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| languages = [[Polish language|Polish]]<ref>[[s:en:Constitution of the Republic of Poland/Chapter 1|Constitution of the Republic of Poland]], Article 27.</ref>
| languages = [[Polish language|Polish]]<ref>[[s:en:Constitution of the Republic of Poland/Chapter 1|Constitution of the Republic of Poland]], Article 27.</ref>


<!-- Population, ethnic groups -->| population_census = {{DecreaseNeutral}} 38,036,118<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistical Bulletin No 11/2022 |url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/other-studies/informations-on-socio-economic-situation/statistical-bulletin-no-112022,4,145.html |access-date=23 December 2022 |website=Statistics Poland}}</ref>
<!-- Population, ethnic groups -->| population_census = {{DecreaseNeutral}} 38,036,118<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statistical Bulletin No 11/2022 |url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/other-studies/informations-on-socio-economic-situation/statistical-bulletin-no-112022,4,145.html |access-date=23 December 2022 |website=Statistics Poland |archive-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223120843/https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/other-studies/informations-on-socio-economic-situation/statistical-bulletin-no-112022,4,145.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_census_year = 2022
| population_census_year = 2022
| population_census_rank = 38th
| population_census_rank = 38th
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}}
}}
| ethnic_groups_year = 2011
| ethnic_groups_year = 2011
| ethnic_groups_ref = <ref name="Central Statistical Office 2015">{{Cite book |url=https://stat.gov.pl/files/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5670/22/1/1/struktura_narodowo-etniczna.pdf |title=Struktura narodowo-etniczna, językowa i wyznaniowa ludności Polski. Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2011 |publisher=Central Statistical Office |year=2015 |isbn=978-83-7027-597-6 |page=36 |language=pl |trans-title=National-ethnic, linguistic and religious structure of Poland. National Census of Population and Housing 2011}}</ref>
| ethnic_groups_ref = <ref name="Central Statistical Office 2015">{{Cite book |url=https://stat.gov.pl/files/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5670/22/1/1/struktura_narodowo-etniczna.pdf |title=Struktura narodowo-etniczna, językowa i wyznaniowa ludności Polski. Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2011 |publisher=Central Statistical Office |year=2015 |isbn=978-83-7027-597-6 |page=36 |language=pl |trans-title=National-ethnic, linguistic and religious structure of Poland. National Census of Population and Housing 2011 |access-date=26 April 2018 |archive-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808010836/https://stat.gov.pl/files/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5670/22/1/1/struktura_narodowo-etniczna.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>


<!-- Religion -->| religion = {{ublist|item_style=white-space:
<!-- Religion -->| religion = {{ublist|item_style=white-space:
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<!-- Events -->| sovereignty_type = [[History of Poland|Formation]]
<!-- Events -->| sovereignty_type = [[History of Poland|Formation]]
| established_event1 = [[History of Poland during the Piast dynasty|Duchy of Poland]]{{efn|"The dukes (dux) were originally the commanders of an armed retinue (drużyna) with which they broke the authority of the chieftains of the clans, thus transforming the original tribal organization into a territorial unit."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/History | website =Encyclopedia Britannica |title=Poland |date=2023 |access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref>}}
| established_event1 = [[History of Poland during the Piast dynasty|Duchy of Poland]]{{efn|"The dukes (dux) were originally the commanders of an armed retinue (drużyna) with which they broke the authority of the chieftains of the clans, thus transforming the original tribal organization into a territorial unit."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/History |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |title=Poland |date=2023 |access-date=31 December 2023 |archive-date=19 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119191221/https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/History |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| established_date1 = {{circa}} 960
| established_date1 = {{circa}} 960
| established_event2 = [[Christianization of Poland|Baptism of Poland]]{{efn|"Mieszko accepted Roman Catholicism via Bohemia in 966. A missionary bishopric directly dependent on the papacy was established in Poznań. This was the true beginning of Polish history, for Christianity was a carrier of Western civilization with which Poland was henceforth associated."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/History | website =Encyclopedia Britannica |title=Poland |date=2023 |access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref>}}
| established_event2 = [[Christianization of Poland|Baptism of Poland]]{{efn|"Mieszko accepted Roman Catholicism via Bohemia in 966. A missionary bishopric directly dependent on the papacy was established in Poznań. This was the true beginning of Polish history, for Christianity was a carrier of Western civilization with which Poland was henceforth associated."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/History |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |title=Poland |date=2023 |access-date=31 December 2023 |archive-date=19 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119191221/https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/History |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| established_date2 = 14 April 966
| established_date2 = 14 April 966
| established_event3 = {{nowrap|[[Kingdom of Poland]]}}
| established_event3 = {{nowrap|[[Kingdom of Poland]]}}
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| established_date8 = 22 July 1944
| established_date8 = 22 July 1944
| established_event9 = {{nowrap|[[History of Poland (1989–present)|Third Republic]]}}
| established_event9 = {{nowrap|[[History of Poland (1989–present)|Third Republic]]}}
| established_date9 = {{nowrap|31 December 1989}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU19890750444|title=The Act of December 29, 1989 amending the Constitution of the Polish People's Republic.|publisher=Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych|access-date=18 October 2020}} {{in lang|pl}}</ref>
| established_date9 = {{nowrap|31 December 1989}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU19890750444|title=The Act of December 29, 1989 amending the Constitution of the Polish People's Republic.|publisher=Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych|access-date=18 October 2020|archive-date=19 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019101959/http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU19890750444|url-status=live}} {{in lang|pl}}</ref>


<!-- Area -->| area_km2 = 312696
<!-- Area -->| area_km2 = 312696
| area_footnote = <ref name="GUS">{{Cite web |last=GUS |title=Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2023 roku |url=https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/ludnosc/ludnosc/powierzchnia-i-ludnosc-w-przekroju-terytorialnym-w-2023-roku,7,20.html}}</ref><ref name="BBC News 2023">{{Cite web |date=12 November 2023 |title=Poland country profile |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17753718 |access-date=12 November 2023 |website=BBC News}}</ref>
| area_footnote = <ref name="GUS">{{Cite web |last=GUS |title=Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2023 roku |url=https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/ludnosc/ludnosc/powierzchnia-i-ludnosc-w-przekroju-terytorialnym-w-2023-roku,7,20.html |access-date=19 October 2023 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922225517/https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/ludnosc/ludnosc/powierzchnia-i-ludnosc-w-przekroju-terytorialnym-w-2023-roku,7,20.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC News 2023">{{Cite web |date=12 November 2023 |title=Poland country profile |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17753718 |access-date=12 November 2023 |website=BBC News |archive-date=21 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021204608/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17753718 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_rank = 69th
| area_rank = 69th
| area_sq_mi = 121,209.44 <!-- Do not remove per [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers]]. -->
| area_sq_mi = 121,209.44 <!-- Do not remove per [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers]]. -->
| percent_water = 1.48 (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surface water and surface water change |url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER# |access-date=11 October 2020 |publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)}}</ref>
| percent_water = 1.48 (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surface water and surface water change |url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER |access-date=11 October 2020 |publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD) |archive-date=24 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324133453/https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $1.712 trillion<ref name="International Monetary Fund 2023">{{Cite web |date=10 October 2023 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (Poland) |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=964,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2020&ey=2028&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |access-date=10 October 2023 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $1.712 trillion<ref name="International Monetary Fund 2023">{{Cite web |date=10 October 2023 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (Poland) |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=964,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2020&ey=2028&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |access-date=10 October 2023 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016010501/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=964,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2020&ey=2028&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year = 2023
| GDP_PPP_year = 2023
| GDP_PPP_rank = 20th
| GDP_PPP_rank = 20th
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| HDI_year = 2022<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year. -->
| HDI_year = 2022<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year. -->
| HDI_change = increase<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_change = increase<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref = <ref name="HDI">{{cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2023-24_HDR/HDR23-24_Statistical_Annex_HDI_Table.xlsx|title=Human Development Report 2023/2024|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=19 March 2024|access-date=19 March 2024}}</ref>
| HDI_ref = <ref name="HDI">{{cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2023-24_HDR/HDR23-24_Statistical_Annex_HDI_Table.xlsx|title=Human Development Report 2023/2024|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=19 March 2024|access-date=19 March 2024|archive-date=19 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319085123/https://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2023-24_HDR/HDR23-24_Statistical_Annex_HDI_Table.xlsx|url-status=live}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 36th
| HDI_rank = 36th


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}}
}}


'''Poland'''<!-- Do not add English pronunciation per [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Lead section]]. -->,{{efn|{{lang-pl|Polska}} {{IPA|pl|ˈpɔlska||Pl-Polska.ogg}}}} officially the '''Republic of Poland''',{{efn|{{lang-pl|[[Rzeczpospolita]] Polska|links=no}} {{IPA|pl|ʐɛt͡ʂpɔsˈpɔlita ˈpɔlska||Pl-Rzeczpospolita Polska.ogg}}}} is a country in [[Central Europe]]. It is divided into 16 administrative [[Voivodeships of Poland|voivodeship]] provinces, covering an area of {{convert|312696|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/ludnosc/ludnosc/powierzchnia-i-ludnosc-w-przekroju-terytorialnym-w-2023-roku,7,20.html|title=Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2023 roku|last=GUS}}</ref> Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous [[member state of the European Union]]. [[Warsaw]] is the nation's capital and largest [[List of cities and towns in Poland|metropolis]]. Other major cities include [[Kraków]], [[Wrocław]], [[Łódź]], [[Poznań]], and [[Gdańsk]].
'''Poland'''<!-- Do not add English pronunciation per [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Lead section]]. -->,{{efn|{{lang-pl|Polska}} {{IPA|pl|ˈpɔlska||Pl-Polska.ogg}}}} officially the '''Republic of Poland''',{{efn|{{lang-pl|[[Rzeczpospolita]] Polska|links=no}} {{IPA|pl|ʐɛt͡ʂpɔsˈpɔlita ˈpɔlska||Pl-Rzeczpospolita Polska.ogg}}}} is a country in [[Central Europe]]. It is divided into 16 administrative [[Voivodeships of Poland|voivodeship]] provinces, covering an area of {{convert|312696|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/ludnosc/ludnosc/powierzchnia-i-ludnosc-w-przekroju-terytorialnym-w-2023-roku,7,20.html|title=Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2023 roku|last=GUS|access-date=19 October 2023|archive-date=22 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922225517/https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/ludnosc/ludnosc/powierzchnia-i-ludnosc-w-przekroju-terytorialnym-w-2023-roku,7,20.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous [[member state of the European Union]]. [[Warsaw]] is the nation's capital and largest [[List of cities and towns in Poland|metropolis]]. Other major cities include [[Kraków]], [[Wrocław]], [[Łódź]], [[Poznań]], and [[Gdańsk]].


Poland has a [[temperateness|temperate transitional]] climate, and its territory traverses the [[North European Plain|Central European Plain]], extending from the [[Baltic Sea]] in the north to the [[Sudetes]] and [[Carpathian Mountains]] in the south. The longest Polish river is the [[Vistula]], and Poland's highest point is [[Mount Rysy]], situated in the [[Tatra Mountains|Tatra mountain range]] of the Carpathians. The country is bordered by [[Lithuania]] and [[Russia]] to the northeast,{{efn|Poland borders the [[Kaliningrad Oblast]], an [[Enclave and exclave|exclave]] of Russia.}} [[Belarus]] and [[Ukraine]] to the east, [[Slovakia]] and the [[Czech Republic]] to the south, and [[Germany]] to the west. It also shares [[Maritime boundary|maritime boundaries]] with [[Denmark]] and [[Sweden]].
Poland has a [[temperateness|temperate transitional]] climate, and its territory traverses the [[North European Plain|Central European Plain]], extending from the [[Baltic Sea]] in the north to the [[Sudetes]] and [[Carpathian Mountains]] in the south. The longest Polish river is the [[Vistula]], and Poland's highest point is [[Mount Rysy]], situated in the [[Tatra Mountains|Tatra mountain range]] of the Carpathians. The country is bordered by [[Lithuania]] and [[Russia]] to the northeast,{{efn|Poland borders the [[Kaliningrad Oblast]], an [[Enclave and exclave|exclave]] of Russia.}} [[Belarus]] and [[Ukraine]] to the east, [[Slovakia]] and the [[Czech Republic]] to the south, and [[Germany]] to the west. It also shares [[Maritime boundary|maritime boundaries]] with [[Denmark]] and [[Sweden]].
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== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
{{Main|Names of Poland}}
{{Main|Names of Poland}}
The native [[Polish language|Polish]] name for Poland is {{lang|pl|Polska}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Wayne C. |url={{GBurl|id=lttJEAAAQBAJ|dq=name+poland+%22polska%22+derived|p=322}} |title=Nordic, Central, and Southeastern Europe 2020–2022 |date=2021 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4758-5626-2 |location=Blue Ridge Summit |page=322}}</ref> The name is derived from the [[Polans (western)|Polans]], a [[West Slavs|West Slavic]] tribe who inhabited the [[Warta River]] basin of present-day [[Greater Poland]] region (6th–8th century CE).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lukowski |first1=Jerzy |url={{GBurl|id=NpMxTvBuWHYC|dq=polanie+poland+warta+history|p=4}} |title=A Concise History of Poland |last2=Zawadzki |first2=Hubert |date=2001 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0-521-55109-9 |location=Cambridge |page=4}}</ref> The tribe's name stems from the [[Proto-Slavic]] noun ''pole'' meaning field, which in-itself originates from the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] word ''*pleh₂-'' indicating flatland.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lehr-Spławiński |first=Tadeusz |url={{GBurl|id=EjJHAAAAIAAJ|q=Je%CC%A8zyk+polski+:+pochodzenie,+powstanie,+rozwo%CC%81j}} |title=Język polski. Pochodzenie, powstanie, rozwój |date=1978 |publisher=Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=64 |language=Polish |oclc=4307116}}</ref> The etymology alludes to the [[topography]] of the region and the flat landscape of Greater Poland.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Potkański |first=Karol |url={{GBurl|id=b78eAAAAMAAJ|q=p%C5%82aska%20wielkopolska%20polanie}} |title=Pisma pośmiertne. Granice plemienia Polan |date=2004 |publisher=Polska Akademia Umiejętności |isbn=978-83-7063-411-7 |volume=1 |location=Kraków |page=423 |language=Polish |orig-date=1922}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Everett-Heath |first=John |title=The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names |date=2019 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-0-19-190563-6 |location=Oxford |chapter=Poland (Polska) |author-link=John Everett-Heath |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=ufkFEAAAQBAJ|dq=poland+field+polanie|pg=PT1498}}}}</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], the [[Latin]] form ''Polonia'' was widely used throughout Europe.<ref name="Buko 2014">{{Cite book |last=Buko |first=Andrzej |url={{GBurl|id=VAOjBQAAQBAJ}} |title=Bodzia. A Late Viking-Age Elite Cemetery in Central Poland |date=2014 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-28132-5 |location=Leiden |pages=36, 62}}</ref>
The native [[Polish language|Polish]] name for Poland is {{lang|pl|Polska}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Wayne C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lttJEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA322&dq=%22name%2Bpoland%2B%2522polska%2522%2Bderived%22 |title=Nordic, Central, and Southeastern Europe 2020–2022 |date=2021 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4758-5626-2 |location=Blue Ridge Summit |page=322 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207011846/https://books.google.com/books?id=lttJEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA322&dq=%22name%2Bpoland%2B%2522polska%2522%2Bderived%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The name is derived from the [[Polans (western)|Polans]], a [[West Slavs|West Slavic]] tribe who inhabited the [[Warta River]] basin of present-day [[Greater Poland]] region (6th–8th century CE).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lukowski |first1=Jerzy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NpMxTvBuWHYC&pg=PA4&dq=%22polanie%2Bpoland%2Bwarta%2Bhistory%22 |title=A Concise History of Poland |last2=Zawadzki |first2=Hubert |date=2001 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0-521-55109-9 |location=Cambridge |page=4 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204080145/https://books.google.com/books?id=NpMxTvBuWHYC&pg=PA4&dq=%22polanie%2Bpoland%2Bwarta%2Bhistory%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The tribe's name stems from the [[Proto-Slavic]] noun ''pole'' meaning field, which in-itself originates from the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] word ''*pleh₂-'' indicating flatland.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lehr-Spławiński |first=Tadeusz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EjJHAAAAIAAJ&q=Je%25CC%25A8zyk%2Bpolski%2B:%2Bpochodzenie,%2Bpowstanie,%2Brozwo%25CC%2581j |title=Język polski. Pochodzenie, powstanie, rozwój |date=1978 |publisher=Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=64 |language=Polish |oclc=4307116 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235955/https://books.google.com/books?id=EjJHAAAAIAAJ&q=Je%25CC%25A8zyk%2Bpolski%2B:%2Bpochodzenie,%2Bpowstanie,%2Brozwo%25CC%2581j |url-status=live }}</ref> The etymology alludes to the [[topography]] of the region and the flat landscape of Greater Poland.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Potkański |first=Karol |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b78eAAAAMAAJ&q=p%25C5%2582aska%2520wielkopolska%2520polanie |title=Pisma pośmiertne. Granice plemienia Polan |date=2004 |publisher=Polska Akademia Umiejętności |isbn=978-83-7063-411-7 |volume=1 |location=Kraków |page=423 |language=Polish |orig-date=1922 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235906/https://books.google.com/books?id=b78eAAAAMAAJ&q=p%25C5%2582aska%2520wielkopolska%2520polanie |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Everett-Heath |first=John |title=The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names |date=2019 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-0-19-190563-6 |location=Oxford |chapter=Poland (Polska) |author-link=John Everett-Heath |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ufkFEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT1498&dq=%22poland%2Bfield%2Bpolanie%22 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204080136/https://books.google.com/books?id=ufkFEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT1498&dq=%22poland%2Bfield%2Bpolanie%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], the [[Latin]] form ''Polonia'' was widely used throughout Europe.<ref name="Buko 2014">{{Cite book |last=Buko |first=Andrzej |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VAOjBQAAQBAJ |title=Bodzia. A Late Viking-Age Elite Cemetery in Central Poland |date=2014 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-28132-5 |location=Leiden |pages=36, 62 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407051434/https://books.google.com/books?id=VAOjBQAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>


The country's alternative archaic name is ''[[Lechia]]'' and its root syllable remains in official use in several languages, notably [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]], and [[Persian language|Persian]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hannan |first=Kevin |url={{GBurl|id=YmrlAAAAMAAJ|q=poland+persian+lithuanian+hungarian+lechitic}} |title=Language and Identity in a West Slavic Borderland: The Case of Teschen Silesia |date=1994 |publisher=University of Texas |location=Austin |page=127 |oclc=35825118}}</ref> The [[exonym]] possibly derives from either [[Lech and Czech|Lech]], a legendary ruler of the [[Lechites]], or from the [[Lendians]], a West Slavic tribe that dwelt on the south-easternmost edge of [[Lesser Poland]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014">{{Cite book |last=Dabrowski |first=Patrice M. |url={{GBurl|id=X__-DwAAQBAJ}} |title=Poland. The First Thousand Years |date=2014 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-1-5017-5740-2 |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kamusella |first=Tomasz |url={{GBurl|id=spRUEAAAQBAJ|dq=lendians+lech+poland|p=9}} |title=Words in Space and Time: A Historical Atlas of Language Politics in Modern Central Europe |date=2022 |publisher=Central European University Press |isbn=978-963-386-418-0 |location=Budapest |page=9}}</ref> The origin of the tribe's name lies in the [[Old Polish language|Old Polish]] word ''lęda'' (plain).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Małecki |first=Antoni |url={{GBurl|id=dYwBAAAAMAAJ|q=Lechici+w+%C5%9Bwietle+historycznej+krytyki}} |title=Lechici w świetle historycznej krytyki |date=1907 |publisher=Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich |isbn=978-83-65746-64-1 |location=Lwów (Lviv) |page=37 |language=Polish}}</ref> Initially, both names ''Lechia'' and ''Polonia'' were used interchangeably when referring to Poland by chroniclers during the [[Middle Ages]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Andersson |first1=Theodore Murdock |url={{GBurl|id=lrdcDwAAQBAJ|dq=The+Earliest+Icelandic+Chronicle+of+the+Norwegian+Kings+%281030-1157%29+2000|pg=PR4}} |title=The Earliest Icelandic Chronicle of the Norwegian Kings (1030–1157) |last2=Morkinskinna |first2=Ellen Gade |date=2000 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-0-8014-3694-9 |location=Ithaca |page=471}}</ref>
The country's alternative archaic name is ''[[Lechia]]'' and its root syllable remains in official use in several languages, notably [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]], and [[Persian language|Persian]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hannan |first=Kevin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YmrlAAAAMAAJ&q=poland%2Bpersian%2Blithuanian%2Bhungarian%2Blechitic |title=Language and Identity in a West Slavic Borderland: The Case of Teschen Silesia |date=1994 |publisher=University of Texas |location=Austin |page=127 |oclc=35825118 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235904/https://books.google.com/books?id=YmrlAAAAMAAJ&q=poland%2Bpersian%2Blithuanian%2Bhungarian%2Blechitic |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[exonym]] possibly derives from either [[Lech and Czech|Lech]], a legendary ruler of the [[Lechites]], or from the [[Lendians]], a West Slavic tribe that dwelt on the south-easternmost edge of [[Lesser Poland]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014">{{Cite book |last=Dabrowski |first=Patrice M. |url={{GBurl|id=X__-DwAAQBAJ}} |title=Poland. The First Thousand Years |date=2014 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-1-5017-5740-2 |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kamusella |first=Tomasz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=spRUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA9&dq=%22lendians%2Blech%2Bpoland%22 |title=Words in Space and Time: A Historical Atlas of Language Politics in Modern Central Europe |date=2022 |publisher=Central European University Press |isbn=978-963-386-418-0 |location=Budapest |page=9 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204080203/https://books.google.com/books?id=spRUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA9&dq=%22lendians%2Blech%2Bpoland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The origin of the tribe's name lies in the [[Old Polish language|Old Polish]] word ''lęda'' (plain).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Małecki |first=Antoni |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dYwBAAAAMAAJ&q=Lechici%2Bw%2B%25C5%259Bwietle%2Bhistorycznej%2Bkrytyki |title=Lechici w świetle historycznej krytyki |date=1907 |publisher=Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich |isbn=978-83-65746-64-1 |location=Lwów (Lviv) |page=37 |language=Polish |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235910/https://books.google.com/books?id=dYwBAAAAMAAJ&q=Lechici%2Bw%2B%25C5%259Bwietle%2Bhistorycznej%2Bkrytyki |url-status=live }}</ref> Initially, both names ''Lechia'' and ''Polonia'' were used interchangeably when referring to Poland by chroniclers during the [[Middle Ages]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Andersson |first1=Theodore Murdock |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lrdcDwAAQBAJ&pg=PR4&dq=%22The%2BEarliest%2BIcelandic%2BChronicle%2Bof%2Bthe%2BNorwegian%2BKings%2B%25281030-1157%2529%2B2000%22 |title=The Earliest Icelandic Chronicle of the Norwegian Kings (1030–1157) |last2=Morkinskinna |first2=Ellen Gade |date=2000 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-0-8014-3694-9 |location=Ithaca |page=471 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204080133/https://books.google.com/books?id=lrdcDwAAQBAJ&pg=PR4&dq=%22The%2BEarliest%2BIcelandic%2BChronicle%2Bof%2Bthe%2BNorwegian%2BKings%2B%25281030-1157%2529%2B2000%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
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[[File:Biskupin1.jpg|thumb|right|A reconstruction of a [[Bronze Age]], [[Lusatian culture]] settlement in [[Biskupin]], 8th century BC]]
[[File:Biskupin1.jpg|thumb|right|A reconstruction of a [[Bronze Age]], [[Lusatian culture]] settlement in [[Biskupin]], 8th century BC]]


The first [[Stone Age]] archaic humans and ''[[Homo erectus]]'' species settled what was to become Poland approximately 500,000 years ago, though the ensuing hostile climate prevented early humans from founding more permanent encampments.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fabisiak |first=Wojciech |url={{GBurl|id=g_8jAQAAIAAJ|q=500%20000%20lat%20temu%20polska%20homo%20erectus}} |title=Dzieje powiatu wrocławskiego |date=2002 |publisher=Starostwo Powiatowe |isbn=978-83-913985-3-1 |location=Wrocław |page=9 |language=pl}}</ref> The arrival of ''[[Homo sapiens]]'' and [[Early European modern humans|anatomically modern humans]] coincided with the climatic discontinuity at the end of the [[Last Glacial Period]] ([[Weichselian glaciation|Northern Polish glaciation]] 10,000 BC), when Poland became habitable.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jurek |first=Krzysztof |title=Poznać przeszłość 1. Karty pracy ucznia. Poziom podstawowy |date=2019 |publisher=Nowa Era |isbn=978-83-267-3653-7 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=93 |language=pl}}</ref> [[Neolithic]] excavations indicated broad-ranging development in that era; the earliest evidence of European cheesemaking (5500 BC) was discovered in Polish [[Kuyavia]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Subbaraman |first=Nidhi |date=12 December 2012 |title=Art of cheese-making is 7,500 years old |url=http://www.nature.com/news/art-of-cheese-making-is-7-500-years-old-1.12020 |journal=Nature News |doi=10.1038/nature.2012.12020 |s2cid=180646880}}</ref> and the [[Bronocice pot]] is incised with the earliest known depiction of what may be a wheeled vehicle (3400 BC).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Attema |first1=P. A. J. |last2=Los-Weijns |first2=Ma |last3=Pers |first3=N. D. Maring-Van der |date=December 2006 |title=Bronocice, Flintbek, Uruk, Jebel Aruda and Arslantepe: The Earliest Evidence Of Wheeled Vehicles In Europe And The Near East |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qqEqjtKJQ3YC&dq=%22Bronocice,+Flintbek,+Uruk,+Jebel+Aruda+and+Arslantepe:+The+Earliest+Evidence+Of+Wheeled+Vehicles+In+Europe+And+The+Near+East%22&pg=PA10 |journal=Palaeohistoria |publisher=[[University of Groningen]] |volume=47 |pages=10–28 (11) |isbn=9789077922187}}</ref>
The first [[Stone Age]] archaic humans and ''[[Homo erectus]]'' species settled what was to become Poland approximately 500,000 years ago, though the ensuing hostile climate prevented early humans from founding more permanent encampments.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fabisiak |first=Wojciech |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g_8jAQAAIAAJ&q=500%2520000%2520lat%2520temu%2520polska%2520homo%2520erectus |title=Dzieje powiatu wrocławskiego |date=2002 |publisher=Starostwo Powiatowe |isbn=978-83-913985-3-1 |location=Wrocław |page=9 |language=pl |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235907/https://books.google.com/books?id=g_8jAQAAIAAJ&q=500%2520000%2520lat%2520temu%2520polska%2520homo%2520erectus |url-status=live }}</ref> The arrival of ''[[Homo sapiens]]'' and [[Early European modern humans|anatomically modern humans]] coincided with the climatic discontinuity at the end of the [[Last Glacial Period]] ([[Weichselian glaciation|Northern Polish glaciation]] 10,000 BC), when Poland became habitable.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jurek |first=Krzysztof |title=Poznać przeszłość 1. Karty pracy ucznia. Poziom podstawowy |date=2019 |publisher=Nowa Era |isbn=978-83-267-3653-7 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=93 |language=pl}}</ref> [[Neolithic]] excavations indicated broad-ranging development in that era; the earliest evidence of European cheesemaking (5500 BC) was discovered in Polish [[Kuyavia]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Subbaraman |first=Nidhi |date=12 December 2012 |title=Art of cheese-making is 7,500 years old |url=http://www.nature.com/news/art-of-cheese-making-is-7-500-years-old-1.12020 |journal=Nature News |doi=10.1038/nature.2012.12020 |s2cid=180646880 |access-date=7 August 2021 |archive-date=8 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508085311/https://www.nature.com/news/art-of-cheese-making-is-7-500-years-old-1.12020 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Bronocice pot]] is incised with the earliest known depiction of what may be a wheeled vehicle (3400 BC).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Attema |first1=P. A. J. |last2=Los-Weijns |first2=Ma |last3=Pers |first3=N. D. Maring-Van der |date=December 2006 |title=Bronocice, Flintbek, Uruk, Jebel Aruda and Arslantepe: The Earliest Evidence Of Wheeled Vehicles In Europe And The Near East |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qqEqjtKJQ3YC&dq=%22Bronocice,+Flintbek,+Uruk,+Jebel+Aruda+and+Arslantepe:+The+Earliest+Evidence+Of+Wheeled+Vehicles+In+Europe+And+The+Near+East%22&pg=PA10 |journal=Palaeohistoria |publisher=[[University of Groningen]] |volume=47 |pages=10–28 (11) |isbn=9789077922187}}</ref>


