 2024

POLAND’S ECONOMY

Poland is the largest market in Central Europe and is classified by international financial institutions as a high-income economy and a developed country. Poland’s financial system employs the same open market practices as the rest of the EU, but has managed to avoid the pitfalls which led other member states into recession over the past three decades.

POLAND’S ECONOMY

Economic overview

biggest economy in Central Europe

Gross Domestic Product

Gross Domestic Product

nominal (current prices):

purchasing power parity (current prices):

6th largest in the EU by nominal GDP value 5th largest in the EU

by PPP GDP value

$2,020 bn per capita: $55,340

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Poland has refashioned itself into a well-diversified free market economy. Following a period of more than 30 years of constant economic growth, a truly unique achievement, Poland is now recognized as a high-income economy by the World Bank and the OECD, and a developed market by FTSE Russell, the leading global provider of benchmark financial indexes, market data and analytics. Nowadays, by its nominal value Poland is the largest economy in Central Europe, the 6th largest in the EU and 20th largest in the world.

per capita: $28,480

per capita: $6,730

per capita: $1,630 2025

A-

A2

Fitch

S&P

Moody’s

2004 GDP per capita (PPP) in relation to EU average (27 countries):

$257 bn

1990

A-

Long-term growth projections conclude that Poland will continue to grow faster than Western Europe and thus continue to converge at least until 2030. In 2023, several British media argued that, if the current long-term growth rates in both countries were maintained, by 2030 Poland would be wealthier per capita than the UK.

$1,040 bn

$62 bn

International ratings for long-term debt in foreign currency (as of April 2026):

1990

2025

2025 GDP per capita (PPP) in relation to EU average (27 countries):

49% 81%

POLAND’S ECONOMY

GDP (PPP) in 2025:

$2,020 bn

Economic growth GDP based on purchasing power parity

In 2025 Poland’s GDP (PPP) was

168% higher

than at the beginning of the global financial crisis

48% higher

(international dollars, current prices)

Poland’s GDP per capita has rocketed since the fall of communism. Over three decades of almost uninterrupted growth has made the country a star performer among all transition economies.

Poland was the only economy in Europe to avoid recession during the global crisis of 2008 and was the first in Europe to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Polish economy is exceptionally resilient to crises coming from outside, thanks to a combination of factors such as a relatively large and diversified domestic market, a floating exchange rate of its own currency, and a relatively low level of public and private sector debt.

than at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic 2019: beginning of the pandemic. $1,360 bn of total GDP (PPP)

– a peerless performance among all 27 EU countries.

GDP (PPP) in 1995:

2008: beginning of the global crisis. $753 bn of total GDP (PPP)

$322 bn +6.7 +6.2 +7.1

+5.0 +4.5 +4.3

Real GDP growth: annual % change 95

96

97

98

+3.5

+5.1

+1.2 +1.4

99 00

01

02

03

04

+6.2 +6.8 +3.3

05

06

07

+4.4

08

+5.3 +2.6 +3.2

09

10

+3.9 +4.4 +1.5

11

12

+5.2

+6.2

+3.0

+6.9 +4.6

+0.7 13

+5.3 +0.2

-2.0 14

15

16

17

18

19

20

+2.9 +3.2

21

22

23

24

25

Nominal GDP per capita based on market exchange rate of the local currency

POLAND’S ECONOMY

Growth champion

(in current $) 1990-2025 growth:

+1,647%

No country before 1990 had ever attempted to switch from a communist to a free market economy. Back then success was by no means guaranteed. Today, Poland has a reason to be proud of its economic performance. Although the immediate social costs were huge, Poland has eventually emerged as a diversified and crisis-proof economy that keeps growing at a rate several times higher than its Western counterparts.

1990

2025

1990

2025

1990

2025

1990

2025

1990

2025

1990

2025

France

Germany

Italy

Poland

Spain

UK

1990: $21,740 2025: $48,980

1990: $20,320 2025: $59,930

1990: $20,540 2025: $43,160

1990: $1,630 2025: $28,480

1990: $13,670 2025: $38,040

1990: $20,910 2025: $56,660

growth:

growth:

growth:

growth:

growth:

growth:

+125%

+195%

+110%

+1,647%

+178%

+171%

GDP per capita based on purchasing power standard

POLAND’S ECONOMY

Growth champion

(in current international $) 1990-2025 growth:

+722%

Despite the significant social upheaval and initial challenges, Poland has emerged as a resilient and dynamic economy, capable of weathering global crises and sustaining steady growth rates that outpace many of its Western counterparts.

Today, Poland's economic transformation serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for nations undergoing similar transitions, showcasing the rewards that await those who dare to embrace change and the opportunities of the free market.

1990

2025

1990

2025

1990

2025

1990

2025

1990

2025

1990

2025

France

Germany

Italy

Poland

Spain

UK

1990: $19,710 2025: $66,060

1990: $22,100 2025: $73,550

1990: $21,820 2025: $63,130

1990: $6,730 2025: $55,340

1990: $16,150 2025: $56,890

1990: $18,410 2025: $63,760

growth:

growth:

growth:

growth:

growth:

growth:

+235%

+232%

+189%

+722%

+252%

+246%

POLAND’S ECONOMY

Living standard

Actual Individual Consumption per capita in Poland

%

%

%

86

77

60

49

51

46 33

85

91 %

76

71

67

37

as a percent of AIC levels per capita in selected Western European countries.

%

79

Poland is steadily closing the gap with Western Europe in terms of living standards. This is best reflected by the steadily increasing level of individual consumption. Infrastructural overhaul and improved access to education, healthcare, and social services have also played a crucial role in enhancing the overall well-being of Polish citizens.

With ongoing economic reforms and continued investment in human capital, Poland is well-positioned to further narrow the prosperity gap with its Western counterparts.

Level of

48

64

56 38

37

42

1995 2004 2014 2024

1995 2004 2014 2024

1995 2004 2014 2024

1995 2004 2014 2024

1995 2004 2014 2024

AIC per capita in Poland as % of AIC per capita in

AIC per capita in Poland as % of AIC per capita in

AIC per capita in Poland as % of AIC per capita in

AIC per capita in Poland as % of AIC per capita in

AIC per capita in Poland as % of AIC per capita in

France

Germany

Italy

Spain

UK

POLAND’S ECONOMY

$478 bn

Foreign trade The EU accounts for: 74.2% of Polish exports 53% of Polish imports (as of 2024) The CEE countries account for: 5.3% of Polish exports 2.1% of Polish imports (as of 2024)

exports

$442 bn imports

Poland’s key In 2025 exports of goods trading partner and services represented of GDP is Germany 50% $317 bn - up from only 27% in 2000. exports

It accounts for: 27.2% of Polish exports 19.2% of Polish imports (as of 2024)

imports

$250 bn $248 bn exports

Poland’s trade in goods and services

$295 bn

$163 bn exports

imports

$167 bn imports

(in current $)

With its skilled workforce and strong industrial traditions, Poland is Europe’s farming and manufacturing heartland and a major supplier of top- quality food, electromechanical products, furniture, vehicles and aircraft.

Since 1999, Poland’s foreign trade turnover has increased over tenfold.

$87 bn exports

$41 bn exports

In 2024 Poland saw a trade surplus of

$95 bn

$36 billion

imports

$51 bn imports

1999

2004

2009

2014

2019

2024

POLAND’S ECONOMY

Average exchange rates in March 2026:

National currency July 2008 – February 2009, the złoty (PLN) loses 1/3 of its value relative to the euro.

The drop in the złoty made Polish exports more competitive, which helped stabilize the economy in the aftermath of the global crisis.

1 USD = 3.69 PLN 1 GBP = 4.93 PLN 1 CHF = 4.69 PLN October 2022 1EUR = 4.80PLN

February 2009 1 EUR = 4.64 PLN

March 2026:

1 EUR = 4.27 PLN

Poland maintains a floating currency, the złoty (PLN), which helps to keep Polish products competitive on world markets and insulates its economy from external shocks.

The country has an independent central bank with a solid track record of responsible, anti‑cyclical monetary policy, as well as a well-regulated and conservative banking system.

EUR/PLN exchange rate July 2008 1 EUR = 3.26 PLN

Poland has pledged to join the Eurozone in the long term, but currently the country benefits from remaining outside the single currency area.

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

CPI inflation (y/y) February 2026:

2.1%

Interest rate March 2026:

National bank reserve March 2026:

3.75% €253 bn

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

POLAND’S ECONOMY

Budget and public debt 45.1%

Poland's constitution limits public debt to 60% of GDP. The government cannot incur any financial obligations that would cause it to exceed this limit. Thanks to this rule and a responsible countercyclical fiscal policy, the debt of Poland's public institutions sector has remained stable for years. In 2024 it stood at 55.1% of GDP, which places Poland among the least indebted countries in the EU. The share of foreign creditors in the total debt of Polish public institutions is currently 28.8%, while the share of debt denominated in foreign currencies is 20.2%.

55.1%

2008: beginning of the global crisis

According to the constitution, the government cannot incur debts bigger than

General government gross debt:

2019: beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic

60% of GDP

(as percent of GDP) 45.1% 46.6% 47.3% 44.5% 46.7% 49.7% 53.7% 54.8% 54.5% 56.9% 51.1%

51.1% 54.1% 50.4% 48.2% 45.2% 56.6% 53.0% 48.8% 49.5% 55.1%

General government deficit: (as percent of GDP)

-5.0%

-3.9% -3.5%

-1.9%

-3.6% -7.3% -7.4%

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

-3.8% -4.2% -3.7% -5.0% 2011

2012

2013

2014

-2.6% -2.4%

-1.5%

-0.2% -0.7%

-1.7%

-3.4%

-6.9% 2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

-5.2%

-6.5%

2023 2024

POLAND’S ECONOMY

Stock market 29 Oct 2007 WIG20 blue chip index: 3,917

WIG20 blue chip index change between 02 January 2004 and 08 April 2026 :

+118%

The dynamic growth of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) has made Warsaw the leading financial centre in the CEE region, attracting a steady flow of IPOs, both domestic and foreign. Since 2018 Poland is recognized as a developed market

by FTSE Russell, the leading global provider of benchmark financial indexes, market data and analytics.

02 Jan 2004 WIG20 blue chip index: 1,616

17 Feb 2009 WIG20 blue chip index: 1,327

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

$658 bn $331 bn total capitalisation (as of April 2026)

08 Apr 2026 WIG20 blue chip index: 3,529

capitalisation of foreign companies (as of April 2026)

$133 bn

400

2025 total share sales

total companies listed (as of April 2026)

2025 average share sales per session

foreign companies listed (as of April 2026)

$0.53 bn

18

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

POLAND’S ECONOMY

Corruption level By 2025 Poland ranked

Limiting corruption acts as a catalyst for economic development by fostering a honest business environment that attracts investment.

Additionally, eliminating corruption promotes social trust, enhances institutional stability and the smooth functioning of the market. Like any country that emerged from the communist system and underwent a democratic transition, Poland faced its fair share of business opportunists and corrupt officials. Over the years, however, Poland has managed to reduce corruption and nowadays is among the least corrupt countries of the former Eastern Bloc.

the 52nd least corrupt out of 182 countries listed in the Corruption Perceptions Index prepared yearly by the international corruption watchdog Transparency International.

That's a serious improvement compared to 2005, when Poland was listed as world's 70th least corrupt country.

most corrupt

least corrupt

Poland

POLAND’S INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS

Poland has become one of the top destinations for foreign direct investment in Europe. There are many reasons for this, including the country’s well-educated workforce, huge domestic market, location at the crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe, as well as numerous tax breaks and incentives for investors.

POLAND’S INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS

Brand Polska

The strength of a country's brand is determined in the same way as any other brand. We can analyse different associations and attributes evoked by a specific country, as well as measure levels of awareness, familiarity, preference, consideration, advocacy and active decisions to visit it or buy a product made there. The branding and image of a nation-state and the successful transference of this image to its exports is just as important as what the country actually produces and sells. Poland is quickly catching up on all those levels.

Ranking of nation brands value (2025) by Brand Finance consultancy:

Global Soft Power Index (2026) by Brand Finance consultancy:

Global Talent Competitiveness Index (2025) by INSEAD business school:

Country Brand Ranking (2024-25 trade edition)

by Bloom Consulting:

1. USA 2. China 3. Germany 4. UK 5. Japan 6. France 7. India 8. Canada 9. Italy 10. Spain 11. Australia 12. South Korea 13. Netherlands 14. UAE 15. Saudi Arabia 16. Switzerland 17. Indonesia 18. Poland (+2 since previous edition) 19. Mexico 20. Brazil 21. Sweden 22. Singapore 23. Russia 24. Belgium 25. Ireland 26. Philippines 27. Austria 28. Malaysia 29. Norway 30. Denmark 31. Thailand 32. Vietnam 33. Türkiye 34. Czechia 35. Egypt 36. Israel

1. USA 2. China 3. Japan 4. UK 5. Germany 6. France 7. Switzerland 8. Canada 9. Italy 10. UAE 11. South Korea 12. Spain 13. Sweden 14. Russia 15. Netherlands 16. Australia 17. Saudi Arabia 18. Denmark 19. Norway 20. Qatar 21. Singapore 22. Belgium 23. Finland 24. Austria 25. Türkiye 26. New Zealand 27. Portugal 28. Ireland 29. Brazil 30. Luxembourg 31. Poland (+1 since previous edition) 32. India 33. Greece 34. Iceland 35. Malaysia 36. Monaco

1. Singapore 2. Switzerland 3. Denmark 4. Finland 5. Sweden 6. Netherlands 7. Norway 8. Luxembourg 9. USA 10. Australia 11. Ireland 12. UK 13. Iceland 14. Canada 15. Belgium 16. Austria 17. Germany 18. New Zealand 19. France 20. Czechia 21. Estonia 22. Malta 23. Israel 24. Portugal 25. UAE 26. Spain 27. Lithuania 28. Japan 29. Slovenia 30. Cyprus 31. South Korea 32. Italy 33. Latvia 34. Slovakia 35. Qatar 36. Poland (+1 since previous edition)

1. UK 2. Germany 3. USA 4. Brazil 5. China 6. Australia 7. Singapore 8. India 9. Russia 10. France 11. Canada 12. Italy 13. Japan 14. Ireland 15. Spain 16. Türkiye 17. Netherlands 18. Indonesia 19. Poland (+5 since previous edition) 20. Finland 21. Hong Kong 22. Malaysia 23. Sweden 24. Colombia 25. South Korea

POLAND’S INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS

Foreign Direct Investment The Business Ready 2025 report published by the World Bank evaluates 101 countries in terms of how regulations and public services support business development.

By 2024 the total stock of FDI invested in Poland was worth $345 bn.

Poland's rankings are as follows: 4th in "Regulatory Framework" category (the rules and regulations that firms must follow as they open, operate, expand, close or reorganize a business) 23rd in "Public Services" category (the facilities that governments provide to support compliance with regulations and the institutions and infrastructure that enable business activities) 27th in "Operational Efficiency" category (the ease of compliance with the regulatory framework and the effective use of public services directly relevant to firms)

As one of the world's 20 biggest economies, year after year Poland moves up in international rankings for ease of doing business and investment attractiveness. In recent years, Polish governments have moved to reduce bureaucracy and improve infrastructure. While there is still room to improve, Poland is now the clear leader in the CEE region in terms of its appeal as a destination for business.

Poland ranked 40th out of 184 countries in the 2026 Index of Economic Freedom ranking by the Heritage Foundation, which was higher than Spain, France, Italy or Turkey.

The 2024 FDI inflow was worth $20.6 bn.

Top 10 European countries

by FDI projects in 2024

147

196

210

224

259

351

351

608

Portugal

Netherlands

Belgium

Italy

Poland

Turkey

Spain

Germany

850 1,025 UK

France

POLAND’S INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS

Labour

In 2024, the average Pole worked

Average pre-tax labour cost (2025):

1,785 hours

3.1%

which was 49 hours above the OECD average, and higher than in Germany (+454 h), France (+294 h) or the UK (+273 h). However, it was still 156 hours below Poland's 1994 record (1,941 hours). Since then, working time has been declining while work productivity has beem increasing.

