What you need to know about Poland
Poland is a European republic bordering the Baltic Sea. Located in Central Europe, the country’s area is 312,685 km2, a few km2 larger than Italy.
Poland currently has about 37.3 million inhabitants, a population slightly decreasing for several years due to a negative natural balance, with the number of deaths structurally exceeding births for more than a decade. Added to this is significant emigration, especially to Western Europe and North America, which has given rise to a large diaspora estimated at more than 20 million Poles living abroad, one of the largest in Europe.
The population represents about 0.46% of the world population, with a density of 124 inhabitants/km² and a median age of 43 years, reflecting an aging society.
The capital is Warsaw, the largest city in the country and the main political, economic, and cultural center. The international telephone code is +48 (0048 from a landline).
Which countries border Poland?
The bordering countries of Poland are Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia. They border Poland respectively to the West, Southwest, South, East-Southeast, East-Northeast, and Northeast for Lithuania and Russia. The Polish borders measure a total of 2,888 km, broken down as follows:
- Poland – Belarus 605 km
- Poland – Czech Republic 658 km
- Poland – Germany 456 km
- Poland – Lithuania 91 km
- Poland – Russia 206 km
- Poland – Slovakia 444 km
- Poland – Ukraine 428 km
Population of Poland
Poland currently has about 37.3 million inhabitants, approximately 0.46% of the world population. The demographic trend is downward, with a negative growth rate of -0.42% in 2025: the thirteenth consecutive year where the number of deaths exceeds births.
- Fertility rate: 1.38 children per woman, well below the replacement level
- Birth rate: 9.3 ‰
- Death rate: 10.5 ‰, higher than the birth rate
- Life expectancy: 77.9 years on average: 74.1 years for men, 82 years for women
- Median age: 43 years, a population undergoing accelerated aging
- Male/female ratio: about 94%, in favor of women, a particularly marked gap in the oldest age groups
This demographic decline is explained both by insufficient birth rates and by historically significant emigration, with the Polish diaspora abroad estimated at more than 20 million people, mainly concentrated in Western Europe and North America.
What are the colors of the country?
The Polish flag is one of the oldest in Central Europe. It was adopted in 1919. This flag consists of a white stripe and a red stripe of equal size. The red and white colors represent the coat of arms of Poland. White signifies peace and the cohesion of the people, and red represents freedom and the struggles to obtain it throughout the centuries.
As for the Polish coat of arms, there is a white eagle drawn on a red shield. The story of Lech, the founder of Poland, tells that a white eagle was crossed by a ray of sunlight which gave it a golden appearance.
What are the best cities to visit in Poland
Poznań
Poznań surprised me with its energy! It is a young, student city where cafes and bars overflow with life at all hours. I visited several truly remarkable museums and historical sites, and I was lucky to come across a cultural fair right in the city center, a total immersion in Polish culture. What I also loved was the ease of getting around to explore the surroundings: nature and nearby attractions are easily accessible.
Wrocław
Wrocław is a city that tells several stories at once. You can clearly feel Austrian, Bohemian, and Prussian influences in every street, every bridge, every park. The architecture is a true blend of cultures harmoniously coexisting on the banks of the Oder River. And like Poznań, it is a very lively university city, with particularly vibrant evenings!
Gdańsk
Gdańsk is a special case, and that’s what makes it fascinating. Completely destroyed during World War II and then rebuilt stone by stone, the city carries two eras visible on every street corner: the cobbled alleys and old pre-war churches stand alongside open-air gardens and the waterfront developed as a modern port city. You can also find traces of the old market and remnants of battles between the Teutonic Prussia and Poland, a life-sized history lesson.
Warsaw
The Polish capital is also a city rebuilt from scratch after the war, and this contrast is reflected in its architecture: Gothic churches and cultural museums neighbor imposing concrete buildings inherited from the Soviet era. I loved getting lost in the parks and upscale neighborhoods, and trying the restaurants to discover Polish specialties. The viewpoint from the Palace of Culture and Science, which towers over the city, offers an absolutely breathtaking 360° panorama.
Kraków
Krakow is the city that impressed me the most. One of the oldest in Poland, it has preserved an intact historic center with baroque churches, narrow alleys, and the Rynek Główny, one of the largest medieval squares in Central Europe. The Wawel Castle, perched on its hill, alone is worth the trip. In the evening, the city transforms: the synagogues in the Jewish quarter come alive, some museums open their doors at night, and the bars are always full. Krakow also serves as a starting point to visit the Auschwitz camp, an hour’s drive away, a harrowing but essential visit.