The period spanning the [[Bronze Age]] and the [[Early Iron Age]] (1300 BC–500 BC) was marked by an increase in population density, establishment of [[palisade]]d settlements ([[Gord (archaeology)|gords]]) and the expansion of [[Lusatian culture]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harding |first=Anthony |url={{GBurl|id=XoxoAgAAQBAJ|dq=bronze+age+poland+lusatian|p=772}} |title=The Oxford Handbook of the European Bronze Age |date=2020 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-0-19-885507-1 |location=Oxford |pages=766–783}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Price |first=T. Douglas |url={{GBurl|id=IZ_KBwAAQBAJ|dq=lusatian+culture+1300+BC+%E2%80%93+500+BC|p=212}} |title=Ancient Scandinavia: an archaeological history from the first humans to the Vikings |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-023198-9 |location=New York |page=212}}</ref> A significant archaeological find from [[Prehistory and protohistory of Poland|the protohistory of Poland]] is a fortified settlement at [[Biskupin]], attributed to the Lusatian culture of the [[Late Bronze Age]] (mid-8th century BC).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ring |first1=Trudy |url={{GBurl|id=yfPYAQAAQBAJ|q=biskupin|p=96}} |title=Northern Europe: International Dictionary of Historic Places |last2=Watson |first2=Noelle |last3=Schellinger |first3=Paul |date=28 October 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-63944-9 |language=en |access-date=31 March 2019}}</ref>
The period spanning the [[Bronze Age]] and the [[Early Iron Age]] (1300 BC–500 BC) was marked by an increase in population density, establishment of [[palisade]]d settlements ([[Gord (archaeology)|gords]]) and the expansion of [[Lusatian culture]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harding |first=Anthony |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XoxoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA772&dq=%22bronze%2Bage%2Bpoland%2Blusatian%22 |title=The Oxford Handbook of the European Bronze Age |date=2020 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-0-19-885507-1 |location=Oxford |pages=766–783 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180454/https://books.google.com/books?id=XoxoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA772&dq=%22bronze+age+poland+lusatian%22 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Price |first=T. Douglas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IZ_KBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA212&dq=%22lusatian%2Bculture%2B1300%2BBC%2B%25E2%2580%2593%2B500%2BBC%22 |title=Ancient Scandinavia: an archaeological history from the first humans to the Vikings |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-023198-9 |location=New York |page=212 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180455/https://books.google.com/books?id=IZ_KBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA212&dq=%22lusatian+culture+1300+BC+%E2%80%93+500+BC%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> A significant archaeological find from [[Prehistory and protohistory of Poland|the protohistory of Poland]] is a fortified settlement at [[Biskupin]], attributed to the Lusatian culture of the [[Late Bronze Age]] (mid-8th century BC).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ring |first1=Trudy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yfPYAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA96&q=biskupin |title=Northern Europe: International Dictionary of Historic Places |last2=Watson |first2=Noelle |last3=Schellinger |first3=Paul |date=28 October 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-63944-9 |language=en |access-date=31 March 2019 |archive-date=24 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824094046/https://books.google.com/books?id=yfPYAQAAQBAJ&q=biskupin&pg=PA96 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Throughout [[Classical antiquity|antiquity]] (400 BC–500 AD), many distinct ancient populations inhabited the territory of present-day Poland, notably [[Celts|Celtic]], [[Scythia]]n, [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]], [[Sarmatians|Sarmatian]], [[Balts|Baltic]] and [[Early Slavs|Slavic]] tribes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Norman |url={{GBurl|id=mkcSDAAAQBAJ}} |title=Heart of Europe. The Past in Poland's Present |date=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-280126-5 |location=Oxford |page=247 |language=en |author-link=Norman Davies}}</ref> Furthermore, archaeological findings confirmed the presence of [[Roman Legions]] sent to protect the [[Amber Road|amber trade]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zdziebłowski |first=Szymon |date=9 May 2018 |title=Archaeologist: We have evidence of the presence of Roman legionaries in Poland |url=https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C29414%2Carchaeologist-we-have-evidence-presence-roman-legionaries-poland.html |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=Science in Poland |publisher=Polish Ministry of Education and Science}}</ref> The [[Polish tribes]] emerged following the [[Migration Period#Second wave|second wave of the Migration Period]] around the 6th century AD;<ref name="Buko 2014" /> they were [[Slavs|Slavic]] and may have included assimilated remnants of peoples that earlier dwelled in the area.<ref>{{Citation |last=Mielnik-Sikorska |first=Marta |title=The History of Slavs Inferred from Complete Mitochondrial Genome Sequences |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=e54360 |year=2013 |bibcode=2013PLoSO...854360M |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0054360 |pmc=3544712 |pmid=23342138 |display-authors=etal |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brather |first=Sebastian |year=2004 |title=The Archaeology of the Northwestern Slavs (Seventh To Ninth Centuries) |journal=East Central Europe |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=78–81 |doi=10.1163/187633004x00116}}</ref> Beginning in the early 10th century, the [[Polans (western)|Polans]] would come to dominate other [[Lechites|Lechitic]] tribes in the region, initially forming a tribal federation and later a centralised monarchial state.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McKenna |first=Amy |url={{GBurl|id=Ef2cAAAAQBAJ|dq=polanie+tribal+monarchy|p=132}} |title=Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland |date=2013 |publisher=Britannica Educational Publishing |isbn=978-1-61530-991-7 |page=132}}</ref>
Throughout [[Classical antiquity|antiquity]] (400 BC–500 AD), many distinct ancient populations inhabited the territory of present-day Poland, notably [[Celts|Celtic]], [[Scythia]]n, [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]], [[Sarmatians|Sarmatian]], [[Balts|Baltic]] and [[Early Slavs|Slavic]] tribes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Norman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mkcSDAAAQBAJ |title=Heart of Europe. The Past in Poland's Present |date=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-280126-5 |location=Oxford |page=247 |language=en |author-link=Norman Davies |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=18 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518111254/https://books.google.com/books?id=mkcSDAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> Furthermore, archaeological findings confirmed the presence of [[Roman Legions]] sent to protect the [[Amber Road|amber trade]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zdziebłowski |first=Szymon |date=9 May 2018 |title=Archaeologist: We have evidence of the presence of Roman legionaries in Poland |url=https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C29414%2Carchaeologist-we-have-evidence-presence-roman-legionaries-poland.html |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=Science in Poland |publisher=Polish Ministry of Education and Science |archive-date=15 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215225927/https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,29414,archaeologist-we-have-evidence-presence-roman-legionaries-poland.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Polish tribes]] emerged following the [[Migration Period#Second wave|second wave of the Migration Period]] around the 6th century AD;<ref name="Buko 2014" /> they were [[Slavs|Slavic]] and may have included assimilated remnants of peoples that earlier dwelled in the area.<ref>{{Citation |last=Mielnik-Sikorska |first=Marta |title=The History of Slavs Inferred from Complete Mitochondrial Genome Sequences |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=e54360 |year=2013 |bibcode=2013PLoSO...854360M |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0054360 |pmc=3544712 |pmid=23342138 |display-authors=etal |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brather |first=Sebastian |year=2004 |title=The Archaeology of the Northwestern Slavs (Seventh To Ninth Centuries) |journal=East Central Europe |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=78–81 |doi=10.1163/187633004x00116}}</ref> Beginning in the early 10th century, the [[Polans (western)|Polans]] would come to dominate other [[Lechites|Lechitic]] tribes in the region, initially forming a tribal federation and later a centralised monarchial state.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McKenna |first=Amy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ef2cAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA132&dq=%22polanie%2Btribal%2Bmonarchy%22 |title=Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland |date=2013 |publisher=Britannica Educational Publishing |isbn=978-1-61530-991-7 |page=132 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180456/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ef2cAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA132&dq=%22polanie+tribal+monarchy%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Kingdom of Poland ===
=== Kingdom of Poland ===
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[[File:Poland960.png|thumb|left|Poland under the rule of [[Mieszko I]], whose acceptance of Christianity under the auspices of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Church]] and the [[Baptism of Poland]] marked the beginning of statehood in 966]]
[[File:Poland960.png|thumb|left|Poland under the rule of [[Mieszko I]], whose acceptance of Christianity under the auspices of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Church]] and the [[Baptism of Poland]] marked the beginning of statehood in 966]]


Poland began to form into a recognisable unitary and territorial entity around the middle of the 10th century under the [[Piast dynasty]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dabrowski |first=Patrice |title=Poland: The First Thousand Years |date=2014 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-1-5017-5740-2 |location=Ithaca |pages=21–22}}</ref> In 966, ruler of the Polans [[Mieszko I of Poland|Mieszko I]] accepted Christianity under the auspices of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Church]] with the [[Baptism of Poland]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramet |first=Sabrina |url={{GBurl|id=D2gpDwAAQBAJ}} |title=The Catholic Church in Polish History. From 966 to the Present |date=2017 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US |isbn=978-1-137-40281-3 |location=New York |page=15}}</ref> In 968, a missionary [[bishopric]] was established in [[Poznań]]. An [[incipit]] titled [[Dagome iudex]] first defined Poland's geographical boundaries with its capital in [[Gniezno]] and affirmed that its monarchy was under the protection of the [[Apostolic See]].<ref name="Curta 2016">{{Cite book |last1=Curta |first1=Florin |url={{GBurl|id=dgF9DQAAQBAJ|dq=dagome+iudex+gniezno+poland|p=468}} |title=Great Events in Religion |last2=Holt |first2=Andrew |date=2016 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-61069-566-4 |location=Santa Barbara |pages=468, 480–481}}</ref> The country's early origins were described by [[Gallus Anonymus]] in {{Lang|la|[[Gesta principum Polonorum]]}}, the oldest Polish chronicle.<ref>{{Citation |title=Gesta Principum Polonorum / The Deeds of the Princes of the Poles |volume=3 |pages=87–211 |year=2003 |editor-last=Knoll |editor-first=Paul W. |series=Central European Medieval Texts, General Editors János M. Bak, Urszula Borkowska, Giles Constable & Gábor Klaniczay |place=Budapest/ New York |publisher=Central European University Press |isbn=978-963-9241-40-4 |editor2-last=Schaer |editor2-first=Frank}}</ref> An important national event of the period was the [[martyrdom]] of [[Adalbert of Prague|Saint Adalbert]], who was killed by [[Old Prussians|Prussian]] pagans in 997 and whose remains were reputedly bought back for their weight in gold by Mieszko's successor, [[Bolesław I the Brave]].<ref name="Curta 2016" />
Poland began to form into a recognisable unitary and territorial entity around the middle of the 10th century under the [[Piast dynasty]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dabrowski |first=Patrice |title=Poland: The First Thousand Years |date=2014 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-1-5017-5740-2 |location=Ithaca |pages=21–22}}</ref> In 966, ruler of the Polans [[Mieszko I of Poland|Mieszko I]] accepted Christianity under the auspices of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Church]] with the [[Baptism of Poland]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ramet |first=Sabrina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D2gpDwAAQBAJ |title=The Catholic Church in Polish History. From 966 to the Present |date=2017 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US |isbn=978-1-137-40281-3 |location=New York |page=15 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414113421/https://books.google.com/books?id=D2gpDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 968, a missionary [[bishopric]] was established in [[Poznań]]. An [[incipit]] titled [[Dagome iudex]] first defined Poland's geographical boundaries with its capital in [[Gniezno]] and affirmed that its monarchy was under the protection of the [[Apostolic See]].<ref name="Curta 2016">{{Cite book |last1=Curta |first1=Florin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dgF9DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA468&dq=%22dagome%2Biudex%2Bgniezno%2Bpoland%22 |title=Great Events in Religion |last2=Holt |first2=Andrew |date=2016 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-61069-566-4 |location=Santa Barbara |pages=468, 480–481 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180512/https://books.google.com/books?id=dgF9DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA468&dq=%22dagome+iudex+gniezno+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The country's early origins were described by [[Gallus Anonymus]] in {{Lang|la|[[Gesta principum Polonorum]]}}, the oldest Polish chronicle.<ref>{{Citation |title=Gesta Principum Polonorum / The Deeds of the Princes of the Poles |volume=3 |pages=87–211 |year=2003 |editor-last=Knoll |editor-first=Paul W. |series=Central European Medieval Texts, General Editors János M. Bak, Urszula Borkowska, Giles Constable & Gábor Klaniczay |place=Budapest/ New York |publisher=Central European University Press |isbn=978-963-9241-40-4 |editor2-last=Schaer |editor2-first=Frank}}</ref> An important national event of the period was the [[martyrdom]] of [[Adalbert of Prague|Saint Adalbert]], who was killed by [[Old Prussians|Prussian]] pagans in 997 and whose remains were reputedly bought back for their weight in gold by Mieszko's successor, [[Bolesław I the Brave]].<ref name="Curta 2016" />


In 1000, at the [[Congress of Gniezno]], Bolesław obtained the right of [[investiture]] from [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor]], who assented to the creation of additional bishoprics and an archdioceses in Gniezno.<ref name="Curta 2016" /> Three new dioceses were subsequently established in [[Kraków]], [[Kołobrzeg]], and [[Wrocław]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ożóg |first=Krzysztof |url={{GBurl|id=VbouAQAAIAAJ|q=gniezno%20krakow%20wroclaw%20ko%C5%82obrzeg}} |title=The Role of Poland in the Intellectual Development of Europe in the Middle Ages |date=2009 |publisher=Societas Vistulana |isbn=978-83-61033-36-3 |location=Kraków |page=7}}</ref> Also, Otto bestowed upon Bolesław royal [[regalia]] and a replica of the [[Holy Lance]], which were later used at his coronation as the first [[List of Polish monarchs|King of Poland]] in {{Circa|1025}}, when Bolesław received permission for his coronation from [[Pope John XIX]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Urbańczyk |first=Przemysław |title=Bolesław Chrobry – lew ryczący |date=2017 |publisher=Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika |isbn=978-8-323-13886-0 |location=Toruń |pages=309–310 |language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Norman |title=God's Playground: A History of Poland |title-link=God's Playground |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2005a |isbn=978-0-231-12817-9 |edition=2nd |volume=I |location=Oxford |pages=27–28 |author-link=Norman Davies}}</ref> Bolesław also expanded the realm considerably by seizing parts of German [[Lusatia]], Czech [[Moravia]], [[Upper Hungary]] and southwestern regions of the [[Kievan Rus']].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kumor |first1=Bolesław |url={{GBurl|id=3LrYAAAAMAAJ|q=boles%C5%82aw%20morawy%20%C5%82u%C5%BCyce%20w%C4%99gry}} |title=Historia Kościoła w Polsce |last2=Obertyński |first2=Zdzisław |date=1974 |publisher=Pallottinum |location=Poznań |page=12 |oclc=174416485}}</ref>
In 1000, at the [[Congress of Gniezno]], Bolesław obtained the right of [[investiture]] from [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor]], who assented to the creation of additional bishoprics and an archdioceses in Gniezno.<ref name="Curta 2016" /> Three new dioceses were subsequently established in [[Kraków]], [[Kołobrzeg]], and [[Wrocław]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ożóg |first=Krzysztof |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VbouAQAAIAAJ&q=gniezno%2520krakow%2520wroclaw%2520ko%25C5%2582obrzeg |title=The Role of Poland in the Intellectual Development of Europe in the Middle Ages |date=2009 |publisher=Societas Vistulana |isbn=978-83-61033-36-3 |location=Kraków |page=7 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235925/https://books.google.com/books?id=VbouAQAAIAAJ&q=gniezno%2520krakow%2520wroclaw%2520ko%25C5%2582obrzeg |url-status=live }}</ref> Also, Otto bestowed upon Bolesław royal [[regalia]] and a replica of the [[Holy Lance]], which were later used at his coronation as the first [[List of Polish monarchs|King of Poland]] in {{Circa|1025}}, when Bolesław received permission for his coronation from [[Pope John XIX]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Urbańczyk |first=Przemysław |title=Bolesław Chrobry – lew ryczący |date=2017 |publisher=Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika |isbn=978-8-323-13886-0 |location=Toruń |pages=309–310 |language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Norman |title=God's Playground: A History of Poland |title-link=God's Playground |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2005a |isbn=978-0-231-12817-9 |edition=2nd |volume=I |location=Oxford |pages=27–28 |author-link=Norman Davies}}</ref> Bolesław also expanded the realm considerably by seizing parts of German [[Lusatia]], Czech [[Moravia]], [[Upper Hungary]] and southwestern regions of the [[Kievan Rus']].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kumor |first1=Bolesław |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3LrYAAAAMAAJ&q=boles%25C5%2582aw%2520morawy%2520%25C5%2582u%25C5%25BCyce%2520w%25C4%2599gry |title=Historia Kościoła w Polsce |last2=Obertyński |first2=Zdzisław |date=1974 |publisher=Pallottinum |location=Poznań |page=12 |oclc=174416485 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235917/https://books.google.com/books?id=3LrYAAAAMAAJ&q=boles%25C5%2582aw%2520morawy%2520%25C5%2582u%25C5%25BCyce%2520w%25C4%2599gry |url-status=live }}</ref>


[[File:Casimir the Great by Leopold Löffler.PNG|thumb|upright|right|[[Casimir III the Great]] is the only Polish king to receive the title of ''Great''. He built extensively during his reign, and reformed the Polish army along with the country's legal code, 1333–70.]]
[[File:Casimir the Great by Leopold Löffler.PNG|thumb|upright|right|[[Casimir III the Great]] is the only Polish king to receive the title of ''Great''. He built extensively during his reign, and reformed the Polish army along with the country's legal code, 1333–70.]]


The transition from [[Slavic paganism|paganism]] in Poland was not instantaneous and resulted in the [[Pagan reaction in Poland|pagan reaction of the 1030s]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gerard Labuda |url={{GBurl|id=Gb8gAAAAIAAJ|q=1032}} |title=Mieszko II król Polski: 1025–1034: czasy przełomu w dziejach państwa polskiego |publisher=Secesja |year=1992 |isbn=978-83-85483-46-5 |page=112 |quote=... w wersji Anonima Minoryty mówi się znowu, iż w Polsce "paliły się kościoły i klasztory", co koresponduje w przekazaną przez Anonima Galla wiadomością o zniszczeniu kościołów katedralnych w Gnieźnie... |access-date=26 October 2014}}</ref> In 1031, [[Mieszko II Lambert]] lost the title of king and fled amidst the violence.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krajewska |first=Monika |url={{GBurl|id=BnlGAQAAIAAJ|q=mieszko%20II%20w%201031%20utraci%C5%82%201032%20ksi%C4%85%C5%BC%C4%99}} |title=Integracja i dezintegracja państwa Piastów w kronikach polskich Marcina Kromera oraz Marcina i Joachima Bielskich9 |date=2010 |publisher=W. Neriton |isbn=978-83-909852-1-3 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=82 |language=pl}}</ref> The unrest led to the transfer of the capital to Kraków in 1038 by [[Casimir I the Restorer]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anita J. Prazmowska |url={{GBurl|id=r_0-BjHIkh4C|pg=PT28}} |title=A History of Poland |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-230-34537-9 |pages=34–35 |access-date=26 October 2014}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1076, [[Bolesław II the Generous|Bolesław II]] re-instituted the office of king, but was banished in 1079 for murdering his opponent, [[Stanislaus of Szczepanów|Bishop Stanislaus]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Melton |first=J. Gordon |url={{GBurl|id=lD_2J7W_2hQC}} |title=Religious Celebrations. An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations |date=2011 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-206-7 |location=Santa Barbara |page=834}}</ref> In 1138, the country [[Testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth|fragmented]] into five principalities when [[Bolesław III Wrymouth]] divided his lands among his sons.<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> These comprised [[Lesser Poland]], Greater Poland, [[Silesia]], [[Masovia]] and [[Sandomierz]], with intermittent hold over [[Pomerania]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hourihane |first=Colum |url={{GBurl|id=FtlMAgAAQBAJ|dq=1138+%22five%22+silesia+mazovia+sandomierz+pomerania|pg=RA4-PA14}} |title=The Grove encyclopedia of medieval art and architecture |date=2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-539536-5 |volume=2 |location=New York |page=14}}</ref> In 1226, [[Konrad I of Masovia]] invited the [[Teutonic Knights]] to aid in combating the [[Balts|Baltic]] Prussians; a decision that later led to centuries of warfare with the Knights.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Biber |first1=Tomasz |url={{GBurl|id=AbYjAQAAIAAJ|q=konrad%20mazowiecki%20krzy%C5%BCacy%20sprowadzi%C5%82}} |title=Encyklopedia Polska 2000. Poczet władców |last2=Leszczyński |first2=Maciej |date=2000 |publisher=Podsiedlik-Raniowski |isbn=978-83-7212-307-7 |location=Poznań |page=47}}</ref>
The transition from [[Slavic paganism|paganism]] in Poland was not instantaneous and resulted in the [[Pagan reaction in Poland|pagan reaction of the 1030s]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gerard Labuda |url={{GBurl|id=Gb8gAAAAIAAJ|q=1032}} |title=Mieszko II król Polski: 1025–1034: czasy przełomu w dziejach państwa polskiego |publisher=Secesja |year=1992 |isbn=978-83-85483-46-5 |page=112 |quote=... w wersji Anonima Minoryty mówi się znowu, iż w Polsce "paliły się kościoły i klasztory", co koresponduje w przekazaną przez Anonima Galla wiadomością o zniszczeniu kościołów katedralnych w Gnieźnie... |access-date=26 October 2014}}</ref> In 1031, [[Mieszko II Lambert]] lost the title of king and fled amidst the violence.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krajewska |first=Monika |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BnlGAQAAIAAJ&q=mieszko%2520II%2520w%25201031%2520utraci%25C5%2582%25201032%2520ksi%25C4%2585%25C5%25BC%25C4%2599 |title=Integracja i dezintegracja państwa Piastów w kronikach polskich Marcina Kromera oraz Marcina i Joachima Bielskich9 |date=2010 |publisher=W. Neriton |isbn=978-83-909852-1-3 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=82 |language=pl |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725000011/https://books.google.com/books?id=BnlGAQAAIAAJ&q=mieszko%2520II%2520w%25201031%2520utraci%25C5%2582%25201032%2520ksi%25C4%2585%25C5%25BC%25C4%2599 |url-status=live }}</ref> The unrest led to the transfer of the capital to Kraków in 1038 by [[Casimir I the Restorer]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anita J. Prazmowska |url={{GBurl|id=r_0-BjHIkh4C|pg=PT28}} |title=A History of Poland |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-230-34537-9 |pages=34–35 |access-date=26 October 2014}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1076, [[Bolesław II the Generous|Bolesław II]] re-instituted the office of king, but was banished in 1079 for murdering his opponent, [[Stanislaus of Szczepanów|Bishop Stanislaus]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Melton |first=J. Gordon |url={{GBurl|id=lD_2J7W_2hQC}} |title=Religious Celebrations. An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations |date=2011 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-206-7 |location=Santa Barbara |page=834}}</ref> In 1138, the country [[Testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth|fragmented]] into five principalities when [[Bolesław III Wrymouth]] divided his lands among his sons.<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> These comprised [[Lesser Poland]], Greater Poland, [[Silesia]], [[Masovia]] and [[Sandomierz]], with intermittent hold over [[Pomerania]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hourihane |first=Colum |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FtlMAgAAQBAJ&pg=RA4-PA14&dq=%221138%2B%2522five%2522%2Bsilesia%2Bmazovia%2Bsandomierz%2Bpomerania%22 |title=The Grove encyclopedia of medieval art and architecture |date=2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-539536-5 |volume=2 |location=New York |page=14 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180502/https://books.google.com/books?id=FtlMAgAAQBAJ&pg=RA4-PA14&dq=%221138+%22five%22+silesia+mazovia+sandomierz+pomerania%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1226, [[Konrad I of Masovia]] invited the [[Teutonic Knights]] to aid in combating the [[Balts|Baltic]] Prussians; a decision that later led to centuries of warfare with the Knights.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Biber |first1=Tomasz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AbYjAQAAIAAJ&q=konrad%2520mazowiecki%2520krzy%25C5%25BCacy%2520sprowadzi%25C5%2582 |title=Encyklopedia Polska 2000. Poczet władców |last2=Leszczyński |first2=Maciej |date=2000 |publisher=Podsiedlik-Raniowski |isbn=978-83-7212-307-7 |location=Poznań |page=47 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235942/https://books.google.com/books?id=AbYjAQAAIAAJ&q=konrad%2520mazowiecki%2520krzy%25C5%25BCacy%2520sprowadzi%25C5%2582 |url-status=live }}</ref>


In the first half of the 13th century, [[Henry I the Bearded]] and [[Henry II the Pious]] aimed to unite the fragmented dukedoms, but the [[First Mongol invasion of Poland|Mongol invasion]] and the death of Henry II in [[Battle of Legnica|battle]] hindered the unification.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krasuski |first=Jerzy |url={{GBurl|id=vBcsAQAAMAAJ|q=henryk%20pobo%C5%BCny%20zjednoczenie}} |title=Polska-Niemcy. Stosunki polityczne od zarania po czasy najnowsze |date=2009 |publisher=Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich |isbn=978-83-04-04985-7 |location=Wrocław |page=53}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Maroń |first=Jerzy |url={{GBurl|id=CASkn7zoJj8C}} |title=Legnica 1241 |date=1996 |publisher=Bellona |isbn=978-83-11-11171-4 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |language=pl}}</ref> As a result of the devastation which followed, depopulation and the demand for craft labour spurred a migration of [[History of Germans in Poland|German and Flemish settlers]] into Poland, which was encouraged by the Polish dukes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Norman |url={{GBurl|id=vD7SWb5lXBAC|dq=germans+flemish+into+poland+mongol+invasion|p=366}} |title=Europe: A History |date=2010 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-820171-7 |location=New York |page=366 |orig-date=1996}}</ref> In 1264, the [[Statute of Kalisz]] introduced unprecedented autonomy for the [[History of the Jews in Poland|Polish Jews]], who came to Poland fleeing persecution elsewhere in Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dembkowski |first=Harry E. |url={{GBurl|id=svAaAAAAMAAJ|q=poland+lithuania+1588+slavery}} |title=The union of Lublin, Polish federalism in the golden age |publisher=East European Monographs |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-88033-009-1 |page=271}}</ref>
In the first half of the 13th century, [[Henry I the Bearded]] and [[Henry II the Pious]] aimed to unite the fragmented dukedoms, but the [[First Mongol invasion of Poland|Mongol invasion]] and the death of Henry II in [[Battle of Legnica|battle]] hindered the unification.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Krasuski |first=Jerzy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vBcsAQAAMAAJ&q=henryk%2520pobo%25C5%25BCny%2520zjednoczenie |title=Polska-Niemcy. Stosunki polityczne od zarania po czasy najnowsze |date=2009 |publisher=Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich |isbn=978-83-04-04985-7 |location=Wrocław |page=53 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235916/https://books.google.com/books?id=vBcsAQAAMAAJ&q=henryk%2520pobo%25C5%25BCny%2520zjednoczenie |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Maroń |first=Jerzy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CASkn7zoJj8C |title=Legnica 1241 |date=1996 |publisher=Bellona |isbn=978-83-11-11171-4 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |language=pl |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420034201/https://books.google.com/books?id=CASkn7zoJj8C |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result of the devastation which followed, depopulation and the demand for craft labour spurred a migration of [[History of Germans in Poland|German and Flemish settlers]] into Poland, which was encouraged by the Polish dukes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=Norman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vD7SWb5lXBAC&pg=PA366&dq=%22germans%2Bflemish%2Binto%2Bpoland%2Bmongol%2Binvasion%22 |title=Europe: A History |date=2010 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-820171-7 |location=New York |page=366 |orig-date=1996 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180457/https://books.google.com/books?id=vD7SWb5lXBAC&pg=PA366&dq=%22germans+flemish+into+poland+mongol+invasion%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1264, the [[Statute of Kalisz]] introduced unprecedented autonomy for the [[History of the Jews in Poland|Polish Jews]], who came to Poland fleeing persecution elsewhere in Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dembkowski |first=Harry E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=svAaAAAAMAAJ&q=poland%2Blithuania%2B1588%2Bslavery |title=The union of Lublin, Polish federalism in the golden age |publisher=East European Monographs |year=1982 |isbn=978-0-88033-009-1 |page=271 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235935/https://books.google.com/books?id=svAaAAAAMAAJ&q=poland%2Blithuania%2B1588%2Bslavery |url-status=live }}</ref>


In 1320, [[Władysław I the Elbow-high|Władysław I the Short]] became the first king of [[Kingdom of Poland (1025–1385)|a reunified Poland]] since [[Przemysł II]] in 1296,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kula |first=Marcin |url={{GBurl|id=VBa1AAAAIAAJ|q=%C5%82okietek%201320%20zjednoczenie}} |title=Zupełnie normalna historia, czyli, Dzieje Polski zanalizowane przez Marcina Kulę w krótkich słowach, subiektywnie, ku pożytkowi miejscowych i cudzoziemców |date=2000 |publisher=Więzi |isbn=978-83-88032-27-1 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |pages=58–59}}</ref> and the first to be crowned at [[Wawel Cathedral]] in Kraków.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wróblewski |first=Bohdan |url={{GBurl|id=unEWAQAAIAAJ|q=%C5%82okietek%201320%20szczerbiec}} |title=Jaki znak twój? Orzeł Biały |date=2006 |publisher=ZP Grupa |isbn=978-83-922944-3-6 |location=Piekary Śląskie |page=28}}</ref>
In 1320, [[Władysław I the Elbow-high|Władysław I the Short]] became the first king of [[Kingdom of Poland (1025–1385)|a reunified Poland]] since [[Przemysł II]] in 1296,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kula |first=Marcin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VBa1AAAAIAAJ&q=%25C5%2582okietek%25201320%2520zjednoczenie |title=Zupełnie normalna historia, czyli, Dzieje Polski zanalizowane przez Marcina Kulę w krótkich słowach, subiektywnie, ku pożytkowi miejscowych i cudzoziemców |date=2000 |publisher=Więzi |isbn=978-83-88032-27-1 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |pages=58–59 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235910/https://books.google.com/books?id=VBa1AAAAIAAJ&q=%25C5%2582okietek%25201320%2520zjednoczenie |url-status=live }}</ref> and the first to be crowned at [[Wawel Cathedral]] in Kraków.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wróblewski |first=Bohdan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=unEWAQAAIAAJ&q=%25C5%2582okietek%25201320%2520szczerbiec |title=Jaki znak twój? Orzeł Biały |date=2006 |publisher=ZP Grupa |isbn=978-83-922944-3-6 |location=Piekary Śląskie |page=28 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235959/https://books.google.com/books?id=unEWAQAAIAAJ&q=%25C5%2582okietek%25201320%2520szczerbiec |url-status=live }}</ref>
Beginning in 1333, the reign of [[Casimir III the Great]] was marked by developments in [[Trail of the Eagle's Nests|castle infrastructure]], army, judiciary and [[Congress of Kraków|diplomacy]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stanley S. Sokol |url=https://archive.org/details/polishbiographic00soko |title=The Polish Biographical Dictionary: Profiles of Nearly 900 Poles who Have Made Lasting Contributions to World Civilization |publisher=Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-86516-245-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/polishbiographic00soko/page/60 60] |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Britannica Educational Publishing |url={{GBurl|id=Ef2cAAAAQBAJ|p=139}} |title=Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland |publisher=Britannica Educational Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-61530-991-7 |page=139}}</ref> Under his authority, Poland transformed into a major European power; he instituted Polish rule over [[Kingdom of Ruthenia|Ruthenia]] in 1340 and imposed quarantine that prevented the spread of [[Black Death]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wróbel |first=Piotr |url=https://archive.org/details/easterneuropeint0000unse/page/10 |title=Eastern Europe: An Introduction to the People, Lands, and Culture |date=2004 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-800-6 |editor-last=Frucht |editor-first=Richard C. |volume=1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/easterneuropeint0000unse/page/10 10] |chapter=Poland |quote=At the same time, when most of Europe was decimated by the Black Death, Poland developed quickly and reached the levels of the wealthiest countries of the West in its economy and culture. |access-date=8 April 2013 |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=lVBB1a0rC70C}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Magill |first=Frank N. |url={{GBurl|id=aBHSc2hTfeUC}} |title=The Middle Ages. Dictionary of World Biography |date=2012 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-136-59313-0 |volume=2 |location=Hoboken |page=210}}</ref> In 1364, Casimir inaugurated the [[Jagiellonian University|University of Kraków]], one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Watson |first=Noelle |url={{GBurl|id=yfPYAQAAQBAJ}} |title=Northern Europe. International Dictionary of Historic Places |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge, Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-136-63944-9 |location=New York |page=388}}</ref> Upon his death in 1370, the Piast dynasty came to an end.<ref>{{Harvnb|Magill|2012|p=64}}</ref> He was succeeded by his closest male relative, [[Louis I of Hungary|Louis of Anjou]], who ruled Poland, [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]] and [[Croatia in personal union with Hungary|Croatia]] in a [[personal union]].<ref name="Davies 2001">{{Harvnb|Davies|2001|p=256}}</ref> Louis' younger daughter [[Jadwiga of Poland|Jadwiga]] became Poland's first female monarch in 1384.<ref name="Davies 2001" />
Beginning in 1333, the reign of [[Casimir III the Great]] was marked by developments in [[Trail of the Eagle's Nests|castle infrastructure]], army, judiciary and [[Congress of Kraków|diplomacy]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stanley S. Sokol |url=https://archive.org/details/polishbiographic00soko |title=The Polish Biographical Dictionary: Profiles of Nearly 900 Poles who Have Made Lasting Contributions to World Civilization |publisher=Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-86516-245-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/polishbiographic00soko/page/60 60] |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Britannica Educational Publishing |url={{GBurl|id=Ef2cAAAAQBAJ|p=139}} |title=Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland |publisher=Britannica Educational Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-61530-991-7 |page=139}}</ref> Under his authority, Poland transformed into a major European power; he instituted Polish rule over [[Kingdom of Ruthenia|Ruthenia]] in 1340 and imposed quarantine that prevented the spread of [[Black Death]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wróbel |first=Piotr |url=https://archive.org/details/easterneuropeint0000unse/page/10 |title=Eastern Europe: An Introduction to the People, Lands, and Culture |date=2004 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-800-6 |editor-last=Frucht |editor-first=Richard C. |volume=1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/easterneuropeint0000unse/page/10 10] |chapter=Poland |quote=At the same time, when most of Europe was decimated by the Black Death, Poland developed quickly and reached the levels of the wealthiest countries of the West in its economy and culture. |access-date=8 April 2013 |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=lVBB1a0rC70C}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Magill |first=Frank N. |url={{GBurl|id=aBHSc2hTfeUC}} |title=The Middle Ages. Dictionary of World Biography |date=2012 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-136-59313-0 |volume=2 |location=Hoboken |page=210}}</ref> In 1364, Casimir inaugurated the [[Jagiellonian University|University of Kraków]], one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Watson |first=Noelle |url={{GBurl|id=yfPYAQAAQBAJ}} |title=Northern Europe. International Dictionary of Historic Places |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge, Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-136-63944-9 |location=New York |page=388}}</ref> Upon his death in 1370, the Piast dynasty came to an end.<ref>{{Harvnb|Magill|2012|p=64}}</ref> He was succeeded by his closest male relative, [[Louis I of Hungary|Louis of Anjou]], who ruled Poland, [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]] and [[Croatia in personal union with Hungary|Croatia]] in a [[personal union]].<ref name="Davies 2001">{{Harvnb|Davies|2001|p=256}}</ref> Louis' younger daughter [[Jadwiga of Poland|Jadwiga]] became Poland's first female monarch in 1384.<ref name="Davies 2001" />


[[File:Battle of Tannenberg.jpg|left|thumb|upright|The [[Battle of Grunwald]] was fought against the [[Teutonic Knights|German Order of Teutonic Knights]], and resulted in a decisive victory for the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Kingdom of Poland]], 15 July 1410.]]
[[File:Battle of Tannenberg.jpg|left|thumb|upright|The [[Battle of Grunwald]] was fought against the [[Teutonic Knights|German Order of Teutonic Knights]], and resulted in a decisive victory for the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Kingdom of Poland]], 15 July 1410.]]