Poland has one of the most educated populations in Europe. By 2024, 95 percent of Poles aged 25-64 have attained at least upper secondary education (OECD average: 81%), while 30 percent of them had a tertiary education degree (OECD average: 15%). Poles are some of the hardest workers in the world as well, labouring for more hours than people in most other developed nations. This has led to a raft of investments in business process outsourcing and in research and development centres in recent years.

€19.1 per hour (EU27: €34.9 per hour)

was Poland’s unemployment rate in January 2026, which was the lowest rate in the EU. (average for EU27: 5.8%)

Workforce productivity: GDP per hour worked (PPP converted, current prices)

$10.7

$11.5

$12.9

$15.2

$17.7

$20

$21.5

$24.1

$28.4

$32

$33.7

$36.5

$41.8

$46.4

$53.2

$59.2

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

POLAND’S INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS

Metropolitan areas

Poland is unique in its region in that the country’s population is not mostly concentrated around a single city. In fact, Poland boasts 6 metropolitan centres with populations of 1 million people or above.

There is also a significant number of large to medium sized cities (13 with a population of over 200,000).

These cities are spread out across the country, meaning Poland offers a wider array of large markets in which to invest. By 2030, Poland plans to further integrate its metropolitan areas into groupings of a larger scale. This integration will be reflected in common institutions and common legal standards.

1013

13

208

59.4

cities and towns in Poland (Dec 2024)

cities have a population bigger than 200,000 (Dec 2024)

towns have a population bigger than 20,000 (Dec 2024)

percent of Poles live in towns or cities (as of 2024)

Warsaw agglomeration

Silesia conurbation

Kraków agglomeration

Tri-City conurbation

Poznań agglomeration

Toruń/Bydgoszcz Łódź Kielce agglomeration agglomeration agglomeration

3.3 m

Map of the biggest Polish cities and towns

1.25 m

2.5 m

1m

1.5 m

0.75 m

1.4 m

0.7 m

POLAND’S INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS

Road system

Road safety in Poland is constantly improving.

In 1991, the deadliest year on record, 7,901 people lost their lives in road accidents. By 2025, this number had fallen to 1,660, marking a 79% reduction.

The road construction programme for the years 2023-2030 has an estimated budget of

EUR 69.5 billion it envisions among others the construction of

2,600 km of new motorways and expressways.

For an economy to run efficiently, it needs a good system of roads to keep people and goods moving from place to place. In the past few years, Poland has made great strides in this area, significantly increasing its number of express roads and motorways thanks to EU funding. Much of this progress was made in the run-up to the 2012 European football championships. As of March 2026, Poland had 5,466 km of motorways and expressways in use.

Map of the planned motorway and expressway network in Poland

As of December 2004 Poland had:

As of March 2026 Poland had:

535 km

1,894 km

of motorways in use and

of motorways in use and

190 km

3,571 km

of expressways in use

of expressways in use

POLAND’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

Poland has long been a bridge between East and West. Throughout its history, it has been a country of great significance whose culture has influenced its neighbors, yet it has also endured years of foreign occupation and subsequent decline. Now free again, Poland has reestablished its place in European affairs, becoming one of the continent’s key players.

POLAND’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

Architecture of Poland’s international relations

UN

United Nations member since 1945

Four decades ago Poland was neither democratic nor sovereign.

It has come a long way since then.

The country is now an active member of the European Union and NATO, as well as all of other leading multilateral organisations.

IMF

International Monetary Fund member since 1986

Weimar Triangle member since 1991 Visegrad Group member since 1991

Council of Europe member since 1991 Council of the Baltic Sea States member since 1992

2024 marked the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO and the 20th anniversary of its accession to the EU. Poland held the EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2025.

WTO

NATO

World Trade North Organisation Atlantic Treaty member since 1995 Organization

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe member since 1994

EU

European Union member since 2004

member since 1999 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member since 1996 European Economic Area member since 2003

G6, Group of Six member since 2006 Schengen Area member since 2007

Bucharest Nine member since 2015 Three Seas Initiative member since 2016

POLAND’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

Poland in the European Union 37.5 of 450.3 2.0 of 29.2 Poland joined the European Union in May 2004 after having completed comprehensive structural reforms. EU membership has helped strengthen Poland’s democracy as well as increase its economic prosperity and open new markets. Poland is now the 6th largest economy in the EU by nominal value and 5th largest by purchasing power parity value.

1.0 of 21.1 53 of 720

Cumulative real GDP growth between 2013 and 2025: million citizens – as of 2025 EU(27):

+21.2% trillion USD of total GDP (PPP) – as of 2025

Poland:

+54% trillion USD of total GDP (nominal) – as of 2025 2004 GDP per capita (PPP) in relation to EU average (27 countries): deputees in the EU Parliament

2025 GDP per capita (PPP) in relation to EU average (27 countries):

49% 81%

POLAND’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

Poland’s international initiatives

Poland is committed to helping young democracies join the political, economic and social modernization processes promoted by the European Union. The European Endowment for Democracy, launched in 2013, and the Eastern Partnership, an EU policy created in 2009 on the initiative of Poland and Sweden, are two examples of such activity. Poland also advocates for increasing interconnectivity in Central Europe. One of the platforms for these efforts is the Three Seas Initiative, launched in 2016 by Poland and Croatia.

Reinforces multilateral ties within 13 EU countries located between the Adriatic, Baltic and Black seas.

Initiated in 2016 by President of Croatia, Kolinda GrabarKitarović and President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, the Three Seas Initiative is an Infrastructural and sectorial cooperation platform for Central European members of EU that is intended to strengthen the north-south axis in the region.

Promotes democratic rules and norms around the world.

Established in 2000 at a ministerial conference in Warsaw.

An initiative of Bronisław Geremek, Poland’s Foreign Minister, and Madeleine Albright, US Secretary of State. The Community was based on the declaration ‘Towards a Community of Democracies’, signed by representatives of 106 countries.

Reinforces ties between the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, while also supporting Belarusian civil society.

The Eastern Partnership supports reforms, resilience, investments, civil society and cooperation in a number of areas based on EU principles and values. Thanks to the AA/DCFTA agreements, it was possible for the EU to grant Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidate countries.

Promotes democracy throughout the EU neighbourhood.

The European Endowment for Democracy assists civil society organisations, young pro-democracy leaders and independent media outlets. Financed from European Commission funds and member state contributions.

Promotes regional cooperation between civil society organizations from Poland, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia

The International Visegrad Fund is a donor organization established in 2000 by the governments of the Visegrad Group countries. The Fund supports regional cooperation of civil society organizations by providing them with grants, scholarships and artists residencies.

POLAND’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

Regional co-operation structures PL

Maintaining good relations with all of its neighbours is one of Poland’s main priorities and it is therefore an active member of regional co-operation structures. These structures include the Weimar Triangle, the Visegrad Group, Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Three Seas Initiative and the Lublin Triangle.

Poland’s deep co-operation within the framework of those bodies strengthens its position within European decision-making.

Weimar Triangle

- Poland - Germany - France

PL

Visegrad Group

- Poland - Czechia - Hungary - Slovakia

PL

Council of the Baltic Sea States - Poland - Denmark - Estonia - Latvia - Finland - Lithuania - Germany - Norway - Iceland - Sweden

PL

PL

Three Seas Lublin Initiative Triangle - Poland - Austria - Bulgaria - Croatia - Czechia - Estonia - Greece - Hungary

- Latvia - Lithuania - Romania - Slovakia - Slovenia

- Poland - Lithuania - Ukraine

PL

Polish Romanian Turkish Trilogue - Poland - Romania - Türkiye

POLAND’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

By March 2024, Poland marked the 25th anniversary of its accession to NATO. Over the past quarter century, the Polish armed forces have undergone a profound transformation, a process that accelerated further following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As of 2026, membership in the collective defence alliance remains a cornerstone of Poland’s security and defence policy. The country continues to modernise its military and increase investment in its defence capabilities at an unprecedented pace.

Poland takes its responsibilities as a frontline NATO member very seriously, and its armed forces stand ready to defend both the nation and its allies.

$55.5 billion

54%

89%

is the worth of Poland's defence budget in 2026, which equals to 4.8% of the country's GDP (the highest percent within NATO).

of the defence spending in 2025 was allocated in purchases of new equipment, which is also the highest level among NATO countries.

of Poles support Poland's membership in NATO and only 2% are against. (as of April 2025)

POLAND’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

Foreign missions Polish police officers participating in EULEX Kosovo mission.

Polish armed forces are an important instrument of foreign security policy. They help assure the defence of Poland's allies within NATO and contribute to international stabilisation efforts in Europe and beyond. For the past 20 years, Poland has been also the largest contributor of civilian experts, such as police officers, border guards, and legal advisers, to the EU’s CSDP civilian missions.

These missions are a flagship tool for keeping peace, promoting stability and building resilience.

Polish military EU (CSDP) presence within military NATO framework: operations: - Latvia - Romania - Türkiye - Kosovo - Air Policing missions over the Baltic States and Slovakia

- EUFOR Althea - EUMAM Ukraine - EUNAVFOR MED Irini - EUTM RCA

EU (CSDP) civilian missions:

UN missions and operations:

- EULEX Kosovo, - EUMM Georgia, - EU Mission Armenia - EUAM Ukraine

- UNIFIL Liban - MINURSO Western Sahara - MONUSCO Democratic Republic of Congo - UNMISS South Sudan - UNTSO - UNMIK Kosovo

POLAND’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

Helping others Poland has come a long way in the last 30 years, from recipient to donor country of development assistance. That is why Poland takes its duty to help others so seriously.

Through development cooperation Poland wants to contribute to building a more sustainable world for the present and future generations. This is done through measures such as helping create efficient state institutions, promoting entrepreneurship, reducing poverty and inequalities, as well as providing quality education and health care. In response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, Poland has mobilized unprecedented resources to support Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.

In 2022, Polish official development assistance peaked at 0.53% of GNI (gross national income) and in 2023 remained at 0.33% of GNI.

Poland is a stable and predictable partner of UN family and other international organisations.

The priority countries of Polish Aid are:

Ukraine, Moldova, Palestine, Lebanon, Kenya, Tanzania and, until 2026, Ethiopia, and Senegal.

Polish development cooperation also provides support for Belarusian civil society.

Poland remains engaged globally by responding to humanitarian crises.

POLAND’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

In 2022, the Russian aggression against Ukraine triggered an unprecedented migration and humanitarian crisis. As a result, Polish official development assistance funds were redirected to provide necessary humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees, with more than 1.5 million of them staying in Poland in 2022. Over the last four years, Poland has become a major humanitarian donor to Ukraine and an EU hub of support. Actions focus on addressing needs of the most vulnerable persons. At the same time, Poland has taken measures to support Ukraine in strengthening its resilience and preparing for the country's recovery and reconstruction. Polish aid focuses on the development of national and local crisis management systems and investments in rescue services. Support for veterans and their families remains a priority. Poland's assistance comes also in the field of energy resilience.

Supporting Ukraine

Polish aid focuses on supporting resilience of Ukrainian society.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war

Poland has contributed $5.5 bn in official development assistance (ODA) for Ukraine.

POLAND’S SOCIETY

Polish society is a mixture of tradition and modernity. With a population of almost 40 million people, Poles are well-educated, hardworking, entrepreneurial, as well as open to new trends and technologies. Polish society has moved on quickly from the grim communist period to a free-market economy and is a key member of the European Union. Yet it has not forgotten about its past and has kept its identity. Tradition, helping others and religion still play an important role in people’s lives, and family life is seen as the core component of happiness.

POLAND’S SOCIETY

Demographics As of 2025, for every 100 men there were 106,9 women.

(51.6% of the population)

Life expectancy for women born in 2024:

Population at non-working age per 100 persons at working age:

82.2 years

pre-productive age

Life expectancy for men born in 2024:

1.14

post-productive age

74.8 years The leading causes of death in Poland are heart disease (35%) and cancer (24%), which together account for over half of all deaths.

With almost 38 million people, the 42nd largest population in the world, Poland is a significant player not only on the European stage, but also in the global arena. There is a large number of people of Polish origin around the world too, a figure estimated at some 20 million people.

1990: 50% 2024: 31%

Fertility rate (2024)

1990: 22% 2024: 41% Poland’s population is the 8th largest in Europe, 5th largest in the EU and 42nd largest in the world

37.5 million inhabitants

Russia

Germany

UK

France

Italy

Spain

Ukraine

Poland

Romania

Netherlands

POLAND’S SOCIETY

Nation with a strong identity The homogeneity is a relatively recent development in Polish society, a result of the tumultuous aftermath of World War II. Previously throughout its history, Poland had been one of the most diverse nations in Europe.

The strong affection to their identity helped Polish people last as a nation at a time when Poland has been dismantled by its neighbours and ceased to exist as a country for over one century (between 1795 and 1918).

0m

5m

10m

The Warsaw Confederation, signed in 1573 by the Polish national assembly in Warsaw, was the first European act granting religious freedoms and legal equality to people of all confessions.

15m

20m

25m

30m

35m

nationality Poland’s population is one of the most homogenous in Europe, with 99 percent being Polish. Amongst them, however, there are several ethnic and national groups bringing a dash of diversity to the population.

They include Germans, Ukrainians and Belarusians. The largest, Silesians and Kashubians, are considered linguistic or regional groups rather than ethnic minorities. Over 92 percent of the population declare themselves to be Roman Catholic.

98.84% Polish

religion Only 28% of those who declare affiliation to the Roman Catholic church take part in regular religious practices.

92.2% Roman Catholic

POLAND’S SOCIETY

Towns & cities There are

1013

59.4%

cities and towns in Poland (as of 2024)

of Poles lived within administrative boundaries of towns or cities.

Capital city: Warsaw (1.86 m pop.)

Main cities:

There are 119 people per square kilometre in Poland, a figure lower than in most Western European countries.

Almost 60% of Poles live in towns or cities, compared to an average of 75% in the rest of Europe. The largest metropolitan area in Poland is the Warsaw agglomeration with a population of 3.2 million. The second largest metropolitan area is the conurbation of more than 10 cities of Upper Silesia, which has a population of 2.5 million.

Aerial view of the old town in the coastal city of Gdańsk

By 2024

Kraków (0.8 m) Wrocław (0.67 m) Łódź (0.65 m) Poznań (0.54 m) Gdańsk (0.49 m) Szczecin (0.39 m) Bydgoszcz (0.33 m) Lublin (0.33 m) Katowice (0.28 m) Białystok (0.29 m) Gdynia (0.24 m) Częstochowa (0.2 m) Radom (0.19 m) Toruń (0.19 m) Sosnowiec (0.18 m) Kielce (0.18 m) (population in administrative boundaries, as of 2024)

Population density:

119/km2 (as of 2024)

Warsaw city 1.86 million

Warsaw agglomeration

3.2 million

POLAND’S SOCIETY

The Polish diaspora The Polish diaspora ranks sixth in the world in terms of size in relation to the population of its home country.

The total number of people with Polish nationality or descent around the world is estimated at between 56 to 58 million, with around 18-20 million of them living outside Poland.

One third of those living abroad are Poles born and shaped in Poland, the rest are people of Polish origin with varying degrees of ties to the country of their ancestors. The reasons for this scattering range from border shifts and forced resettlement in the first half of the 20th century, through political emigration under communism, to economic emigration after the fall of he Iron Courtain. Recently however the tides have turned, and not only Poles have started coming back from abroad, but more and more foreigners decide to settle in Poland.

Greece: 15,000 Kazakhstan: 30,000 Iceland: 31,000 Latvia: 50,000 Israel: 50,000 Czechia: 55,000 Switzerland: 60,000 Denmark: 70,000 Italy: 100,000 Austria: 100,000 Spain: 120,000 Belgium: 120,000 Argentina: 120,000 Ireland: 125,000 Norway: 140,000 Sweden: 160,000 Lithuania: 185,000 Australia: 220,000 Russia: 300,000 Ukraine: 440,000 Netherlands: 480,000 Belarus: 500,000 Canada: 1,000,000 France: 1,000,000 United Kingdom: 1,300,000 Germany: 2,200,000 Brazil: 3,000,000 United States: 10,000,000

A large proportion of Polish nationals who emigrated were Polish Jews, who also make up part of the Jewish diaspora. The Second Polish Republic (1918-1939) was home to the world’s largest Jewish population.

up to

58 million people of Polish nationality or descent live around the world.