Where the cities are located on the Poland map
Poznań
On the map of Poland, the city of Poznań is located in the western part of the country. Geographic coordinates: 52° 24′ 00″ north, 16° 55′ 00″ east
Wroclaw
On the map of Poland, the city of Wroclaw, also called Vratislav, is located in the southeastern section of Poland. Geographic coordinates: 51° 07′ 00″ north, 17° 02′ 00″ east
Gdansk
The city of Gdansk is located in the northern part of the country; it is a port city on the Baltic Sea. Geographic coordinates: 54° 21′ 07″ north, 18° 38′ 48″ east
Warsaw
The capital is located in the central part of the country, 320 km from the Baltic Sea coast and the Carpathians. Geographic coordinates: 52° 13′ 56″ north, 21° 00′ 30″ east
Krakow
The city of Krakow is in the southern section of Poland, on the banks of the Vistula River. Geographic coordinates: 50° 04′ north, 19° 57′ east.
Administrative and climatic map of Poland
The Polish climate is described as a temperate continental climate. This type of climate is marked by icy winters with very low temperatures below 0°C. Along the coast, temperatures are higher, and as one moves inland, the temperatures become less harsh.
Winter throughout the country is harsh with less sunshine. At the beginning of the year, temperatures are quite low, especially along the coast facing the Baltic. In the southern and eastern sections, temperatures hover around 0°C or lower.
Snowfall in winter is sudden but lasts for a shorter time. It is also noted that Russian winds greatly influence the winter as temperatures drop sharply to -20°C. Rarely, intense cold spells are observed as a result of the influence of cold Russian winds causing temperatures to fall to between -20°C and -30°C.
At the beginning of spring, temperatures are still quite low, and from April onwards, unexpected cold spells can occur, leading to frost and snowfall. The first warm days begin in the second half of May with temperatures ranging from 15 to 20°C.
Summer in Poland is marked by high daytime temperatures and afternoon rains. The average temperature is 18°C but it gradually increases until July and August when it can reach 22°C. As one approaches the southern section of the country, temperatures become increasingly higher, up to 25°C. The number of rainy days averages 10 to 12 days, and 15 days in the southern section. Higher temperatures can be observed in the south, reaching up to 35°C.
Warsaw
Since the capital is located in the central part of the country, the climate is a temperate continental climate. As a result, rainfall is less abundant than on the coasts and on average, the annual precipitation is 530 mm. Winter and spring are marked by an almost complete absence of rain because snowfall is more significant. Sunshine hours in autumn and winter are very low, almost non-existent. However, the sun is very present in summer and the days are warmer; however, thunderstorms can occur in the afternoon.
Gdansk
The city of Gdansk experiences more or less constant precipitation throughout the year. The average annual rainfall is then 570 mm. Rain is more frequent from June to August. In contrast, winter is less rainy, so rain gives way to snow. Average temperatures near the Baltic Sea are 19°C during July and August.
Economic Map of Poland
Poland is today one of the most remarkable economic successes in Europe. Since joining the EU in 2004, it has moved from 9th to 6th largest GDP in the European Union, with a GDP now reaching 848 billion euros. Its model is based on a liberal economy driven by services, industry, and, to a lesser extent, agriculture oriented towards the production of industrial raw materials. The most successful sectors are automotive, metallurgy, agri-food, shipbuilding, and high-tech.
In 2025, Poland recorded a GDP growth of +3.6%, one of the best performances in the EU, far ahead of France (+0.9%) or Germany (+0.3%). GDP per capita has nearly doubled since 2005 and is expected to surpass that of Japan in purchasing power parity by 2026. Household consumption remains the main driver of this dynamic.
- Official currency: Złoty (PLN)
- Nominal GDP: approximately 1,040 billion USD (2025)
- GDP per capita: approximately 28,500 USD
- GDP growth: +3.6% in 2025, +3.4% forecast in 2026
- Unemployment rate: about 3%, one of the lowest in the EU
- Public debt: about 59% of GDP, rising notably due to defense spending (4.5% of GDP in 2025, among the highest in NATO)
Administrative Subdivisions and Demolinguistic Data
Administrative Subdivisions
Poland is divided into 16 voivodeships which are equivalent to regions in France. Here are the voivodeships:
- Lower Silesia
- Kuyavia-Pomerania
- Lublin
- Lubusz
- Łódź
- Lesser Poland
- Masovia
- Opole
- Subcarpathia
- Podlasie
- Pomerania
- Silesia
- Holy Cross
- Warmia-Masuria
- Greater Poland
- West Pomerania
The 16 voivodeships are then composed of 373 districts and communes numbering 2489. The districts are called powiat or powiaty in Polish, and the communes are called gmina.
Demolinguistic Data
The official language of the country is Polish; speakers represent almost the entire population, most of whom are natives. They account for about 97% of the total population. Minority languages are spoken by immigrants. These are French, English, German, and Russian.
There are 3 dialectal varieties in Poland: Lesser Polish, Greater Polish, and Masovian. These dialects are spoken respectively in the Krakow region, in the south, and in the central west of the country. There is also a minority dialect which is Silesian, spoken in the southern part of the country, in its western subdivision.