In 1386, Jadwiga of Poland entered a marriage of convenience with [[Władysław II Jagiełło]], the [[Grand Duke of Lithuania]], thus forming the [[Jagiellonian dynasty]] and the [[Polish–Lithuanian union]] which spanned the late [[Middle Ages]] and early [[Modern history|Modern Era]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Halecki |first=Oscar |title=Jadwiga of Anjou and the Rise of East-Central Europe |publisher=Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-88033-206-4 |pages=116–117, 152 |author-link=Oscar Halecki}}</ref> The partnership between Poles and Lithuanians brought the vast multi-ethnic [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuanian]] territories into Poland's sphere of influence and proved beneficial for its inhabitants, who coexisted in one of the largest European [[personal union|political entities]] of the time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Griessler |first=Christina |url={{GBurl|id=inb4DwAAQBAJ}} |title=The Visegrad Four and the Western Balkans |date=2020 |publisher=Nomos |isbn=978-3-7489-0113-6 |location=Baden-Baden |page=173}}</ref>
In 1386, Jadwiga of Poland entered a marriage of convenience with [[Władysław II Jagiełło]], the [[Grand Duke of Lithuania]], thus forming the [[Jagiellonian dynasty]] and the [[Polish–Lithuanian union]] which spanned the late [[Middle Ages]] and early [[Modern history|Modern Era]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Halecki |first=Oscar |title=Jadwiga of Anjou and the Rise of East-Central Europe |publisher=Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-88033-206-4 |pages=116–117, 152 |author-link=Oscar Halecki}}</ref> The partnership between Poles and Lithuanians brought the vast multi-ethnic [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuanian]] territories into Poland's sphere of influence and proved beneficial for its inhabitants, who coexisted in one of the largest European [[personal union|political entities]] of the time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Griessler |first=Christina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=inb4DwAAQBAJ |title=The Visegrad Four and the Western Balkans |date=2020 |publisher=Nomos |isbn=978-3-7489-0113-6 |location=Baden-Baden |page=173 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404210019/https://books.google.com/books?id=inb4DwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>


In the Baltic Sea region, the struggle of Poland and Lithuania with the [[Teutonic Knights]] continued and culminated at the [[Battle of Grunwald]] in 1410, where a combined Polish-Lithuanian army inflicted a decisive victory against them.<ref name="Wyrozumski 1986" /> In 1466, after the [[Thirteen Years' War (1454–66)|Thirteen Years' War]], king [[Casimir IV Jagiellon]] gave royal consent to the [[Second Peace of Thorn (1466)|Peace of Thorn]], which created the future [[Duchy of Prussia]] under Polish suzerainty and forced the Prussian rulers to pay [[Homage (feudal)|tributes]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> The Jagiellonian dynasty also established dynastic control over the kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]] (1471 onwards) and Hungary.<ref name="Norman Davies 1996" /> In the south, Poland confronted the [[Ottoman Empire]] and the [[Crimean Khanate|Crimean Tatars]], and in the east helped Lithuania to combat [[Grand Duchy of Moscow|Russia]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" />
In the Baltic Sea region, the struggle of Poland and Lithuania with the [[Teutonic Knights]] continued and culminated at the [[Battle of Grunwald]] in 1410, where a combined Polish-Lithuanian army inflicted a decisive victory against them.<ref name="Wyrozumski 1986" /> In 1466, after the [[Thirteen Years' War (1454–66)|Thirteen Years' War]], king [[Casimir IV Jagiellon]] gave royal consent to the [[Second Peace of Thorn (1466)|Peace of Thorn]], which created the future [[Duchy of Prussia]] under Polish suzerainty and forced the Prussian rulers to pay [[Homage (feudal)|tributes]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> The Jagiellonian dynasty also established dynastic control over the kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]] (1471 onwards) and Hungary.<ref name="Norman Davies 1996" /> In the south, Poland confronted the [[Ottoman Empire]] and the [[Crimean Khanate|Crimean Tatars]], and in the east helped Lithuania to combat [[Grand Duchy of Moscow|Russia]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" />


Poland was developing as a [[feudalism|feudal]] state, with a predominantly agricultural economy and an increasingly powerful [[landed nobility]] that confined the population to private manorial farmsteads, or [[folwark]]s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Frost |first=Robert I. |url={{GBurl|id=245lDwAAQBAJ|dq=poland+feudal+agricultural+folwark+nobility|p=242}} |title=The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union 1385–1569 |date=2018 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-0-19-880020-0 |volume=1 |location=Oxford |page=242}}</ref> In 1493, [[John I Albert]] sanctioned the creation of a [[bicameral parliament]] composed of a lower house, the [[Sejm]], and an upper house, the [[Senate of Poland|Senate]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Graves |first=M. A. R. |url={{GBurl|id=R2rJAwAAQBAJ}} |title=The Parliaments of Early Modern Europe |date=2014 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-317-88433-0 |location=Hoboken |page=101}}</ref> The ''[[Nihil novi]]'' act adopted by the Polish [[General Sejm]] in 1505, transferred most of the [[legislature|legislative power]] from the monarch to the parliament, an event which marked the beginning of the period known as [[Golden Liberty]], when the state was ruled by the seemingly free and equal [[szlachta|Polish nobles]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Graves|2014|pp=101, 197}}</ref>
Poland was developing as a [[feudalism|feudal]] state, with a predominantly agricultural economy and an increasingly powerful [[landed nobility]] that confined the population to private manorial farmsteads, or [[folwark]]s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Frost |first=Robert I. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=245lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA242&dq=%22poland%2Bfeudal%2Bagricultural%2Bfolwark%2Bnobility%22 |title=The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union 1385–1569 |date=2018 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-0-19-880020-0 |volume=1 |location=Oxford |page=242 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180501/https://books.google.com/books?id=245lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA242&dq=%22poland+feudal+agricultural+folwark+nobility%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1493, [[John I Albert]] sanctioned the creation of a [[bicameral parliament]] composed of a lower house, the [[Sejm]], and an upper house, the [[Senate of Poland|Senate]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Graves |first=M. A. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R2rJAwAAQBAJ |title=The Parliaments of Early Modern Europe |date=2014 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-317-88433-0 |location=Hoboken |page=101 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405192005/https://books.google.com/books?id=R2rJAwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The ''[[Nihil novi]]'' act adopted by the Polish [[General Sejm]] in 1505, transferred most of the [[legislature|legislative power]] from the monarch to the parliament, an event which marked the beginning of the period known as [[Golden Liberty]], when the state was ruled by the seemingly free and equal [[szlachta|Polish nobles]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Graves|2014|pp=101, 197}}</ref>


[[File:Wawel View.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|[[Wawel Castle]] in [[Kraków]], seat of [[List of Polish monarchs|Polish kings]] from 1038 until the capital was moved to [[Warsaw]] in 1596]]
[[File:Wawel View.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|[[Wawel Castle]] in [[Kraków]], seat of [[List of Polish monarchs|Polish kings]] from 1038 until the capital was moved to [[Warsaw]] in 1596]]


The 16th century saw [[Protestant Reformation]] movements making deep inroads into Polish Christianity, which resulted in the establishment of policies promoting religious tolerance, unique in Europe at that time.<ref name="Knoll 2011" /> This tolerance allowed the country to avoid the religious turmoil and [[European wars of religion|wars of religion]] that beset Europe.<ref name="Knoll 2011">{{Cite book |last=Paul W. Knoll |title=Diversity and Dissent: Negotiating Religious Difference in Central Europe, 1500–1800 |publisher=Berghahn Books |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85745-109-5 |editor-last=Howard Louthan |pages=30–45 |chapter=Religious Toleration in Sixteenth-Century Poland. Political Realities and Social Constrains. |editor-last2=Gary B. Cohen |editor-last3=Franz A.J. Szabo |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=KuzLNXpa-hYC|p=30}}}}</ref> In Poland, [[Nontrinitarianism|Nontrinitarian Christianity]] became the doctrine of the so-called [[Polish Brethren]], who separated from their [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] denomination and became the co-founders of global [[Unitarianism]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Houlden |first=J. L. |url={{GBurl|id=mf7WCQAAQBAJ}} |title=Jesus in History, Legend, Scripture, and Tradition: A World Encyclopedia |date=2015 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-61069-804-7 |location=Denver, Colorado |pages=577–578}}</ref>
The 16th century saw [[Protestant Reformation]] movements making deep inroads into Polish Christianity, which resulted in the establishment of policies promoting religious tolerance, unique in Europe at that time.<ref name="Knoll 2011" /> This tolerance allowed the country to avoid the religious turmoil and [[European wars of religion|wars of religion]] that beset Europe.<ref name="Knoll 2011">{{Cite book |last=Paul W. Knoll |title=Diversity and Dissent: Negotiating Religious Difference in Central Europe, 1500–1800 |publisher=Berghahn Books |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85745-109-5 |editor-last=Howard Louthan |pages=30–45 |chapter=Religious Toleration in Sixteenth-Century Poland. Political Realities and Social Constrains. |editor-last2=Gary B. Cohen |editor-last3=Franz A.J. Szabo |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=KuzLNXpa-hYC|p=30}}}}</ref> In Poland, [[Nontrinitarianism|Nontrinitarian Christianity]] became the doctrine of the so-called [[Polish Brethren]], who separated from their [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] denomination and became the co-founders of global [[Unitarianism]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Houlden |first=J. L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mf7WCQAAQBAJ |title=Jesus in History, Legend, Scripture, and Tradition: A World Encyclopedia |date=2015 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-61069-804-7 |location=Denver, Colorado |pages=577–578 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524182450/https://books.google.com/books?id=mf7WCQAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>


The European [[Renaissance]] evoked under [[Sigismund I the Old]] and [[Sigismund II Augustus]] a sense of urgency in the need to promote a [[Renaissance in Poland|cultural awakening]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> During the [[Polish Golden Age]], the nation's economy and culture flourished.<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> The Italian-born [[Bona Sforza]], daughter of the [[Gian Galeazzo Sforza|Duke of Milan]] and queen consort to Sigismund I, made considerable contributions to [[Architecture of Poland|architecture]], [[Polish cuisine|cuisine]], language and court customs at [[Wawel Castle]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" />
The European [[Renaissance]] evoked under [[Sigismund I the Old]] and [[Sigismund II Augustus]] a sense of urgency in the need to promote a [[Renaissance in Poland|cultural awakening]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> During the [[Polish Golden Age]], the nation's economy and culture flourished.<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> The Italian-born [[Bona Sforza]], daughter of the [[Gian Galeazzo Sforza|Duke of Milan]] and queen consort to Sigismund I, made considerable contributions to [[Architecture of Poland|architecture]], [[Polish cuisine|cuisine]], language and court customs at [[Wawel Castle]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" />
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[[File:Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1619.PNG|thumb|upright=1.25|The [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] at its greatest extent in 1619. At that time it was the largest country in Europe]]
[[File:Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1619.PNG|thumb|upright=1.25|The [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] at its greatest extent in 1619. At that time it was the largest country in Europe]]


The [[Union of Lublin]] of 1569 established the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], a unified federal state with an [[elective monarchy]], but largely governed by the nobility.<ref name="Butterwick 2021">{{Cite book |last=Butterwick |first=Richard |url={{GBurl|id=g2cOEAAAQBAJ}} |title=The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1733–1795 |date=2021 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-25220-0 |pages=21, 14}}</ref> The latter coincided with a period of prosperity; the Polish-dominated union thereafter becoming a leading power and a major cultural entity, exercising political control over parts of Central, [[Eastern Europe|Eastern]], [[Southeastern Europe|Southeastern]] and Northern Europe. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth occupied approximately {{convert|1|e6km2|sqmi|abbr=unit}} [[Truce of Deulino|at its peak]] and was the largest state in Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parker |first=Geoffrey |url={{GBurl|id=1GMlDwAAQBAJ}} |title=Global Crisis. War, Climate Change and Catastrophe in the Seventeenth Century |date=2017 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-21936-4 |location=New Haven |page=122}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Parker|2017|p=122}}</ref> Simultaneously, Poland imposed [[Polonisation]] policies in newly acquired territories which were met with resistance from ethnic and religious minorities.<ref name="Butterwick 2021" />
The [[Union of Lublin]] of 1569 established the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], a unified federal state with an [[elective monarchy]], but largely governed by the nobility.<ref name="Butterwick 2021">{{Cite book |last=Butterwick |first=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g2cOEAAAQBAJ |title=The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1733–1795 |date=2021 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-25220-0 |pages=21, 14 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404210123/https://books.google.com/books?id=g2cOEAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The latter coincided with a period of prosperity; the Polish-dominated union thereafter becoming a leading power and a major cultural entity, exercising political control over parts of Central, [[Eastern Europe|Eastern]], [[Southeastern Europe|Southeastern]] and Northern Europe. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth occupied approximately {{convert|1|e6km2|sqmi|abbr=unit}} [[Truce of Deulino|at its peak]] and was the largest state in Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parker |first=Geoffrey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1GMlDwAAQBAJ |title=Global Crisis. War, Climate Change and Catastrophe in the Seventeenth Century |date=2017 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-21936-4 |location=New Haven |page=122 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405150949/https://books.google.com/books?id=1GMlDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Parker|2017|p=122}}</ref> Simultaneously, Poland imposed [[Polonisation]] policies in newly acquired territories which were met with resistance from ethnic and religious minorities.<ref name="Butterwick 2021" />


In 1573, [[Henry III of France|Henry de Valois of France]], the first elected king, approbated the [[Henrician Articles]] which obliged future monarchs to respect the rights of nobles.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ward |first1=Adolphus |url={{GBurl|id=nrJ4DwAAQBAJ}} |title=The Wars of Religion in Europe |last2=Hume |first2=Martin |date=2018 |publisher=Perennial Press |isbn=978-1-5312-6318-8 |location=Vachendorf}}</ref> His successor, [[Stephen Báthory]], led a successful [[Livonian campaign of Stephen Báthory|campaign]] in the [[Livonian War]], granting Poland more [[Livonia|lands across the eastern shores]] of the Baltic Sea.<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Connor |first=Kevin |url={{GBurl|id=OOdjCAAAQBAJ}} |title=The History of the Baltic States – 2nd Edition |date=2015 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-61069-916-7 |location=Westport |pages=37–38}}</ref> State affairs were then headed by [[Jan Zamoyski]], the [[Chancellor (Poland)|Crown Chancellor]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Halina Lerski |url={{GBurl|id=luRry4Y5NIYC|p=678}} |title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945 |date=30 January 1996 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-03456-5 |page=678 |access-date=2 July 2012}}</ref> In 1592, [[Sigismund III of Poland]] succeeded his father, [[John III of Sweden|John Vasa]], in [[Kingdom of Sweden|Sweden]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Szujski |first=Józef |url={{GBurl|id=JlAFSS-12xwC}} |title=Dzieła Józefa Szujskiego. Dzieje Polski |date=1894 |publisher=Szujski-Kluczycki |volume=3 |location=Kraków |pages=162–163 |language=Polish |oclc=717123162}}</ref> The [[Polish-Swedish union]] endured until 1599, when he was [[War against Sigismund|deposed]] by the Swedes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peterson |first=Gary Dean |url={{GBurl|id=FtFDthqmB2wC}} |title=Warrior Kings of Sweden. The Rise of an Empire in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries |date=2014 |publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers |isbn=978-1-4766-0411-4 |page=107}}</ref>
In 1573, [[Henry III of France|Henry de Valois of France]], the first elected king, approbated the [[Henrician Articles]] which obliged future monarchs to respect the rights of nobles.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ward |first1=Adolphus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nrJ4DwAAQBAJ |title=The Wars of Religion in Europe |last2=Hume |first2=Martin |date=2018 |publisher=Perennial Press |isbn=978-1-5312-6318-8 |location=Vachendorf |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709175950/https://books.google.com/books?id=nrJ4DwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> His successor, [[Stephen Báthory]], led a successful [[Livonian campaign of Stephen Báthory|campaign]] in the [[Livonian War]], granting Poland more [[Livonia|lands across the eastern shores]] of the Baltic Sea.<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Connor |first=Kevin |url={{GBurl|id=OOdjCAAAQBAJ}} |title=The History of the Baltic States – 2nd Edition |date=2015 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-61069-916-7 |location=Westport |pages=37–38}}</ref> State affairs were then headed by [[Jan Zamoyski]], the [[Chancellor (Poland)|Crown Chancellor]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Halina Lerski |url={{GBurl|id=luRry4Y5NIYC|p=678}} |title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945 |date=30 January 1996 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-03456-5 |page=678 |access-date=2 July 2012}}</ref> In 1592, [[Sigismund III of Poland]] succeeded his father, [[John III of Sweden|John Vasa]], in [[Kingdom of Sweden|Sweden]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Szujski |first=Józef |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JlAFSS-12xwC |title=Dzieła Józefa Szujskiego. Dzieje Polski |date=1894 |publisher=Szujski-Kluczycki |volume=3 |location=Kraków |pages=162–163 |language=Polish |oclc=717123162 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404210017/https://books.google.com/books?id=JlAFSS-12xwC |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Polish-Swedish union]] endured until 1599, when he was [[War against Sigismund|deposed]] by the Swedes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peterson |first=Gary Dean |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FtFDthqmB2wC |title=Warrior Kings of Sweden. The Rise of an Empire in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries |date=2014 |publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers |isbn=978-1-4766-0411-4 |page=107 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727002356/https://books.google.com/books?id=FtFDthqmB2wC |url-status=live }}</ref>


[[File:Jan III Schultz.jpg|thumb|upright|left|King [[John III Sobieski]] defeated the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]] at the [[Battle of Vienna]] on 12 September 1683.]]
[[File:Jan III Schultz.jpg|thumb|upright|left|King [[John III Sobieski]] defeated the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]] at the [[Battle of Vienna]] on 12 September 1683.]]


In 1609, Sigismund [[Polish–Muscovite War (1605–1618)|invaded]] [[Tsardom of Russia|Russia]] which was engulfed in a [[Time of Troubles|civil war]],<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> and a year later the Polish [[Polish hussars|winged hussar]] units under [[Stanisław Żółkiewski]] [[Polish–Lithuanian occupation of Moscow|occupied]] Moscow for two years after defeating the Russians at [[Battle of Klushino|Klushino]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> Sigismund also countered the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the southeast; at [[Battle of Khotyn (1621)|Khotyn]] in 1621 [[Jan Karol Chodkiewicz]] achieved a decisive victory against the Turks, which ushered the downfall of Sultan [[Osman II]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dyer |first=Thomas Henry |url={{GBurl|id=kQZOAAAAcAAJ}} |title=The History of Modern Europe – From the Fall of Constantinople, in 1453, to the War in the Crimea, in 1857 |date=1861 |publisher=J. Murray |isbn=978-3-337-75029-9 |volume=2 |location=London |page=504}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dzięgielewski |first=Jan |url={{GBurl|id=qRAsAQAAMAAJ|q=Bitwa%20pod%20Chocimiem%2050%20tysi%C4%99cy%201621}} |title=Encyklopedia historii Polski: A-M |date=1994 |publisher=Morex |isbn=978-83-902522-1-6 |location=Polska |page=101 |language=Polish}}</ref>
In 1609, Sigismund [[Polish–Muscovite War (1605–1618)|invaded]] [[Tsardom of Russia|Russia]] which was engulfed in a [[Time of Troubles|civil war]],<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> and a year later the Polish [[Polish hussars|winged hussar]] units under [[Stanisław Żółkiewski]] [[Polish–Lithuanian occupation of Moscow|occupied]] Moscow for two years after defeating the Russians at [[Battle of Klushino|Klushino]].<ref name="Dabrowski 2014" /> Sigismund also countered the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the southeast; at [[Battle of Khotyn (1621)|Khotyn]] in 1621 [[Jan Karol Chodkiewicz]] achieved a decisive victory against the Turks, which ushered the downfall of Sultan [[Osman II]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dyer |first=Thomas Henry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kQZOAAAAcAAJ |title=The History of Modern Europe – From the Fall of Constantinople, in 1453, to the War in the Crimea, in 1857 |date=1861 |publisher=J. Murray |isbn=978-3-337-75029-9 |volume=2 |location=London |page=504 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405060718/https://books.google.com/books?id=kQZOAAAAcAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dzięgielewski |first=Jan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qRAsAQAAMAAJ&q=Bitwa%2520pod%2520Chocimiem%252050%2520tysi%25C4%2599cy%25201621 |title=Encyklopedia historii Polski: A-M |date=1994 |publisher=Morex |isbn=978-83-902522-1-6 |location=Polska |page=101 |language=Polish |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235956/https://books.google.com/books?id=qRAsAQAAMAAJ&q=Bitwa%2520pod%2520Chocimiem%252050%2520tysi%25C4%2599cy%25201621 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Sigismund's long reign in Poland coincided with the [[Sigismund III Vasa#Legacy|Silver Age]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kizwalter |first=Tomasz |url={{GBurl|id=p7JFAAAAIAAJ|q=srebrn%20wiek%20%20z%C5%82oty%20waz%C3%B3w}} |title=Kryzys Oświecenia a początki konserwatyzmu polskiego |date=1987 |publisher=Uniwersytet Warszawski |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=21 |language=Polish |oclc=23942204}}</ref> The liberal [[Władysław IV Vasa|Władysław IV]] effectively defended Poland's territorial possessions but after his death the vast Commonwealth began declining from internal disorder and constant warfare.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Scott |first=H. M. |url={{GBurl|id=Jb4DCgAAQBAJ}} |title=The Oxford Handbook of Early Modern European History, 1350–1750 |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-102000-1 |volume=2 |location=Oxford |pages=409–413}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Czapliński |first=Władysław |title=Władysław IV i jego czasy |publisher=PW "Wiedza Poweszechna" |year=1976 |location=Warsaw |pages=170, 217–218 |language=pl |trans-title=Władysław IV and His Times |author-link=Władysław Czapliński}}</ref> In 1648, the Polish hegemony over Ukraine sparked the [[Khmelnytsky Uprising]],<ref>{{Harvnb|Scott|2015|p=409}}</ref> followed by the decimating [[Deluge (history)|Swedish Deluge]] during the [[Second Northern War]],<ref name="Scott 2015">{{Harvnb|Scott|2015|pp=409–413}}</ref> and Prussia's [[Treaty of Bromberg|independence]] in 1657.<ref name="Scott 2015" /> In 1683, [[John III Sobieski]] re-established military prowess when he halted the advance of an [[Ottoman Army (15th-19th centuries)|Ottoman Army]] into Europe at the [[Battle of Vienna]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Scott|2015|p=411}}</ref> The successive [[Wettin dynasty|Saxon era]], under [[Augustus II the Strong|Augustus II]] and [[Augustus III of Poland|Augustus III]], saw the rise of neighbouring countries in the aftermath of the [[Great Northern War]] (1700) and the [[War of the Polish Succession]] (1733).<ref>{{Harvnb|Scott|2015|pp=409–412, 666}}</ref>
Sigismund's long reign in Poland coincided with the [[Sigismund III Vasa#Legacy|Silver Age]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kizwalter |first=Tomasz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p7JFAAAAIAAJ&q=srebrn%2520wiek%2520%2520z%25C5%2582oty%2520waz%25C3%25B3w |title=Kryzys Oświecenia a początki konserwatyzmu polskiego |date=1987 |publisher=Uniwersytet Warszawski |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=21 |language=Polish |oclc=23942204 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235936/https://books.google.com/books?id=p7JFAAAAIAAJ&q=srebrn%2520wiek%2520%2520z%25C5%2582oty%2520waz%25C3%25B3w |url-status=live }}</ref> The liberal [[Władysław IV Vasa|Władysław IV]] effectively defended Poland's territorial possessions but after his death the vast Commonwealth began declining from internal disorder and constant warfare.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Scott |first=H. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jb4DCgAAQBAJ |title=The Oxford Handbook of Early Modern European History, 1350–1750 |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-102000-1 |volume=2 |location=Oxford |pages=409–413 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406180731/https://books.google.com/books?id=Jb4DCgAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Czapliński |first=Władysław |title=Władysław IV i jego czasy |publisher=PW "Wiedza Poweszechna" |year=1976 |location=Warsaw |pages=170, 217–218 |language=pl |trans-title=Władysław IV and His Times |author-link=Władysław Czapliński}}</ref> In 1648, the Polish hegemony over Ukraine sparked the [[Khmelnytsky Uprising]],<ref>{{Harvnb|Scott|2015|p=409}}</ref> followed by the decimating [[Deluge (history)|Swedish Deluge]] during the [[Second Northern War]],<ref name="Scott 2015">{{Harvnb|Scott|2015|pp=409–413}}</ref> and Prussia's [[Treaty of Bromberg|independence]] in 1657.<ref name="Scott 2015" /> In 1683, [[John III Sobieski]] re-established military prowess when he halted the advance of an [[Ottoman Army (15th-19th centuries)|Ottoman Army]] into Europe at the [[Battle of Vienna]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Scott|2015|p=411}}</ref> The successive [[Wettin dynasty|Saxon era]], under [[Augustus II the Strong|Augustus II]] and [[Augustus III of Poland|Augustus III]], saw the rise of neighbouring countries in the aftermath of the [[Great Northern War]] (1700) and the [[War of the Polish Succession]] (1733).<ref>{{Harvnb|Scott|2015|pp=409–412, 666}}</ref>


=== Partitions ===
=== Partitions ===
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In 1772, the [[First Partition of Poland|First Partition of the Commonwealth]] by Prussia, Russia and Austria took place; an act which the [[Partition Sejm]], under considerable duress, eventually ratified as a [[List of French words and phrases used by English speakers#F|fait accompli]].<ref name="Gierowski 1986" /> Disregarding the territorial losses, in 1773 a plan of critical reforms was established, in which the [[Commission of National Education]], the first government education authority in Europe, was inaugurated.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ted Tapper |url={{GBurl|id=riv0UCM90AMC|pg=RA2-PA140}} |title=Understanding Mass Higher Education: Comparative Perspectives On Access |last2=David Palfreyman |publisher=RoutledgeFalmer |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-415-35491-2 |page=140 |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> Corporal punishment of schoolchildren was officially prohibited in 1783. Poniatowski was the head figure of the [[Polish Enlightenment|Enlightenment]], encouraged the development of industries, and embraced republican [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassicism]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Butterwick|2021|p=176}}</ref> For his contributions to the arts and sciences he was awarded a [[Fellowship of the Royal Society]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Polska Akademia Nauk |url={{GBurl|id=Bfs5AQAAIAAJ}} |title=Nauka polska |publisher=Polska Akademia Nauk |year=1973 |page=151 |access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref>
In 1772, the [[First Partition of Poland|First Partition of the Commonwealth]] by Prussia, Russia and Austria took place; an act which the [[Partition Sejm]], under considerable duress, eventually ratified as a [[List of French words and phrases used by English speakers#F|fait accompli]].<ref name="Gierowski 1986" /> Disregarding the territorial losses, in 1773 a plan of critical reforms was established, in which the [[Commission of National Education]], the first government education authority in Europe, was inaugurated.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ted Tapper |url={{GBurl|id=riv0UCM90AMC|pg=RA2-PA140}} |title=Understanding Mass Higher Education: Comparative Perspectives On Access |last2=David Palfreyman |publisher=RoutledgeFalmer |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-415-35491-2 |page=140 |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> Corporal punishment of schoolchildren was officially prohibited in 1783. Poniatowski was the head figure of the [[Polish Enlightenment|Enlightenment]], encouraged the development of industries, and embraced republican [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassicism]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Butterwick|2021|p=176}}</ref> For his contributions to the arts and sciences he was awarded a [[Fellowship of the Royal Society]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Polska Akademia Nauk |url={{GBurl|id=Bfs5AQAAIAAJ}} |title=Nauka polska |publisher=Polska Akademia Nauk |year=1973 |page=151 |access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref>