According to the 2021 census, Polish is the second most widely spoken language in England and Wales after English.

In Ireland, the 2022 census shows that more people use Polish daily than the native Irish language.

Poles participated in the creation of first European settlements in the New World. General Pułaski and general Kościuszko are among the founders of the United States of America.

Nowadays, one of the biggest Polish-inhabited cities worldwide is Chicago, with almost as many inhabitants of Polish origin as in the capital of Poland.

Pre-war Warsaw, with 500,000 Jewish inhabitants, was the second biggest Jewish city in the world after New York.

up to

30%

of people with Polish nationality or descent live outside the borders of Poland

POLAND’S SOCIETY

Family first

60% Family has always held a central place in Polish society, deeply influencing personal values, life decisions, and social behavior. For an average Pole, relationships with parents, children, and extended family members often rank higher than career ambitions, material wealth, or individual pursuits. Traditions, family celebrations, and mutual support create a sense of belonging and identity that shapes daily life.

Exploring the role of family helps better understand not only personal choices but also broader cultural and social priorities in Poland.

75% of Poles believe that preschool children should primarily be raised by their family rather than by state institutions. (as of 2025)

96% of Poles regularily visit the graves of their deceased parents, 90% of them do the same with the graves of their grandparents and 55% visit regularily the graves of their great-grandparents. (as of 2018)

of Poles believe that mothers and fathers are equally predisposed to the daily care of children. 72% of Poles declare that the mother and father should share daily care equally. (as of 2025)

52% of Poles know their genealogic tree up to the generation of their greatgreat-grandparents or further. (as of 2018)

By 2024 the average fertility rate was

1.14 children per woman of reproductive age (15-49).

By April 2016 Polish government has introduced a subsidiary programme designed to encourage families to have more children. In 2024, the subsidy equals to 800 PLN (around €185) monthly for every child in a family.

40% of Poles declare that they prefer to spend their free time exclusively with their immediate family: parents, siblings, children.

Another 28% of Poles declare that they prefer the exclusive company of their spouse/partner. (as of 2024)

51% of Poles believe that parents should be equally responsible for the financial upkeep of the family. (as of 2025)

POLAND’S SOCIETY

Connected people Poles are increasingly embracing digital services in their everyday lives, driven by widespread internet access and a high level of technological adoption. Online banking, e-commerce, and mobile payments have become standard, with many people preferring the convenience of managing finances or shopping from their smartphones. Public services are also becoming more digitalized, allowing citizens to handle official matters online, such as submitting documents or accessing healthcare information.

Additionally, streaming platforms, social media, and food delivery apps are widely used, especially among younger generations. Overall, the use of digital services in Poland continues to grow, reflecting a broader shift toward a more connected and technology-driven society.

34%

of adult Poles have used online tools over the past month to settle some formalities in a public office. (as of May 2025)

94.3%

of adult Poles have done a purchase online over the past month.

of households in rural areas had a broadband connection to the Internet.

63.2 million SIM cards were in operation in Poland.

(37.5 million inhabitants)

of Polish Internet users declare a permanent online presence, which means that they can respond to information on an ongoing basis. (as of 2025)

53%

By 2025

By the end of 2024 a total of

45%

64% of adult Poles have used online banking services over the past month . (as of May 2025)

69% of adult Poles have purchased and 38% of them have sold something online at least once in their lifetime. (as of May 2025)

POLAND’S SOCIETY

Income equality:

Balanced wealth

(Gini coefficient, as of 2024)

3.1%

GDP per capita: $55,340

was Poland’s unemployment rate in January 2026 (average for EU27: 5.8%)

(2025) based on purchasing power standard in current international $

Percent of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion: 24.0%

23.7%

22.5%

The Polish economy is steadily growing, and thanks to the sixth lowest level of income inequality in the EU, the positive effects of the economic transformation of the last three decades are felt by wide segments of society. Everyone can seize their opportunity as job offers abound, with the lowest unemployment rate in the EU. Effective social and economic policies over the years have prevented the emergence of an oligarchic class, while the percentage of people at risk of poverty has steadily declined and is currently the fourth lowest in the EU.

22.4%

21.7%

20.6% 18.7%

PL

EU

2015

PL

EU

2016

PL

18.2%

EU

2017

PL

TOTAL INEQUALITY: 100 - Italy: 32.2 - Spain: 31.2 - Switzerland: 31.0 - France: 30.0 - EU27 average: 29.4 - Germany: 29.5 - Denmark: 28.6 - Austria: 28.4 - Sweden: 27.6 - Ireland: 26.4 - Finland: 26.1 - Poland: 26.0 TOTAL EQUALITY: 0

17.9%

EU

2018

PL

17.0%

EU

2019

21.7%

21.5%

21.1%

PL

16.8%

EU

2020

PL

21.6%

16.3%

15.9%

EU

2021

PL

21.3%

EU

2022

PL

21.0%

16.0%

EU

2023

PL

EU

2024

POLAND’S SOCIETY

A generous nation

72%

Each Pole can allocate 1.5 percent of his annual income tax to charitable organizations.

of Poles supported charity by donating money at least once over the past year.

By 2025 almost 16 million taxpayers have supported that way different causes with around EUR 544 million.

52% of Poles did it more than once during that time. (as of 2024)

57% Poland, like any country in the world, is also home to people and issues which urgently require social assistance of different sorts. One can find all kinds of non-governmental charity organizations who deal with a large variety of causes.

of Poles supported charity by donating goods (food, clothes, books etc) at least once over the past year.

44% of Poles did it more than once during that time. (as of 2024)

21%

of Poles supported charity with their direct work at least once over the past year.

17% of Poles did it more than once during that time. (as of 2024)

The biggest charity platforms in Poland are: - Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy - Caritas Polska - Polska Akcja Humanitarna - Siepomaga.pl - Szlachetna Paczka

POLAND’S SOCIETY

Skilled and ambitious

94.8%

1.3% Poland is not rich in natural resources but is rich in human capital and this strength is clearly reflected in the character of its people. Poles are widely recognized for their strong work ethic, adaptability, and determination to succeed even in challenging conditions. With a solid educational foundation and growing global experience, they continuously develop new skills and pursue ambitious goals. Their creativity and resilience drive innovation across industries, making them competitive on the international stage and increasingly influential in shaping modern Europe’s economic and cultural landscape.

29.8%

is the unemployment rate of Poles aged 25-64 with a tertiary education degree. The OECD average for this group is 3.6%. (as of 2024)

of adults aged 25-64 attained at least upper secondary education, compared with an OECD average of 81.4%. (as of 2024)

of Poles aged 25-64 attained a tertiary education degree, compared with an OECD average of just 15.2%. (as of 2024) Students' performance in reading:

489 pts OECD average: 476 pts (2022 PISA study)

Students' performance in mathematics:

Students' performance in science:

489 pts 499 pts OECD average: 472 pts (2022 PISA study)

OECD average: 485 pts (2022 PISA study)

In 2024 Poland had

404 thousand new tertiary graduates the fifth biggest number of graduates in the EU, after France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

POLAND’S SOCIETY

Spirit of entrepreneurship

By Q3 2025 there were By the end of 2025 there were

2.3 million

active economic entities registered in Poland

97%

of them are microenterprises with less than 10 employees.

Poles form one of the most entrepreneurial societies in Europe.

This is not only down to education, but mostly due to their openness, courage and creativity when it comes to business. Poles, especially women and young people, are some of the most entrepreneurial and innovative people in the world.

By the end of 2025 microenterprises are responsible for

27.9% of Poland's GDP.

17.36 million

people employed in total, of which 13 million worked in the private sector.

That makes an employment rate of 57.1% of the population aged 15-89.

3.12 million

people were self-employed, of which 0.66 million were employing also other people.

Almot 800 new companies are being established every day in Poland.

(288,946 new companies in 2024) 94% of them are self-employment entities.

POLAND’S SOCIETY

Poles in the European Union Poland has undergone profound changes since joining the European Union in 2004. Today, it enjoys a solid standard of living and stands as one of the bloc’s key players. Poles recognize and value the benefits of EU membership; however, the latest edition of the pan-European Eurobarometer survey suggests that their attitude toward the EU is more nuanced. It reflects not only an appreciation of tangible economic and social gains, but also a growing desire to preserve greater autonomy in national decisionmaking, alongside concerns about the Union’s ability to address emerging challenges. As a result, Poland remains an important and engaged member of the EU, actively contributing to its development while simultaneously fostering an ongoing domestic debate about the future of European integration.

85%

of Poles consider that Poland has benefited from being a member of the EU and only 13% think the opposite.

(Oct 2025)

72% of Poles are optimistic about the future of the EU, while 25% of them are pessimistic.

(Oct 2025)

The 4 most important factors that create a sense of community within the EU, according to Poles: - democracy and rule of law (25% of answers) - economy (24% of answers) - values (18% of answers) - solidarity (18% of answers) (Oct 2025)

59%

48%

of Poles have a positive image of the EU, while 42% hold a negative view of the Union.

(Oct 2025)

of Poles trust the EU

35% of Poles don't trust the EU (Oct 2025)

Poles tend to trust the EU more than their national government, which is trusted by 45% of citizens and distrusted by 49%.

(Oct 2025)

51% of Poles oppose the adoption of the euro in Poland, while 45% support it.

(Oct 2025)

The 3 most important challenges ahead of the EU, according to Poles: - immigration (24% of answers) - Russia's invasion of Ukraine (23% of answers) - security and defence (20% of answers) (Oct 2025)

POLAND’S ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

The spirit of democracy has survived in Poland despite many trials and tribulations, including long periods of foreign occupation and years of communist subjugation which left the country politically and economically bankrupt. Over the past 37 years consecutive Polish governments have successfully rebuilt a strong and stable political system rooted in the rule of law and supported by democratic political institutions.

POLAND’S ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

The Polish Constitution

Poland is a pioneer of European constitutionalism. In 1791 the king and the parliament of the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania have enacted Europe’s first written national constitution, later called the Constitution of May 3rd. Poland’s current constitution was adopted by the National Assembly of Poland on 2 April 1997. It establishes the foundations of the country’s socio-political system and guarantees the fundamental personal, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of its citizens.

The Constitution of May 3rd (1791) was the first written national constitution in Europe and

the second in the world after the U.S. Constitution.

POLAND’S ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

Electoral system The parties running for election to the Sejm register their list of candidates for MPs in each of the 41 multi-mandate constituencies. There are 460 parliamentary seats to be won in total, and the election is held according to proportional representation. After the election is done, based on the D'Hont method, seats are distributed in proportion to the number of votes received among those parties that have gained more than 5% of the popular support at the national level (or 8% in the case of a coalition of parties).

This method favors larger political groupings, prevents excessive fragmentation of parliament, and promotes greater stability in the parliamentary arrangement.

next elections: Political system: multiparty

Voting system: proportional

Election threshold: participation in allocation of seats: 5% of the total votes cast for party list; 8% for a coalition list.

Constituencies: 41 multi-member

Designation mode: directly elected

Voter requirements: age: 18 years, Polish citizenship

2027: Parliamentary 2029: Local 2029: European 2030: Presidential

Structure of parliament: bicameral

Number of seats: lower chamber: 460 upper chamber: 100

Parliamentary term: 4 years

Eligibility:

lower chamber: minimum 21 years old, upper chamber: minimum 30 years old, Polish citizenship, permanent residence in the country for not less than five years

Presidental term: 5 years

Eligibility:

minimum 35 years old, Polish citizenship, confirmed support by at least 100,000 citizens

74.38% was the turnout in Poland's last parliamentary elections (2023), which is the highest recorded after 1989.

67.31% was the turnout in the first round of Poland's last presidential election (2025). The turnout in the second round was 71.63%

Voting is not compulsory.

POLAND’S ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

Parliament As in other European countries, the parliament (Polish: Sejm) as a representative body took shape through an evolutionary process. It was first convened in 1468 in the town of Piotrków, which is also when the seeds of its future lower and upper chamber were established. For the next three centuries, until the dissolution of the state in 1795, the Polish Sejm remained the main institution of the so-called Nobles’ Democracy (Polish: demokracja szlachecka), a unique political system where the nobility, which accounted for more than 10 percent of Poland’s total population, controlled the legislature and elected the king.

The Sejm resumed functioning after Poland regained its independence in 1918 and operated until the outbreak of WW2. After the end of the war, for the following decades it was only a facade institution of the communist regime, and since 1989 it has again been a democratic representation of Polish citizens.

structure of the lower chamber (Sejm):

Marshal Presidium

- Marshal - Deputy Marshals

Council of Seniors

- Marshal - Deputy Marshals - chairmen of deputies' clubs - chief of the Chancellery of the Sejm

Standing Committees

31 permanent legislative panels dedicated to different areas of interest. Committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for consideration by their respective deputies' clubs.

Deputies' clubs

representations of political parties in the Sejm

structure of the upper chamber (Senate):

Marshal

550 years of parliamentary tradition

Presidium

- Marshal - Deputy Marshals

Council of Seniors - Marshal - Deputy Marshals - representatives of the senate's clubs

Standing Committees

20 commitees dedicated to different areas of interest consider acts passed by the Sejm and recommend measures for consideration by their respective senate's clubs.

Senate's clubs

representations of political parties in the Senate

Election term:

4 years

460 100 seats in the lower chamber (Sejm)

seats in the upper chamber (Senate)

POLAND’S ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

Executive power Chancellery of the Prime Minister

Poland is a republic with a parliamentary-cabinet system, a form of governance in which the government, led by the Prime Minister, is elected by the parliamentary majority and is politically accountable to it. The Constitution entrusts the cabinet to craft and implement the most important regulations and policies of the state. The President is elected directly by the citizens for a term of five years. According to the Constitution the president shall be the supreme representative of the Republic of Poland and the guarantor of continuity of the state authority.

Presidential Palace

The Council of Ministers

The President

Role:

Collegial body responsible for operational governance of the country under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

Head of State who represents the country on the international stage and serves as the supreme commander of the armed forces.

Election and dismissal:

Elected by the parliament for a term of no more than four years. Can be dismissed by the parliament through a vote of no confidence.

Elected directly by the citizens for a five-year term.

Can be removed from office only by the Tribunal of State for constitutional violations.

Main prerogatives:

- Conducts the internal and external policy of the state and oversees all government administration.

- Ensures the internal and external security of the state.

- Issues regulations and ensures the implementation of legislation passed by the parliament.

- May draft laws and submit them to the parliament.

- Drafts the national budget and reports on its implementation to the parliament.

- Exercises general control in the field of relations with other states and international organizations.

- Concludes international agreements requiring ratification as well as accept and renounce other international agreements.

- Represents the country abroad and signs international agreements on its behalf.

- Signs or vetoes bills passed by the parliament.

- May draft laws and submit them to the parliament.

- Can call national referendums.

- Appoints key officials including the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet, judges and high-ranking positions within the military and the diplomatic corps.

- Ensures that laws comply with the Constitution.

- Grants Polish citizenship.

- Awards orders and decorations.

- Applies the power of pardon.

POLAND’S ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

Local government

Public administration on the local level are run both by local government and organs of central administration. Local government is run by the voivodship's local parliament (Polish: Sejmik), voted every four years in local elections. The executive body of the local government is the marshal office, run by the marshal who is chosen by the Sejmik. Poland's central government is represented on the local level by the voivodship office run by the voivode, who is chosen by the Prime Minister. The voivode's and the marshal's competences do not interfere.

voivodship

county

municipality

Since 1999 Poland's administrative order has been based on three levels of subdivision. The biggest voivodships (regions) are further divided into powiats (counties) and these in turn are divided into gminas (communes or municipalities).

16 380 voivodships

counties

2,479 municipalities

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

At various times in its history Poland has had an empire which stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea, was one of the most cosmopolitan and tolerant nations in Europe, disappeared completely from the map, incurred debilitating losses during war, and was subjugated by foreign powers. But it has never lost hope nor its unquenchable desire for freedom and independence, its fighting spirit or its unbreakable sense of nationhood. Today the country stands tall amongst the community of nations, an economic, political and cultural leader in Europe, and a beacon of hope for oppressed and transitional nations; that democracy is attainable, even against seemingly insurmountable odds.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

Main historical events 966

1025

1385

1569

1573

The Christianisation of Poland

Kingdom of Poland

The Polish-Lithuanian Dynastic Union

The Union of Lublin

The First Free Election

Polish queen regent Jadwiga marries the Grand Duke of Lithuania, who adopts the title Władysław II Jagiełło and founds the Jagiellonian dynasty. From now on the Polish king rules the two countries jointly. The PolishLithuanian empire is born.