In 1791, [[Great Sejm|Great Sejm parliament]] adopted the [[Constitution of May 3, 1791|3 May Constitution]], the first set of supreme national laws, and introduced a [[constitutional monarchy]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Butterwick|2021|p=260}}</ref> The [[Targowica Confederation]], an organisation of nobles and deputies opposing the act, appealed to Catherine and caused the [[Polish–Russian War of 1792|1792 Polish–Russian War]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Butterwick|2021|p=310}}</ref> Fearing the reemergence of Polish hegemony, Russia and Prussia arranged and in 1793 executed, the [[Second Partition of Poland|Second Partition]], which left the country deprived of territory and incapable of independent existence. On 24 October 1795, the Commonwealth was [[Third Partition of Poland|partitioned for the third time]] and ceased to exist as a territorial entity.<ref name="Gierowski" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bertholet |first=Auguste |date=2021 |title=Constant, Sismondi et la Pologne |url=https://www.slatkine.com/fr/editions-slatkine/75250-book-05077807-3600120175625.html |journal=Annales Benjamin Constant |volume=46 |pages=65–85}}</ref> Stanisław Augustus, the last King of Poland, abdicated the throne on 25 November 1795.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schulz-Forberg |first=Hagen |title=Unravelling Civilisation: European Travel and Travel Writing |publisher=Peter Lang |year=2005 |isbn=90-5201-235-0 |page=162}}</ref>
In 1791, [[Great Sejm|Great Sejm parliament]] adopted the [[Constitution of May 3, 1791|3 May Constitution]], the first set of supreme national laws, and introduced a [[constitutional monarchy]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Butterwick|2021|p=260}}</ref> The [[Targowica Confederation]], an organisation of nobles and deputies opposing the act, appealed to Catherine and caused the [[Polish–Russian War of 1792|1792 Polish–Russian War]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Butterwick|2021|p=310}}</ref> Fearing the reemergence of Polish hegemony, Russia and Prussia arranged and in 1793 executed, the [[Second Partition of Poland|Second Partition]], which left the country deprived of territory and incapable of independent existence. On 24 October 1795, the Commonwealth was [[Third Partition of Poland|partitioned for the third time]] and ceased to exist as a territorial entity.<ref name="Gierowski" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bertholet |first=Auguste |date=2021 |title=Constant, Sismondi et la Pologne |url=https://www.slatkine.com/fr/editions-slatkine/75250-book-05077807-3600120175625.html |journal=Annales Benjamin Constant |volume=46 |pages=65–85 |access-date=20 January 2022 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512143530/https://www.slatkine.com/fr/editions-slatkine/75250-book-05077807-3600120175625.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Stanisław Augustus, the last King of Poland, abdicated the throne on 25 November 1795.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schulz-Forberg |first=Hagen |title=Unravelling Civilisation: European Travel and Travel Writing |publisher=Peter Lang |year=2005 |isbn=90-5201-235-0 |page=162}}</ref>


=== Era of insurrections ===
=== Era of insurrections ===
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[[File:Rzeczpospolita Rozbiory 3.png|thumb|right|upright=1.3|The [[partitions of Poland]], carried out by the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] (''blue''), the [[Russian Empire]] (''brown''), and the [[Habsburg monarchy|Austrian Habsburg Monarchy]] (''green'') in [[First Partition of Poland|1772]], [[Second Partition of Poland|1793]] and [[Third Partition of Poland|1795]]]]
[[File:Rzeczpospolita Rozbiory 3.png|thumb|right|upright=1.3|The [[partitions of Poland]], carried out by the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] (''blue''), the [[Russian Empire]] (''brown''), and the [[Habsburg monarchy|Austrian Habsburg Monarchy]] (''green'') in [[First Partition of Poland|1772]], [[Second Partition of Poland|1793]] and [[Third Partition of Poland|1795]]]]


The Polish people [[List of wars involving Poland|rose several times against the partitioners]] and occupying armies. An unsuccessful attempt at defending Poland's sovereignty took place in the 1794 [[Kościuszko Uprising]], where a popular and distinguished general [[Tadeusz Kościuszko]], who had several years earlier served under [[George Washington]] in the [[American Revolutionary War]], led Polish insurgents.<ref name="Storozynski 2009">{{Cite book |last=Storozynski |first=Alex |url={{GBurl|id=wVqnlTbsdXcC}} |title=The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution |publisher=St. Martin's Press, 352 pages |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4299-6607-8 |location=New York |via=Google Books}}</ref> Despite the victory at the [[Battle of Racławice]], his ultimate defeat ended Poland's independent existence [[Third Partition of Poland|for 123 years]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gardner |first=Monica Mary |title=Kościuszko: A Biography |publisher=G. Allen & Unwin., ltd, 136 pages |year=1942 |chapter=The Rising of Kościuszko (Chapter VII) |chapter-url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27882/27882-h/27882-h.htm#CHAPTER_VII |via=Project Gutenberg}}</ref>
The Polish people [[List of wars involving Poland|rose several times against the partitioners]] and occupying armies. An unsuccessful attempt at defending Poland's sovereignty took place in the 1794 [[Kościuszko Uprising]], where a popular and distinguished general [[Tadeusz Kościuszko]], who had several years earlier served under [[George Washington]] in the [[American Revolutionary War]], led Polish insurgents.<ref name="Storozynski 2009">{{Cite book |last=Storozynski |first=Alex |url={{GBurl|id=wVqnlTbsdXcC}} |title=The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution |publisher=St. Martin's Press, 352 pages |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4299-6607-8 |location=New York |via=Google Books}}</ref> Despite the victory at the [[Battle of Racławice]], his ultimate defeat ended Poland's independent existence [[Third Partition of Poland|for 123 years]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gardner |first=Monica Mary |title=Kościuszko: A Biography |publisher=G. Allen & Unwin., ltd, 136 pages |year=1942 |chapter=The Rising of Kościuszko (Chapter VII) |chapter-url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27882/27882-h/27882-h.htm#CHAPTER_VII |via=Project Gutenberg |access-date=29 October 2014 |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319203228/https://www.gutenberg.org/files/27882/27882-h/27882-h.htm#CHAPTER_VII |url-status=live }}</ref>


In 1806, an [[Greater Poland uprising (1806)|insurrection]] organised by [[Jan Henryk Dąbrowski]] liberated western Poland ahead of [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon's]] advance into Prussia during the [[War of the Fourth Coalition]]. In accordance with the 1807 [[Treaty of Tilsit]], Napoleon proclaimed the [[Duchy of Warsaw]], a [[client state]] ruled by his ally [[Frederick Augustus I of Saxony]]. The Poles actively aided French troops in the [[Napoleonic Wars]], particularly those under [[Józef Poniatowski]] who became [[Marshal of the Empire|Marshal of France]] shortly before his death at [[Battle of Leipzig|Leipzig]] in 1813.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nicholls |first=David |url={{GBurl|id=PmCdv91zPS0C}} |title=Napoleon |date=1999 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-87436-957-1 |location=Oxford |page=204}}</ref> In the aftermath of Napoleon's exile, the Duchy of Warsaw was abolished at the [[Congress of Vienna]] in 1815 and its territory was divided into Russian [[Congress Kingdom of Poland]], the Prussian [[Grand Duchy of Posen]], and [[Austrian Poland|Austrian Galicia]] with the [[Free City of Kraków]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lukowski |first1=Jerzy |url={{GBurl|id=NpMxTvBuWHYC|q=1807|p=115}} |title=A Concise History of Poland |last2=Zawadzki |first2=W.H. |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-521-55917-1 |location=Cambridge |page=313 |ref=Lukowski2001}}</ref>
In 1806, an [[Greater Poland uprising (1806)|insurrection]] organised by [[Jan Henryk Dąbrowski]] liberated western Poland ahead of [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon's]] advance into Prussia during the [[War of the Fourth Coalition]]. In accordance with the 1807 [[Treaty of Tilsit]], Napoleon proclaimed the [[Duchy of Warsaw]], a [[client state]] ruled by his ally [[Frederick Augustus I of Saxony]]. The Poles actively aided French troops in the [[Napoleonic Wars]], particularly those under [[Józef Poniatowski]] who became [[Marshal of the Empire|Marshal of France]] shortly before his death at [[Battle of Leipzig|Leipzig]] in 1813.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nicholls |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmCdv91zPS0C |title=Napoleon |date=1999 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-87436-957-1 |location=Oxford |page=204 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=18 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418035320/https://books.google.com/books?id=PmCdv91zPS0C |url-status=live }}</ref> In the aftermath of Napoleon's exile, the Duchy of Warsaw was abolished at the [[Congress of Vienna]] in 1815 and its territory was divided into Russian [[Congress Kingdom of Poland]], the Prussian [[Grand Duchy of Posen]], and [[Austrian Poland|Austrian Galicia]] with the [[Free City of Kraków]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lukowski |first1=Jerzy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NpMxTvBuWHYC&pg=PA115&q=1807 |title=A Concise History of Poland |last2=Zawadzki |first2=W.H. |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-521-55917-1 |location=Cambridge |page=313 |ref=Lukowski2001 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235918/https://books.google.com/books?id=NpMxTvBuWHYC&pg=PA115&q=1807 |url-status=live }}</ref>


{{Annotated image |float=left |width=150 |height=160 |image=Karl G Schweikart - Tadeusz Kościuszko (ÖaL).jpg|caption=[[Tadeusz Kościuszko]] was a veteran and hero of both the [[Polish–Russian War of 1792|Polish]] and [[American Revolutionary War|American]] wars of independence.<ref name="Storozynski 2009" />|annotations=<!--none--> |image-top=-25 |image-left=-25 |image-width=200}}
{{Annotated image |float=left |width=150 |height=160 |image=Karl G Schweikart - Tadeusz Kościuszko (ÖaL).jpg|caption=[[Tadeusz Kościuszko]] was a veteran and hero of both the [[Polish–Russian War of 1792|Polish]] and [[American Revolutionary War|American]] wars of independence.<ref name="Storozynski 2009" />|annotations=<!--none--> |image-top=-25 |image-left=-25 |image-width=200}}


In 1830, [[non-commissioned officer]]s at Warsaw's [[Corps of Cadets (Warsaw)|Officer Cadet School]] rebelled in what was the [[November Uprising]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Carolina Armenteros |url={{GBurl|id=A4hJDAAAQBAJ}} |title=Historicising the French Revolution |last2=Dawn Dodds |last3=Isabel Divanna |last4=Tim Blanning |date=2008 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars |isbn=978-1-4438-1157-6 |location=Newcastle |page=247}}</ref> After its collapse, Congress Poland lost its [[Constitution of Congress Poland|constitutional autonomy]], [[Army of Congress Poland|army]] and legislative assembly.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kappeler |first=Andreas |url={{GBurl|id=JZ9eBAAAQBAJ|q=congress+poland+integration+paskevich|p=249}} |title=The Russian Empire: A Multi-ethnic History |date=27 August 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-56810-0 |via=Google Books}}</ref> During the [[Spring of Nations|European Spring of Nations]], Poles took up arms in the [[Greater Poland Uprising (1848)|Greater Poland Uprising of 1848]] to resist [[Germanisation]], but its failure saw duchy's status reduced to a mere [[Province of Posen|province]]; and subsequent integration into the [[German Empire]] in 1871.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lucassen |first1=Leo |url={{GBurl|id=8YUuGSKXsFUC|q=1848+prussia+uprising+posen|p=140}} |title=Paths of Integration: Migrants in Western Europe (1880–2004) |last2=Feldman |first2=David |last3=Oltmer |first3=Jochen |date=6 September 2006 |publisher=Amsterdam University Press |isbn=978-90-5356-883-5 |via=Google Books}}</ref> In Russia, the fall of the [[January Uprising]] (1863–1864) prompted severe [[January Uprising#The decades of reprisals|political, social and cultural reprisals]], followed by deportations and [[pogroms]] of the Polish-Jewish population. Towards the end of the 19th century, Congress Poland became heavily industrialised; its primary exports being coal, [[zinc]], iron and textiles.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Restivo |first=Sal |url={{GBurl|id=4_tQEAAAQBAJ|dq=economy+of+Russian+poland+zinc+textiles|p=613}} |title=Science, Technology, and Society: An Encyclopedia |date=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=1-280-83513-3 |location=New York |page=613}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Koryś |first=Piotr |url={{GBurl|id=kKR8DwAAQBAJ|q=january+uprising+economic|p=181}} |title=Poland From Partitions to EU Accession: A Modern Economic History, 1772–2004 |date=2018 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-97126-1}}</ref>
In 1830, [[non-commissioned officer]]s at Warsaw's [[Corps of Cadets (Warsaw)|Officer Cadet School]] rebelled in what was the [[November Uprising]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Carolina Armenteros |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A4hJDAAAQBAJ |title=Historicising the French Revolution |last2=Dawn Dodds |last3=Isabel Divanna |last4=Tim Blanning |date=2008 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars |isbn=978-1-4438-1157-6 |location=Newcastle |page=247 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=9 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709185017/https://books.google.com/books?id=A4hJDAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> After its collapse, Congress Poland lost its [[Constitution of Congress Poland|constitutional autonomy]], [[Army of Congress Poland|army]] and legislative assembly.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kappeler |first=Andreas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JZ9eBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA249&q=congress%2Bpoland%2Bintegration%2Bpaskevich |title=The Russian Empire: A Multi-ethnic History |date=27 August 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-56810-0 |via=Google Books |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235904/https://books.google.com/books?id=JZ9eBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA249&q=congress%2Bpoland%2Bintegration%2Bpaskevich |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[Spring of Nations|European Spring of Nations]], Poles took up arms in the [[Greater Poland Uprising (1848)|Greater Poland Uprising of 1848]] to resist [[Germanisation]], but its failure saw duchy's status reduced to a mere [[Province of Posen|province]]; and subsequent integration into the [[German Empire]] in 1871.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lucassen |first1=Leo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8YUuGSKXsFUC&pg=PA140&q=1848%2Bprussia%2Buprising%2Bposen |title=Paths of Integration: Migrants in Western Europe (1880–2004) |last2=Feldman |first2=David |last3=Oltmer |first3=Jochen |date=6 September 2006 |publisher=Amsterdam University Press |isbn=978-90-5356-883-5 |via=Google Books |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235933/https://books.google.com/books?id=8YUuGSKXsFUC&pg=PA140&q=1848%2Bprussia%2Buprising%2Bposen |url-status=live }}</ref> In Russia, the fall of the [[January Uprising]] (1863–1864) prompted severe [[January Uprising#The decades of reprisals|political, social and cultural reprisals]], followed by deportations and [[pogroms]] of the Polish-Jewish population. Towards the end of the 19th century, Congress Poland became heavily industrialised; its primary exports being coal, [[zinc]], iron and textiles.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Restivo |first=Sal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4_tQEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA613&dq=%22economy%2Bof%2BRussian%2Bpoland%2Bzinc%2Btextiles%22 |title=Science, Technology, and Society: An Encyclopedia |date=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=1-280-83513-3 |location=New York |page=613 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002173910/https://books.google.com/books?id=4_tQEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA613&dq=%22economy+of+Russian+poland+zinc+textiles%22 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Koryś |first=Piotr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kKR8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA181&q=january%2Buprising%2Beconomic |title=Poland From Partitions to EU Accession: A Modern Economic History, 1772–2004 |date=2018 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-97126-1 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725000016/https://books.google.com/books?id=kKR8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA181&q=january%2Buprising%2Beconomic |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Second Polish Republic ===
=== Second Polish Republic ===
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[[File:Pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF with one of their Hawker Hurricanes, October 1940. CH1535.jpg|thumb|right|Pilots of the [[No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron|303 Polish Fighter Squadron]] during the [[Battle of Britain]], October 1940]]
[[File:Pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF with one of their Hawker Hurricanes, October 1940. CH1535.jpg|thumb|right|Pilots of the [[No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron|303 Polish Fighter Squadron]] during the [[Battle of Britain]], October 1940]]


Poland made the fourth-largest troop contribution in Europe,<ref name="Zaloga 1982" /><ref name="Lerski 1996a" /><ref name="Walters 1988" /> and its troops served both the [[Polish Government in Exile]] in the [[Polish Armed Forces in the West|west]] and Soviet leadership in the [[Polish Armed Forces in the East|east]]. Polish troops played an important role in the [[Operation Overlord|Normandy]], [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian]], [[North African Campaign]]s and [[Operation Pheasant|Netherlands]] and are particularly remembered for the [[Battle of Britain]] and [[Battle of Monte Cassino]].<ref name="tobruk" /><ref name="including" /> Polish intelligence operatives proved extremely valuable to the Allies, providing much of the intelligence from Europe and beyond,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kochanski |first=Halik |url={{GBurl|id=EJ5vIyDBpLcC|q=22%2C047+Polish|p=234}} |title=The Eagle Unbowed: Poland and the Poles in the Second World War |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-674-06814-8}}</ref> [[Polish Cipher Bureau|Polish code breakers]] were responsible for [[cryptanalysis of the Enigma|cracking the Enigma cipher]] and Polish scientists participating in the [[Manhattan Project]] were co-creators of the American [[atomic bomb]]. In the east, the Soviet-backed [[First Polish Army (1944–1945)|Polish 1st Army]] distinguished itself in the battles for [[Warsaw Uprising|Warsaw]] and [[Battle of Berlin|Berlin]].<ref name="Lerski 1996b" />
Poland made the fourth-largest troop contribution in Europe,<ref name="Zaloga 1982" /><ref name="Lerski 1996a" /><ref name="Walters 1988" /> and its troops served both the [[Polish Government in Exile]] in the [[Polish Armed Forces in the West|west]] and Soviet leadership in the [[Polish Armed Forces in the East|east]]. Polish troops played an important role in the [[Operation Overlord|Normandy]], [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian]], [[North African Campaign]]s and [[Operation Pheasant|Netherlands]] and are particularly remembered for the [[Battle of Britain]] and [[Battle of Monte Cassino]].<ref name="tobruk" /><ref name="including" /> Polish intelligence operatives proved extremely valuable to the Allies, providing much of the intelligence from Europe and beyond,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kochanski |first=Halik |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EJ5vIyDBpLcC&pg=PA234&q=22%252C047%2BPolish |title=The Eagle Unbowed: Poland and the Poles in the Second World War |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-674-06814-8 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725000018/https://books.google.com/books?id=EJ5vIyDBpLcC&pg=PA234&q=22%252C047%2BPolish |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Polish Cipher Bureau|Polish code breakers]] were responsible for [[cryptanalysis of the Enigma|cracking the Enigma cipher]] and Polish scientists participating in the [[Manhattan Project]] were co-creators of the American [[atomic bomb]]. In the east, the Soviet-backed [[First Polish Army (1944–1945)|Polish 1st Army]] distinguished itself in the battles for [[Warsaw Uprising|Warsaw]] and [[Battle of Berlin|Berlin]].<ref name="Lerski 1996b" />


The [[Polish resistance movement in World War II|wartime resistance movement]], and the [[Armia Krajowa]] (''Home Army''), fought against German occupation. It was one of the three largest resistance movements of the entire war, and encompassed a range of clandestine activities, which functioned as an [[Polish Underground State|underground state]] complete with [[Education in Poland during World War II|degree-awarding universities]] and [[Underground court|a court system]].<ref name="Stanislaw Salmonowicz 1994" /> The resistance was loyal to the exiled government and generally resented the idea of a communist Poland; for this reason, in the summer of 1944 it initiated [[Operation Tempest]], of which the [[Warsaw Uprising]] that began on 1 August 1944 is the best-known operation.<ref name="Lerski 1996b" /><ref name="polandinexile" />
The [[Polish resistance movement in World War II|wartime resistance movement]], and the [[Armia Krajowa]] (''Home Army''), fought against German occupation. It was one of the three largest resistance movements of the entire war, and encompassed a range of clandestine activities, which functioned as an [[Polish Underground State|underground state]] complete with [[Education in Poland during World War II|degree-awarding universities]] and [[Underground court|a court system]].<ref name="Stanislaw Salmonowicz 1994" /> The resistance was loyal to the exiled government and generally resented the idea of a communist Poland; for this reason, in the summer of 1944 it initiated [[Operation Tempest]], of which the [[Warsaw Uprising]] that began on 1 August 1944 is the best-known operation.<ref name="Lerski 1996b" /><ref name="polandinexile" />
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[[File:WW2-Holocaust-Poland.PNG|thumb|left|Map of [[the Holocaust in occupied Poland|the Holocaust in German-occupied Poland]] with deportation routes and massacre sites. Major [[Jewish ghettos in German-occupied Poland|ghettos]] are marked with yellow stars. Nazi [[extermination camps]] are marked with white skulls in black squares. The border in 1941 between [[Nazi Germany]] and the [[Soviet Union]] is marked in red.]]
[[File:WW2-Holocaust-Poland.PNG|thumb|left|Map of [[the Holocaust in occupied Poland|the Holocaust in German-occupied Poland]] with deportation routes and massacre sites. Major [[Jewish ghettos in German-occupied Poland|ghettos]] are marked with yellow stars. Nazi [[extermination camps]] are marked with white skulls in black squares. The border in 1941 between [[Nazi Germany]] and the [[Soviet Union]] is marked in red.]]


Nazi German forces under orders from [[Adolf Hitler]] set up six German [[extermination camp]]s in occupied Poland, including [[Treblinka extermination camp|Treblinka]], [[Majdanek concentration camp|Majdanek]] and [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz]]. The Germans [[Holocaust train|transported millions of Jews]] from across occupied Europe to be murdered in those camps.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Browning |first1=Christopher R. |title=The origins of the Final Solution: the evolution of Nazi Jewish policy, September 1939 – March 1942 |last2=Matthäus |first2=Jürgen |date=2004 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |isbn=978-0-8032-1327-2 |series=Comprehensive history of the Holocaust |location=Lincoln}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Snyder |first=Timothy |title=Black earth: the Holocaust as history and warning |date=2015 |publisher=Tim Duggan Books |isbn=978-1-101-90345-2 |edition=First |location=New York}}</ref> Altogether, 3 million Polish Jews<ref>{{harvp|Materski|Szarota|2009}} ''Quote:'' Liczba Żydów i Polaków żydowskiego pochodzenia, obywateli II Rzeczypospolitej, zamordowanych przez Niemców sięga 2,7- 2,9 mln osób. ''Translation:'' The number of Jewish victims is estimated at 2,9 million. This was about 90% of the 3.3 million Jews living in prewar Poland. ''Source:'' IPN.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.yadvashem.org/righteous/stories/poland-historical-background.html | title=Poland: Historical Background during the Holocaust }}</ref> – approximately 90% of Poland's pre-war Jewry – and between 1.8 and 2.8 million ethnic Poles<ref>{{Cite web |title=Polish Victims |url=https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/polish-victims |publisher=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Piotrowski |first=Tadeusz |title=Poland World War II casualties (in thousands) |url=http://projectinposterum.org/docs/poland_WWII_casualties.htm}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Materski|Szarota|2009}} ''Quote:'' Łączne straty śmiertelne ludności polskiej pod okupacją niemiecką oblicza się obecnie na ok. 2 770 000. ''Translation:'' Current estimate is roughly 2,770,000 victims of German occupation. This was 11.3% of the 24.4 million ethnic Poles in prewar Poland.</ref> were killed during the German [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|occupation of Poland]], including between 50,000 and 100,000 members of the Polish [[intelligentsia]] – academics, doctors, lawyers, nobility and priesthood. During the Warsaw Uprising alone, over 150,000 Polish civilians were killed, most were murdered by the Germans during the [[Wola massacre|Wola]] and [[Ochota massacre|Ochota]] massacres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Documenting Numbers of Victims of the Holocaust and Nazi Persecution |url=https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/documenting-numbers-of-victims-of-the-holocaust-and-nazi-persecution |publisher=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wardzyńska |first=Maria |url=http://pamiec.pl/download/49/34737/BYLROK1939.pdf |title=Był rok 1939. Operacja niemieckiej policji bezpieczeństwa w Polsce. Intelligenzaktion |publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-83-7629-063-8 |language=pl |trans-title=The Year was 1939: Operation of German Security Police in Poland. Intelligenzaktion |quote=Oblicza się, że akcja "Inteligencja" pochłonęła ponad 100 tys. ofiar. ''Translation:'' It is estimated that ''Intelligenzaktion'' took the lives of 100,000 Poles. |access-date=4 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035451/http://pamiec.pl/download/49/34737/BYLROK1939.pdf |archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> Around 150,000 Polish civilians were killed by Soviets between 1939 and 1941 during the Soviet Union's occupation of eastern Poland ([[Kresy]]), and another estimated 100,000 Poles were murdered by the [[Ukrainian Insurgent Army]] (UPA) between 1943 and 1944 in what became known as the [[Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia|Wołyń Massacres]].<ref>Grzegorz Motyka, Od rzezi wołyńskiej do akcji "Wisła". Konflikt polsko-ukraiński 1943–1947. Kraków 2011, p. 447. See also: Book review by Tomasz Stańczyk: "Grzegorz Motyka oblicza, że w latach 1943–1947 z polskich rąk zginęło 11–15 tys. Ukraińców. Polskie straty to 76–106 tys. zamordowanych, w znakomitej większości podczas rzezi wołyńskiej i galicyjskiej."</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=What were the Volhynian Massacres? |url=http://www.volhyniamassacre.eu |website=1943 Wołyń Massacres Truth and Remembrance |publisher=Institute of National Remembrance}}</ref> [[World War II casualties|Of all the countries]] in the war, Poland lost the highest percentage of its citizens: around 6 million perished – more than one-sixth of Poland's pre-war population – [[Holocaust in Poland|half of them]] Polish Jews.<ref>{{harvp|Materski|Szarota|2009}}</ref><ref>[http://www.remember.org/forgotten/ Holocaust: Five Million Forgotten: Non-Jewish Victims of the Shoah.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125075356/http://remember.org/forgotten |date=25 January 2018 }} Remember.org.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Polish experts lower nation's WWII death toll |url=https://www.expatica.com/de/polish-experts-lower-nations-wwii-death-toll/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818035613/https://www.expatica.com/de/polish-experts-lower-nations-wwii-death-toll/ |archive-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> About 90% of deaths were non-military in nature.<ref>Bureau odszkodowan wojennych (BOW), Statement on war losses and damages of Poland in 1939–1945. Warsaw 1947</ref>
Nazi German forces under orders from [[Adolf Hitler]] set up six German [[extermination camp]]s in occupied Poland, including [[Treblinka extermination camp|Treblinka]], [[Majdanek concentration camp|Majdanek]] and [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz]]. The Germans [[Holocaust train|transported millions of Jews]] from across occupied Europe to be murdered in those camps.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Browning |first1=Christopher R. |title=The origins of the Final Solution: the evolution of Nazi Jewish policy, September 1939 – March 1942 |last2=Matthäus |first2=Jürgen |date=2004 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |isbn=978-0-8032-1327-2 |series=Comprehensive history of the Holocaust |location=Lincoln}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Snyder |first=Timothy |title=Black earth: the Holocaust as history and warning |date=2015 |publisher=Tim Duggan Books |isbn=978-1-101-90345-2 |edition=First |location=New York}}</ref> Altogether, 3 million Polish Jews<ref>{{harvp|Materski|Szarota|2009}} ''Quote:'' Liczba Żydów i Polaków żydowskiego pochodzenia, obywateli II Rzeczypospolitej, zamordowanych przez Niemców sięga 2,7- 2,9 mln osób. ''Translation:'' The number of Jewish victims is estimated at 2,9 million. This was about 90% of the 3.3 million Jews living in prewar Poland. ''Source:'' IPN.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.yadvashem.org/righteous/stories/poland-historical-background.html | title=Poland: Historical Background during the Holocaust | access-date=18 August 2019 | archive-date=12 November 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112052517/https://www.yadvashem.org/righteous/stories/poland-historical-background.html | url-status=live }}</ref> – approximately 90% of Poland's pre-war Jewry – and between 1.8 and 2.8 million ethnic Poles<ref>{{Cite web |title=Polish Victims |url=https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/polish-victims |publisher=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum |access-date=4 January 2020 |archive-date=24 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824050551/https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/polish-victims |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Piotrowski |first=Tadeusz |title=Poland World War II casualties (in thousands) |url=http://projectinposterum.org/docs/poland_WWII_casualties.htm |access-date=4 January 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418175341/http://projectinposterum.org/docs/poland_WWII_casualties.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Materski|Szarota|2009}} ''Quote:'' Łączne straty śmiertelne ludności polskiej pod okupacją niemiecką oblicza się obecnie na ok. 2 770 000. ''Translation:'' Current estimate is roughly 2,770,000 victims of German occupation. This was 11.3% of the 24.4 million ethnic Poles in prewar Poland.</ref> were killed during the German [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|occupation of Poland]], including between 50,000 and 100,000 members of the Polish [[intelligentsia]] – academics, doctors, lawyers, nobility and priesthood. During the Warsaw Uprising alone, over 150,000 Polish civilians were killed, most were murdered by the Germans during the [[Wola massacre|Wola]] and [[Ochota massacre|Ochota]] massacres.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Documenting Numbers of Victims of the Holocaust and Nazi Persecution |url=https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/documenting-numbers-of-victims-of-the-holocaust-and-nazi-persecution |publisher=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum |access-date=4 January 2020 |archive-date=3 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103120011/https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/documenting-numbers-of-victims-of-the-holocaust-and-nazi-persecution |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wardzyńska |first=Maria |url=http://pamiec.pl/download/49/34737/BYLROK1939.pdf |title=Był rok 1939. Operacja niemieckiej policji bezpieczeństwa w Polsce. Intelligenzaktion |publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-83-7629-063-8 |language=pl |trans-title=The Year was 1939: Operation of German Security Police in Poland. Intelligenzaktion |quote=Oblicza się, że akcja "Inteligencja" pochłonęła ponad 100 tys. ofiar. ''Translation:'' It is estimated that ''Intelligenzaktion'' took the lives of 100,000 Poles. |access-date=4 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035451/http://pamiec.pl/download/49/34737/BYLROK1939.pdf |archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref> Around 150,000 Polish civilians were killed by Soviets between 1939 and 1941 during the Soviet Union's occupation of eastern Poland ([[Kresy]]), and another estimated 100,000 Poles were murdered by the [[Ukrainian Insurgent Army]] (UPA) between 1943 and 1944 in what became known as the [[Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia|Wołyń Massacres]].<ref>Grzegorz Motyka, Od rzezi wołyńskiej do akcji "Wisła". Konflikt polsko-ukraiński 1943–1947. Kraków 2011, p. 447. See also: Book review by Tomasz Stańczyk: "Grzegorz Motyka oblicza, że w latach 1943–1947 z polskich rąk zginęło 11–15 tys. Ukraińców. Polskie straty to 76–106 tys. zamordowanych, w znakomitej większości podczas rzezi wołyńskiej i galicyjskiej."</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=What were the Volhynian Massacres? |url=http://www.volhyniamassacre.eu/ |website=1943 Wołyń Massacres Truth and Remembrance |publisher=Institute of National Remembrance |access-date=17 July 2016 |archive-date=13 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813063016/http://www.volhyniamassacre.eu/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[World War II casualties|Of all the countries]] in the war, Poland lost the highest percentage of its citizens: around 6 million perished – more than one-sixth of Poland's pre-war population – [[Holocaust in Poland|half of them]] Polish Jews.<ref>{{harvp|Materski|Szarota|2009}}</ref><ref>[http://www.remember.org/forgotten/ Holocaust: Five Million Forgotten: Non-Jewish Victims of the Shoah.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125075356/http://remember.org/forgotten |date=25 January 2018 }} Remember.org.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Polish experts lower nation's WWII death toll |url=https://www.expatica.com/de/polish-experts-lower-nations-wwii-death-toll/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818035613/https://www.expatica.com/de/polish-experts-lower-nations-wwii-death-toll/ |archive-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> About 90% of deaths were non-military in nature.<ref>Bureau odszkodowan wojennych (BOW), Statement on war losses and damages of Poland in 1939–1945. Warsaw 1947</ref>


In 1945, Poland's borders [[Territorial changes of Poland immediately after World War II|were shifted westwards]]. Over two million Polish inhabitants of [[Kresy]] [[Polish population transfers (1944–1946)|were expelled]] along the [[Curzon Line]] by [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]].<ref>[[Bogumiła Lisocka-Jaegermann]] (2006). "Post-War Migrations in Poland". In: Mirosława Czerny. ''Poland in the geographical centre of Europe.'' Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers. pp. 71–87. {{ISBN|978-1-59454-603-7}}. [{{GBurl|id=KGYrq9qAeskC|q=%22so+called+Curzon+Line%22}} Google Books preview.]</ref> The western border became the [[Oder-Neisse line]]. As a result, Poland's territory was reduced by 20%, or {{convert|77500|km2|sqmi}}. The shift forced the migration of [[World War II evacuation and expulsion|millions of other people]], most of whom were Poles, Germans, Ukrainians, and Jews.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eberhardt |first=Piotr |url=http://www.igipz.pan.pl/en/zpz/Political_migrations.pdf |title=Political Migrations in Poland 1939–1948 |publisher=Didactica |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-5361-1035-7 |location=Warsaw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626151411/http://www.igipz.pan.pl/en/zpz/Political_migrations.pdf |archive-date=26 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Eberhardt |first=Piotr |url=http://rcin.org.pl/Content/15652/WA51_13607_r2011-nr12_Monografie.pdf |title=Political Migrations On Polish Territories (1939–1950) |publisher=Polish Academy of Sciences |year=2011 |isbn=978-83-61590-46-0 |location=Warsaw |access-date=3 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220409/http://rcin.org.pl/Content/15652/WA51_13607_r2011-nr12_Monografie.pdf |archive-date=20 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="BBC 2011" />
In 1945, Poland's borders [[Territorial changes of Poland immediately after World War II|were shifted westwards]]. Over two million Polish inhabitants of [[Kresy]] [[Polish population transfers (1944–1946)|were expelled]] along the [[Curzon Line]] by [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]].<ref>[[Bogumiła Lisocka-Jaegermann]] (2006). "Post-War Migrations in Poland". In: Mirosława Czerny. ''Poland in the geographical centre of Europe.'' Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers. pp. 71–87. {{ISBN|978-1-59454-603-7}}. [{{GBurl|id=KGYrq9qAeskC|q=%22so+called+Curzon+Line%22}} Google Books preview.]</ref> The western border became the [[Oder-Neisse line]]. As a result, Poland's territory was reduced by 20%, or {{convert|77500|km2|sqmi}}. The shift forced the migration of [[World War II evacuation and expulsion|millions of other people]], most of whom were Poles, Germans, Ukrainians, and Jews.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eberhardt |first=Piotr |url=http://www.igipz.pan.pl/en/zpz/Political_migrations.pdf |title=Political Migrations in Poland 1939–1948 |publisher=Didactica |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-5361-1035-7 |location=Warsaw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626151411/http://www.igipz.pan.pl/en/zpz/Political_migrations.pdf |archive-date=26 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Eberhardt |first=Piotr |url=http://rcin.org.pl/Content/15652/WA51_13607_r2011-nr12_Monografie.pdf |title=Political Migrations On Polish Territories (1939–1950) |publisher=Polish Academy of Sciences |year=2011 |isbn=978-83-61590-46-0 |location=Warsaw |access-date=3 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220409/http://rcin.org.pl/Content/15652/WA51_13607_r2011-nr12_Monografie.pdf |archive-date=20 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="BBC 2011" />
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{{Main|History of Poland (1945–1989)|Polish People's Republic|History of Solidarity|Polish Round Table Agreement}}
{{Main|History of Poland (1945–1989)|Polish People's Republic|History of Solidarity|Polish Round Table Agreement}}
[[File:Solidarity poster 1989.jpg|thumb|upright|''At [[High Noon]], 4 June 1989''—political poster featuring [[Gary Cooper]] to encourage votes for the [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]] party in the [[Contract Sejm|1989 elections]]]]
[[File:Solidarity poster 1989.jpg|thumb|upright|''At [[High Noon]], 4 June 1989''—political poster featuring [[Gary Cooper]] to encourage votes for the [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]] party in the [[Contract Sejm|1989 elections]]]]
At the insistence of [[Joseph Stalin]], the [[Yalta Conference]] sanctioned the formation of a new provisional pro-Communist coalition government in Moscow, which ignored the [[Polish government-in-exile]] based in London. This action angered many Poles who considered it a [[Yalta betrayal|betrayal]] by the Allies. In 1944, Stalin had made guarantees to [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] and [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] that he would maintain Poland's sovereignty and allow democratic elections to take place. However, upon achieving victory in 1945, the elections organised by the occupying Soviet authorities were falsified and were used to provide a veneer of legitimacy for Soviet hegemony over Polish affairs. The Soviet Union instituted a new [[communist state|communist]] government in Poland, analogous to much of the rest of the [[Eastern Bloc]]. [[Anti-Communism in the Communist Bloc|As elsewhere in Communist Europe]], the Soviet influence over Poland was met with [[Cursed soldiers|armed resistance]] from the outset which continued into the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ARTICLE by Karol Nawrocki, Ph.D.: The soldiers of Polish freedom |url=https://ipn.gov.pl/en/news/9332,ARTICLE-by-Karol-Nawrocki-PhD-The-soldiers-of-Polish-freedom.html |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref>
At the insistence of [[Joseph Stalin]], the [[Yalta Conference]] sanctioned the formation of a new provisional pro-Communist coalition government in Moscow, which ignored the [[Polish government-in-exile]] based in London. This action angered many Poles who considered it a [[Yalta betrayal|betrayal]] by the Allies. In 1944, Stalin had made guarantees to [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] and [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] that he would maintain Poland's sovereignty and allow democratic elections to take place. However, upon achieving victory in 1945, the elections organised by the occupying Soviet authorities were falsified and were used to provide a veneer of legitimacy for Soviet hegemony over Polish affairs. The Soviet Union instituted a new [[communist state|communist]] government in Poland, analogous to much of the rest of the [[Eastern Bloc]]. [[Anti-Communism in the Communist Bloc|As elsewhere in Communist Europe]], the Soviet influence over Poland was met with [[Cursed soldiers|armed resistance]] from the outset which continued into the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ARTICLE by Karol Nawrocki, Ph.D.: The soldiers of Polish freedom |url=https://ipn.gov.pl/en/news/9332,ARTICLE-by-Karol-Nawrocki-PhD-The-soldiers-of-Polish-freedom.html |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512143630/https://ipn.gov.pl/en/news/9332,ARTICLE-by-Karol-Nawrocki-PhD-The-soldiers-of-Polish-freedom.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


Despite widespread objections, the new Polish government accepted the Soviet annexation of the pre-war eastern regions of Poland<ref name="Lane 1948" /> (in particular the cities of [[Wilno]] and [[Lwów]]) and agreed to the permanent garrisoning of [[Red Army]] units on Poland's territory. Military alignment within the [[Warsaw Pact]] throughout the [[Cold War]] came about as a direct result of this change in Poland's political culture. In the European scene, it came to characterise the full-fledged integration of Poland into the brotherhood of communist nations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warsaw Pact: Definition, History, and Significance |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/warsaw-pact-4178983 |access-date=6 March 2022}}</ref>
Despite widespread objections, the new Polish government accepted the Soviet annexation of the pre-war eastern regions of Poland<ref name="Lane 1948" /> (in particular the cities of [[Wilno]] and [[Lwów]]) and agreed to the permanent garrisoning of [[Red Army]] units on Poland's territory. Military alignment within the [[Warsaw Pact]] throughout the [[Cold War]] came about as a direct result of this change in Poland's political culture. In the European scene, it came to characterise the full-fledged integration of Poland into the brotherhood of communist nations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warsaw Pact: Definition, History, and Significance |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/warsaw-pact-4178983 |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531072214/https://www.thoughtco.com/warsaw-pact-4178983 |url-status=live }}</ref>


The new communist government took control with the adoption of the [[Small Constitution of 1947|Small Constitution]] on 19 February 1947. The [[Polish People's Republic]] (''Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa'') [[Constitution of the People's Republic of Poland|was officially proclaimed in 1952]]. In 1956, after the death of [[Bolesław Bierut]], the régime of [[Władysław Gomułka]] became temporarily more liberal, freeing many people from prison and expanding some personal freedoms. [[Collectivization in the Polish People's Republic|Collectivisation in the Polish People's Republic]] failed. A similar situation repeated itself in the 1970s under [[Edward Gierek]], but most of the time persecution of [[Anti-communist resistance in Poland (1944–1989)|anti-communist opposition]] groups persisted. Despite this, Poland was at the time considered to be one of the least oppressive states of the Eastern Bloc.<ref name="PWN" />
The new communist government took control with the adoption of the [[Small Constitution of 1947|Small Constitution]] on 19 February 1947. The [[Polish People's Republic]] (''Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa'') [[Constitution of the People's Republic of Poland|was officially proclaimed in 1952]]. In 1956, after the death of [[Bolesław Bierut]], the régime of [[Władysław Gomułka]] became temporarily more liberal, freeing many people from prison and expanding some personal freedoms. [[Collectivization in the Polish People's Republic|Collectivisation in the Polish People's Republic]] failed. A similar situation repeated itself in the 1970s under [[Edward Gierek]], but most of the time persecution of [[Anti-communist resistance in Poland (1944–1989)|anti-communist opposition]] groups persisted. Despite this, Poland was at the time considered to be one of the least oppressive states of the Eastern Bloc.<ref name="PWN" />
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{{Main|History of Poland (1989–present)}}
{{Main|History of Poland (1989–present)}}
[[File:Flowers in front of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.jpg|upright=0.8|thumb|Flowers in front of the [[Presidential Palace, Warsaw|Presidential Palace]] following the [[2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash|death of Poland's top government officials]] in a plane crash on 10 April 2010]]
[[File:Flowers in front of the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.jpg|upright=0.8|thumb|Flowers in front of the [[Presidential Palace, Warsaw|Presidential Palace]] following the [[2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash|death of Poland's top government officials]] in a plane crash on 10 April 2010]]
A [[shock therapy (economics)|shock therapy]] program, initiated by [[Leszek Balcerowicz]] in the early 1990s, enabled the country to transform its [[Soviet-style socialism|Soviet-style]] [[planned economy]] into a [[market economy]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hunter |first1=Richard J. Jr. |last2=Ryan |first2=Leo V. |date=2006 |title=A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE: "Why Was Poland's Transition So Difficult?" |journal=[[The Polish Review]] |publisher=[[University of Illinois Press]] |volume=51 |pages=147–171 |jstor=25779611 |number=2}}</ref> As with other [[post-communism|post-communist countries]], Poland suffered temporary declines in social, economic, and living standards,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kowalik |first=Tadeusz |title=From Solidarity to Sell-Out: The Restoration of Capitalism in Poland |publisher=Monthly Review Press |year=2011 |location=New York, NY}}</ref> but it became the first post-communist country to reach its pre-1989 [[Gross domestic product|GDP levels]] as early as 1995, largely due to its [[Economy of Poland|booming economy]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Spieser |first=Catherine |date=April 2007 |title=Labour Market Policies in Post-communist Poland: Explaining the Peaceful Institutionalisation of Unemployment |journal=Politique européenne |volume=21 |pages=97–132 |doi=10.3917/poeu.021.0097 |number=1}}</ref> Poland became a member of the [[Visegrád Group]] in 1991,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Poláčková |first=Hana |date=1994 |title=Regional Cooperation in Central Europe: Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia: from Visegrad to CEFTA |journal=Perspectives |publisher=[[SAGE Publishers]] |pages=117–129 |jstor=23615759 |number=3}}</ref> and joined [[NATO]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sieradzka |first=Monika |date=3 November 2019 |title=After 20 years in NATO, Poland still eager to please |url=https://www.dw.com/en/after-20-years-in-nato-poland-still-eager-to-please/a-47862839 |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=[[DW News]] |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |quote=Poland's NATO accession in 1999 was meant to provide protection from Russia.}}</ref> Poles then voted to join the [[European Union]] in [[2003 Polish European Union membership referendum|a referendum]] in June 2003,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Szczerbiak |first=Aleks |date=September 2004 |title=History Trumps Government Unpopularity: The June 2003 Polish EU Accession Referendum |journal=West European Politics |volume=27 |pages=671–690 |doi=10.1080/0140238042000249876 |s2cid=153998856 |number=4}}</ref> with [[Poland in the European Union|Poland becoming a full member]] on 1 May 2004, following the [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|consequent enlargement of the organisation]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kundera |first=Jaroslaw |date=September 2014 |title=Poland in the European Union. The economic effects of ten years of membership |journal=Rivista di Studi Politici Internazionali |volume=81 |pages=377–396 |jstor=43580712 |number=3}}</ref>
A [[shock therapy (economics)|shock therapy]] program, initiated by [[Leszek Balcerowicz]] in the early 1990s, enabled the country to transform its [[Soviet-style socialism|Soviet-style]] [[planned economy]] into a [[market economy]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hunter |first1=Richard J. Jr. |last2=Ryan |first2=Leo V. |date=2006 |title=A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE: "Why Was Poland's Transition So Difficult?" |journal=[[The Polish Review]] |publisher=[[University of Illinois Press]] |volume=51 |pages=147–171 |jstor=25779611 |number=2}}</ref> As with other [[post-communism|post-communist countries]], Poland suffered temporary declines in social, economic, and living standards,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kowalik |first=Tadeusz |title=From Solidarity to Sell-Out: The Restoration of Capitalism in Poland |publisher=Monthly Review Press |year=2011 |location=New York, NY}}</ref> but it became the first post-communist country to reach its pre-1989 [[Gross domestic product|GDP levels]] as early as 1995, largely due to its [[Economy of Poland|booming economy]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Spieser |first=Catherine |date=April 2007 |title=Labour Market Policies in Post-communist Poland: Explaining the Peaceful Institutionalisation of Unemployment |journal=Politique européenne |volume=21 |pages=97–132 |doi=10.3917/poeu.021.0097 |number=1}}</ref> Poland became a member of the [[Visegrád Group]] in 1991,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Poláčková |first=Hana |date=1994 |title=Regional Cooperation in Central Europe: Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia: from Visegrad to CEFTA |journal=Perspectives |publisher=[[SAGE Publishers]] |pages=117–129 |jstor=23615759 |number=3}}</ref> and joined [[NATO]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sieradzka |first=Monika |date=3 November 2019 |title=After 20 years in NATO, Poland still eager to please |url=https://www.dw.com/en/after-20-years-in-nato-poland-still-eager-to-please/a-47862839 |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=[[DW News]] |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |quote=Poland's NATO accession in 1999 was meant to provide protection from Russia. |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531214850/https://www.dw.com/en/after-20-years-in-nato-poland-still-eager-to-please/a-47862839 |url-status=live }}</ref> Poles then voted to join the [[European Union]] in [[2003 Polish European Union membership referendum|a referendum]] in June 2003,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Szczerbiak |first=Aleks |date=September 2004 |title=History Trumps Government Unpopularity: The June 2003 Polish EU Accession Referendum |journal=West European Politics |volume=27 |pages=671–690 |doi=10.1080/0140238042000249876 |s2cid=153998856 |number=4}}</ref> with [[Poland in the European Union|Poland becoming a full member]] on 1 May 2004, following the [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|consequent enlargement of the organisation]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kundera |first=Jaroslaw |date=September 2014 |title=Poland in the European Union. The economic effects of ten years of membership |journal=Rivista di Studi Politici Internazionali |volume=81 |pages=377–396 |jstor=43580712 |number=3}}</ref>


Poland joined the [[Schengen Area]] in 2007, as a result of which, [[Borders of Poland|the country's borders]] with other member states of the European Union were dismantled, allowing for [[Freedom of movement#European Union|full freedom of movement]] within most of the European Union.<ref name="BBC News 2007" /> On 10 April 2010, the [[President of Poland]] [[Lech Kaczyński]], along with 89 other high-ranking Polish officials [[2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash|died in a plane crash]] near [[Smolensk]], Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Alex Duval |date=7 February 2016 |title=Will Poland ever uncover the truth about the plane crash that killed its president? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/07/smolensk-plane-crash-lech-kaczynski-poland-russia |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=[[The Guardian]] |location=[[Warsaw]]}}</ref>
Poland joined the [[Schengen Area]] in 2007, as a result of which, [[Borders of Poland|the country's borders]] with other member states of the European Union were dismantled, allowing for [[Freedom of movement#European Union|full freedom of movement]] within most of the European Union.<ref name="BBC News 2007" /> On 10 April 2010, the [[President of Poland]] [[Lech Kaczyński]], along with 89 other high-ranking Polish officials [[2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash|died in a plane crash]] near [[Smolensk]], Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Alex Duval |date=7 February 2016 |title=Will Poland ever uncover the truth about the plane crash that killed its president? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/07/smolensk-plane-crash-lech-kaczynski-poland-russia |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=[[The Guardian]] |location=[[Warsaw]] |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530164613/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/07/smolensk-plane-crash-lech-kaczynski-poland-russia |url-status=live }}</ref>


In 2011, the ruling [[Civic Platform]] won [[2011 Polish parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turkowski |first=Andrzej |title=Ruling Civic Platform Wins Parliamentary Elections in Poland |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2011/10/10/ruling-civic-platform-wins-parliamentary-elections-in-poland-pub-45703 |website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace}}</ref> In 2014, the [[Prime Minister of Poland]], [[Donald Tusk]], was chosen to be [[President of the European Council]], and resigned as prime minister.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lynch |first=Suzanne |title=Donald Tusk named next president of European Council |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/donald-tusk-named-next-president-of-european-council-1.1913164}}</ref> The [[2015 Polish parliamentary election|2015]] and [[2019 Polish parliamentary election|2019 elections]] were won by the national-conservative [[Law and Justice]] Party (PiS) led by [[Jarosław Kaczyński]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 October 2015 |title=Poland elections: Conservatives secure decisive win |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34631826}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=14 October 2019 |title=Poland's populist Law and Justice party win second term in power |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/14/poland-populist-law-and-justice-party-increases-majority}}</ref> resulting in increased [[Euroscepticism]] and [[Polish constitutional crisis|increased friction]] with the European Union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rule of Law: European Commission acts to defend judicial independence in Poland |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_17_5367 |access-date=15 November 2020 |website=European Commission |language=en}}</ref> In December 2017, [[Mateusz Morawiecki]] was sworn in as the Prime Minister, succeeding [[Beata Szydło|Beata Szydlo]], in office since 2015. President [[Andrzej Duda]], supported by Law and Justice party, was re-elected in the 2020 presidential [[2020 Polish presidential election|election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 July 2020 |title=Poland's Duda narrowly beats Trzaskowski in presidential vote |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53385021}}</ref> {{As of|November 2023}} the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] had led to 17 million [[Ukrainian refugee crisis|Ukrainian refugees]] crossing the border to Poland.<ref name="UNHRC Ukraine">{{Cite web |title=Situation Ukraine Refugee Situation |url=https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine |website=data.unhcr.org}}</ref> {{As of|November 2023}}, 0.9 million of those had stayed in Poland.<ref name="UNHRC Ukraine" /> In October 2023, the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party won the largest share of the vote in the [[2023 Polish parliamentary election|election]], but lost its majority in parliament. In December 2023, Donald Tusk became the new Prime Minister leading a coalition called [[Civic Coalition (Poland)|Civic Coalition]] made up of [[Civic Platform]], [[Third Way (Poland)|Third Way]], and [[The Left (Poland)|The Left]]. Law and Justice became the leading opposition party.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 December 2023 |title=Donald Tusk elected as Polish prime minister |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67681940 |access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref>
In 2011, the ruling [[Civic Platform]] won [[2011 Polish parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turkowski |first=Andrzej |title=Ruling Civic Platform Wins Parliamentary Elections in Poland |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2011/10/10/ruling-civic-platform-wins-parliamentary-elections-in-poland-pub-45703 |website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |access-date=11 April 2021 |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530233038/https://carnegieendowment.org/2011/10/10/ruling-civic-platform-wins-parliamentary-elections-in-poland-pub-45703 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, the [[Prime Minister of Poland]], [[Donald Tusk]], was chosen to be [[President of the European Council]], and resigned as prime minister.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lynch |first=Suzanne |title=Donald Tusk named next president of European Council |newspaper=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/donald-tusk-named-next-president-of-european-council-1.1913164 |access-date=11 April 2021 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531053534/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/donald-tusk-named-next-president-of-european-council-1.1913164 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[2015 Polish parliamentary election|2015]] and [[2019 Polish parliamentary election|2019 elections]] were won by the national-conservative [[Law and Justice]] Party (PiS) led by [[Jarosław Kaczyński]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 October 2015 |title=Poland elections: Conservatives secure decisive win |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34631826 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-date=25 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025224207/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34631826 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=14 October 2019 |title=Poland's populist Law and Justice party win second term in power |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/14/poland-populist-law-and-justice-party-increases-majority |access-date=8 October 2020 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531141516/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/14/poland-populist-law-and-justice-party-increases-majority |url-status=live }}</ref> resulting in increased [[Euroscepticism]] and [[Polish constitutional crisis|increased friction]] with the European Union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rule of Law: European Commission acts to defend judicial independence in Poland |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_17_5367 |access-date=15 November 2020 |website=European Commission |language=en |archive-date=28 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328122853/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_17_5367 |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2017, [[Mateusz Morawiecki]] was sworn in as the Prime Minister, succeeding [[Beata Szydło|Beata Szydlo]], in office since 2015. President [[Andrzej Duda]], supported by Law and Justice party, was re-elected in the 2020 presidential [[2020 Polish presidential election|election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 July 2020 |title=Poland's Duda narrowly beats Trzaskowski in presidential vote |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53385021 |access-date=10 March 2021 |archive-date=13 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713013502/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53385021 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{As of|November 2023}} the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] had led to 17 million [[Ukrainian refugee crisis|Ukrainian refugees]] crossing the border to Poland.<ref name="UNHRC Ukraine">{{Cite web |title=Situation Ukraine Refugee Situation |url=https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine |website=data.unhcr.org |access-date=14 December 2023 |archive-date=27 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627032436/https://data.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine |url-status=live }}</ref> {{As of|November 2023}}, 0.9 million of those had stayed in Poland.<ref name="UNHRC Ukraine" /> In October 2023, the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party won the largest share of the vote in the [[2023 Polish parliamentary election|election]], but lost its majority in parliament. In December 2023, Donald Tusk became the new Prime Minister leading a coalition called [[Civic Coalition (Poland)|Civic Coalition]] made up of [[Civic Platform]], [[Third Way (Poland)|Third Way]], and [[The Left (Poland)|The Left]]. Law and Justice became the leading opposition party.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 December 2023 |title=Donald Tusk elected as Polish prime minister |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67681940 |access-date=12 December 2023 |archive-date=13 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213060521/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67681940 |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Geography ==
== Geography ==
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[[File:Poland topo.jpg|thumb|right|[[Topography|Topographic]] map of Poland]]
[[File:Poland topo.jpg|thumb|right|[[Topography|Topographic]] map of Poland]]


Poland covers an administrative area of {{convert|312722|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, and is the [[List of European countries by area|ninth-largest country in Europe]]. Approximately {{convert|311895|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} of the country's territory consists of land, {{convert|2041|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} comprises internal waters and {{convert|8783|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} is territorial sea.<ref name="Rocznik 2019">{{Cite journal |last=Polish Ministry of Education and Science |date=2019 |title=Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Poland |url=https://stat.gov.pl/download/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5515/2/19/1/rocznik_statystyczny_rzeczypospolitej_polskiej_2019.pdf |journal=Rocznik Statystyczny Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |publisher=Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS) |publication-place=Warsaw |pages=80–81, 84–85, 111 |issn=1506-0632 |oclc=907771825 |access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref> Topographically, the landscape of Poland is characterised by diverse [[landform]]s, [[Hydrology|water bodies]] and [[ecosystem]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cechy krajobrazów Polski – Notatki geografia |url=https://geografia.gozych.edu.pl/cechy-krajobrazow-polski/}}</ref> The central and northern region bordering the [[Baltic Sea]] lie within the flat [[Northern European Plain|Central European Plain]], but its south is hilly and mountainous.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Grochowski |first=Mirosław |year=1997 |title=Poland Under Transition and Its New Geography |journal=[[Canadian Slavonic Papers]] |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |volume=39 |pages=1–26 |doi=10.1080/00085006.1997.11092140 |jstor=40869887 |number=1/2}}</ref> The average [[Height above sea level|elevation above the sea level]] is estimated at 173 metres.<ref name="Rocznik 2019" />
Poland covers an administrative area of {{convert|312722|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, and is the [[List of European countries by area|ninth-largest country in Europe]]. Approximately {{convert|311895|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} of the country's territory consists of land, {{convert|2041|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} comprises internal waters and {{convert|8783|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} is territorial sea.<ref name="Rocznik 2019">{{Cite journal |last=Polish Ministry of Education and Science |date=2019 |title=Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Poland |url=https://stat.gov.pl/download/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5515/2/19/1/rocznik_statystyczny_rzeczypospolitej_polskiej_2019.pdf |journal=Rocznik Statystyczny Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |publisher=Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS) |publication-place=Warsaw |pages=80–81, 84–85, 111 |issn=1506-0632 |oclc=907771825 |access-date=2 April 2022 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303153527/https://stat.gov.pl/download/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5515/2/19/1/rocznik_statystyczny_rzeczypospolitej_polskiej_2019.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Topographically, the landscape of Poland is characterised by diverse [[landform]]s, [[Hydrology|water bodies]] and [[ecosystem]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cechy krajobrazów Polski – Notatki geografia |url=https://geografia.gozych.edu.pl/cechy-krajobrazow-polski/ |access-date=4 December 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029163433/https://geografia.gozych.edu.pl/cechy-krajobrazow-polski/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The central and northern region bordering the [[Baltic Sea]] lie within the flat [[Northern European Plain|Central European Plain]], but its south is hilly and mountainous.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Grochowski |first=Mirosław |year=1997 |title=Poland Under Transition and Its New Geography |journal=[[Canadian Slavonic Papers]] |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |volume=39 |pages=1–26 |doi=10.1080/00085006.1997.11092140 |jstor=40869887 |number=1/2}}</ref> The average [[Height above sea level|elevation above the sea level]] is estimated at 173 metres.<ref name="Rocznik 2019" />


The country has a coastline spanning {{convert|comma=5|770|km|mi|abbr=on}}; extending from the shores of the Baltic Sea, along the [[Bay of Pomerania]] in the west to the [[Gdańsk Bay|Gulf of Gdańsk]] in the east.<ref name="Rocznik 2019" /> The beach coastline is abundant in [[sand dunes|sand dune fields]] or [[Beach ridge|coastal ridges]] and is indented by [[Spit (landform)|spits]] and lagoons, notably the [[Hel Peninsula]] and the [[Vistula Lagoon]], which is shared with Russia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=BACC Editorial Team |title=Second Assessment of Climate Change for the Baltic Sea Basin |date=2015 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-16005-4 |location=Cham |page=385}}</ref> The largest Polish island on the Baltic Sea is [[Wolin]], located within [[Wolin National Park]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Tymon Zielinski |title=Interdisciplinary approaches for sustainable development goals |last2=Iwona Sagan |last3=Waldemar Surosz |date=2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-71788-3 |location=Cham |page=79}}</ref> Poland also shares the [[Szczecin Lagoon]] and the [[Usedom]] island with Germany.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shell |first=Marc |title=Islandology: Geography, Rhetoric, Politics |date=2014 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-8926-4 |location=Stanford |page=89}}</ref>
The country has a coastline spanning {{convert|comma=5|770|km|mi|abbr=on}}; extending from the shores of the Baltic Sea, along the [[Bay of Pomerania]] in the west to the [[Gdańsk Bay|Gulf of Gdańsk]] in the east.<ref name="Rocznik 2019" /> The beach coastline is abundant in [[sand dunes|sand dune fields]] or [[Beach ridge|coastal ridges]] and is indented by [[Spit (landform)|spits]] and lagoons, notably the [[Hel Peninsula]] and the [[Vistula Lagoon]], which is shared with Russia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=BACC Editorial Team |title=Second Assessment of Climate Change for the Baltic Sea Basin |date=2015 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-16005-4 |location=Cham |page=385}}</ref> The largest Polish island on the Baltic Sea is [[Wolin]], located within [[Wolin National Park]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Tymon Zielinski |title=Interdisciplinary approaches for sustainable development goals |last2=Iwona Sagan |last3=Waldemar Surosz |date=2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-71788-3 |location=Cham |page=79}}</ref> Poland also shares the [[Szczecin Lagoon]] and the [[Usedom]] island with Germany.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shell |first=Marc |title=Islandology: Geography, Rhetoric, Politics |date=2014 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-8926-4 |location=Stanford |page=89}}</ref>
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[[File:Morskie Oko o poranku.jpg|thumb|left|[[Morskie Oko]] alpine lake in the [[Tatra Mountains]]. Poland has one of the highest densities of lakes in the world.]]
[[File:Morskie Oko o poranku.jpg|thumb|left|[[Morskie Oko]] alpine lake in the [[Tatra Mountains]]. Poland has one of the highest densities of lakes in the world.]]