Spurred on by conflicts with the ever powerful Russia and the failure of Sigismund II Augustus, king of Poland, to bear children – thus threatening the continuation of the Jagiellonian line - Poland and Lithuania enter into a commonwealth effectively becoming a single state.

Sigismund II Augustus dies without having fathered an heir. He is the last of the Jagiellonian dynasty.

His death prompts the first free elections, attended by some 40,000 Polish nobles. From now on every Polish king is freely elected by the noblemen.

Poland’s first ruler, Mieszko I, his wife and his court, are baptized.

This heralds the conversion of Poland to Christianity.

There have been many events which have contributed to shaping Poland into the country that it is today. Those presented here only provide snapshots of the nation’s dramatic story, but they offer insights into the unique and extraordinary Polish national identity.

Coronation of Bolesław the Brave. Poland becomes a kingdom under the rule of the Piast dynasty.

1772

1791

1918

1939

1989

The Partitions

The Constitution of May 3rd

Polish Independence

The Beginning of WWII

Polish Sovereignty

Poland’s suffers three partitions during its history. The first two, which take place in 1772 and 1793, see Prussia, Austria and Russia annex its eastern and western lands. The third, in 1795, sees the Commonwealth disappear from the map.

Stanisław August Poniatowski, the last king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, adopts the Constitution of May 3rd, widely acknowledged as being the first written constitution in Europe and the second in the world after the U.S. Constitution.

Under the firm guidance of general Józef Piłsudski, Poland finally becomes a state again after 123 years under foreign rule.

The worst of all wars starts by a joint invasion of Poland

by Nazi Germany and the USSR. The post-war global order created by Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin puts Poland within the Soviet sphere of influence.

This heralds the start of a long and painful period of Communism in Poland.

Following a peaceful revolution Poland regains its sovereignty and becomes a democratic state, re-claiming its rightful place amongst the community of nations.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

Early beginnings With

the baptism of Poland in 966 the country entered into an entirely new political and cultural reality. 2016 marks the 1050 anniversary of that event.

960-992 Mieszko I The baptism of Mieszko I in 966 is widely regarded as the beginning of Poland’s statehood. It is also an event which saw Poland surface as a country on the European map. Mieszko I took the title of Poland’s crown prince.

The founder of the Piast dynasty that was to rule Poland for the next 400 years. Mieszko’s marriage in 965 to the Czech Přemyslid princess Dobrawa and his baptism in 966 put him and his country in the cultural sphere of Western Christianity.

Both monarchs are pictured here on their common tomb in Poznań Cathedral.

992-1025 Bolesław Chrobry Bolesław Chrobry (Bolesław the Brave), son of Mieszko I, was Poland’s first king.

The exact details of his coronation remain ambiguous, although it is widely believed that he was accepted as the King of Poland by the international community when Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor turned to him for military assistance.

The Sejm of the Republic of Poland designated 2025 as the Year of the Millennium of the Coronation, and the main celebrations took place in Gniezno in April 2025.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

The Battle of Grunwald (1410) On 15 July 1410, the alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania dealt a decisive blow to the Teutonic Knights during one of the largest battles of Medieval Europe, widely known as the Battle of Grunwald. Both the Poles and the Lithuanians had engaged in territorial disputes with the Knights for decades, but when Władysław II Jagiełło of Lithuania married Queen Jadwiga of Poland in 1385 and converted to Christianity, the Teutonic Order lost its religious rationale for its continued raids on Lithuanian lands. The Order never fully recovered from its loss in the battle, while the Polish-Lithuanian alliance went on to nearly 400 years of dominance in the region.

Władysław II Jagiełło King of Poland, supreme commander of Polish-Lithuanian forces led 18-20,000 cavalry on the Polish side.

Ulrich von Jungingen

Vytautas the Great

Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights (killed in action) led 15-16,000 cavalry

Grand Duke of Lithuania led 10-11,000 light cavalry on the Lithuanian side.

The Battle of Grunwald depicted in a painting by Jan Matejko, displayed in the National Museum in Warsaw.

King Jagiełło's bronze monument in New York's Central Park.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

In 1618 the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth spanned a grand total of

990,000 km2

The Commonwealth state was established on a formal level at the Union of Lublin in July 1569, but the actual dynastic union occured much earlier,

The Union of Lublin (1569) heralded the creation of Poland and Lithuania as a federation. The Commonwealth, which was divided into the Crown (Poland) and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, is widely regarded as a precursor to modern day democratic states. The power structure consisted of the king, a senate and a lower parliament in which sat the regional nobility. Even though government was largely centralized, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania retained an autonomous army, treasury, judiciary, administrative body and legal system.

in 1386 when Polish queen regent Jadwiga married the Grand Duke of Lithuania, who adopted the title Władysław II Jagiełło and founded the Jagiellonian dynasty.

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was marked by high levels of ethnic diversity and by relative religious tolerance, guaranteed by the Warsaw Confederation Act (1573)

modern day Poland (312,679 km2)

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

Poland occupies the Kremlin (1610)

Poland is one of the only foreign powers, apart from the Mongols and the French Empire under Napoleon, to have ever occupied Moscow. During the PolishMuscovite War of 1605-1618, Polish troops captured Tsar Vasili IV, the last member of the Rurikid dynasty, and brought him to Warsaw. He died as prisoner one year later in the castle of Gostynin, near Warsaw. Meanwhile Polish prince Wladyslav IV Vasa briefly held the title of Russian Tsar.

The Poles lost Moscow in 1612.

This period in Poland’s history brought fame to

the mounted Hussars horse cavalry One of their most notable victories was the Battle of Kłuszyn where they beat the Russians despite being outnumbered 5 to 1.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

Nobles’ Democracy Poland’s Nobles’ Democracy, a system in which the country was not governed solely by the monarch, was uniquely advanced for its time. It allowed the nobility, who made up about 10 percent of the population, to elect the king.

This period is often referred to as the Golden Liberty because of the extensive privileges enjoyed by the nobility. Many historians argue that the principle of liberum veto was a major cause of the deterioration of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth’s political system, particularly in the 18th century, when foreign powers bribed members of the Sejm to paralyze its proceedings. This led to a deep political crisis and eventually to the partitions of the country

by Austria, Prussia, and Russia, which lasted for over a century.

The liberum veto

was a form of unanimity voting rule that allowed any member of the Sejm to force an immediate end to the current session and nullify any legislation that had already been passed at the session. It was based on the premise that since all Polish noblemen were equal, every measure that came before the Sejm had to be passed unanimously.

The first regional councils were set up by the nobility

in 1454 This is seen as the starting date for the Noble Democracy.

The ‘Sejm’ – the early form of parliament – was made up of the king and a chamber of deputies that numbered 170.

The first free election of the king took place in 1573, when Sigismund II Augustus died without having fathered an heir.

He was the last of the Jagiellonian dynasty. His death prompted the first free elections attended by some 40,000 Polish nobles.

Henceforward every Polish king was freely elected.

The election of Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski in 1764, depicted in a painting

by Bernardo Bellotto (the Royal Castle Warsaw Museum).

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

The Constitution of May 3rd (1791) The Constitution of May 3rd was the first written national constitution in Europe and

the second in the world

The painting by Jan Matejko (the Royal Castle Warsaw Museum) depicts King Stanislaus Augustus on the streets of Warsaw just after the new national constitution had been adopted by the Grand Sejm.

The Constitution of May 3rd was drawn up to bring back order to a state largely governed on the whim of the nobility. Henceforth any new law had to be in accordance with the constitution. The constitution strived to set up a more democratic state and erase some of the social inequalities prevalent in the old system.

Notably it placed peasants under the protection of the government.

In 1773 the Commonwealth created the Commission of National Education, which brought elementary education to ordinary citizens across the state.

Because of its vast authority and autonomy, it is considered to be the world’s first Ministry of Education and an important achievement of the Polish Enlightenment.

after the U.S. Constitution.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

Partitions of Poland (1772, 1793, 1795) Poland’s system of Nobles’ Democracy and the free election of kings gradually led to the weakening of the country’s central authority and the rise of magnate oligarchies. By the eighteenth century, the powers of the monarchy had become largely nominal. Kings were unable to meet even the basic requirements of defense and finance, while aristocratic factions concluded treaties directly with foreign powers.

The principle of liberum veto further contributed to the deterioration of the Commonwealth’s political system, as foreign powers bribed members of the Sejm to paralyze its proceedings.

Taking advantage of this internal crisis, neighboring states carried out three partitions of the country. The third partition, in 1795, erased the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from the map of Europe for 123 years.

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before the first partition in 1772 (white outline) and the borders of Russia, Prussia and Austria after the third partition in 1795 (coloured)

As a result of the third partition in 1795,

Poland ceased to exist for the next 123 years.

The Commonwealth before the first partition in 1772:

733,500 km2

The Commonwealth after the first partition in 1772:

522,300 km2

The Commonwealth after the second partition in 1793:

215,000 km2

The Commonwealth after the third partition in 1795:

0 km2

Distribution of the Commonwealth's population (as of 1795):

Prussia: 23%, Austria: 32% Russia: 45%

Russia Prussia

Austria

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

The war with Soviet Russia (1919-1920)

Just a few years after regaining independence, Poland faced an onslaught from the Russian army, which sought to spread its Bolshevik ideology westward.

The Battle of Warsaw, in which Poland emerged victorious, was described as the eighteenth most decisive battle in world history by the British diplomat and politician Lord Edgar Vincent d’Abernon, who was serving as ambassador in Berlin at the time.

Spoils of war: captured banners of the Red Army First Marshal

Józef Piłsudski commander of Polish forces.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

After the war, Poland gained access to the Baltic coast and the government set about building its

Interbellum (1918-1939) In 1918, Poland rose like a phoenix from the ashes of the three foreign empires which occupied its lands for the previous 123 years – Austro-Hungary, German Empire and Tsarist Russia. Poles began regaining their national identity and rebuilding infrastructure throughout the state.

The new republic was faced with the task of economically unifying disparate economic regions, which had previously been part of different countries with little or no direct infrastructural links.

Poland maintained a steady level of economic development till 1939.

flagship military and trade port in Gdynia By 1938 the port was operating 80% of Polish exports and 65% of Polish imports.

With 66 m of height, at a time of its opening in 1933, Warsaw's Prudential office building was the second tallest skyscraper in Europe.

Within the borders of the Republic in 1918 were the remnants of three different economic systems, with five different currencies. Following the hyperinflation and monetary chaos of the years after WW1

the Polish złoty was reintroduced as Poland’s currency in 1924.

Modernist edifice of the National Museum in Warsaw constructed between 1927 and 1938.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

World War II 22 Sept 1939 Red Army troops chatting with Wehrmacht soldiers World War II started in September 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland from the west, followed soon after by the Soviet Union from the east, in accordance with the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact concerning the partition of Eastern Europe. Due to Poland’s geographical location between two totalitarian regimes, it was inevitable that the country would find itself in the middle of the global conflict, and suffered deeply with huge losses in population, wealth and infrastructure.

during a joint victory parade in the Polish town of Brześć Litewski, where the two invading armies met.

World War II has left Warsaw as a city of ruins.

The whole country suffered heavy material damage.

16%

of Poland’s pre-war citizens have lost their lives in WWII (5.8 million people).

Under German occupation, 1.7 million Poles have been forcibly expelled from their hometowns in the process of ethnic cleansing of the Polish territory. Meanwhile, a few hundred thousands of those who felt under Soviet occupation have been deported deep into USRR.

Hundreds of thousands of Poles joined the many underground resistance movements, including 0.38 million in the Home Army, which was directed by the legal government-in-exile in London.

In addition to these, hundreds of thousands more Poles fought against Hitler's Germany in various Polish units that participated in operations on land, sea and air on all fronts in Europe and beyond.

11 Feb 1945 The Yalta conference, where the Big Three (UK, US and USSR) decided that post-war Poland would remain in the Soviet sphere of influence.

6,620 Polish men and women

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

Saving Jews from the Holocaust The Germans established a network of extermination camps over occupied Poland. Prior to that, a system of ghettos was imposed for the detention of Jews.

Warsaw Ghetto was the largest one with 450,000 people pressed into an area of just 3.4 sq km.

Before World War II, Poland's Jewish community accounted to about 10 percent of the country's total population. In Germanoccupied Poland rescuing them was difficult and dangerous.

Saving a single Jew often required the commitment of a dozen of people. All household members risked being executed if a Jew was found in their home or on their property. Yet, it is estimated that between 30 and 300 thousand Poles were engaged in helping Jews.

were recognized by Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem as

Righteous Among the Nations for saving Jews from extermination during World War II. That is the highest count of all nations represented by 26,120 people awarded with this title.

Only about

10%

of the prewar Polish Jewish population of 3.3 million survived the war.

Irena Sendler, awarded Righteous Among the Nations, helped smuggle hundreds of Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto to the Aryan side and set up hiding places for them.

A group of Polish diplomats in Switzerland and Jewish activists elaborated a system of illegal production of Latin American passports. The documents were smuggled to German-occupied territories and eventually helped save many Jews from being sent to German extermination camps.

"Żegota"

was a codename for the Council to Aid Jews, an institution of the Polish underground state in German-occupied Poland active from 1942 to 1945. "Żegota" was providing food, medical care, money and false identity documents to Polish Jews.

Józef and Wiktoria Ulma, executed on 24 March 1944 with their children for hiding Jewish families in their home.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

Jan Karski's mission for humanity In December 2013, the Polish parliament unanimously declared 2014 the Year of Jan Karski to mark the centenary of this remarkable man’s birth. During World War II, Karski (1914-2000) was a resistance fighter within the Information and Propaganda Bureau of the Polish underground Home Army. Because of his knowledge of languages, his photographic memory, and extensive training as a diplomat, he was frequently used as a courier tasked with secretive missions accross German occupied Europe. As an emissary of the Polish government in exile, he was the first to inform the allies of the extermination of Jews from detailed personal experience.

December 1942: the 16 pages long report addressed by the Polish government-in-exile to its wartime allies was the earliest official account of the ongoing Holocaust.

1940

1941

1943

1944

1982

1994

2012

Captured in Slovakia by the Gestapo and severely tortured, he was later rescued by the Polish underground.

Illegally entered Warsaw’s Jewish ghetto twice in order to report on the deplorable conditions there.

Disguised as a prison guard, he infiltrated a transit ghetto in eastern Poland where Jews were being sent to death camps.

Met U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and other American leaders, reporting on early evidence of the Holocaust and the Polish resistance movement.

His book, ‘Story of a Secret State’, an account of his mission as an emissary of the Polish Underground State and an eyewitness of the Holocaust, is published.

Recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations.

Awarded honorary citizenship of Israel.

U.S. President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Jan Karski the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest civilian award the United States can bestow.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

People’s Republic of Poland (1945-1989)

After World War II Poland was left in the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence. It became its satellite state with a puppet regime and an ineffective centrally planned communist economy.

Poles were oppressed by the state apparatus and their political and religious freedoms were restricted. Resistance to communist rule was forced underground for the next 44 years.

After WWII Poland’s resistance fighters, known as ‘cursed soldiers’, carried out raids on communist prisons and encampments, killing scores of Soviet agents and freeing political prisoners. The last known ‘cursed soldier’ was killed in an ambush

Wrocław, 9 May 1970.

Celebrating of the 25th anniversary of the victory over Nazism.

as late as 1963,

almost 20 years after the Soviet takeover of Poland.

Pictured is Captain Stanisław Sojczyński, captured and executed in 1947.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

The Polish Pope (1978) St. John Paul II On 16 October 1978, to the surprise of the world, the Polish cardinal Karol Wojtyła was announced as the new Pope.

Taking the papal name John Paul II, he immediately made it into the hearts of the Polish people as the real leader of the nation. His visits to his homeland attracted vast crowds, eager to take hope and inspiration from his words and example. Not long after his first visit in 1979, the first independent trade union in the Eastern Bloc was established.