Poland's [[Rivers of Poland|longest rivers]] are the [[Vistula River|Vistula]], the [[Oder River|Oder]], the [[Warta]], and the [[Bug River|Bug]].<ref name="Rocznik 2019" /> The country also possesses one of the highest densities of lakes in the world, numbering around ten thousand and mostly concentrated in the north-eastern region of [[Masuria]], within the [[Masurian Lake District]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Christine Zuchora-Walske |title=Poland |publisher=ABDO Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-61480-877-0 |page=28 |chapter=The Lakes Region |quote=''Insert:'' Poland is home to 9,300 lakes. Finland is the only European nation with a higher density of lakes than Poland. |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=9dx2AgAAQBAJ|q=%22a+higher+density+of+lakes+than+Poland%22}}}}</ref> The largest lakes, covering more than {{convert|100|km2|sqmi|0}}, are [[Śniardwy]] and [[Lake Mamry|Mamry]], and the deepest is [[Hańcza|Lake Hańcza]] at {{convert|108.5|m|ft|0}} in depth.<ref name="Rocznik 2019" />
Poland's [[Rivers of Poland|longest rivers]] are the [[Vistula River|Vistula]], the [[Oder River|Oder]], the [[Warta]], and the [[Bug River|Bug]].<ref name="Rocznik 2019" /> The country also possesses one of the highest densities of lakes in the world, numbering around ten thousand and mostly concentrated in the north-eastern region of [[Masuria]], within the [[Masurian Lake District]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Christine Zuchora-Walske |title=Poland |publisher=ABDO Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-61480-877-0 |page=28 |chapter=The Lakes Region |quote=''Insert:'' Poland is home to 9,300 lakes. Finland is the only European nation with a higher density of lakes than Poland. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9dx2AgAAQBAJ&q=%2522a%2Bhigher%2Bdensity%2Bof%2Blakes%2Bthan%2BPoland%2522 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235914/https://books.google.com/books?id=9dx2AgAAQBAJ&q=%2522a%2Bhigher%2Bdensity%2Bof%2Blakes%2Bthan%2BPoland%2522 |url-status=live }}</ref> The largest lakes, covering more than {{convert|100|km2|sqmi|0}}, are [[Śniardwy]] and [[Lake Mamry|Mamry]], and the deepest is [[Hańcza|Lake Hańcza]] at {{convert|108.5|m|ft|0}} in depth.<ref name="Rocznik 2019" />


=== Climate ===
=== Climate ===
{{main|Geography of Poland#Climate}}
{{main|Geography of Poland#Climate}}


The climate of Poland is [[temperateness|temperate transitional]], and varies from [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] in the north-west to [[continental climate|continental]] in the south-east.<ref name="Korzeniewska 2020">{{Cite book |last1=Korzeniewska |first1=Ewa |url={{GBurl|id=KGydDwAAQBAJ|dq=%22poland%22+oceanic+continental+temperate+climate|p=4}} |title=Polish River Basins and Lakes |last2=Harnisz |first2=Monika |date=2020 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-12123-5 |volume=I |location=Cham |pages=4–5}}</ref> The mountainous southern fringes are situated within an [[alpine climate]].<ref name="Korzeniewska 2020" /> Poland is characterised by warm summers, with a mean temperature of around {{convert|20|°C|°F|1}} in July, and moderately cold winters averaging {{convert|-1|°C|°F|1}} in December.<ref name="Azad 2021">{{Cite book |last1=Azad |first1=Abdul Kalam |url={{GBurl|id=9OgGEAAAQBAJ|dq=annual+seasonal+mean+temperature+poland|p=6}} |title=Bioenergy Resources and Technologies |last2=Khan |first2=Mohammad Masud Kamal |date=2021 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-12-822526-4 |location=London |page=6}}</ref> The warmest and sunniest part of Poland is [[Lower Silesia]] in the southwest and the coldest region is the northeast corner, around [[Suwałki]] in [[Podlaskie Voivodeship|Podlaskie province]], where the climate is affected by [[cold front]]s from [[Scandinavia]] and [[Siberia]].<ref name="Anna Chodubska 2020">{{Cite report |url=https://www.imgw.pl/sites/default/files/2021-04/imgw-pib-klimat-polski-2020-opracowanie-final-eng-rozkladowki-min.pdf |title=Climate of Poland |last1=Zbigniew Ustrunul |last2=Agnieszka Wypych |date=2020 |publisher=Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute (IMGW) |page=7 |last3=Ewa Jakusik |last4=Dawid Biernacik |last5=Danuta Czekierda |last6=Anna Chodubska |access-date=3 April 2022}}</ref> [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]] is more frequent during the summer months, with highest rainfall recorded from June to September.<ref name="Azad 2021" />
The climate of Poland is [[temperateness|temperate transitional]], and varies from [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] in the north-west to [[continental climate|continental]] in the south-east.<ref name="Korzeniewska 2020">{{Cite book |last1=Korzeniewska |first1=Ewa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KGydDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&dq=%22%2522poland%2522%2Boceanic%2Bcontinental%2Btemperate%2Bclimate%22 |title=Polish River Basins and Lakes |last2=Harnisz |first2=Monika |date=2020 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-12123-5 |volume=I |location=Cham |pages=4–5 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180457/https://books.google.com/books?id=KGydDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&dq=%22%22poland%22+oceanic+continental+temperate+climate%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The mountainous southern fringes are situated within an [[alpine climate]].<ref name="Korzeniewska 2020" /> Poland is characterised by warm summers, with a mean temperature of around {{convert|20|°C|°F|1}} in July, and moderately cold winters averaging {{convert|-1|°C|°F|1}} in December.<ref name="Azad 2021">{{Cite book |last1=Azad |first1=Abdul Kalam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9OgGEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=%22annual%2Bseasonal%2Bmean%2Btemperature%2Bpoland%22 |title=Bioenergy Resources and Technologies |last2=Khan |first2=Mohammad Masud Kamal |date=2021 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-12-822526-4 |location=London |page=6 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180501/https://books.google.com/books?id=9OgGEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=%22annual+seasonal+mean+temperature+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The warmest and sunniest part of Poland is [[Lower Silesia]] in the southwest and the coldest region is the northeast corner, around [[Suwałki]] in [[Podlaskie Voivodeship|Podlaskie province]], where the climate is affected by [[cold front]]s from [[Scandinavia]] and [[Siberia]].<ref name="Anna Chodubska 2020">{{Cite report |url=https://www.imgw.pl/sites/default/files/2021-04/imgw-pib-klimat-polski-2020-opracowanie-final-eng-rozkladowki-min.pdf |title=Climate of Poland |last1=Zbigniew Ustrunul |last2=Agnieszka Wypych |date=2020 |publisher=Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute (IMGW) |page=7 |last3=Ewa Jakusik |last4=Dawid Biernacik |last5=Danuta Czekierda |last6=Anna Chodubska |access-date=3 April 2022 |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628044637/https://www.imgw.pl/sites/default/files/2021-04/imgw-pib-klimat-polski-2020-opracowanie-final-eng-rozkladowki-min.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]] is more frequent during the summer months, with highest rainfall recorded from June to September.<ref name="Azad 2021" />


There is a considerable fluctuation in day-to-day weather and the arrival of a particular season can differ each year.<ref name="Korzeniewska 2020" /> [[Climate change]] and other factors have further contributed to interannual [[Temperature anomaly|thermal anomalies]] and increased temperatures; the average annual air temperature between 2011 and 2020 was {{convert|9.33|°C|°F|1}}, around 1.11&nbsp;°C higher than in the 2001–2010 period.<ref name="Anna Chodubska 2020" /> Winters are also becoming increasingly drier, with less [[Rain and snow mixed|sleet]] and snowfall.<ref name="Korzeniewska 2020" />
There is a considerable fluctuation in day-to-day weather and the arrival of a particular season can differ each year.<ref name="Korzeniewska 2020" /> [[Climate change]] and other factors have further contributed to interannual [[Temperature anomaly|thermal anomalies]] and increased temperatures; the average annual air temperature between 2011 and 2020 was {{convert|9.33|°C|°F|1}}, around 1.11&nbsp;°C higher than in the 2001–2010 period.<ref name="Anna Chodubska 2020" /> Winters are also becoming increasingly drier, with less [[Rain and snow mixed|sleet]] and snowfall.<ref name="Korzeniewska 2020" />
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[[File:2020 żubry 03.jpg|thumb|The [[wisent]], one of [[National symbols of Poland|Poland's national animals]], is commonly found at the ancient and [[List of World Heritage Sites in Poland|UNESCO]]-protected [[Białowieża Forest]].]]
[[File:2020 żubry 03.jpg|thumb|The [[wisent]], one of [[National symbols of Poland|Poland's national animals]], is commonly found at the ancient and [[List of World Heritage Sites in Poland|UNESCO]]-protected [[Białowieża Forest]].]]


[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Poland belongs to the Central European province of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. The country has four [[Palearctic realm|Palearctic ecoregions]] – Central, Northern, Western European [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forest]], and the [[Carpathian montane conifer forests|Carpathian montane conifer]]. Forests occupy 31% of Poland's land area, the largest of which is the [[Lower Silesian Wilderness]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forest area (% of land area) – Poland |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.FRST.ZS?locations=PL |access-date=1 April 2021 |website=[[World Bank]]}}</ref> The most common [[deciduous trees]] found across the country are [[oak]], [[maple]], and [[beech]]; the most common conifers are [[pine]], [[spruce]], and [[fir]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Milewski |first=Wawrzyniec |url=https://www.lasy.gov.pl/pl/informacje/publikacje/in-english/forests-in-poland/lasy-w-polsce-2017-en.pdf |title=Forests in Poland 2017 |date=2017 |publisher=State Forests Information Centre |isbn=978-83-65659-23-1 |location=Warsaw (Warszawa) |page=8}}</ref> An estimated 69% of all forests are [[coniferous]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Frouz |first1=Jan |url={{GBurl|id=9UpUEAAAQBAJ|dq=most+common+trees++oak+beech+pine++%22poland%22|p=245}} |title=Applied Ecology: How agriculture, forestry and fisheries shape our planet |last2=Frouzova |first2=Jaroslava |date=2022 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-83225-4 |location=Cham |page=245}}</ref>
[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Poland belongs to the Central European province of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. The country has four [[Palearctic realm|Palearctic ecoregions]] – Central, Northern, Western European [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forest]], and the [[Carpathian montane conifer forests|Carpathian montane conifer]]. Forests occupy 31% of Poland's land area, the largest of which is the [[Lower Silesian Wilderness]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forest area (% of land area) – Poland |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.FRST.ZS?locations=PL |access-date=1 April 2021 |website=[[World Bank]] |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530193553/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.FRST.ZS?locations=PL |url-status=live }}</ref> The most common [[deciduous trees]] found across the country are [[oak]], [[maple]], and [[beech]]; the most common conifers are [[pine]], [[spruce]], and [[fir]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Milewski |first=Wawrzyniec |url=https://www.lasy.gov.pl/pl/informacje/publikacje/in-english/forests-in-poland/lasy-w-polsce-2017-en.pdf |title=Forests in Poland 2017 |date=2017 |publisher=State Forests Information Centre |isbn=978-83-65659-23-1 |location=Warsaw (Warszawa) |page=8 |access-date=3 April 2022 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531075659/https://www.lasy.gov.pl/pl/informacje/publikacje/in-english/forests-in-poland/lasy-w-polsce-2017-en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> An estimated 69% of all forests are [[coniferous]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Frouz |first1=Jan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9UpUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA245&dq=%22most%2Bcommon%2Btrees%2B%2Boak%2Bbeech%2Bpine%2B%2B%2522poland%2522%22 |title=Applied Ecology: How agriculture, forestry and fisheries shape our planet |last2=Frouzova |first2=Jaroslava |date=2022 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-83225-4 |location=Cham |page=245 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180500/https://books.google.com/books?id=9UpUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA245&dq=%22most+common+trees++oak+beech+pine++%22poland%22%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>


The [[flora]] and [[Fauna of Poland|fauna]] in Poland is that of [[Continental Europe]], with the [[European bison|wisent]], [[white stork]] and [[white-tailed eagle]] designated as national animals, and the [[Papaver rhoeas|red common poppy]] being the unofficial floral emblem.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aniskiewicz |first=Alena |date=2016 |title=That's Polish: Exploring the History of Poland's National Emblems |url=https://culture.pl/en/article/thats-polish-exploring-the-history-of-polands-national-emblems |access-date=3 April 2022 |website=culture.pl |publisher=Adam Mickiewicz Institute |quote="A white eagle [...], the profile of a shaggy bison in a field of grass. These are emblems of Poland". "Nation's (somewhat disputed) national flower – the corn poppy".}}</ref> Among the most protected species is the [[European bison]], Europe's heaviest land animal, as well as the [[Eurasian beaver]], the [[Eurasian lynx|lynx]], the [[gray wolf]] and the [[Tatra chamois]].<ref name="Rocznik 2019" /> The region was also home to the extinct [[aurochs]], the last individual dying in Poland in 1627.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rokosz, M. |year=1995 |title=History of the Aurochs (''Bos taurus primigenius'') in Poland |url=http://agtr.ilri.cgiar.org/agtrweb/Documents/Library/docs/agri16_95.pdf |journal=Animal Genetics Resources Information |volume=16 |pages=5–12 |doi=10.1017/S1014233900004582 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114152435/http://agtr.ilri.cgiar.org/agtrweb/Documents/Library/docs/agri16_95.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2013}}</ref> Game animals such as [[red deer]], [[roe deer]], and [[wild boar]] are found in most woodlands.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Reidar Andersen |url={{GBurl|id=-ycg5PtQPugC|dq=boar+deer+poland|p=225}} |title=European Ungulates and Their Management in the 21st Century |last2=Marco Apollonio |last3=Rory Putman |last4=Piotr Wawrzyniak |date=2010 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-0-521-76061-4 |location=Cambridge |pages=223–231}}</ref> Poland is also a significant breeding ground for [[migratory birds]] and hosts around one quarter of the global population of white storks.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kevin Hillstrom |url={{GBurl|id=dMexywMD_okC|q=%2240%2C000+breeding+pairs%22}} |title=Europe: A Continental Overview of Environmental Issues, Volume 4 |last2=Laurie Collier Hillstrom |publisher=ABC-CLIO World geography |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-57607-686-6 |page=34}}</ref>
The [[flora]] and [[Fauna of Poland|fauna]] in Poland is that of [[Continental Europe]], with the [[European bison|wisent]], [[white stork]] and [[white-tailed eagle]] designated as national animals, and the [[Papaver rhoeas|red common poppy]] being the unofficial floral emblem.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aniskiewicz |first=Alena |date=2016 |title=That's Polish: Exploring the History of Poland's National Emblems |url=https://culture.pl/en/article/thats-polish-exploring-the-history-of-polands-national-emblems |access-date=3 April 2022 |website=culture.pl |publisher=Adam Mickiewicz Institute |quote="A white eagle [...], the profile of a shaggy bison in a field of grass. These are emblems of Poland". "Nation's (somewhat disputed) national flower – the corn poppy". |archive-date=3 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403012530/https://culture.pl/en/article/thats-polish-exploring-the-history-of-polands-national-emblems |url-status=live }}</ref> Among the most protected species is the [[European bison]], Europe's heaviest land animal, as well as the [[Eurasian beaver]], the [[Eurasian lynx|lynx]], the [[gray wolf]] and the [[Tatra chamois]].<ref name="Rocznik 2019" /> The region was also home to the extinct [[aurochs]], the last individual dying in Poland in 1627.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rokosz, M. |year=1995 |title=History of the Aurochs (''Bos taurus primigenius'') in Poland |url=http://agtr.ilri.cgiar.org/agtrweb/Documents/Library/docs/agri16_95.pdf |journal=Animal Genetics Resources Information |volume=16 |pages=5–12 |doi=10.1017/S1014233900004582 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114152435/http://agtr.ilri.cgiar.org/agtrweb/Documents/Library/docs/agri16_95.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2013}}</ref> Game animals such as [[red deer]], [[roe deer]], and [[wild boar]] are found in most woodlands.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Reidar Andersen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ycg5PtQPugC&pg=PA225&dq=%22boar%2Bdeer%2Bpoland%22 |title=European Ungulates and Their Management in the 21st Century |last2=Marco Apollonio |last3=Rory Putman |last4=Piotr Wawrzyniak |date=2010 |publisher=University Press |isbn=978-0-521-76061-4 |location=Cambridge |pages=223–231 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180448/https://books.google.com/books?id=-ycg5PtQPugC&pg=PA225&dq=%22boar+deer+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Poland is also a significant breeding ground for [[migratory birds]] and hosts around one quarter of the global population of white storks.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kevin Hillstrom |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dMexywMD_okC&q=%252240%252C000%2Bbreeding%2Bpairs%2522 |title=Europe: A Continental Overview of Environmental Issues, Volume 4 |last2=Laurie Collier Hillstrom |publisher=ABC-CLIO World geography |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-57607-686-6 |page=34 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725000019/https://books.google.com/books?id=dMexywMD_okC&q=%252240%252C000%2Bbreeding%2Bpairs%2522 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Around {{convert|315100|ha|sqmi}}, equivalent to 1% of Poland's territory, is protected within 23 [[List of national parks of Poland|Polish national parks]], two of which – [[Białowieża Forest|Białowieża]] and [[Bieszczady National Park|Bieszczady]] – are [[List of World Heritage Sites in Poland|UNESCO World Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mayer |first=Marius |url={{GBurl|id=jt-GDwAAQBAJ|dq=23+national+parks+poland|p=115}} |title=Cross-Border Tourism in Protected Areas: Potentials, Pitfalls and Perspectives |date=2019 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-030-05960-6 |location=Cham |page=115}}</ref> There are 123 areas designated as [[Landscape Park (Poland)|landscape parks]], along with numerous [[nature reserve]]s and other [[Protected areas of Poland|protected areas]] under the [[Natura 2000]] network.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kowalczyk |first1=Barbara |url={{GBurl|id=eo6WDwAAQBAJ|dq=%22123%22+landscape+parks+poland|pg=PT202}} |title=Environmental law in Poland |last2=Mikowski |first2=Rafał |last3=Mikowski |first3=Łukasz |date=2019 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-0950-1 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn}}</ref>
Around {{convert|315100|ha|sqmi}}, equivalent to 1% of Poland's territory, is protected within 23 [[List of national parks of Poland|Polish national parks]], two of which – [[Białowieża Forest|Białowieża]] and [[Bieszczady National Park|Bieszczady]] – are [[List of World Heritage Sites in Poland|UNESCO World Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mayer |first=Marius |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jt-GDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA115&dq=%2223%2Bnational%2Bparks%2Bpoland%22 |title=Cross-Border Tourism in Protected Areas: Potentials, Pitfalls and Perspectives |date=2019 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-030-05960-6 |location=Cham |page=115 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180454/https://books.google.com/books?id=jt-GDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA115&dq=%2223+national+parks+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> There are 123 areas designated as [[Landscape Park (Poland)|landscape parks]], along with numerous [[nature reserve]]s and other [[Protected areas of Poland|protected areas]] under the [[Natura 2000]] network.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kowalczyk |first1=Barbara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eo6WDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT202&dq=%22%2522123%2522%2Blandscape%2Bparks%2Bpoland%22 |title=Environmental law in Poland |last2=Mikowski |first2=Rafał |last3=Mikowski |first3=Łukasz |date=2019 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-0950-1 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180453/https://books.google.com/books?id=eo6WDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT202&dq=%22%22123%22+landscape+parks+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Government and politics ==
== Government and politics ==
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Poland is a [[Unitary state|unitary]] [[parliamentary republic]] and a [[representative democracy]], with a [[President of the Republic of Poland|president]] as the [[head of state]].<ref name="Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej">{{Cite web |last=Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |date=n.d. |title=Civil Service; Basic information about Poland |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/civilservice/basic-information-about-poland |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=www.gov.pl |publisher=Government of the Republic of Poland |language=en}}</ref> The executive power is exercised further by the [[Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland|Council of Ministers]] and the [[Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland|prime minister]] who acts as the [[head of government]].<ref name="Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" /> The council's individual members are selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president and approved by parliament.<ref name="Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" /> The head of state is elected by [[Direct election|popular vote]] for a five-year term.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stanisz |first=Piotr |url={{GBurl|id=e4MSEAAAQBAJ|q=duda|pg=PT14}} |title=Religion and Law in Poland |date=2020 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-2973-8 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |page=13 |language=en}}</ref> The current president is [[Andrzej Duda]] and the prime minister is [[Donald Tusk]].
Poland is a [[Unitary state|unitary]] [[parliamentary republic]] and a [[representative democracy]], with a [[President of the Republic of Poland|president]] as the [[head of state]].<ref name="Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej">{{Cite web |last=Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |date=n.d. |title=Civil Service; Basic information about Poland |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/civilservice/basic-information-about-poland |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=www.gov.pl |publisher=Government of the Republic of Poland |language=en |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530233041/https://www.gov.pl/web/civilservice/basic-information-about-poland |url-status=live }}</ref> The executive power is exercised further by the [[Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland|Council of Ministers]] and the [[Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland|prime minister]] who acts as the [[head of government]].<ref name="Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" /> The council's individual members are selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president and approved by parliament.<ref name="Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" /> The head of state is elected by [[Direct election|popular vote]] for a five-year term.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stanisz |first=Piotr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e4MSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT14&q=duda |title=Religion and Law in Poland |date=2020 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-2973-8 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |page=13 |language=en |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235947/https://books.google.com/books?id=e4MSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT14&q=duda |url-status=live }}</ref> The current president is [[Andrzej Duda]] and the prime minister is [[Donald Tusk]].


Poland's [[Legislature|legislative]] assembly is a [[bicameralism|bicameral]] parliament consisting of a 460-member lower house ([[Sejm]]) and a 100-member upper house ([[Senate of the Republic of Poland|Senate]]).<ref>{{Cite book |url={{GBurl|id=zJROEAAAQBAJ|dq=sejm+460++senate+100|p=127}} |title=Foundations of Law: The Polish Perspective |date=2021 |publisher=Wolters Kluwer Polska |isbn=978-83-8223-173-1 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=127 |language=en}}</ref> The Sejm is elected under [[proportional representation]] according to the [[d'Hondt method]] for vote-seat conversion.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gwiazda |first=Anna |url={{GBurl|id=VBk-CgAAQBAJ|dq=sejm++d%27Hondt|p=67}} |title=Democracy in Poland: Representation, participation, competition and accountability since 1989 |date=2015 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |isbn=978-1-315-68011-8 |location=Florence |page=67}}</ref> The Senate is elected under the [[first-past-the-post]] electoral system, with one senator being returned from each of the one hundred constituencies.<ref name="Granat 2021">{{Cite book |last1=Granat |first1=Mirosław |url={{GBurl|id=AJzGDwAAQBAJ|dq=poland+senate+first-past-the-post+100|p=52}} |title=The Constitution of Poland: A Contextual Analysis |last2=Granat |first2=Katarzyna |date=2021 |publisher=Hart Publishing |isbn=978-1-5099-1394-7 |location=Oxford |pages=51, 52, 221}}</ref> The Senate has the right to amend or reject a statute passed by the Sejm, but the Sejm may override the Senate's decision with a majority vote.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Piotr Machnikowski |title=Contract law in Poland |last2=Justyna Balcarczyk |last3=Monika Drela |date=2017 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-90-411-8933-2 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=Political System (III) |oclc=1046634087 |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=OI2WDwAAQBAJ|dq=poland+voting+age+eighteen|pg=PT19}}}}</ref>
Poland's [[Legislature|legislative]] assembly is a [[bicameralism|bicameral]] parliament consisting of a 460-member lower house ([[Sejm]]) and a 100-member upper house ([[Senate of the Republic of Poland|Senate]]).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zJROEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA127&dq=%22sejm%2B460%2B%2Bsenate%2B100%22 |title=Foundations of Law: The Polish Perspective |date=2021 |publisher=Wolters Kluwer Polska |isbn=978-83-8223-173-1 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=127 |language=en |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180451/https://books.google.com/books?id=zJROEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA127&dq=%22sejm+460++senate+100%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Sejm is elected under [[proportional representation]] according to the [[d'Hondt method]] for vote-seat conversion.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gwiazda |first=Anna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VBk-CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67&dq=%22sejm%2B%2Bd%2527Hondt%22 |title=Democracy in Poland: Representation, participation, competition and accountability since 1989 |date=2015 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |isbn=978-1-315-68011-8 |location=Florence |page=67 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180453/https://books.google.com/books?id=VBk-CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67&dq=%22sejm++d%27Hondt%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Senate is elected under the [[first-past-the-post]] electoral system, with one senator being returned from each of the one hundred constituencies.<ref name="Granat 2021">{{Cite book |last1=Granat |first1=Mirosław |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AJzGDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA52&dq=%22poland%2Bsenate%2Bfirst-past-the-post%2B100%22 |title=The Constitution of Poland: A Contextual Analysis |last2=Granat |first2=Katarzyna |date=2021 |publisher=Hart Publishing |isbn=978-1-5099-1394-7 |location=Oxford |pages=51, 52, 221 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180456/https://books.google.com/books?id=AJzGDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA52&dq=%22poland+senate+first-past-the-post+100%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Senate has the right to amend or reject a statute passed by the Sejm, but the Sejm may override the Senate's decision with a majority vote.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Piotr Machnikowski |title=Contract law in Poland |last2=Justyna Balcarczyk |last3=Monika Drela |date=2017 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-90-411-8933-2 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=Political System (III) |oclc=1046634087 |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=OI2WDwAAQBAJ|dq=poland+voting+age+eighteen|pg=PT19}}}}</ref>


[[File:Zgromadzenie Narodowe 4 czerwca 2014 Kancelaria Senatu 01.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Sejm]] is the [[lower house]] of the [[parliament of Poland]].]]
[[File:Zgromadzenie Narodowe 4 czerwca 2014 Kancelaria Senatu 01.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Sejm]] is the [[lower house]] of the [[parliament of Poland]].]]


With the exception of ethnic minority parties, only candidates of [[List of political parties in Poland|political parties]] receiving at least 5% of the total national vote can enter the Sejm.<ref name="Granat 2021" /> Both the lower and upper houses of parliament in Poland are elected for a four-year term and each member of the Polish parliament is guaranteed [[parliamentary immunity]].<ref name="Jasinski 2019">{{Cite book |last1=Jasiński |first1=Wojciech |title=Criminal law in Poland |last2=Kremens |first2=Karolina |date=2019 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-1324-9 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=Political System and Administrative Structure (IV) |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=DSysDwAAQBAJ|dq=sejm+poland+four+year|pg=PT21}}}}</ref> Under current legislation, a person must be 21 years of age or over to assume the position of deputy, 30 or over to become senator and 35 to run in a presidential election.<ref name="Jasinski 2019" />
With the exception of ethnic minority parties, only candidates of [[List of political parties in Poland|political parties]] receiving at least 5% of the total national vote can enter the Sejm.<ref name="Granat 2021" /> Both the lower and upper houses of parliament in Poland are elected for a four-year term and each member of the Polish parliament is guaranteed [[parliamentary immunity]].<ref name="Jasinski 2019">{{Cite book |last1=Jasiński |first1=Wojciech |title=Criminal law in Poland |last2=Kremens |first2=Karolina |date=2019 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-1324-9 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=Political System and Administrative Structure (IV) |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DSysDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT21&dq=%22sejm%2Bpoland%2Bfour%2Byear%22 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180452/https://books.google.com/books?id=DSysDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT21&dq=%22sejm+poland+four+year%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Under current legislation, a person must be 21 years of age or over to assume the position of deputy, 30 or over to become senator and 35 to run in a presidential election.<ref name="Jasinski 2019" />


Members of the Sejm and Senate jointly form the [[National Assembly of the Republic of Poland]].<ref name="Bien-Kacala 2021">{{Cite book |last1=Bień-Kacała |first1=Agnieszka |title=Constitutional law in Poland |last2=Młynarska-Sobaczewska |first2=Anna |date=2021 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-3300-1 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=The Speaker, Presidium, and Convent of Seniors, Parliamentary Committees (II), s. 281 |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=lNstEAAAQBAJ|dq=national+assembly+poland++president+oath|pg=PT126}}}}</ref> The National Assembly, headed by the [[Marshal of the Sejm|Sejm Marshal]], is formed on three occasions – when a new president takes the [[oath of office]]; when an indictment against the president is brought to the [[State Tribunal (Poland)|State Tribunal]]; and in case a president's permanent incapacity to exercise his duties due to the state of his health is declared.<ref name="Bien-Kacala 2021" />
Members of the Sejm and Senate jointly form the [[National Assembly of the Republic of Poland]].<ref name="Bien-Kacala 2021">{{Cite book |last1=Bień-Kacała |first1=Agnieszka |title=Constitutional law in Poland |last2=Młynarska-Sobaczewska |first2=Anna |date=2021 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-3300-1 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=The Speaker, Presidium, and Convent of Seniors, Parliamentary Committees (II), s. 281 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lNstEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT126&dq=%22national%2Bassembly%2Bpoland%2B%2Bpresident%2Boath%22 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180508/https://books.google.com/books?id=lNstEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT126&dq=%22national+assembly+poland++president+oath%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The National Assembly, headed by the [[Marshal of the Sejm|Sejm Marshal]], is formed on three occasions – when a new president takes the [[oath of office]]; when an indictment against the president is brought to the [[State Tribunal (Poland)|State Tribunal]]; and in case a president's permanent incapacity to exercise his duties due to the state of his health is declared.<ref name="Bien-Kacala 2021" />


=== Administrative divisions ===
=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Poland}}
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Poland}}


Poland is divided into 16 provinces or states known as [[Voivodeships of Poland|voivodeships]].<ref name="Teryt 2022">{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Liczba jednostek podziału terytorialnego kraju |url=https://eteryt.stat.gov.pl/eteryt/raporty/WebRaportZestawienie.aspx |access-date=16 March 2022 |website=TERYT |publisher=Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS) |language=pl}}</ref> As of 2022, the voivodeships are subdivided into 380 counties (''[[powiat]]s''), which are further fragmented into 2,477 municipalities (''[[gmina]]s'').<ref name="Teryt 2022" /> Major cities normally have the status of both ''gmina'' and ''powiat''.<ref name="Teryt 2022" /> The provinces are largely founded on the borders of [[Polish historical regions|historic regions]], or named for individual cities.<ref name="Marti-Henneberg 2021">{{Cite book |last=Martí-Henneberg |first=Jordi |url={{GBurl|id=itM-EAAAQBAJ|dq=voivodeships+cities+based+on+historic+regions+of+Poland|p=271}} |title=European Regions, 1870–2020: A Geographic and Historical Insight into the Process of European Integration. |date=2021 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-61537-6 |location=Cham |pages=259–271}}</ref> Administrative authority at the voivodeship level is shared between a government-appointed governor ([[Voivodes of Poland (since 1999)|voivode]]), an elected regional assembly ([[Voivodeship sejmik|sejmik]]) and a [[voivodeship marshal]], an executive elected by the assembly.<ref name="Marti-Henneberg 2021" />
Poland is divided into 16 provinces or states known as [[Voivodeships of Poland|voivodeships]].<ref name="Teryt 2022">{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Liczba jednostek podziału terytorialnego kraju |url=https://eteryt.stat.gov.pl/eteryt/raporty/WebRaportZestawienie.aspx |access-date=16 March 2022 |website=TERYT |publisher=Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS) |language=pl |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621043312/https://eteryt.stat.gov.pl/eteryt/raporty/WebRaportZestawienie.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2022, the voivodeships are subdivided into 380 counties (''[[powiat]]s''), which are further fragmented into 2,477 municipalities (''[[gmina]]s'').<ref name="Teryt 2022" /> Major cities normally have the status of both ''gmina'' and ''powiat''.<ref name="Teryt 2022" /> The provinces are largely founded on the borders of [[Polish historical regions|historic regions]], or named for individual cities.<ref name="Marti-Henneberg 2021">{{Cite book |last=Martí-Henneberg |first=Jordi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=itM-EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA271&dq=%22voivodeships%2Bcities%2Bbased%2Bon%2Bhistoric%2Bregions%2Bof%2BPoland%22 |title=European Regions, 1870–2020: A Geographic and Historical Insight into the Process of European Integration. |date=2021 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-61537-6 |location=Cham |pages=259–271 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180455/https://books.google.com/books?id=itM-EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA271&dq=%22voivodeships+cities+based+on+historic+regions+of+Poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Administrative authority at the voivodeship level is shared between a government-appointed governor ([[Voivodes of Poland (since 1999)|voivode]]), an elected regional assembly ([[Voivodeship sejmik|sejmik]]) and a [[voivodeship marshal]], an executive elected by the assembly.<ref name="Marti-Henneberg 2021" />


{| style="background:none;"
{| style="background:none;"
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!colspan="2"| [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]] !!rowspan="2"| [[List of cities and towns in Poland|Capital city]]|| Area || Population
!colspan="2"| [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]] !!rowspan="2"| [[List of cities and towns in Poland|Capital city]]|| Area || Population
|-
|-
! ''[[English language|in English]]'' !! ''[[Polish language|in Polish]]'' !! km<sup>2</sup><ref name="Voivodeships">{{Cite web |last=Government of Poland |date=2021 |title=Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2021 roku |url=https://stat.gov.pl/download/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5468/7/18/1/powierzchnia_i_ludnosc_w_przekroju_terytorialnym_w_2021_roku_tablice.xlsx |access-date=23 March 2022 |publisher=Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny) |language=pl}}</ref> !! 2021<ref name="Voivodeships" />
! ''[[English language|in English]]'' !! ''[[Polish language|in Polish]]'' !! km<sup>2</sup><ref name="Voivodeships">{{Cite web |last=Government of Poland |date=2021 |title=Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2021 roku |url=https://stat.gov.pl/download/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5468/7/18/1/powierzchnia_i_ludnosc_w_przekroju_terytorialnym_w_2021_roku_tablice.xlsx |access-date=23 March 2022 |publisher=Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny) |language=pl |archive-date=25 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325091206/https://stat.gov.pl/download/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5468/7/18/1/powierzchnia_i_ludnosc_w_przekroju_terytorialnym_w_2021_roku_tablice.xlsx |url-status=live }}</ref> !! 2021<ref name="Voivodeships" />
|-
|-
| [[Greater Poland Voivodeship|Greater Poland]]|| ''Wielkopolskie''|| [[Poznań]]|| 29,826||3,496,450
| [[Greater Poland Voivodeship|Greater Poland]]|| ''Wielkopolskie''|| [[Poznań]]|| 29,826||3,496,450
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[[File:Manuscript of the Constitution of the 3rd May 1791.PNG|thumb|right|upright|The [[Constitution of May 3, 1791|''Constitution of 3 May'']] adopted in 1791 was the first modern constitution in Europe.]]
[[File:Manuscript of the Constitution of the 3rd May 1791.PNG|thumb|right|upright|The [[Constitution of May 3, 1791|''Constitution of 3 May'']] adopted in 1791 was the first modern constitution in Europe.]]