This was the beginning of the end for communism in Europe.

was head of the Catholic Church from 16 October 1978 to his death in 2005. He was the third longest serving pope in history and, as a Pole, the first non-Italian since Pope Adrian VI, who died in 1523.

John Paul II welcomed by crowds during his first pilgrimage to Poland in June 1979.

John Paul II encouraged Poles to renew their homeland and opened the door to a peaceful revolution under the banner of the Solidarność trade union, which eventually led the country to freedom in 1989.

POLAND’S HISTORY UNTIL 1989

Fall of communism (1989) Economic turmoil in Poland in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union, Solidarność (English: Solidarity).

Headed by Lech Wałęsa, it soon became a political force. After Martial Law was declared in December 1981, the trade union persisted solely as an underground organization. By the late 1980s, it had become sufficiently strong to frustrate the communist authorities’ attempts at reform, and nationwide strikes in 1988 forced the government into open dialogue with Solidarność. This resulted in a peaceful transfer of power, the first free elections in the Eastern Bloc and eventually the transition to a liberal democracy and free-market economy.

5 Apr 1989 Round Table talks Negotiations between the communist government and the opposition led to the first democratic elections in the Eastern Bloc and a peaceful transfer of power.

POLAND’S TRANSFORMATION

It was no foregone conclusion that Poland would become a successful economy. In fact the odds were stacked heavily against it. The road has not been easy, there have been many obstacles along the way, but it has now emerged as the most successful among the post-communist economies.

It is now a vibrant democracy and a key partner in the European Union.

POLAND’S TRANSFORMATION

The road to democracy

The far-reaching economic and social changes that have taken place in Poland since the 1970s have come about through a combination of many factors; growing social unrest, the rise of the trade union, the fall of the Soviet Union, and ultimately a strong national character prevalent throughout Poland’s road to democracy.

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2026

Edward Gierek, the First Secretary of the Polish United Workers’ Party, racks up an unsustainable debt to the West.

The crisis grows and with it the number of protests. An independent trade union known as Solidarność (Eng: Solidarity) becomes the main force behind the protests.

An increasing number of workers and intellectuals join Solidarity.

At its height the trade union numbers 10 million members.

Poland begins its democracy.

The communist party is dissolved and media censorship ends.

The Red Army leaves Poland.

Poland joins the European Union in 2004.

Poland is a stable democracy with a developed free market, a reliable member of the international community and is playing an increasingly important role in the region.

An unproductive centrally planned economy is unable to handle the debt payments.

In the face of social opposition and a deepening economic crisis, the troubled communists begin the famous Round Table Talks.

The spiral of debt leads the country into an economic crisis. Basic As a result, in 1989, the goods start disappearing first democratic elections from store shelves. in the Eastern Bloc take place. Poland enters the path to reform.

As a result of the reforms, the centrally-planned economy is replaced by a free market.

Foreign debt is restructured.

Privatisation begins. The Warsaw Stock Exchange is launched.

The crisis ends in 1992.

From then on Poland enjoys uninterrupted economic growth, continuing till this day.

In 1997, a new constitution is passed. In 1999, Poland joins NATO.

After the global financial crisis begins in 2008, Poland is the only EU country which does not experience a single quarter of decline in GDP. It is proclaimed internationally as an economic ‘green island’.

POLAND’S TRANSFORMATION

Solidarność trade union In the early 1980s, Solidarność had

10 million members 80% of the total working age population, in contrast to 3 million members of the communist party.

Solidarność (Eng: Solidarity) was an independent trade union founded on 31 August 1980 at the Gdańsk shipyard, as a result of the economic crisis. It was the first independent trade union in the Eastern Bloc. It soon became the leading communist opposition-force in Poland with members totalling 1/4 of the entire population. In 1983 its charismatic leader, Lech Wałęsa, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

August 1980.

Strike in the Gdańsk shipyard that eventually led to the birth of the Solidarność movement.

POLAND’S TRANSFORMATION

Martial law (1981-1983)

10,000 opposition members detained.

The communist government attempted to destroy Solidarność by declaring it illegal and imposing martial law on 13 December 1981. The army was ordered onto the streets, detaining around 10,000 opposition members, and a campaign of political repression was carried out across the country. Solidarność adopted a policy of civil resistance, bringing the nation to a standstill, which only deepened the economic crisis.

Unable to control the situation, the regime was eventually forced to negotiate with the union.

56

people are confirmed to have died due to police action during the strikes and demonstrations, though the figure may be much higher.

POLAND’S TRANSFORMATION

First democratic elections in the Eastern Bloc (1989)

The Round Table Talks between the communist government and the Solidarność opposition movement resulted in the first (partially) democratic parliamentary elections in the Eastern Bloc. By the end of August 1989, a Solidarność-led coalition government was formed under Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, and in December 1990 Lech Wałęsa was elected President of Poland. The country soon changed its name from the People’s Republic of Poland to the Republic of Poland, and the crown was restored to the national emblem.

The country not only adopted a democratic parliamentary system, but also changed its official name from ‘The People’s Republic of Poland’ to ‘The Republic of Poland’ as well as gave back the national emblem its traditional pre-war royal crown.

The famous ‘High Noon’ 1989 elections poster.

POLAND’S TRANSFORMATION

Red Army withdrawal (1991-1993)

59 Soviet garrisons were positioned around the country

Following the 1945 expulsion of the Nazis by the Soviet army, the latter remained in Poland for decades to enforce communist rule and protect Eastern Europe from a supposed potential invasion by the West. Forty-eight years later, upon the collapse of the Soviet Union, Red Army units began withdrawing from Poland. The last Soviet soldier left the country in autumn 1993.

48,000 Soviet soldiers were based in Poland at the beginning of 1991

POLAND’S TRANSFORMATION

Key figures in the transformation

Poland’s successful transformation was not pre-ordained. It was not inevitable that the communists’ seeming iron control of the country would be broken. It took men and women of courage and foresight. Luckily Poland had several.

Lech Wałęsa

Anna Walentynowicz

Pope John Paul II

Tadeusz Mazowiecki

Leszek Balcerowicz

Leader of ‘Solidarność’ and the first President of the Third Republic of Poland.

Activist whose dismissal from the Gdańsk shipyard sparked the strike that led to the rise of ‘Solidarność’.

First Polish Pope, widely credited with inspiring Poles to start a peaceful revolution.

First democratically elected Prime Minister in the former Soviet Bloc.

Architect of Poland’s economic transformation.

POLAND’S TRANSFORMATION

Dramatic contrast

The inefficient communist economy was often referred to as a shortage economy. The centrally planned supply of goods was never able to meet demand.

Compared to a free market system, this resulted in low-quality production and persistent shortages of goods. The innate entrepreneurial spirit of Poles soon became the foundation of the young economy.

2026 Average grocery in Poland

1981 Average grocery in Poland

POLAND’S TRANSFORMATION

Revitalising Polish cities Polish cities have changed immeasurably over the last decades.

Warsaw has been transformed from a dull, under-developed city to the vibrant capital of Central Europe, the region’s undisputed political and economic hub.

Other Polish metropolies keep pace with this dynamic growth and extensive infrastructure investment. Revitalized public spaces now coexist with carefully restored historic districts and modern developments. As a result, Polish cities attract international business, tourism, and young talent, redefining their identity on the European stage.

World War II has left Warsaw as a city of ruins. The city centre pictured in 1945.

1981 Warsaw city centre.

Pictured is the square around the Palace of Culture (built 1952-1955)

2026 Warsaw city centre

POLAND’S SCIENCE & EDUCATION

Poland’s achievements in education bode well for the country’s future. The progress of the past decades has impressed international educational experts – in many respects Poland has not only caught up to, but has exceeded more developed nations. Polish students regularly score highly in international comparisons.

POLAND’S SCIENCE & EDUCATION

Education

By 2024 95.4% of Polish children aged 3-5 were enroled in pre-primary education.

In 2023, total government expenditure on education was equal to

After years of communism, in the 1990s Poland had to adjust its education system to new conditions. A new government strategy focused on raising secondary and higher education attainment, ensuring equal educational opportunities, and improving the overall quality of education. According to a recent OECD report, Poland is now one of Europe’s leaders in school performance, and other countries may have something to learn from its example.

EUR 37 bn which was the eqivalent of 5% of Poland 's GDP.

That's a higher share of GDP than in countries such as the Netherlands (4.9%), Germany (4.5%), Spain (4.2%) or Italy (3.9%)

In the last PISA 2022 survey conducted among secondary school students in the 38 member states of the OECD, Poland ranked:

12th in mathematics, 12th in sciences 10th in reading comprehension.

94.8 percent of Poles aged 25-64 have attained at least upper secondary education, compared with an OECD average of 81.4%. (as of 2024) By 2025 there were

By 2025 there were

3.2 million primary school students

1.7 million secondary school students

Average class size in primary education: 18 OECD average: 20 (as of 2023)

Average class size in secondary education: 18 OECD average: 22 (as of 2023)

Ratio of students to teachers in primary education: 12.5 OECD average: 13.6 (as of 2023)

Ratio of students to teachers in secondary education: 9.7 OECD average: 12.2 (as of 2023)

Poland leads in the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence In August 2025, Polish high school students achieved outstanding results at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence in Beijing, where Poland won 1st and 3rd place in the team competition, and Krzysztof Rojek became the individual champion with the highest score among all participants.

Polish contestants earned seven individual medals (three gold, three silver, and one bronze), marking one of the best performances in the country’s history at international science olympiads. The competition included demanding theoretical and practical AI tasks, confirming Poland’s position among the world’s leading nations in artificial intelligence education.

POLAND’S SCIENCE & EDUCATION

Higher education 94.8 % 8.6% of Poles aged 25-64 have attained at least upper secondary education.

OECD average: 81.4%. of Poles aged 25-64 have attained (as of 2024) a bachelor's tertiary education degree. OECD average: 19.6%. (as of 2024)

The number of Poles in higher education is growing. By 2024, almost 30 percent of adults held a master’s degree, which is nearly twice the OECD average. Tertiary education increases the likelihood of employment: 92 percent of adults with a tertiary education degree were employed in 2024, compared with 77 percent of those with an upper secondary qualification.

Following the Bologna Process, higher education in Poland consists of a three-year bachelor’s programme, a two-year master’s programme, and a four-year PhD programme.

By 2024 there were

1.4 m students 0.4 m new graduates enrolled in tertiary education and

in Poland.

0.9%

29.8%

of Poles aged 25-64 attained a Doctoral tertiary education degree. OECD average: 1.2%. (as of 2024)

of Poles aged 25-64 have attained a master's tertiary education degree. OECD average: 15.2%. (as of 2024)

0 years

5 years

3 years

bachelor's course

2 years

master's course

9 years

4 years

PhD course

POLAND’S SCIENCE & EDUCATION

Poland’s top universities

By March 2026 there were

575

institutions of tertiary education in Poland.

The highest rated among them are the Univeristy of Warsaw and the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.

University of Warsaw The reputation and standard of Polish universities is rising, both as a result of over three decades of concerted effort and improvements in the economic environment. This progress is reflected in stronger positions in international rankings, increased internationalisation, and the growing involvement of Polish institutions in global research projects.

Jagiellonian University in Kraków

401-500

Academic Ranking of World Universities (2025)

Quacquarelli Symonds World University Ranking (2026)

601-800

Times Higher Education World University Ranking (2026)

468th US News and World Report (2026)

Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (2026)

501-600

303rd

501-600

427th

343rd

Academic Ranking of World Universities (2025)

271st

Quacquarelli Symonds World University Ranking (2026)

Times Higher Education World University Ranking (2026)

US News and World Report (2026)

377th

Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (2026)

POLAND’S SCIENCE & EDUCATION

International education By 2024 foreign students accounted for

By 2024 there were

105,000 foreign students enrolled in tertiary education in Poland, compared to just 10,000 in 2005.

Polish universities offer high quality studies and are an integral part of European education.

All leading universities offer programmes taught in English, including medicine, engineering, humanities, business and finance.

Thanks to the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System), students can be fully mobile and continue their education in other countries.

8.2% of all tertiary education students in Poland

Most popular fields of study among international students: Management Computer Science Medicine

almost 60% of foreign students come from Ukraine and Belarus.

The Erasmus+ is a European Union student exchange programme established in 1987. Poland joined it in 1998. Since then, the number of Polish students who have spent part of their education in another EU country and students from other EU countries who have studied in Poland amounts to several hundred thousand.

In 2024 alone, there were 91 thousand Polish participants abroad and 65 thousand foreign participants on student exchange in Poland.

POLAND’S SCIENCE & EDUCATION

Historical background

Poland’s traditions of academic education go back to 1364, when King Casimir the Great established the Jagiellonian University, the second in Central Europe (Charles University in Prague being the first). By the end of the 17th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had three flourishing universities providing academic education to both national and international students, the other two being the Vilnius University and the Lviv University.

1110

1364

1747

1773

The first record of a library in Poland.

Foundation of the Jagiellonian University. First in Poland, second in Central Europe.

Załuski Library, the first Polish public library, one of the first in Europe.

Komisja Edukacji Narodowej, the first Ministry of Education in history.

2014: official inauguration of the

650th academic year of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków

POLAND’S SCIENCE & EDUCATION

Famous Polish scientists and innovators

Innovation has always played an important role in Polish science.

The first walkie-talkie was invented by a Polish engineer, Henryk Magnuski in 1940. The bulletproof vest, based on silk fabric, was invented by Kazimierz Żegleń and Jan Szczepanik.

The common paper clip, windscreen wiper and pneumatic shock absorber for cars and aircraft were the works of Polish artist, virtuoso and composer, Józef Hofmann. However, certainly amongst the many Polish innovators, Nicolas Copernicus and Maria Skłodow­ska-Curie are the best known and most respected globally.

Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543)

Outstanding astronomer, born in Toruń, Poland.

He was the first to develop the theory that the Earth and other planets move around the Sun. His book, ‘On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres’, was a major event in the history of science.

Maria Skłodowska-Curie (1867-1934)

The famous physicist, twice winner of the Nobel Prize (for physics in 1903 and for chemistry in 1911). Together with her husband Pierre Curie she discovered the radioactive elements polonium and radium in 1898.

Kazimierz Funk (1884-1967)

Jan Czochralski

Aleksander Wolszczan

Biochemist who is credited with being the first to formulate the concept of vitamins. He identified the dietary factors the lack of which cause ‘deficiency disorders’, designating them as ‘vitamins’. This name was accepted by the scientific community in 1912.

Chemist who started the 20th century revolution in electronics. Thanks to him, scientists are able to grow pure single crystals of silicon and semiconductor wafers – the basis of all transistors and modern microprocessors.

Leading astronomer and University of Pennsylvania professor, he also collaborates with Toruń University. In 1990, together with Canadian astronomer Dale Frail, he discovered the first planetary system beyond our own.

(1885-1953)

(born 1946)

POLAND’S SCIENCE & EDUCATION

R&D sector in Poland Some of the global companies that have located their R&D centers in Poland: In 2024, total private expenditure on innovative business solutions accounted for

$14 billion (in current dollars)

As the current economic growth model is weakening, Poland has to find new ways to keep its economy competitive, and innovation is key to this. Poland is becoming a very attractive location for research and development investments. Companies are choosing Poland because of the availability of a highly qualified labour force, the presence of universities, the support of authorities, and the largest market in Central Europe.

In 2024, total expenditure (public and private) on R&D amounted to

1.41% of GDP or $13 billion (in current dollars)

By the end of 2024

167 thousand people were employed in the R&D sector

ABB Alcatel Lucent Amazon Astra Zeneca Boeing Bosch Siemens Capgemini Delphi Automotive Ericsson Fujitsu GE Aircraft Engines GlaxoSmithKline Google IBM Intel Kongsberg Maritime LG Microsoft Mondelez Motorola Nokia Northvolt Oracle Pfizer Roche Samsung Symantec TCL Unilever Volvo Whirlpool Thomson Reuters

Poland ranked 39th out of 139 countries listed in the 2025 edition of the Global Innovation Index conducted annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Polish patent applications to the European Patent Office in 2024:

692

(19 per million inhabitants)

In 2024 high technology products accounted for

10.6% of Poland's exports

POLAND’S SCIENCE & EDUCATION

Poland in space

Project Raven Creotech (Poland’s largest space industry company) is developing a spacecraft for autonomous rendezvous, docking, and in-orbit satellite servicing, with its first mission planned for 2029. The company was founded by former CERN scientists and has extensive experience in space technologies, with some of its solutions even having been used on Mars.