The [[Constitution of Poland]] is the enacted supreme law, and Polish judicature is based on the principle of civil rights, governed by the code of [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kamarad |first1=Ewa |title=Private International Law in Poland |last2=Wysocka-Bar |first2=Anna |date=2020 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-2961-5 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=General Introduction, s. 3 |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=f4MSEAAAQBAJ|dq=Supreme+Administrative+Court+supreme+court+constitutional+tribunal+poland|pg=PT16}}}}</ref> The current democratic constitution was adopted by the [[National Assembly of Poland]] on 2 April 1997; it guarantees a [[multi-party state]] with freedoms of religion, speech and assembly, prohibits the practices of forced [[medical experimentation]], torture or [[corporal punishment]], and acknowledges the inviolability of the home, the right to form trade unions, and the right to [[Strike action|strike]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sejm of the Republic of Poland |title=Dziennik Ustaw nr 78: The Constitution of the Republic of Poland |url=http://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm |access-date=9 March 2022 |website=sejm.gov.pl |publisher=National Assembly (Zgromadzenie Narodowe) |language=en}}</ref>
The [[Constitution of Poland]] is the enacted supreme law, and Polish judicature is based on the principle of civil rights, governed by the code of [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kamarad |first1=Ewa |title=Private International Law in Poland |last2=Wysocka-Bar |first2=Anna |date=2020 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-2961-5 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=General Introduction, s. 3 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f4MSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT16&dq=%22Supreme%2BAdministrative%2BCourt%2Bsupreme%2Bcourt%2Bconstitutional%2Btribunal%2Bpoland%22 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180451/https://books.google.com/books?id=f4MSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT16&dq=%22Supreme+Administrative+Court+supreme+court+constitutional+tribunal+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The current democratic constitution was adopted by the [[National Assembly of Poland]] on 2 April 1997; it guarantees a [[multi-party state]] with freedoms of religion, speech and assembly, prohibits the practices of forced [[medical experimentation]], torture or [[corporal punishment]], and acknowledges the inviolability of the home, the right to form trade unions, and the right to [[Strike action|strike]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sejm of the Republic of Poland |title=Dziennik Ustaw nr 78: The Constitution of the Republic of Poland |url=http://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm |access-date=9 March 2022 |website=sejm.gov.pl |publisher=National Assembly (Zgromadzenie Narodowe) |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906025331/https://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>


The [[judiciary]] in Poland is composed of the [[Supreme Court of Poland|Supreme Court]] as the country's highest judicial organ, the [[Supreme Administrative Court of Poland|Supreme Administrative Court]] for the judicial control of public administration, Common Courts ([[District Court|District]], [[Regional Court (Poland)|Regional]], [[Appellate court|Appellate]]) and the [[Court-martial|Military Court]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kamarad |first1=Ewa |title=Private International Law in Poland |last2=Wysocka-Bar |first2=Anna |date=2020 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-2961-5 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=General Introduction, s. 2 |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=f4MSEAAAQBAJ|dq=Supreme+Administrative+Court+supreme+court+constitutional+tribunal+poland|pg=PT16}}}}</ref> The [[Constitutional Tribunal (Poland)|Constitutional]] and State Tribunals are separate judicial bodies, which rule the constitutional liability of people holding the highest offices of state and supervise the compliance of [[statutory law]], thus protecting the Constitution.<ref name="Jaremba 2013">{{Cite book |last=Jaremba |first=Urszula |url={{GBurl|id=CcXMAQAAQBAJ|dq=judges+appointed+by+president+of+poland|p=129}} |title=National Judges As EU Law Judges: The Polish Civil Law System |date=2013 |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |isbn=978-1-306-07095-9 |location=Boston |pages=126–129}}</ref> Judges are nominated by the [[National Council of the Judiciary]] and are appointed for life by the [[president of Poland|president]].<ref name="Jaremba 2013" /> On the approval of the Senate, the Sejm appoints an [[ombudsman]] for a five-year term to guard the observance of social justice.<ref name="Granat 2021" />
The [[judiciary]] in Poland is composed of the [[Supreme Court of Poland|Supreme Court]] as the country's highest judicial organ, the [[Supreme Administrative Court of Poland|Supreme Administrative Court]] for the judicial control of public administration, Common Courts ([[District Court|District]], [[Regional Court (Poland)|Regional]], [[Appellate court|Appellate]]) and the [[Court-martial|Military Court]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kamarad |first1=Ewa |title=Private International Law in Poland |last2=Wysocka-Bar |first2=Anna |date=2020 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-2961-5 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=General Introduction, s. 2 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f4MSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT16&dq=%22Supreme%2BAdministrative%2BCourt%2Bsupreme%2Bcourt%2Bconstitutional%2Btribunal%2Bpoland%22 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180451/https://books.google.com/books?id=f4MSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT16&dq=%22Supreme+Administrative+Court+supreme+court+constitutional+tribunal+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Constitutional Tribunal (Poland)|Constitutional]] and State Tribunals are separate judicial bodies, which rule the constitutional liability of people holding the highest offices of state and supervise the compliance of [[statutory law]], thus protecting the Constitution.<ref name="Jaremba 2013">{{Cite book |last=Jaremba |first=Urszula |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CcXMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA129&dq=%22judges%2Bappointed%2Bby%2Bpresident%2Bof%2Bpoland%22 |title=National Judges As EU Law Judges: The Polish Civil Law System |date=2013 |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |isbn=978-1-306-07095-9 |location=Boston |pages=126–129 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180506/https://books.google.com/books?id=CcXMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA129&dq=%22judges+appointed+by+president+of+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Judges are nominated by the [[National Council of the Judiciary]] and are appointed for life by the [[president of Poland|president]].<ref name="Jaremba 2013" /> On the approval of the Senate, the Sejm appoints an [[ombudsman]] for a five-year term to guard the observance of social justice.<ref name="Granat 2021" />


Poland has a low [[homicide]] rate at 0.7 murders per 100,000 people, as of 2018.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nations |first=United |date=2020 |title=Human Development Indicators – Poland |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/POL |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |access-date=16 December 2020 |website=Human Development Reports}}</ref> Rape, assault and violent crime remain at a very low level.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Victims of intentional homicide 1990–2018 – Poland |url=https://dataunodc.un.org/content/data/homicide/homicide-rate |access-date=16 December 2020 |website=Data UNODC |publisher=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime}}</ref> The country has imposed strict regulations on [[Abortion in Poland|abortion]], which is permitted only in cases of rape, incest or when the woman's life is in danger; [[congenital disorder]] and [[stillbirth]] are not covered by the law, prompting some women to seek abortion abroad.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Zsuzsa Csergo |url={{GBurl|id=ibgzEAAAQBAJ|dq=poland+abortion+rape+incest+danger|p=168}} |title=Central and East European Politics: Changes and Challenges |last2=Daina Stukuls Eglitis |last3=Paula M Pickering |date=2021 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-5381-4279-0 |location=Lanham, Maryland |page=168}}</ref>
Poland has a low [[homicide]] rate at 0.7 murders per 100,000 people, as of 2018.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nations |first=United |date=2020 |title=Human Development Indicators – Poland |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/POL |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |access-date=16 December 2020 |website=Human Development Reports |archive-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128095417/http://www.hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/POL |url-status=live }}</ref> Rape, assault and violent crime remain at a very low level.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Victims of intentional homicide 1990–2018 – Poland |url=https://dataunodc.un.org/content/data/homicide/homicide-rate |access-date=16 December 2020 |website=Data UNODC |publisher=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328012947/https://dataunodc.un.org/content/data/homicide/homicide-rate |url-status=live }}</ref> The country has imposed strict regulations on [[Abortion in Poland|abortion]], which is permitted only in cases of rape, incest or when the woman's life is in danger; [[congenital disorder]] and [[stillbirth]] are not covered by the law, prompting some women to seek abortion abroad.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Zsuzsa Csergo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ibgzEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA168&dq=%22poland%2Babortion%2Brape%2Bincest%2Bdanger%22 |title=Central and East European Politics: Changes and Challenges |last2=Daina Stukuls Eglitis |last3=Paula M Pickering |date=2021 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-5381-4279-0 |location=Lanham, Maryland |page=168 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180457/https://books.google.com/books?id=ibgzEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA168&dq=%22poland+abortion+rape+incest+danger%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Historically, the most significant Polish legal act is the [[Constitution of 3 May 1791]]. Instituted to redress long-standing political defects of the [[federation|federative]] [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and its [[Golden Liberty]], it was the first modern constitution in Europe and influenced many later [[democratic movement]]s across the globe.<ref name="Davies 1996" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Norman Davies |url=https://archive.org/details/europehistory00davi_0 |title=Europe: A History |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-19-820171-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/europehistory00davi_0/page/699 699] |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gierowski |first=Józef Andrzej |url={{GBurl|id=IBNjywAACAAJ}} |title=Historia Polski, 1505–1764 |publisher=Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe |year=1986 |isbn=978-83-01-03732-1 |page=251 |language=pl |trans-title=History of Poland, 1505–1764 |author-link=Józef Andrzej Gierowski |access-date=26 October 2014}}</ref> In 1918, the [[Second Polish Republic]] became one of the first countries to introduce universal [[women's suffrage]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Berglund |first=Sten |url={{GBurl|id=DOAEFRDAEi4C|dq=%22poland%22+one+of+the+first+countries+to+women%27s+suffrage+1918|p=46}} |title=The Making of the European Union: Foundations, Institutions and Future Trends |date=2006 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing Press |isbn=978-1-84542-025-3 |location=Cheltenham |page=46}}</ref>
Historically, the most significant Polish legal act is the [[Constitution of 3 May 1791]]. Instituted to redress long-standing political defects of the [[federation|federative]] [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and its [[Golden Liberty]], it was the first modern constitution in Europe and influenced many later [[democratic movement]]s across the globe.<ref name="Davies 1996" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Norman Davies |url=https://archive.org/details/europehistory00davi_0 |title=Europe: A History |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-19-820171-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/europehistory00davi_0/page/699 699] |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gierowski |first=Józef Andrzej |url={{GBurl|id=IBNjywAACAAJ}} |title=Historia Polski, 1505–1764 |publisher=Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe |year=1986 |isbn=978-83-01-03732-1 |page=251 |language=pl |trans-title=History of Poland, 1505–1764 |author-link=Józef Andrzej Gierowski |access-date=26 October 2014}}</ref> In 1918, the [[Second Polish Republic]] became one of the first countries to introduce universal [[women's suffrage]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Berglund |first=Sten |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DOAEFRDAEi4C&pg=PA46&dq=%22%2522poland%2522%2Bone%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bfirst%2Bcountries%2Bto%2Bwomen%2527s%2Bsuffrage%2B1918%22 |title=The Making of the European Union: Foundations, Institutions and Future Trends |date=2006 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing Press |isbn=978-1-84542-025-3 |location=Cheltenham |page=46 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180451/https://books.google.com/books?id=DOAEFRDAEi4C&pg=PA46&dq=%22%22poland%22+one+of+the+first+countries+to+women%27s+suffrage+1918%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Foreign relations ===
=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Poland|List of diplomatic missions of Poland}}
{{Main|Foreign relations of Poland|List of diplomatic missions of Poland}}
[[File:Ministerstwo Spraw Zagraniczych al. Szucha 23.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], located in [[Warsaw]]]]
[[File:Ministerstwo Spraw Zagraniczych al. Szucha 23.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], located in [[Warsaw]]]]
Poland is a [[middle power]] and is transitioning into a [[regional power]] in Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Glazebrook |first=G. deT. |date=June 1947 |title=The Middle Powers in the United Nations System |journal=[[International Organization (journal)|International Organization]] |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press]] |volume=1 |pages=307–315 |doi=10.1017/S0020818300006081 |jstor=2703870 |s2cid=154796013 |number=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bindi |first=Federiga |url={{GBurl|id=FnR0DwAAQBAJ|dq=poland+is+becoming+a+%22regional+power%22|p=6}} |title=Europe and America: the end of the transatlantic relationship? |date=2019 |publisher=Brookings Institution Press |isbn=978-0-8157-3281-5 |location=Washington, D.C. |page=6}}</ref> It has a total of 52 representatives in the [[European Parliament]] as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Poland in the EU. |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/eu/poland-in-the-eu |access-date=19 March 2022 |website=Website of the Republic of Poland |publisher=Government of Poland}}</ref> [[Warsaw]] serves as the headquarters for [[Frontex]], the European Union's agency for external border security as well as [[ODIHR]], one of the principal institutions of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=De Londras |first1=Fiona |url={{GBurl|id=AYMGCAAAQBAJ|dq=frontex+warsaw+based|p=58}} |title=The impact, legitimacy and effectiveness of EU counter-terrorism |last2=Doody |first2=Josephine |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group |isbn=978-1-138-09795-7 |location=London |page=58}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Weissbrodt |first1=David S. |url={{GBurl|id=RaU1U-4gBCkC|dq=ODIHR+headquartered+warsaw|p=324}} |title=International Human Rights Law: An Introduction |last2=Vega |first2=Connie |date=2010 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0-8122-2120-6 |location=Philadelphia |page=324 |orig-date=2007}}</ref> Apart from the European Union, Poland has been a member of [[NATO]], the United Nations, and the [[World Trade Organization|WTO]].
Poland is a [[middle power]] and is transitioning into a [[regional power]] in Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Glazebrook |first=G. deT. |date=June 1947 |title=The Middle Powers in the United Nations System |journal=[[International Organization (journal)|International Organization]] |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press]] |volume=1 |pages=307–315 |doi=10.1017/S0020818300006081 |jstor=2703870 |s2cid=154796013 |number=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bindi |first=Federiga |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FnR0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=%22poland%2Bis%2Bbecoming%2Ba%2B%2522regional%2Bpower%2522%22 |title=Europe and America: the end of the transatlantic relationship? |date=2019 |publisher=Brookings Institution Press |isbn=978-0-8157-3281-5 |location=Washington, D.C. |page=6 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180452/https://books.google.com/books?id=FnR0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=%22poland+is+becoming+a+%22regional+power%22%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> It has a total of 52 representatives in the [[European Parliament]] as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Poland in the EU. |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/eu/poland-in-the-eu |access-date=19 March 2022 |website=Website of the Republic of Poland |publisher=Government of Poland |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221195919/https://www.gov.pl/web/eu/poland-in-the-eu |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Warsaw]] serves as the headquarters for [[Frontex]], the European Union's agency for external border security as well as [[ODIHR]], one of the principal institutions of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=De Londras |first1=Fiona |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AYMGCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA58&dq=%22frontex%2Bwarsaw%2Bbased%22 |title=The impact, legitimacy and effectiveness of EU counter-terrorism |last2=Doody |first2=Josephine |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group |isbn=978-1-138-09795-7 |location=London |page=58 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180454/https://books.google.com/books?id=AYMGCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA58&dq=%22frontex+warsaw+based%22 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Weissbrodt |first1=David S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RaU1U-4gBCkC&pg=PA324&dq=%22ODIHR%2Bheadquartered%2Bwarsaw%22 |title=International Human Rights Law: An Introduction |last2=Vega |first2=Connie |date=2010 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0-8122-2120-6 |location=Philadelphia |page=324 |orig-date=2007 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180449/https://books.google.com/books?id=RaU1U-4gBCkC&pg=PA324&dq=%22ODIHR+headquartered+warsaw%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Apart from the European Union, Poland has been a member of [[NATO]], the United Nations, and the [[World Trade Organization|WTO]].


In recent years, Poland significantly strengthened its [[Poland–United States relations|relations]] with the United States, thus becoming one of its closest [[alliance|allies]] and strategic partners in Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Deni |first=John R. |url={{GBurl|id=B6QQEAAAQBAJ|dq=decades+closest+allies+us+poland|p=148}} |title=Coalition of the unwilling and unable: European realignment and the future of American geopolitics |date=2021 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-12879-2 |location=Michigan |page=148}}</ref> Historically, Poland maintained strong [[Hungary–Poland relations|cultural and political]] ties to Hungary; this special relationship was recognised by the parliaments of both countries in 2007 with the joint declaration of 23 March as "The Day of Polish-Hungarian Friendship".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Suszycki |first=Andrzej Marcin |url={{GBurl|id=DDQxEAAAQBAJ|dq=poland+hungary+friendship+march+23|p=193}} |title=Nationalism in Contemporary Europe: Concept, Boundaries and Forms |date=2021 |publisher=LIT |isbn=978-3-643-91102-5 |location=Zürich |page=193}}</ref>
In recent years, Poland significantly strengthened its [[Poland–United States relations|relations]] with the United States, thus becoming one of its closest [[alliance|allies]] and strategic partners in Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Deni |first=John R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B6QQEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA148&dq=%22decades%2Bclosest%2Ballies%2Bus%2Bpoland%22 |title=Coalition of the unwilling and unable: European realignment and the future of American geopolitics |date=2021 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-12879-2 |location=Michigan |page=148 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180459/https://books.google.com/books?id=B6QQEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA148&dq=%22decades+closest+allies+us+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Historically, Poland maintained strong [[Hungary–Poland relations|cultural and political]] ties to Hungary; this special relationship was recognised by the parliaments of both countries in 2007 with the joint declaration of 23 March as "The Day of Polish-Hungarian Friendship".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Suszycki |first=Andrzej Marcin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DDQxEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA193&dq=%22poland%2Bhungary%2Bfriendship%2Bmarch%2B23%22 |title=Nationalism in Contemporary Europe: Concept, Boundaries and Forms |date=2021 |publisher=LIT |isbn=978-3-643-91102-5 |location=Zürich |page=193 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180455/https://books.google.com/books?id=DDQxEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA193&dq=%22poland+hungary+friendship+march+23%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Military ===
=== Military ===
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[[File:F-16 Jastrząb (48).jpg|thumb|left|[[Polish Air Force]] [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16s]], a single-engine [[Multirole combat aircraft|multirole]] [[fighter aircraft]]]]
[[File:F-16 Jastrząb (48).jpg|thumb|left|[[Polish Air Force]] [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16s]], a single-engine [[Multirole combat aircraft|multirole]] [[fighter aircraft]]]]


The Polish Armed Forces are composed of five branches – the [[Polish Land Forces|Land Forces]], the [[Polish Navy|Navy]], the [[Polish Air Force|Air Force]], the [[Special forces of Poland|Special Forces]] and the [[Territorial Defence Force (Poland)|Territorial Defence Force]].<ref name="Mihalcova 2019">{{Cite book |last1=Mihalčová |first1=Bohuslava |url={{GBurl|id=goqADwAAQBAJ|dq=poland+armed+forces+territorial+defense+navy+land+forces%2C+air+force|p=174}} |title=Production Management and Business Development: Proceedings of the 6th Annual International Scientific Conference on Marketing Management, Trade, Financial and Social Aspects of Business. |last2=Szaryszová |first2=Petra |last3=Štofová |first3=Lenka |last4=Pružinský |first4=Michal |last5=Gontkovičová |first5=Barbora |date=2019 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0-429-46866-7 |location=Boca Raton |pages=174–175 |orig-date=2018}}</ref> The military is subordinate to the [[Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland]].<ref name="Mihalcova 2019" /> However, its commander-in-chief in peacetime is the president, who nominates officers, the Minister for National Defence and the chief of staff.<ref name="Mihalcova 2019" /> Polish military tradition is generally commemorated by the [[Armed Forces Day (Poland)|Armed Forces Day]], celebrated annually on 15 August.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zalewski |first=Jerzy |url={{GBurl|id=ML4hAQAAIAAJ|q=%C5%9Bwi%C4%99to%20wojska%20polskiego%2015%20sierpnia%20sejm}} |title=Wojsko Polskie w przemianach ustrojowych 1989–2001 |date=2002 |publisher=Elipsa |isbn=978-83-7151-494-4 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=131 |language=pl}}</ref> As of 2022, the Polish Armed Forces have a combined strength of 114,050 active soldiers, with a further 75,400 active in the [[Military Gendarmerie (Poland)|gendarmerie]] and [[home guard|defence force]].<ref name="IISS 2022">{{Cite book |last=International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) |url={{GBurl|id=ENljEAAAQBAJ|dq=The+Military+Balance+2021+poland|p=134}} |title=The Military Balance 2022 |publisher=Routledge |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-000-61972-0 |location=Milton |pages=134–137}}</ref>
The Polish Armed Forces are composed of five branches – the [[Polish Land Forces|Land Forces]], the [[Polish Navy|Navy]], the [[Polish Air Force|Air Force]], the [[Special forces of Poland|Special Forces]] and the [[Territorial Defence Force (Poland)|Territorial Defence Force]].<ref name="Mihalcova 2019">{{Cite book |last1=Mihalčová |first1=Bohuslava |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=goqADwAAQBAJ&pg=PA174&dq=%22poland%2Barmed%2Bforces%2Bterritorial%2Bdefense%2Bnavy%2Bland%2Bforces%252C%2Bair%2Bforce%22 |title=Production Management and Business Development: Proceedings of the 6th Annual International Scientific Conference on Marketing Management, Trade, Financial and Social Aspects of Business. |last2=Szaryszová |first2=Petra |last3=Štofová |first3=Lenka |last4=Pružinský |first4=Michal |last5=Gontkovičová |first5=Barbora |date=2019 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0-429-46866-7 |location=Boca Raton |pages=174–175 |orig-date=2018 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180448/https://books.google.com/books?id=goqADwAAQBAJ&pg=PA174&dq=%22poland+armed+forces+territorial+defense+navy+land+forces%2C+air+force%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The military is subordinate to the [[Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland]].<ref name="Mihalcova 2019" /> However, its commander-in-chief in peacetime is the president, who nominates officers, the Minister for National Defence and the chief of staff.<ref name="Mihalcova 2019" /> Polish military tradition is generally commemorated by the [[Armed Forces Day (Poland)|Armed Forces Day]], celebrated annually on 15 August.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zalewski |first=Jerzy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ML4hAQAAIAAJ&q=%25C5%259Bwi%25C4%2599to%2520wojska%2520polskiego%252015%2520sierpnia%2520sejm |title=Wojsko Polskie w przemianach ustrojowych 1989–2001 |date=2002 |publisher=Elipsa |isbn=978-83-7151-494-4 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=131 |language=pl |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235927/https://books.google.com/books?id=ML4hAQAAIAAJ&q=%25C5%259Bwi%25C4%2599to%2520wojska%2520polskiego%252015%2520sierpnia%2520sejm |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2022, the Polish Armed Forces have a combined strength of 114,050 active soldiers, with a further 75,400 active in the [[Military Gendarmerie (Poland)|gendarmerie]] and [[home guard|defence force]].<ref name="IISS 2022">{{Cite book |last=International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ENljEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA134&dq=%22The%2BMilitary%2BBalance%2B2021%2Bpoland%22 |title=The Military Balance 2022 |publisher=Routledge |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-000-61972-0 |location=Milton |pages=134–137 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180458/https://books.google.com/books?id=ENljEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA134&dq=%22The+Military+Balance+2021+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Poland is spending 2% of its GDP on defence, equivalent to approximately US$14.5 billion in 2022, with a slated increase to US$29 billion in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Onoszko |first=Maciej |date=20 August 2022 |title=Poland Will Double Military Spending as War in Ukraine Rages |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-30/poland-will-double-military-spending-as-war-in-ukraine-rages |access-date=30 March 2022 |website=Bloomberg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Popescu |first=Ana-Roxana |date=2022 |title=Poland to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP from 2023 |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/poland-to-increase-defence-spending-to-3-of-gdp-from-2023 |access-date=24 March 2022 |website=Janes |publisher=Montagu Private Equity}}</ref> From 2022, Poland is set to spend 110 billion euros on the modernisation of its armed forces, in close cooperation with American, South Korean and local Polish [[Arms industry|defence manufacturers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lepiarz |first=Jacek |date=27 August 2022 |title=Europa Środkowa i Wschodnia nie kupuje niemieckiej broni |url=https://www.msn.com/pl-pl/wiadomosci/other/europa-%C5%9Brodkowa-i-wschodnia-nie-kupuje-niemieckiej-broni/ar-AA11azUo |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=MSN}}</ref> Also, the Polish military is set to increase its size to 250,000 enlisted and officers, and 50,000 defence force personnel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=L. |first=Wojciech |date=29 March 2022 |title=Quick and Bold: Poland's Plan To Modernize its Army |url=https://www.overtdefense.com/2022/03/29/quick-and-bold-polands-plan-to-modernize-its-army/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=Overt Defense}}</ref> According to [[SIPRI]], the country exported €487 million worth of arms and armaments to foreign countries in 2020.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/poland_2018.pdf |title=Eksport uzbrojenia i sprzętu wojskowego Polski |last=Government of Poland |date=2019 |publisher=Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych MSZ (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=4 |access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref>
Poland is spending 2% of its GDP on defence, equivalent to approximately US$14.5 billion in 2022, with a slated increase to US$29 billion in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Onoszko |first=Maciej |date=20 August 2022 |title=Poland Will Double Military Spending as War in Ukraine Rages |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-30/poland-will-double-military-spending-as-war-in-ukraine-rages |access-date=30 March 2022 |website=Bloomberg |archive-date=30 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830182626/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-30/poland-will-double-military-spending-as-war-in-ukraine-rages |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Popescu |first=Ana-Roxana |date=2022 |title=Poland to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP from 2023 |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/poland-to-increase-defence-spending-to-3-of-gdp-from-2023 |access-date=24 March 2022 |website=Janes |publisher=Montagu Private Equity |archive-date=1 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701172317/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/poland-to-increase-defence-spending-to-3-of-gdp-from-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> From 2022, Poland is set to spend 110 billion euros on the modernisation of its armed forces, in close cooperation with American, South Korean and local Polish [[Arms industry|defence manufacturers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lepiarz |first=Jacek |date=27 August 2022 |title=Europa Środkowa i Wschodnia nie kupuje niemieckiej broni |url=https://www.msn.com/pl-pl/wiadomosci/other/europa-%C5%9Brodkowa-i-wschodnia-nie-kupuje-niemieckiej-broni/ar-AA11azUo |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=MSN |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828153341/https://www.msn.com/pl-pl/wiadomosci/other/europa-%C5%9Brodkowa-i-wschodnia-nie-kupuje-niemieckiej-broni/ar-AA11azUo |url-status=live }}</ref> Also, the Polish military is set to increase its size to 250,000 enlisted and officers, and 50,000 defence force personnel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=L. |first=Wojciech |date=29 March 2022 |title=Quick and Bold: Poland's Plan To Modernize its Army |url=https://www.overtdefense.com/2022/03/29/quick-and-bold-polands-plan-to-modernize-its-army/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=Overt Defense |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828190826/https://www.overtdefense.com/2022/03/29/quick-and-bold-polands-plan-to-modernize-its-army/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[SIPRI]], the country exported €487 million worth of arms and armaments to foreign countries in 2020.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/poland_2018.pdf |title=Eksport uzbrojenia i sprzętu wojskowego Polski |last=Government of Poland |date=2019 |publisher=Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych MSZ (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=4 |access-date=24 March 2022 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328012842/https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/poland_2018.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>


Compulsory [[Conscription|military service]] for men, who previously had to serve for nine months, was discontinued in 2008.<ref name="Day 2008" /> Polish military doctrine reflects the same defensive nature as that of its NATO partners and the country actively hosts NATO's [[military exercises]].<ref name="IISS 2022" /> Since 1953, the country has been a large contributor to various United Nations peacekeeping missions,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zięba |first=Ryszard |url={{GBurl|id=Mc-8DwAAQBAJ|dq=poland+contributor+peacekeeping+missions+middle+east|p=226}} |title=Poland's Foreign and Security Policy: Problems of Compatibility with the Changing International Order |date=2020 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-30697-7 |location=Cham |pages=226–229}}</ref> and currently maintains military presence in the Middle East, Africa, the [[Baltic states]] and southeastern Europe.<ref name="IISS 2022" />
Compulsory [[Conscription|military service]] for men, who previously had to serve for nine months, was discontinued in 2008.<ref name="Day 2008" /> Polish military doctrine reflects the same defensive nature as that of its NATO partners and the country actively hosts NATO's [[military exercises]].<ref name="IISS 2022" /> Since 1953, the country has been a large contributor to various United Nations peacekeeping missions,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zięba |first=Ryszard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mc-8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA226&dq=%22poland%2Bcontributor%2Bpeacekeeping%2Bmissions%2Bmiddle%2Beast%22 |title=Poland's Foreign and Security Policy: Problems of Compatibility with the Changing International Order |date=2020 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-30697-7 |location=Cham |pages=226–229 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180449/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mc-8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA226&dq=%22poland+contributor+peacekeeping+missions+middle+east%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> and currently maintains military presence in the Middle East, Africa, the [[Baltic states]] and southeastern Europe.<ref name="IISS 2022" />


=== Security, law enforcement and emergency services ===
=== Security, law enforcement and emergency services ===
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Thanks to its location, Poland is a country essentially free from the threat of natural disasters such as [[earthquakes]], [[volcanic eruptions]], [[tornadoes]] and [[tropical cyclones]]. However, [[flood]]s have occurred in low-lying areas from time to time during periods of extreme rainfall (e.g. during the [[2010 Central European floods]]).
Thanks to its location, Poland is a country essentially free from the threat of natural disasters such as [[earthquakes]], [[volcanic eruptions]], [[tornadoes]] and [[tropical cyclones]]. However, [[flood]]s have occurred in low-lying areas from time to time during periods of extreme rainfall (e.g. during the [[2010 Central European floods]]).