The second Pole in space

Poland’s interest in space dates back to the 1978 flight of Mirosław Hermaszewski, which became a symbol of the country’s technological ambitions during the Interkosmos era. After the political transformation, the sector’s development was limited, with capabilities scattered across research institutes. A breakthrough came when Poland joined the European Space Agency in 2012, gaining access to funding, contracts, and international projects. In recent years, the New Space sector has expanded rapidly, driven by nanosatellites, data processing systems, and AI technologies. Companies such as Creotech Space Technologies and SatRev are positioning Poland as an emerging player in the European space ecosystem.

Sławosz UznańskiWiśniewski

Mirosław Hermaszewski (1941-2022) was Poland's first astronaut.

He flew into space in 1978 onboard Soyuz 30 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos program.

400 companies 50 scientific institutions operating in the Polish space technology sector (as of 2026)

(born 1984) onboard the International Space Station, sampling the first pierogi made in space. In 2025, he traveled there to conduct experiments developed by Polish scientists and engineers as part of the Ignis mission, Poland’s first scientific and technological mission to the ISS.

732 different R&D projects implemented between 2017 and 2025

Rafał Modrzewski (born 1989) Co-founder and CEO of Iceye, the company that has revolutionized the low Earth orbit (LEO) observation market for both civilian and military applications, and that operates the world’s largest fleet of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) observation satellites.

ESA assigns projects to companies from member states proportionally to their membership contributions. This means that Poland’s contribution to ESA (150 million euro in 2026) largely returns to the country in the form of contracts for Polish companies and institutions.

POLAND’S SCIENCE & EDUCATION

Latest achievements of Polish science Prototype infrastructure for a Calcium-Ion quantum computer

For several years after World War II, dialogue and relations between Polish researchers and the global scientific community suffered considerably.

However, after the political transition of 1989, Poles set about modernizing the economy and the research sector with much enthusiasm. Recent Polish achievements in the field of innovative technologies offer reason for optimism.

Researchers from the Warsaw University of Technology are developing a prototype infrastructure for a quantum computer based on trapped calcium ions. The project focuses on building precise control systems and experimental facilities required to operate quantum processors. Such technology could be used in advanced cryptography, complex simulations, and secure information processing. The work is part of Poland’s effort to join the global race in quantum technologies and strengthen its position in cutting-edge physics and computing research.

AI-based eye tracking for mental disorder detection Self-sterilizing nanocomposite against microorganisms Researchers from the Polish Academy of Sciences have developed a nanocomposite called B-STING that can produce biocidal substances only when microorganisms are present. The material reacts to bacteria, fungi, or viruses and releases compounds that destroy them while remaining safe for humans.

This smart response system may be used in hospitals, air filters, and medical equipment, offering a new way to prevent infections without constant use of chemical disinfectants.

Researchers from SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, working with specialists in computer science and psychology, have developed an artificial intelligence system that can detect signs of mental disorders by analyzing eye movements. The method uses short visual tests and machine learning algorithms to identify patterns associated with conditions such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment.

The solution may allow faster and more objective screening in clinical practice, supporting doctors in early diagnosis and treatment planning.

Cold plasma method for removing pharmaceuticals from water Scientists from the Polish Academy of Sciences have developed a patented technology that uses cold atmospheric plasma to remove pharmaceutical residues and hormones from water. The method works without high temperatures or additional chemicals, making the process more environmentally friendly than traditional purification techniques.

The solution could be used in wastewater treatment plants and industry, helping to solve the growing global problem of micropollutants in water.

Polish technology selected to map lunar surface for ESA mission Scientists and engineers from the Polish company Scanway will support the European Space Agency (ESA) by processing highresolution images of the Moon’s surface for a 2026 mission. With experience on multiple space missions and technology already flown in orbit, the company combines research in optoelectronics with practical engineering to advance remote sensing and image-processing capabilities. Their system will map thousands of square kilometres, significantly enhancing scientific understanding of the lunar terrain.

POLAND’S CULTURE

Poland is a significant contributor to the world’s cultural heritage. Its art, music, and literature are rooted in the Christian tradition and have developed in line with major European trends while maintaining a unique Polish character.

For centuries, Polish culture has been intertwined with the country’s turbulent history and shifting geography. As a result, some of Poland’s greatest masterpieces were created outside its current borders. Today, Polish influence can be found across a wide array of arts, from literature and design to film and video games.

POLAND’S CULTURE

Contemporary success

Poland's place between the East and the West as well as its historical experience have developed a specific sensibility reflected in the distinctive flavour of Polish art. That sensibility can be felt across all fields of artistic expression and became Poland's trademark in the world of arts. Polish artists have their own significant share in the contemporary cultural heritage. Many of them became widely recognized icons in their respective areas of expression.

literature: Stanisław Lem

painting: Wilhelm Sasnal

(1921-2006)

(born 1972)

An internationally acclaimed science fiction writer, Stanisław Lem is best known for ‘Solaris’, a story set on a research station in orbit around a mysterious planet. The book was later made into a Hollywood film directed

by Steven Soderbergh, starring George Clooney. Lem’s writing is wryly comic and largely allegorical.

His books have been translated into more than 40 languages, selling close to 30 million copies.

Sasnal's works are inspired by everyday life and the mass media.

He interprets reality in a personal and often private way, creating expressive images which leave lasting impressions. Since attracting international attention in the late 90s, Sasnal has consolidated his reputation as one of the world's most important painters of his generation. In November 2006 the artist received the prestigious Vincent Van Gogh Award.

To mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Senate of the Republic of Poland has declared 2026 the Year of Andrzej Wajda.

modern art: Mirosław Bałka

film direction: Andrzej Wajda

(born 1958)

(1926-2016)

Bałka is one of the leading contemporary sculptors and video artists in the world today. His works have been displayed at numerous exhibitions, and are also to be found in prestigious museum collections worldwide including: Hirshhorn Museum, Washington DC; MOCA, Los Angeles; MOMA, New York; Museu Serralves, Porto; SFMOMA, San Francisco; Tate Modern, London; The Art Institute, Chicago; The National Museum of Art, Osaka; Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven.

Recipient of an Honorary Oscar and the Palme d'Or, Andrzej Wajda was a prominent member of the Polish Film School. He was known especially for his trilogy of war films consisting of ‘A Generation’ (1954), ‘Kanał’ (1956) and ‘Ashes and Diamonds’ (1958). Four of his films have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film: ‘The Promised Land’ (1975), ‘The Maids of Wilko’ (1979), ‘Man of Iron" (1981) and ‘Katyń’ (2007).

POLAND’S CULTURE

The coming of age of Polish literature

Polish literature can trace its origins to the 10th and 11th centuries and includes historical and religious texts written in Latin. The development of the literary tradition in Polish is linked to Mikołaj Rej, who was the first author to write exclusively in his native language. Often referred to as the father of Polish literature, Rej paved the way for Jan Kochanowski, who strengthened this commitment to the Polish language and is considered one of the greatest poets prior to the 19th century.

Mikołaj Rej

Jan Kochanowski

(1505-1569) The first Polish author to write exclusively in Polish. Considered to be one of the founders of Polish literary language and literature.

(1530-1584) Commonly regarded as the greatest Polish poet prior to the 19th century.

Rej’s ‘Zwierciadło’ (English: Mirror, Latin: Speculum), 1567

Kochanowski’s ‘Odprawa Posłów Greckich’ (Eng: ‘The Dismissal of the Greek Envoys’), 1578

POLAND’S CULTURE

The famous

Early days of theatre and cinema 1894

First Polish movie camera, the ‘Pleograph’, patented by Kazimierz Prószyński before the Lumiere brothers' invention.

Polish drama dates back to the 12th century, when it featured religious scenes performed by monks. In the 17th century, Poland welcomed performances by visiting European actors and the 18th century saw the establishment of Polish public theatre, initiated by King Stanisław August Poniatowski. Just over a hundred years later, Poland saw the birth of its native film industry when the first cinema, Gabinet Iluzji, was opened in the city of Łódź by the Krzemiński brothers in 1899.

Warner Brothers Studios were founded in 1903 in Los Angeles by the Wonsal brothers, a family of Polish Jews that had emigrated a few years earlier.

1899

Establishment of the first cinema in Poland.

Grand Theatre and National Opera in Warsaw The Grand Theatre in Warsaw, built in 1833 by Antonio Corazzi, has a capacity of over 2,000 seats and is officially one of the largest theatres in Europe.

Here seen in a photo from 1900.

1902

First Polish narrative movie: ‘The Return of a Merry Fellow’ In 2024, Polish theatres and music institutions had a total of 378 stages and 103 thousand seats in permanent auditoriums. These institutions organized a total of 60.5 thousand performances and concerts, attended by 12.2 million viewers.

POLAND’S CULTURE

Spotlight on music Through the centuries, Polish music was afforded greater freedom to develop than the other arts.

It originates from folk rhythms and melodies adapted for performance in the homes of the gentry.

The composer who brought Polish music to international salons, and who has become the most famous Polish musician of all time, was Fryderyk Chopin. Considered by many the embodiment of Polishness, Chopin spent most of his adult life abroad, having left Poland in 1830 shortly before the outbreak of the November Uprising against Russian rule.

The International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw has brought together young pianists from all over the world every five years since 1927, offering them a gateway to a prestigious international career. The most recent edition took place in 2025 and was won by Eric Lu from the United States.

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) Chopin grew up in Warsaw, where he completed his musical education and composed many of his works before leaving Poland, aged 20. Here pictured shortly before his death in Paris in 1849.

Other famous Polish composers of the same or following era include

Maria Szymanowska

Stanisław Moniuszko

Ignacy Paderewski

Grażyna Bacewicz

(1789-1831)

(1860-1941)

(1819-1872)

(1909-1969)

Rare autographed musical quotation signed by Fryderyk Chopin: Op. 53 Polonaise

POLAND’S CULTURE

Spotlight on art

1930 Poland in the pre-war period was one of the most dynamic centres of avant-garde in Europe, with artists such as Władysław Strzemiński, Katarzyna Kobro, Henryk Stażewski and Henryk Berlewi. After the war, and until 1956, Polish art was dominated by ideologically inspired Social Realism. One of the first artists of the new avant-garde was the internationally acclaimed Tadeusz Kantor, a painter and theatre performer. Today, big Polish names in the contemporary art market include Zbigniew Libera, Mirosław Bałka, Paweł Althamer, Wilhelm Sasnal, Katarzyna Kozyra and others.

one of world’s first contemporary art museums opens in the city of Łódź (Muzeum Sztuki w Łodzi).

The abstract sculptures of

Katarzyna Kobro

The paintings of

Tamara Łempicka (1898-1980) are recognised as important contributions to the World’s Art Deco heritage.

The giant of painting

Kazimir Malevich

(1879-1935), was born to Polish parents.

(1898-1951) are some of the greatest examples of Polish Constructivism.

The conceptual approach to time flow by

Roman Opałka

(1931-2011) has been recognised by the renowned Centre Pompidou in Paris and New York’s MOMA and now features in their permanent collections.

POLAND’S CULTURE

Spotlight on literature Poland has made a significant contribution to world literature, with many works recognised internationally. However, these are just the tip of the iceberg: there is an enormous body of writing exploring the essence of Polishness, across a variety of genres, which is considered by many as untranslatable. Five Polish writers have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature: Henryk Sienkiewicz, Władysław Reymont, Czesław Miłosz, Wisława Szymborska and Olga Tokarczuk. Alongside these canonical figures, contemporary authors such as Andrzej Sapkowski, best known for The Witcher series, and Jacek Dukaj, acclaimed for his ambitious and philosophically rich speculative fiction, have also played a crucial role in bringing Polish literature to a global audience, particularly within the realms of fantasy and science fiction.

Olga Tokarczuk (born 1962) Winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize for Literature

Ryszard Kapuściński

10 Dec 1996 Nobel Prize in Literature Laureate

Wisława Szymborska Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) was born in Poland as Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski.

The Oscar-awarded film ‘Apocalypse Now’ was based on his novel.

(1923-2012) acknowledges the applause during the award ceremony that took place in the Grand Auditorium of the Stockholm Concert Hall in the presence of Swedish King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

(1932-2007) was a Polish journalist and writer whose dispatches in book form brought him global recognition.

Science fiction author

Stanisław Lem (1921-2006) has had his works translated into dozens of languages.

POLAND’S CULTURE

Polish School of Posters Beginning in the 1950s and through the 1980s, the Polish School of Posters combined the aesthetics of painting with the succinctness and simple metaphor of the poster. Posters of the Polish School of Posters significantly influenced the international development of graphic design in poster art. Their major contribution is in their use of the power of suggestion through clever allusions. Using strong and vivid colors from folk art, they combine printed slogans, often hand-lettered, with popular symbols, to create a concise inventive metaphor. Prominent contributors included Henryk Tomaszewski, Jan Lenica, Jan Młodożeniec, and Waldemar Świerzy.

The Poster Museum in Warsaw The Polish School of Posters combined the aesthetics of painting with the succinctness and simple metaphor of the poster

(Muzeum Plakatu w Wilanowie) houses the largest collection of art posters in the world.

POLAND’S CULTURE

Famous Polish directors of photography:

Cinematography

Janusz Kamiński

(born 1959) ‘Schindler’s List’, ‘Private Ryan’, ‘Munich’, ‘Minority Report’, ‘Indiana Jones 4’, ‘Lincoln’

Dariusz Wolski

(born 1956) ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘Prometheus’

Sławomir Idziak

Polish filmmakers excel at home and are a notable influence on the international film industry.

The biggest names are the widely acclaimed Roman Polański and the most prominent figure of the Polish Film School, Andrzej Wajda.

Other internationally recognised film directors include Krzysztof Kieślowski and Agnieszka Holland.

Poland is also renowned for its numerous directors of photography that have shaped a long list of Hollywood’s high-profile productions. An important place for Polish cinema is the internationally recognised National Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź, which produced some of Poland’s most recognised talents, including Wajda and Polański.

(born 1945) ‘Black Hawk Down’, ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’

Andrzej Wajda (1926-2016) first gained international acclaim in the 1950s for ‘Kanał’ and ‘Diamond and Ashes’ and since then has explored themes that are politically or historically important to Poles. Among many other recognitions, in 2000 he was awarded with a honorary Oscar for his contribution to world cinema.

Paweł Pawlikowski

Krzysztof Kieślowski (1941-1996) The legendary Polish film director is best known for shooting ‘The Decalogue’, and the ‘Three Colours Trilogy’. In 2002 Kieślowski was listed at number two on the British Film Institute’s ‘Top Ten Directors’.

Agnieszka Holland (born 1948) is best known for her politically engaged films such as ‘Europa Europa’ and ‘In Darkness’. She has been nominated for Oscar awards in 1985, 1990 and in 2011.

Warsaw, 2001

Roman Polański (born 1933) back in Poland, this time shooting ‘The Pianist’.

(born 1957) garnered much acclaim worldwide after his ‘Ida’ won the 2015 Oscar award for Best Foreign Language Film. At the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, Pawlikowski won the Best Director prize for his ‘Cold War’, a film which also earned him a nomination for the 2018 Oscar awards.

POLAND’S CULTURE

Icons of Polish jazz Poland has a rich and vibrant jazz scene that dates back to the postWorld War II era. Despite political restrictions, jazz became a symbol of freedom and creativity, inspiring generations of musicians. Cities like Warsaw, Kraków, and Wrocław host lively jazz festivals such as the Warsaw Summer Jazz Days and the Jazz Jamboree, which attract international artists. Polish jazz blends traditional American styles with local folk influences, creating a unique sound. Legendary figures such as Krzysztof Komeda and Tomasz Stańko have placed Poland firmly on the global jazz map, making it an essential part of the country’s cultural identity.

Key Polish jazz figures have been documented since the 1960s by the Polish Jazz record label, which is the world’s oldest continuously released jazz record series.

Krzysztof Tomasz Komeda Stańko

Michał Urszula Urbaniak Dudziak

Ewa Bem

Leszek Możdżer

(1931-1969) Composer, pianist, and medical doctor. A pioneer of modern jazz in Poland and in Europe, he gained international recognition for his film scores, especially for Rosemary’s Baby. His lyrical, innovative style combined jazz with a distinct poetic sensitivity.

(1943-2025) Violinist, saxophonist and composer, known for pioneering jazz fusion by blending jazz with folk, R&B and hip-hop elements.

He collaborated with artists such as Miles Davis and developed innovative projects like Urbanator, becoming an influential figure on the global jazz scene.

(born 1951) Vocalist celebrated for her versatile voice, blending jazz, pop, and blues.

Since the 1970s, she has captivated audiences with her innovative interpretations, emotional depth, and collaborations, earning enduring acclaim and a lasting place in Poland’s music history.

(born 1971) Pianist and composer known for blending jazz with classical and contemporary music. Acclaimed for his virtuosity and creativity, he has performed worldwide, collaborated with top musicians, and redefined modern jazz with his unique style.

(1942-2018) Trumpeter and composer celebrated for his expressive sound and innovative approach. Active since the 1960s, he became a key figure in European jazz, blending avant-garde ideas with lyrical depth.

His work earned international acclaim and has inspired generations of musicians.

(born 1943) Vocalist known for her wide vocal range, improvisational skill, and experimental approach. She collaborated with top jazz musicians, including Michał Urbaniak, and gained international recognition for her inventive, boundary-pushing approach to vocal jazz.

POLAND’S CULTURE

Video games industry

The video game production industry is not only a realm of high technology but also a tool of cultural influence whose power is comparable to that of cinema. Over the past years, Poland has emerged as one of the leading global markets for video game production, with products created by Polish developers delighting players worldwide. The largest game developer in Poland is CD Projekt Red. The company is best known for creating The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 game franchises, both of which have achieved global success, selling over 85 million and over 35 million copies respectively.

In 2024 the Polish video games industry consisted of almost

824 companies which released that year alone over Since 2014,

41 Polish games have achieved sales exceeding one million copies, with the biggest Polish blockbuster, ‘The Witcher’ selling over 85 million copies and receiving over 250 ‘Game of the Year’ awards.

In 2025, on the Steam platform used by players around the world, projects created in Poland accounted for

6% of the list of 200 most anticipated games.

450 new titles (accross different platforms).

The industry employed almost

15 thousand people

of which 15% were foreigners and 24% were women. That makes the Polish workforce pool in gamedev the second biggest in Europe, after the UK.

POLAND’S CULTURE

Eye on architecture The Museum of WW2 in Gdańsk designed by Studio Kwadrat

Poland’s history has not been kind to its architecture. Many buildings and structures were ruined by wars or by neglect during the communist regime. Recent years have seen a great deal of revitalisation of urban areas across Poland, with Warsaw becoming the largest construction site in Central and Eastern Europe.

Architects of world renown such as Sir Norman Foster, Polish-born Daniel Liebeskind, Helmut Jahn or Skidmore, Owings & Merrill are building high-rises in Poland.

Meanwhile, local architects such as Stefan Kuryłowicz, JEMS or WWAA are also building their reputations with their contribution to Poland’s urban landscape.

Designed by the late Stefan Kuryłowicz (1948-2011), ‘Plac Unii’ office building in central Warsaw was completed after the architect’s death.

Designed by Fort Architekci, the European Solidarity Centre is located in the former shipyard in Gdańsk that gave birth to the anti-communist Solidarity movement.

POLAND’S CULTURE

Main festivals The International Festival of Comics and Games For about 30 years after its establishment in 1961, the Sopot Music Festival was Poland’s main event attracting international artists.

However, much has changed since then: Poland has now developed a rich tradition of cultural festivals taking place throughout the year, many attracting international performers and audiences. There are events dedicated to virtually all types of culture including film, design, dance and music, making Poland an important destination on the cultural map of Europe.

Open'er Festival Begun in 2002, it brings the world's top musical acts to Poland's seaside city of Gdynia. It is one of the biggest music festivals in Europe.

in the city of Łódź has been a meeting place for creators and fans of graphic storytelling and interactive media since 1991. It is the largest event of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe.

Since 1992

Warsaw Summer Jazz Days has attracted world-class performers and promotes contemporary jazz.

The National Festival of Polish Song in Opole (Krajowy Festiwal Polskiej Piosenki w Opolu) is one of the most important music events in Poland, celebrating Polish popular music and artists. It takes place annually in the city of Opole and has been a key platform for both emerging and established performers since 1963.

POLAND’S LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

Poland offers some of Europe’s most beautiful and diverse natural landscapes. Its scenery ranges from mountain ranges and thousands of lakes to a stunning sandy coastline, ancient forests, and even a desert. The country is also rich in wildlife, home to many rare species of birds and mammals.

POLAND’S LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

Poland’s geography Poland has a total land area of

313,932 km2 Poland lies on the European Plain between the Baltic Sea in the north and the Sudetes and Carpathian mountains, forming a natural border in the south. Its neighbouring countries are Germany to the west, Czechia and Slovakia to the south, Belarus and Ukraine to the east, and Russia and Lithuania to the northeast. Poland has a temperate climate with four seasons, influenced both by the wet oceanic wind blowing from the west and the dry continental wind blowing from the east.

Poland's highest peak: - Rysy (2499 m) Poland's longest river: - Vistula (1022 km)

91.4% of Poland's area is occupied by lowlands located below 300 meters above sea level, and only 0.2% of the country's territory overpasses 1,000 meters above sea level.

Borders shared with Germany: 467 km Czechia: 796 km Slovakia: 541 km Ukraine: 535 km Belarus: 418 km Lithuania: 104 km Russia: 210 km

It is ninth in terms of size among the 43 countries in Europe.

Maximum territorial extent: north-south axis: 649 km east-west axis: 689 km

POLAND’S LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

Poland’s fauna Legally protected areas of special natural value cover

Poland is not only known for its rich history and stunning landscapes but also for its diverse wildlife.

The country is home to many species of mammals that are relatively rare in the rest of Europe. From the majestic European bison roaming the Białowieża Forest to the elusive Eurasian lynx prowling the remote woodlands of the Carpathian Mountains, Poland offers a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Additionally, the primeval forests and vast marshlands provide habitats for numerous species of deer, wild boar, wolves, and even brown bears. Exploring Poland's natural wonders can often lead to unexpected encounters with these fascinating creatures, adding an extra layer of excitement to any outdoor adventure.

there are

twenty three national parks in Poland

Eurasian lynx

They cover a total surface of 314 thousand hectares.

32.2% of Poland's total surface (as of 2024)

Grey wolf Moose

European bison

In 2024 forests covered 29.6% of Poland's total surface, compared to just 20.8% in 1945.

Brown bear

Many animals that have nearly become extinct in other parts of Europe still survive in Poland. These include the wisent, also known as the European bison, the Eurasian lynx, and the moose.

POLAND’S LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

The Tatra mountains

2,499 m The highest point in Poland is the Rysy peak in the Tatras.

The largest lake in the Tatra mountains is Morskie Oko (Eye of the Sea). It spans an area of

34.9 ha The Tatras are the highest mountain range in Poland, and the highest sub-range of the Carpathian Mountains. Forming a natural border between Poland and Slovakia, the Tatras cover an area of 785 km2, of which 175 km2 is located on the Polish side.

POLAND’S LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

The Masurian lakes

The Masurian Lake District in northeastern Poland counts around

2,000 lakes on an area of about 52,000 km2.

The Masurian Lake District is a popular tourist destination frequented by lovers of the great outdoors. The most abundant activities include birdwatching, fishing, sailing, canoeing, horse riding and cycling.

The largest lake in Poland is Śniardwy, with an area of

113.4 km

2

POLAND’S LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

The Baltic coast The coast stretches for

687 km

The Baltic Sea constitutes Poland’s northern border, providing access to the Atlantic Ocean. Polish tourists flock to the coastal sandy beaches every summer. Many stay in the Tri-City conurbation of Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot.

A distinctive part of the coast is the Hel Peninsula, a 35km-long strip of land separating the Bay of Puck from the Baltic Sea.

POLAND’S LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

The Słowiński National Park

40 m is the height of the biggest dunes in the park.

The national park spans

327 km2 During World War II, the German Afrika Korps trained there before being deployed to North Africa.

The most impressive feature of the Polish coast are the sand dunes of Słowiński National Park, which are gradually eating up the forest that stands in their path.

POLAND’S LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

Biebrza National Park

Biebrza National Park is home to some

270

bird species The area is famous for having more than 900 types of vascular plants including many rare species.

Biebrza National Park is the largest of Poland’s 23 national parks. It is most famous for its huge variety of birds. The park attracts birdwatchers and nature lovers from all over the world and is classified as an area of international importance by global ornithological watchdog BirdLife International.

Biebrza National Park covers an area of

59,223 ha

POLAND’S LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

Białowieża forest

The oldest oaks in this primaeval forest are

470 years old

Scientists estimate that only some 50% of the fauna in Białowieża forest has been catalogued.

12,000 species Białowieża National Park is the last fragment of the primaeval forest which once stretched across the European plain. It is home to the world’s largest population of European bison and many other endangered species.

have been categorized so far.

The Białowieża National Park spans an area of

105 km2

Białowieża forest became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.

POLAND’S LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

European bison The bison is the biggest surviving wild land animal in Europe. It typically grows to from about 2.2 to 3 metres long and 1.4 to 1.9 metres tall. Bison in Białowieża forest sometimes weigh as much as

920 kg

Most bison in Poland live in Białowieża Forest. The total population country-wide is about

3,060 (as of 2025)

For centuries the European bison thrived under the safeguard of Polish kings, who protected Białowieża forest, the bison's refuge, as a royal hunting ground.

Almost driven to extinction at the beginning of 20th century, the European bison has been successfully reintroduced and became a national symbol. Today, a quarter of the entire global population of this species lives in Poland.

POLAND’S FOOD

After opening up to foreign flavors at the beginning of the political transformation in the 1990s, Poles began to rediscover their own culinary traditions and infuse them with an additional touch of creativity.

Polish cuisine today is a true feast for the senses – combining a wealth of flavors passed down from generation to generation with ingredients that meet the highest standards stipulated by EU regulations. It's a cuisine that warms the heart and invites you to feast together at the table.

POLAND’S FOOD

A culinary blend of cultures

Polish cuisine is less a single tradition and more a crossroads shaped by centuries of shifting borders, trade, and multicultural coexistence, especially in the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, so what people think of as typically Polish food often carries layers from neighboring cultures. Over time, it developed as a hybrid system in which hearty, preserved, and seasonal peasant food merged with refined, international, Frenchinfluenced noble and royal cuisine, all further enriched by strong regional diversity from east to west.

Kraków, September 1364 “Feast at Wierzynek’s” (Uczta u Wierzynka) The famous 21-day-long banquet at the house of the merchant Mikołaj Wierzynek, initiated by King Casimir III the Great of Poland to mark a meeting of European monarchs.

Here seen in a painting by Bronisław Abramowicz (1876), the Feast is now a synonym of indulgence in Poland. A restaurant called ‘Wierzynek’ still exists in Kraków today.

Published in 1682, “Compendium Ferculorum or Collection of Dishes”

by Stanisław Czerniecki is

the oldest Polish cookbook

POLAND’S FOOD

A rich variety of regional traditions Podlachian region:

Thanks to regional diversity, local specialties, and the heritage of its nobility, Poland boasts a rich culinary tradition. In the south, where the climate is harsher, cuisine is based on simple, hearty dishes.

In Małopolska, Austrian influences are evident, while in Podlasie the culinary traditions of its eastern neighbours remain strong. Owing to its access to the sea, northern Poland offers a wide variety of fish dishes.

Mazowsze, with Warsaw at its heart, is known for its Old Polish cuisine.

Masovian region:

Sękacz is a type of cake made from a base of eggs, flour and sugar which resembles a bee hive and, when cut, looks like a slice of a tree trunk.

Baked duck (Polish: pieczona kaczka), often cooked with apples placed inside, and marjoram.

Silesian region:

Kuyavian region:

Silesian potato dumplings (Polish: kluski śląskie) with a hole in the middle, usually served with meat and sauce.

Dark soup made of duck’s blood (Polish: czarnina) with a sweet and sour taste from a balance of sugar and vinegar.

Pomeranian region: Smoked eel and herring, often served in oil and chopped onion as a starter, best accompanied with a good Polish vodka!

city of Kraków: Bagel (Polish: bajgiel), a bread of Jewish origin, believed to have originated in Kraków.

POLAND’S FOOD

EU protected specialities

For those who love traditional foods, Poland offers a huge variety of products to delight the palate. The country has a total of 43 regional specialities which are protected under such EU schemes as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Geographical Indication (GI). The list includes several varieties of cheeses and sausages as well as regional pastries, and specially grown beans, honeys, apples and strawberries.

oscypek This delicious smoked cheese made of salted sheep's milk according to a centuries-old recipe, is a famous product of Poland's mountain regions in the south. The first mention of this type of cheese in Poland goes all the way back to 1416.

rogal świętomarciński Roughly translated as 'Saint Martin's Croissant', this sweet, stuffed croissant originates from Poznań and is traditionally eaten around the feast of Saint Martin of Tours on 11 November. The first mention of the name dates back to a newspaper ad in 1860.

kabanos A long, thin, dry sausage made of pork that is popular throughout Poland. The sausage is typically smoky in flavour and can be soft or dry depending on how fresh it is. It is generally not eaten as a main course, but usually alone or as an appetizer.

miód pitny Four kinds of Polish mead (alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey) have protected designations: Półtorak, Dwójniak, Trójniak and Czwórniak. The drink has been prepared in Poland since the very beginnings of its history. Spanish diplomats in the 10th century wrote about the country's delicious mead.

POLAND’S FOOD

Gourmet cuisine 107 Polish restaurants are featured in the 2026 edition of Michelin's guide.

As Poland's prosperity has increased, so has the appetite of its citizens for dining out, leading to the burgeoning development of the restaurant scene. A new generation of Polish chefs are revitalizing age-old recipes, infusing them with contemporary flair while preserving their authentic essence.

They skillfully blend tradition with innovation, crafting dishes that pay homage to Poland's culinary heritage while appealing to modern palates. Embracing a farm-to-table approach, they prioritize locally-sourced produce, ensuring freshness and supporting sustainable practices.

Six of them hold a single Michelin star and one holds 2 stars.

On top of that, 21 of them were awarded for exceptional quality at moderate prices with the "Bib Gourmand" label.

Wines from Poland Climate change has extended Poland's growing season, enabling the cultivation of grapes for wine production. Warmer temperatures have fostered the adaptation of new grape varieties, leading to a burgeoning wine industry. Consequently, Poland has seen a recent emergence as a wineproducing nation. Currently, there are over 700 registered vineyards in Poland.

POLAND’S FOOD

A sound mind in a sound body Poll (2025):

Understanding what constitutes a healthy diet has evolved over the years and varies across age groups.

As a result, successive generations of Poles are paying increasing attention to their diet, embracing healthier eating habits. A 2025 market research highlights that an ever growing portion of consumers is inclined to buy fresh produce, consider health impacts, or prioritize quality. In recent years Poles are reported to choose vegetables and fruit more frequently and show better understanding of the role these foods play in health.

Percentage of Poles who declared that increased consumption of vegetables and fruit can help them: - in preventing overweight and obesity: 61% - in preventing diabetes: 47% - in strengthening immunity: 38% - in lowering cholesterol: 37% - in preventing hypertension: 32% - in preventing anemia: 30%

in 2023

9% of Poles declared being vegetarian, while 3% declared being vegan.

With around 70 vegan restaurants, Warsaw made into National Geographic's list of world's 8 most vegan-friendly cities.

POLAND’S FOOD

The horn of plenty Agricultural production in million tonnes (as of 2025):

Cereals: 37.1 Sugar beet: 16.9 Potatoes: 6.8 Fruits: 4.6 Other vegetables: 4.1 Rapeseed: 3.6

Poland's agricultural heritage remains a cornerstone of its national identity and economic vitality. The country's fertile soils have long been revered for their ability to yield bountiful crops. Nowadays over one third of Poland's total land area is taken up by growing cereals, fruits and vegetables.

With 77,000 tonnes of raspberries harvested in 2024, Poland is the 5th biggest producer of that fruit in the world.

In 2024 with a production of 3.4 million tonnes, Poland was

world's fifth biggest producer of apples.

148,000 ha of land were dedicated to growing apples in Poland - over 70% of the total acreage of tree fruit cultivation in the country.

By 2024 around 19,300 ha of land were dedicated to growing raspberries in Poland.

Poland had 2.4 m bee hives in 2025, compared to just 1.25 m in 2011.

POLAND’S FOOD

Food exports By 2025 food and agriculture products accounted for 15.9% of total Polish exports.

By 2025 Poland's biggest exports markets for food and agriculture products were Germany: €14.8 bn France: €4.0 bn Netherlands: €3.4 bn Czechia: €2.9 bn Italy: €2.3 bn

Main categories of Polish food exports (as of 2025): By 2025

Within the last decades, the Polish food sector underwent considerable transformation. Owing to constant technological and organizational development of the sector, Poland eventually became one of the leading modern and innovative European food manufacturers.

In 2025, Poland has recorded a surplus of EUR 19.8 billion in food and agriculture products trade with other countries.

Poland's exports of food and agriculture products were worth €58.4 billion of which €43.9 billion was the value of export to the EU.

– Meat, meat products and live animals: €12.8 bn

– Cereal grains and cereal products: €6.4 bn – Tobacco and tobacco products: €5.8 bn – Sugar and confectionery products: €4.9 bn – Dairy products: €3.9 bn – Fish and fish products: €3.4 bn – Vegetables and vegetable products: €2.7 bn – Fruit and fruit products: €2.4 bn – Coffee, tea and cocoa: €1.7 bn – Oilseeds and vegetable oils: €1.2 bn – Fruit and vegetable juices: €1.0 bn – Alcoholic beverages: €0.9 bn

(food products categories according to SITC standard)

POLAND’S FOOD

Pierogi Pierogi first appeared in Poland in the

13th century It is believed that they came from the Far East.

One of Poland’s most internationally recognised dishes is pierogi. These are dumplings comprising a sweet or savoury filling encased in a thinly rolled dough which is served either boiled or fried. The most common fillings include minced meat, cabbage with mushrooms, seasonal fruit or cheese curd.

POLAND’S FOOD

Mushrooms By 2024 Poland was

world’s 5th largest exporter of mushrooms Mushroom picking is a great Polish tradition. Essential knowledge about which varieties are edible or poisonous is passed down from generation to generation of mushroom pickers. Whole families eagerly await autumn to gather early in the morning in their local woods and pick those delicacies.

Mushrooms are then made into delicious sauces, used as fillings for meat or pierogi, sometimes pickled, and often dried to preserve them for the months ahead.

By 2024 forests covered about

Poles’ favourite mushrooms include the Red Pine Mushroom, the Bay Bolete, the Chanterelle, the Parasol mushroom and the Suillus luteus, commonly referred to as ‘slippery Jack’.

Jars with mushrooms marinated for winter can be found in nearly every Polish home.

29.6% of Poland's area, compared to 20.8% in 1945.

POLAND’S FOOD

Cheeses 16 million litres of milk and

1 million tonnes of cheese were produced in Poland in 2024.

Poland has a long and wellestablished dairy tradition, with cheeses playing an important role in its cuisine, especially fresh varieties like twaróg (quark).

Traditional regional cheeses include among others bryndza made from sheep’s milk and smoked varieties such as oscypek. Archaeological finds in the Kujawy region show that early cheesemaking may have taken place there as far back as 5500 BC, making it one of the oldest known examples in the world.

Poland is world's 5th biggest producer of cheese after the US, Germany, France and Italy (as of 2023)

One of the country’s most distinctive cheeses is

90 different kinds of cheese are produced in Poland.

oscypek a hard, smoked cheese made from sheep’s milk. It is traditionally made by Poland’s highlanders in the Podhale region. Oscypek gained fame when it was placed on the EU’s ‘protected designation of origin’ (PDO) list.

POLAND’S FOOD

Unusual dishes Fermented gut-friendly food:

Twaróg is a fresh, slightly tangy

cucumbers in brine

curd cheese Traditional Polish cuisine includes a number of unusual dishes that, while delicious to those accustomed to them, may challenge the palates of visitors. Perhaps the most prominent of these is tartare, which consists of raw minced meat served with a raw egg yolk, accompanied by finely chopped onion, capers, and pickles.

Several other dishes may arouse curiosity, or even alarm, among newcomers: slimy pickled wild mushrooms, fruit soup, fish in jelly, sauerkraut and meat stew, tripe soup, and blood sausage, typically made from pig’s blood mixed with liver, lungs, fat, and buckwheat. And afterward, why not try a glass of kefir, soured milk with many claimed health benefits?

made from cow’s milk, that has long been a staple of everyday Polish cuisine.

It’s most often served as a spread for breakfast: sweet, with honey or jam, or savory, with chives, garlic, and radish.

These traditional brined pickles, naturally preserved through lacto-fermentation in salt water with dill, garlic, and horseradish are tangy, sour and crunchy, and make a cornerstone of Polish cuisine. They are commonly referred to as “kiszone ogórki” and are key product in a very popular Polish soup – a cucumber soup.

Chłodnik is a traditional

cold beet soup made with cooked beets mixed with buttermilk or kefir. It typically includes chopped cucumbers, radishes, fresh dill, and is served chilled with hard-boiled eggs and often boiled potatoes on the side.

POLAND’S SPORTS

Whether amateur or professional, as participants or watching from the sidelines, in a team or as individuals, sport in Poland is an integral part of the Polish lifestyle. This is reflected in the growing number of sporting events springing up around the country and also by the increasing results of Polish athletes.

66% of Poles are physically active at least once a week.

POLAND’S SPORTS

Amateur sports The main reasons for engaging in exercise:

The most practiced sporting disciplines among Poles (as of 2024)

An ever-growing segment of the Polish population is placing greater emphasis on maintaining their physical fitness. This surge towards healthier living stems from a deepening recognition of the myriad benefits associated with consistent physical activity. Notably, this shift is apparent not only in the escalating engagement levels in a wide array of activities but also in the broadening availability of sports amenities and programs designed to foster overall physical wellness.

Pleasure and relaxation: 44% Health prevention: 42% Appearance, figure: 21% Self-improvement: 17% Spending time with others: 16% Rivalry: 4%

20% of Poles are physically active at least 5 times per week. (as of 2024) In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 3rd as World Bicycle Day after a campaign led by Leszek Sibilski, a Polish social scientist and track cyclist.

44% 32% 24% 21% 8% of adult Poles have been cycling in the past 3 months.

of adult Poles have been jogging in the past 3 months.

of adult Poles have been going to the gym in the past 3 months.

of adult Poles have been swimming in the past 3 months.

of adult Poles have been playing football in the past 3 months.

POLAND’S SPORTS

Professional sports

Medals won

by Polish athletes

85% of Poles

Polish people have an ardent passion for following the achievements of their athletes. Whether it's football, ski jumping, volleyball or other sports, there's a profound sense of national pride when Polish sports stars excel on the global stage. From historic victories in major tournaments to breaking records on an individual level, these successes resonate deeply with the nation, uniting people in celebration and inspiring future generations. The fervor for sports transcends boundaries, creating a shared sense of joy and camaraderie across the country as people rally behind their athletes, cheering them on to further triumphs.

The most watched sporting disciplines

declare interest in professional sports.

Among them, 51% are men and 49% are women. (as of 2022)

on the international stage in 2024 (across all diciplines): World Championships:

European Championships:

311

509

among Poles interested in sports (as of 2025)

75% 70% 70% 59% 59% 52% Football

Ski Jumping

Volleyball

Track and Field

Tennis

Handball

POLAND’S SPORTS

Aleksandra Mirosław Speed climbing 2024 Olympic Champion

Sports personalities Two of the most recognizable Polish athletes are Robert Lewandowski (born 1988) and Iga Świątek (born 2001). Lewandowski, a prolific footballer, plays as a center-forward for FC Barcelona and captains the Polish national team. He is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and has scored over 700 career goals. Meanwhile, Świątek is one of the leading players in women’s tennis.

She has won more than twenty WTA singles titles, including six Grand Slam tournaments, and has spent over 100 weeks as the world No. 1. Both athletes are outstanding representatives of Polish sport and inspire many young athletes. Both athletes exemplify excellence in their respective sports and serve as inspirational figures for aspiring athletes across Poland and beyond.

Zuzanna Witych FIS Freeride World Champion 2026

ten most popular athletes according to the 2025 ranking of recognition among Poles

Robert Lewandowski (football) recognition level: 74%

Iga Świątek (tennis) recognition level: 46%

Kamil Stoch (ski jumping) recognition level: 37%

Piotr Żyła (ski jumping) recognition level: 29%

Adam Małysz (ski jumping) recognition level: 29%

Wojciech Szczęsny (football) recognition level: 21%

Robert Kubica (car racing) recognition level: 20%

Dawid Kubacki (ski jumping) recognition level: 17%

Bartosz Kurek (volleyball) recognition level: 17%

Jakub Błaszczykowski (football) recognition level: 12%

POLAND’S SPORTS

Tour de Pologne

The Tour de Pologne 2025 was won by Brandon McNulty from the United States.

The road bicycle race Tour de Pologne is one of the most prestigious Polish sport events, with a 98 years long tradition. The first edition, with 71 participants, took place in September 1928.

From the very beginning, it was regarded as one of the largest sporting events in Poland. Until 1992 Tour de Pologne was an amateur race but, thanks to Czesław Lang, the Moscow 1980 Olympics silver medallist and the precursor of Polish professional cycling, it became a world-class event.

In 2011 Tour de Pologne became a part of

UCI World Tour which brings together the world’s greatest road races.

The Tour de Pologne is transmitted by Eurosport

in 20 languages to 60 countries.

POLAND’S SPORTS

Run Poland!

The oldest marathon in Poland is held in Dębno in the north-west part of the country. It was first held on 22 July 1966 to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Polish statehood. Dębno is now considered the Polish capital of marathons.

Poland has fallen in love with running. It’s not just jogging in the park, but also participation in all kinds of running events. That growing obsession with running has led to a surge in the organization of various running events, ranging from 5K races to ultramarathons.

This trend is characteristic not only of big cities but even of smaller towns and villages, and is irrespective of age, sex and income. This widespread participation reflects a cultural shift towards prioritizing health and fitness across all demographics, highlighting the inclusive nature of the running community.

6 April 2025 Runners on the streets of Kraków during the Cracovia Marathon.

The Warsaw Marathon is the largest running event in Poland.

In 2025, it was completed by

7,079 participants (compared to only 307 in 2002).

32%

of adult Poles interviewed in 2024 declared they went jogging at least once during the previous 3 months.

POLAND’S SPORTS

Polish Winter Himalaism

In 2025 Polish mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel became the first person ever to climb Mount Everest and ski down without extra oxygen.

It was the Poles who made the first winter ascent of Mount Everest.

Legends of mountaineering such as Jerzy Kukuczka, Wanda Rutkiewicz, Leszek Cichy, and Krzysztof Wielicki, known as the Ice Warriors, were global pioneers in the 1980s in climbing eight-thousanders in winter. Today, this tradition is being continued by new generations of Polish daredevils.

17 February 1980

The first ever winter ascent of Mt. Everest Wanda Rutkiewicz during training in the 1970s.

was undertaken by Leszek Cichy and Krzysztof Wielicki.

Here, the whole team appear at their base below the peak.

POLAND’S SPORTS

Parasport in Poland Poles have participated in 28 Paralympic Games since 1972. So far they won a total of

825 medals

Poland can be proud of its disabled athletes and their achievements at international sporting events.

Polish disabled teams have been participating in the Paralympic Games since 1972, when 22 Polish para-athletes won 33 medals in Heidelberg. From that moment the number of the Polish representatives and their performances at the Paralympics has grown.

Polish goalball teams won silver (women) and bronze (men) at the European Championships Division B in 2024, earning promotion to a higher division.

Born in 1974, Rafał Wilk is a Paralympic athlete and former motorcycle speedway rider who became paralysed after a racing accident in 2006. After the injury, he started competing in handcycling and won multiple medals at the Paralympic Games, including three gold medals in London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Poland’s most decorated Paralympian:

Natalia Partyka

Born in 1989 without her right forearm, Natalia is the most successful Polish Paralympic athlete to date. She is a twelve-time Paralympic medalist in table tennis, including six gold medals. Despite her disability, she also competes with non‑disabled athletes and represented Poland at the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT POLAND

Poland’s diversity becomes apparent when one begins to delve into its most interesting and unusual facts. From being the largest raspberry producer to the country that first built an oil refinery, there are many interesting facts about Poland that will surprise even a Pole.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT POLAND

The roots of modern oil industry

On 31st July 1853, Ignacy Łukasiewicz gave a hospital in Lviv a prototype paraffin lamp he had developed to assist with emergency surgery. The staff were so impressed that they ordered more. This is thought to be the first sale of an oil-based product. Realising the potential of this new fuel, Łukasiewicz went on to sink a number of extraction wells in Poland, thus starting the oil industry.

1859 Ignacy Łukasiewicz built the first industrial oil refinery in Ulaszowice, south-eastern Poland.

It is said that John D. Rockefeller proposed to Łukasiewicz in Vienna that he accompany him back to the US and go into partnership setting up oil refineries. Łukasiewicz turned him down. Rockefeller went on to become the richest person in the world.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT POLAND

The highest peak in Australia Kościuszko, after whom Australia’s highest peak was named, was a Polish national hero who in 1794 led an uprising against Russia and Prussia.

Earlier, he also served as a brigadier general in the American War of Independence, where he became known, among other things, as the designer of the fortifications at West Point, which till today is home to the military academy that is the main institution training officers for the US Army. The mountain was named in honor of the Polish patriot and statesman in 1840 by the Polish explorer and geologist Paweł Strzelecki.

With 5,300 men, Kościuszko defeated 25,000 Russians at the battle of Dubienka on 18 July 1792

Mount Kościuszko 2,228 m

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT POLAND

Most nesting storks in the world During the summer, Poland hosts an exceptionally large share of the world’s white stork population: about 25 percent of all breeding pairs. This is largely because the country offers ideal conditions for them: extensive agricultural land, meadows, wetlands, and relatively low-intensity farming, which provide abundant food such as insects, frogs, and small rodents. As migratory birds, white storks spend the warmer months in Europe, where they breed, and then fly long distances in autumn to wintering grounds in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South Asia. Since storks often nest on rooftops or chimneys and return each spring, they became symbols of fertility and good fortune. It was commonly believed that if a stork nested on a house, the family living there would soon have children.

The stork capital of Poland is located in a hamlet called Żywkowo. Every year the stork population of the village outnumbers the human population by a factor of four, when 100 storks join the 25 human residents. By the end of the season the storks number about 200.

Poland is also home to very rare

black storks

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT POLAND

Polish roots of Esperanto

On 22 February 2012, Google Translate added Esperanto as its 64th language.

Esperanto, the world’s most successful constructed language, was conceived by the Polish-Jewish physician Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof.

He was born in Białystok in 1859, a city where four main languages were spoken: Polish, Russian, German, and Yiddish. As a child, he observed that this linguistic diversity often led to suspicion and misunderstanding among residents, inspiring him to create an international language to ease tensions. The first book outlining Esperanto grammar was published in Warsaw in 1887.

Lernu, the best known online Esperanto platform reported over 320,000 registered users in October 2018.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT POLAND

Poland’s oldest trees

The 700 years old

A yew tree in Henryków Lubański is Poland’s oldest, estimated to be 1,250 years old. This venerable tree stands in the garden of a former Cistercian monastery.

However, the most famous tree in Poland is a large oak named Bartek by locals, although it is much younger, around 700 years old. It grows in the village of Zagnańsk in the Świętokrzyskie voivodship. Both trees are recognized as national heritage sites.

The 1250 years old yew in Henryków Lubański bears the scars of Cossack sabres from 1813.

Bartek Oak

See you soon in Polska.