Law enforcement in Poland is performed by several agencies which are subordinate to the [[Ministry of Interior and Administration (Poland)|Ministry of Interior and Administration]] – the [[Policja|State Police]] (''Policja''), assigned to investigate crimes or transgression; the [[City Guard (Poland)|Municipal City Guard]], which maintains public order; and several specialised agencies, such as the [[Polish Border Guard]].<ref name="Narodowego 2013">{{Cite web |last=Narodowego |first=Biuro Bezpieczeństwa |title=Potencjał ochronny |url=https://www.bbn.gov.pl/pl/bezpieczenstwo-narodowe/system-bezpieczenstwa-n/bezpieczenstwo-publiczn/5977,Potencjal-ochronny.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124011153/https://www.bbn.gov.pl/pl/bezpieczenstwo-narodowe/system-bezpieczenstwa-n/bezpieczenstwo-publiczn/5977,Potencjal-ochronny.html |archive-date=24 January 2022 |access-date=2 December 2020 |website=Biuro Bezpieczeństwa Narodowego}}</ref> Private security firms are also common, although they possess no legal authority to arrest or detain a suspect.<ref name="Narodowego 2013" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rybak |first=Marcin |date=6 December 2018 |title=Klient kontra ochrona sklepu. Czy mogą nas zatrzymać, przeszukać, legitymować? |url=https://gazetawroclawska.pl/klient-kontra-ochrona-sklepu-czy-moga-nas-zatrzymac-przeszukac-legitymowac/ar/13722260 |website=Gazeta Wrocławska}}</ref> Municipal guards are primarily headed by provincial, regional or city councils; individual guards are not permitted to carry [[firearms]] unless instructed by the superior commanding officer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rozdział 3 – Uprawnienia i obowiązki strażników – Straże gminne. – Dz.U.2019.1795 t.j. |url=https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/straze-gminne-16798909/roz-3#:~:text=30%20ustawy%20z%20dnia%2021,r.%20o%20broni%20i%20amunicji.&text=Stra%C5%BCnik%2C%20o%20kt%C3%B3rym%20mowa%20w,11%20pkt%205%20i%209.}}</ref> Security service personnel conduct regular patrols in both large urban areas or smaller suburban localities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policja o zwierzchnictwie nad Strażą Miejską w powiecie dzierżoniowskim |url=https://doba.pl/ddz/artykul/policja-o-zwierzchnictwie-nad-straza-miejska-w-powiecie-dzierzoniowskim-/44242/15/noa123 |website=doba.pl}}</ref>
Law enforcement in Poland is performed by several agencies which are subordinate to the [[Ministry of Interior and Administration (Poland)|Ministry of Interior and Administration]] – the [[Policja|State Police]] (''Policja''), assigned to investigate crimes or transgression; the [[City Guard (Poland)|Municipal City Guard]], which maintains public order; and several specialised agencies, such as the [[Polish Border Guard]].<ref name="Narodowego 2013">{{Cite web |last=Narodowego |first=Biuro Bezpieczeństwa |title=Potencjał ochronny |url=https://www.bbn.gov.pl/pl/bezpieczenstwo-narodowe/system-bezpieczenstwa-n/bezpieczenstwo-publiczn/5977,Potencjal-ochronny.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124011153/https://www.bbn.gov.pl/pl/bezpieczenstwo-narodowe/system-bezpieczenstwa-n/bezpieczenstwo-publiczn/5977,Potencjal-ochronny.html |archive-date=24 January 2022 |access-date=2 December 2020 |website=Biuro Bezpieczeństwa Narodowego}}</ref> Private security firms are also common, although they possess no legal authority to arrest or detain a suspect.<ref name="Narodowego 2013" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rybak |first=Marcin |date=6 December 2018 |title=Klient kontra ochrona sklepu. Czy mogą nas zatrzymać, przeszukać, legitymować? |url=https://gazetawroclawska.pl/klient-kontra-ochrona-sklepu-czy-moga-nas-zatrzymac-przeszukac-legitymowac/ar/13722260 |website=Gazeta Wrocławska |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531114737/https://gazetawroclawska.pl/klient-kontra-ochrona-sklepu-czy-moga-nas-zatrzymac-przeszukac-legitymowac/ar/13722260 |url-status=live }}</ref> Municipal guards are primarily headed by provincial, regional or city councils; individual guards are not permitted to carry [[firearms]] unless instructed by the superior commanding officer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rozdział 3 – Uprawnienia i obowiązki strażników – Straże gminne. – Dz.U.2019.1795 t.j. |url=https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/straze-gminne-16798909/roz-3#:~:text=30%20ustawy%20z%20dnia%2021,r.%20o%20broni%20i%20amunicji.&text=Stra%C5%BCnik%2C%20o%20kt%C3%B3rym%20mowa%20w,11%20pkt%205%20i%209. |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144010/https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/straze-gminne-16798909/roz-3#:~:text=30%20ustawy%20z%20dnia%2021,r.%20o%20broni%20i%20amunicji.&text=Stra%C5%BCnik%2C%20o%20kt%C3%B3rym%20mowa%20w,11%20pkt%205%20i%209. |url-status=live }}</ref> Security service personnel conduct regular patrols in both large urban areas or smaller suburban localities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policja o zwierzchnictwie nad Strażą Miejską w powiecie dzierżoniowskim |url=https://doba.pl/ddz/artykul/policja-o-zwierzchnictwie-nad-straza-miejska-w-powiecie-dzierzoniowskim-/44242/15/noa123 |website=doba.pl |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144011/https://doba.pl/ddz/artykul/policja-o-zwierzchnictwie-nad-straza-miejska-w-powiecie-dzierzoniowskim-/44242/15/noa123 |url-status=live }}</ref>


The [[Internal Security Agency]] (ABW, or ISA in English) is the chief [[Intelligence agency|counter-intelligence instrument]] safeguarding Poland's internal security, along with [[Agencja Wywiadu]] (AW) which identifies threats and collects secret information abroad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agencja Wywiadu |url=https://aw.gov.pl/rekrutacja/ |website=aw.gov.pl}}</ref> The [[Centralne Biuro Śledcze Policji|Central Investigation Bureau of Police]] (CBŚP) and the [[Central Anticorruption Bureau]] (CBA) are responsible for countering organised crime and corruption in state and private institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Antykorupcyjne |first=Centralne Biuro |title=Aktualności |url=https://cba.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci |website=Centralne Biuro Antykorupcyjne}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Internet |first=J. S. K. |title=Status prawny |url=http://bip.cbsp.policja.gov.pl/CBS/status-prawny-1/8969,Status-prawny.html |website=Centralne Biuro Śledcze Policji}}</ref>
The [[Internal Security Agency]] (ABW, or ISA in English) is the chief [[Intelligence agency|counter-intelligence instrument]] safeguarding Poland's internal security, along with [[Agencja Wywiadu]] (AW) which identifies threats and collects secret information abroad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agencja Wywiadu |url=https://aw.gov.pl/rekrutacja/ |website=aw.gov.pl |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144013/https://aw.gov.pl/rekrutacja/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Centralne Biuro Śledcze Policji|Central Investigation Bureau of Police]] (CBŚP) and the [[Central Anticorruption Bureau]] (CBA) are responsible for countering organised crime and corruption in state and private institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Antykorupcyjne |first=Centralne Biuro |title=Aktualności |url=https://cba.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci |website=Centralne Biuro Antykorupcyjne |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621111256/https://www.cba.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Internet |first=J. S. K. |title=Status prawny |url=http://bip.cbsp.policja.gov.pl/CBS/status-prawny-1/8969,Status-prawny.html |website=Centralne Biuro Śledcze Policji |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=14 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614084606/http://bip.cbsp.policja.gov.pl/CBS/status-prawny-1/8969,Status-prawny.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


Emergency services in Poland consist of the [[Emergency medical services in Poland|emergency medical services]], [[Search and rescue#Poland|search and rescue]] units of the [[Polish Armed Forces]] and [[State Fire Service]]. Emergency medical services in Poland are operated by local and regional governments,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Projekt ustawy o krajowym systemie ratowniczym |url=http://orka.sejm.gov.pl/proc4.nsf/projekty/2947_p.htm |website=orka.sejm.gov.pl}}</ref> but are a part of the centralised national agency – the [[Emergency medical services in Poland|National Medical Emergency Service]] (''Państwowe Ratownictwo Medyczne'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ustawa z dnia 25 lipca 2001 r. o Państwowym Ratownictwie Medycznym. |url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20011131207 |access-date=10 August 2021 |website=isap.sejm.gov.pl}}</ref>
Emergency services in Poland consist of the [[Emergency medical services in Poland|emergency medical services]], [[Search and rescue#Poland|search and rescue]] units of the [[Polish Armed Forces]] and [[State Fire Service]]. Emergency medical services in Poland are operated by local and regional governments,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Projekt ustawy o krajowym systemie ratowniczym |url=http://orka.sejm.gov.pl/proc4.nsf/projekty/2947_p.htm |website=orka.sejm.gov.pl |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144014/http://orka.sejm.gov.pl/proc4.nsf/projekty/2947_p.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> but are a part of the centralised national agency – the [[Emergency medical services in Poland|National Medical Emergency Service]] (''Państwowe Ratownictwo Medyczne'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ustawa z dnia 25 lipca 2001 r. o Państwowym Ratownictwie Medycznym. |url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20011131207 |access-date=10 August 2021 |website=isap.sejm.gov.pl |archive-date=17 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617204857/https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20011131207 |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Economy ==
== Economy ==
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|-
|-
! scope="row" | Real GDP growth
! scope="row" | Real GDP growth
|5.3% <small>(2022)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=GDP growth (annual %) – Poland &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=PL |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref>
|5.3% <small>(2022)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=GDP growth (annual %) – Poland &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=PL |website=data.worldbank.org |access-date=5 December 2020 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710204644/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=PL |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | [[Consumer price index|CPI]] inflation
! scope="row" | [[Consumer price index|CPI]] inflation
|14.4% <small>(2022)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) – Poland &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG?locations=PL |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref>
|14.4% <small>(2022)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) – Poland &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG?locations=PL |website=data.worldbank.org |access-date=5 December 2020 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812202225/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG?locations=PL |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | [[Employment-to-population ratio]]
! scope="row" | [[Employment-to-population ratio]]
|57% <small>(2022)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) – Poland &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS?locations=PL |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref>
|57% <small>(2022)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) – Poland &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS?locations=PL |website=data.worldbank.org |access-date=5 December 2020 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513023302/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS?locations=PL |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | Unemployment
! scope="row" | Unemployment
|2.8% <small>(2023)</small><ref name="Ministry of Family and Social Policy">{{Cite web |title=Lowest unemployment in the EU. Poland on the podium – Ministry of Family and Social Policy – Gov.pl website |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/family/lowest-unemployment-in-the-eu-poland-on-the-podium |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=Ministry of Family and Social Policy |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|2.8% <small>(2023)</small><ref name="Ministry of Family and Social Policy">{{Cite web |title=Lowest unemployment in the EU. Poland on the podium – Ministry of Family and Social Policy – Gov.pl website |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/family/lowest-unemployment-in-the-eu-poland-on-the-podium |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=Ministry of Family and Social Policy |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221070334/https://www.gov.pl/web/family/lowest-unemployment-in-the-eu-poland-on-the-podium |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | [[National debt|Total public debt]]
! scope="row" | [[National debt|Total public debt]]
|$340 billion <small>(2022)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Poland National Debt 2020 |url=https://countryeconomy.com/national-debt/poland |website=countryeconomy.com}}</ref>
|$340 billion <small>(2022)</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Poland National Debt 2020 |url=https://countryeconomy.com/national-debt/poland |website=countryeconomy.com |access-date=5 December 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202163222/https://countryeconomy.com/national-debt/poland |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}{{Main|Economy of Poland}}
|}{{Main|Economy of Poland}}


{{As of|2023}}, Poland's economy and gross domestic product (GDP) is the sixth largest in the European Union by [[Economy of the European Union|nominal standards]] and the fifth largest by [[List of sovereign states in Europe by GDP (PPP)|purchasing power parity]]. It is also one of the fastest growing within the Union and reached a [[developed market]] status in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2018 |title=Poland promoted to developed market status by FTSE Russell |url=https://emerging-europe.com/news/poland-promoted-to-developed-market-status-by-ftse-russell/#:~:text=Global%20index%20provider%20FTSE%20Russell,%2C%20France%2C%20Japan%20and%20Australia. |access-date=1 January 2021 |website=Emerging Europe}}</ref> The unemployment rate published by [[Eurostat]] in 2023 amounted to 2.8%, which was the second-lowest in the EU.<ref name="Ministry of Family and Social Policy" /> {{As of|2023}}, around 62% of the employed population works in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|service sector]], 29% in manufacturing, and 8% in the agricultural sector.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pracujący w rolnictwie, przemyśle i usługach {{!}} RynekPracy.org |url=https://rynekpracy.org/statystyki/pracujacy-w-rolnictwie-przemysle-i-uslugach/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |language=pl-PL}}</ref> Although Poland is a member of the [[European single market]], the country has not adopted the [[Euro]] as legal tender and maintains its own currency – the [[Polish złoty]] (zł, PLN).
{{As of|2023}}, Poland's economy and gross domestic product (GDP) is the sixth largest in the European Union by [[Economy of the European Union|nominal standards]] and the fifth largest by [[List of sovereign states in Europe by GDP (PPP)|purchasing power parity]]. It is also one of the fastest growing within the Union and reached a [[developed market]] status in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2018 |title=Poland promoted to developed market status by FTSE Russell |url=https://emerging-europe.com/news/poland-promoted-to-developed-market-status-by-ftse-russell/#:~:text=Global%20index%20provider%20FTSE%20Russell,%2C%20France%2C%20Japan%20and%20Australia. |access-date=1 January 2021 |website=Emerging Europe |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109210429/https://emerging-europe.com/news/poland-promoted-to-developed-market-status-by-ftse-russell/#:~:text=Global%20index%20provider%20FTSE%20Russell,%2C%20France%2C%20Japan%20and%20Australia. |url-status=live }}</ref> The unemployment rate published by [[Eurostat]] in 2023 amounted to 2.8%, which was the second-lowest in the EU.<ref name="Ministry of Family and Social Policy" /> {{As of|2023}}, around 62% of the employed population works in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|service sector]], 29% in manufacturing, and 8% in the agricultural sector.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pracujący w rolnictwie, przemyśle i usługach {{!}} RynekPracy.org |url=https://rynekpracy.org/statystyki/pracujacy-w-rolnictwie-przemysle-i-uslugach/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |language=pl-PL |archive-date=25 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425100036/https://rynekpracy.org/statystyki/pracujacy-w-rolnictwie-przemysle-i-uslugach/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Although Poland is a member of the [[European single market]], the country has not adopted the [[Euro]] as legal tender and maintains its own currency – the [[Polish złoty]] (zł, PLN).


Poland is the regional economic leader in Central Europe, with nearly 40 per cent of the 500 biggest companies in the region (by revenues) as well as a [[Globalisation index|high globalisation rate]].<ref name="Polish economy seen as stable and competitive" /> The country's largest firms compose the [[WIG20]] and [[WIG30]] [[Stock market index|indexes]], which is traded on the [[Warsaw Stock Exchange]]. According to reports made by the [[National Bank of Poland]], the value of Polish foreign direct investments reached almost 300 billion [[Polish złoty|PLN]] at the end of 2014. The [[Central Statistical Office (Poland)|Central Statistical Office]] estimated that in 2014 there were 1,437 Polish corporations with interests in 3,194 foreign entities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dorota Ciesielska-Maciągowska |date=5 April 2016 |title=Hundreds of foreign companies taken over by Polish firms over the last decade |url=http://www.financialobserver.eu/poland/hundreds-of-foreign-companies-taken-over-by-polish-firms-over-the-last-decade/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413020602/http://www.financialobserver.eu/poland/hundreds-of-foreign-companies-taken-over-by-polish-firms-over-the-last-decade/ |archive-date=13 April 2016 |access-date=17 June 2017 |website=Central European Financial Observer |language=en}}</ref>
Poland is the regional economic leader in Central Europe, with nearly 40 per cent of the 500 biggest companies in the region (by revenues) as well as a [[Globalisation index|high globalisation rate]].<ref name="Polish economy seen as stable and competitive" /> The country's largest firms compose the [[WIG20]] and [[WIG30]] [[Stock market index|indexes]], which is traded on the [[Warsaw Stock Exchange]]. According to reports made by the [[National Bank of Poland]], the value of Polish foreign direct investments reached almost 300 billion [[Polish złoty|PLN]] at the end of 2014. The [[Central Statistical Office (Poland)|Central Statistical Office]] estimated that in 2014 there were 1,437 Polish corporations with interests in 3,194 foreign entities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dorota Ciesielska-Maciągowska |date=5 April 2016 |title=Hundreds of foreign companies taken over by Polish firms over the last decade |url=http://www.financialobserver.eu/poland/hundreds-of-foreign-companies-taken-over-by-polish-firms-over-the-last-decade/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413020602/http://www.financialobserver.eu/poland/hundreds-of-foreign-companies-taken-over-by-polish-firms-over-the-last-decade/ |archive-date=13 April 2016 |access-date=17 June 2017 |website=Central European Financial Observer |language=en}}</ref>


Poland has the largest banking sector in Central Europe,<ref>Thomas White International (September 2011), [https://web.archive.org/web/20130913074250/http://www.thomaswhite.com/global-perspectives/banking-sector-in-poland/ Prominent Banks in Poland.] Emerging Market Spotlight. Banking Sector in Poland (Internet Archive). Retrieved 6 November 2014.</ref> with 32.3 branches per 100,000 adults.<ref>Worldbank.org, [http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTGLOBALFINREPORT/Resources/8816096-1361888425203/9062080-1364927957721/GFDR-2014_Statistical_Appendix_B.pdf Global Financial Development Report 2014.] Appendix B. Key Aspects of Financial Inclusion (PDF file, direct download). Retrieved 6 November 2014.</ref> It was the only European economy to have avoided the [[Great Recession|recession of 2008]].<ref name="Schwab 2011" /> The country is the [[List of countries by exports|20th largest exporter]] of goods and services in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.GSR.GNFS.CD |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref> Exports of goods and services are valued at approximately 56% of GDP, as of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) {{!}} Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.ZS |access-date=6 September 2021 |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref> In 2019, Poland passed a law that would exempt workers under the age of 26 from [[income tax]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ivana Kottasová |date=30 July 2019 |title=Brain drain claimed 1.7 million youths. So this country is scrapping its income tax |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/30/europe/poland-income-tax-youths-intl/index.html |access-date=30 July 2019}}</ref>
Poland has the largest banking sector in Central Europe,<ref>Thomas White International (September 2011), [https://web.archive.org/web/20130913074250/http://www.thomaswhite.com/global-perspectives/banking-sector-in-poland/ Prominent Banks in Poland.] Emerging Market Spotlight. Banking Sector in Poland (Internet Archive). Retrieved 6 November 2014.</ref> with 32.3 branches per 100,000 adults.<ref>Worldbank.org, [http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTGLOBALFINREPORT/Resources/8816096-1361888425203/9062080-1364927957721/GFDR-2014_Statistical_Appendix_B.pdf Global Financial Development Report 2014.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807165701/http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTGLOBALFINREPORT/Resources/8816096-1361888425203/9062080-1364927957721/GFDR-2014_Statistical_Appendix_B.pdf |date=7 August 2019 }} Appendix B. Key Aspects of Financial Inclusion (PDF file, direct download). Retrieved 6 November 2014.</ref> It was the only European economy to have avoided the [[Great Recession|recession of 2008]].<ref name="Schwab 2011" /> The country is the [[List of countries by exports|20th largest exporter]] of goods and services in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exports of goods and services (BoP, current US$) &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.GSR.GNFS.CD |website=data.worldbank.org |access-date=11 December 2020 |archive-date=31 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531131227/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.GSR.GNFS.CD |url-status=live }}</ref> Exports of goods and services are valued at approximately 56% of GDP, as of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) {{!}} Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.ZS |access-date=6 September 2021 |website=data.worldbank.org |archive-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425022501/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.ZS |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, Poland passed a law that would exempt workers under the age of 26 from [[income tax]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ivana Kottasová |date=30 July 2019 |title=Brain drain claimed 1.7 million youths. So this country is scrapping its income tax |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/30/europe/poland-income-tax-youths-intl/index.html |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730082114/https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/30/europe/poland-income-tax-youths-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Tourism ===
=== Tourism ===
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Poland experienced a significant increase in the number of tourists after joining the European Union in 2004.<ref name="Travel And Tourism in Poland" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Stanisław Konopacki |title=Polska pięć lat w Unii Europejskiej |date=12 March 2009 |publisher=WSMIP UŁ |isbn=978-83-88679-84-1}}</ref> With over 21 million international arrivals in 2019, tourism contributes considerably to the overall economy and makes up a relatively large proportion of the country's service market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press Release |date=5 November 2012 |title=International tourism strong despite uncertain economy |url=http://www2.unwto.org/en/press-release/2012-11-05/international-tourism-strong-despite-uncertain-economy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218231404/http://www2.unwto.org/en/press-release/2012-11-05/international-tourism-strong-despite-uncertain-economy |archive-date=18 February 2013 |access-date=6 February 2013 |publisher=World Tourism Organization UNWTO}}</ref>
Poland experienced a significant increase in the number of tourists after joining the European Union in 2004.<ref name="Travel And Tourism in Poland" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Stanisław Konopacki |title=Polska pięć lat w Unii Europejskiej |date=12 March 2009 |publisher=WSMIP UŁ |isbn=978-83-88679-84-1}}</ref> With over 21 million international arrivals in 2019, tourism contributes considerably to the overall economy and makes up a relatively large proportion of the country's service market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press Release |date=5 November 2012 |title=International tourism strong despite uncertain economy |url=http://www2.unwto.org/en/press-release/2012-11-05/international-tourism-strong-despite-uncertain-economy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218231404/http://www2.unwto.org/en/press-release/2012-11-05/international-tourism-strong-despite-uncertain-economy |archive-date=18 February 2013 |access-date=6 February 2013 |publisher=World Tourism Organization UNWTO}}</ref>


Tourist attractions in Poland vary, from the mountains in the south to the sandy beaches in the north, with a trail of nearly every architectural style. The most visited city is [[Kraków]], which was the former capital of Poland and serves as a relic of the [[Polish Golden Age]] and the [[Renaissance in Poland|Renaissance]]. Kraków also held [[Royal coronations in Poland|royal coronations]] of [[List of Polish monarchs|most Polish kings and monarchs]] at [[Wawel]], the nation's chief historical landmark. Among other notable sites in the country is [[Wrocław]], one of the oldest cities in Poland which was a model for the founding of Kraków. Wrocław is famous for its [[Wrocław's dwarfs|dwarf statues]], a large [[Market Square, Wrocław|market square]] with two [[Ratusz|town halls]], and the oldest [[Wrocław Zoo|Zoological Gardens]] with one of the world's largest number of animal [[species]]. The Polish capital [[Warsaw]] and its historical [[Warsaw Old Town|Old Town]] were entirely reconstructed after [[Destruction of Warsaw|wartime destruction]]. Other cities attracting countless tourists include [[Gdańsk]], [[Poznań]], [[Lublin]], [[Toruń]] as well as the site of the German [[Auschwitz concentration camp]] in [[Oświęcim]]. A highlight is the 13th-century [[Wieliczka Salt Mine]] with its labyrinthine tunnels, [[underground lake]] and chapels carved by miners out of [[rock salt]] beneath the ground.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Mine |url=https://www.wieliczka-saltmine.com/individual-tourist/about-the-mine/history-of-the-mine |access-date=3 December 2023 |website=www.wieliczka-saltmine.com}}</ref>
Tourist attractions in Poland vary, from the mountains in the south to the sandy beaches in the north, with a trail of nearly every architectural style. The most visited city is [[Kraków]], which was the former capital of Poland and serves as a relic of the [[Polish Golden Age]] and the [[Renaissance in Poland|Renaissance]]. Kraków also held [[Royal coronations in Poland|royal coronations]] of [[List of Polish monarchs|most Polish kings and monarchs]] at [[Wawel]], the nation's chief historical landmark. Among other notable sites in the country is [[Wrocław]], one of the oldest cities in Poland which was a model for the founding of Kraków. Wrocław is famous for its [[Wrocław's dwarfs|dwarf statues]], a large [[Market Square, Wrocław|market square]] with two [[Ratusz|town halls]], and the oldest [[Wrocław Zoo|Zoological Gardens]] with one of the world's largest number of animal [[species]]. The Polish capital [[Warsaw]] and its historical [[Warsaw Old Town|Old Town]] were entirely reconstructed after [[Destruction of Warsaw|wartime destruction]]. Other cities attracting countless tourists include [[Gdańsk]], [[Poznań]], [[Lublin]], [[Toruń]] as well as the site of the German [[Auschwitz concentration camp]] in [[Oświęcim]]. A highlight is the 13th-century [[Wieliczka Salt Mine]] with its labyrinthine tunnels, [[underground lake]] and chapels carved by miners out of [[rock salt]] beneath the ground.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Mine |url=https://www.wieliczka-saltmine.com/individual-tourist/about-the-mine/history-of-the-mine |access-date=3 December 2023 |website=www.wieliczka-saltmine.com |archive-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210175740/https://www.wieliczka-saltmine.com/individual-tourist/about-the-mine/history-of-the-mine |url-status=live }}</ref>


Poland has a 770&nbsp;km long coastline of the southern [[Baltic Sea]] with many wide sandy beaches, which are frequently visited by tourists in the summer season.
Poland has a 770&nbsp;km long coastline of the southern [[Baltic Sea]] with many wide sandy beaches, which are frequently visited by tourists in the summer season.
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[[File:WK15 Wrocław Główny (2) Lichen99.jpg|thumb|right|[[Polish State Railways|PKP Intercity]] [[New Pendolino|Pendolino]] at the [[Wrocław Główny railway station|Wrocław railway station]]]]
[[File:WK15 Wrocław Główny (2) Lichen99.jpg|thumb|right|[[Polish State Railways|PKP Intercity]] [[New Pendolino|Pendolino]] at the [[Wrocław Główny railway station|Wrocław railway station]]]]


Transport in Poland is provided by means of [[Rail transport in Poland|rail]], [[Highways in Poland|road]], [[Polish Merchant Navy|marine shipping]] and [[List of airports in Poland|air travel]]. The country is part of EU's [[Schengen Area]] and is an important transport hub due to its strategic geographical position in Central Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAIH &#124; Transport |url=https://www.paih.gov.pl/poland_in_figures/transport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144011/https://www.paih.gov.pl/poland_in_figures/transport |archive-date=12 May 2022 |access-date=3 July 2020 |website=www.paih.gov.pl}}</ref> Some of the longest European routes, including the [[European route E30|E30]] and [[European route E40|E40]], run through Poland. The country has a good network of [[Highways in Poland|highways]] comprising [[Limited-access road|express roads]] and [[Controlled-access highway|motorways]]. As of August 2023, Poland has the world's [[List of countries by road network size|21st-largest road network]], maintaining over {{cvt|5000|km}} of highways in use.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/gddkia |website=www.gddkia.gov.pl}}</ref>
Transport in Poland is provided by means of [[Rail transport in Poland|rail]], [[Highways in Poland|road]], [[Polish Merchant Navy|marine shipping]] and [[List of airports in Poland|air travel]]. The country is part of EU's [[Schengen Area]] and is an important transport hub due to its strategic geographical position in Central Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAIH &#124; Transport |url=https://www.paih.gov.pl/poland_in_figures/transport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144011/https://www.paih.gov.pl/poland_in_figures/transport |archive-date=12 May 2022 |access-date=3 July 2020 |website=www.paih.gov.pl}}</ref> Some of the longest European routes, including the [[European route E30|E30]] and [[European route E40|E40]], run through Poland. The country has a good network of [[Highways in Poland|highways]] comprising [[Limited-access road|express roads]] and [[Controlled-access highway|motorways]]. As of August 2023, Poland has the world's [[List of countries by road network size|21st-largest road network]], maintaining over {{cvt|5000|km}} of highways in use.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/gddkia |website=www.gddkia.gov.pl |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805223843/https://www.gov.pl/web/gddkia |url-status=live }}</ref>


In 2022, the nation had {{convert|19393|km}} of railway track, the third longest in the European Union after Germany and France.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Linie kolejowe w Polsce |url=https://utk.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci/20336,Linie-kolejowe-w-Polsce.html?search=6784142599555 |access-date=26 November 2023 |website=utk.gov.pl}}</ref> The [[Polish State Railways]] (PKP) is the dominant railway operator, with certain major voivodeships or urban areas possessing their own [[commuter rail|commuter]] and [[regional rail]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Marinov |first1=Marin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t2ZXEAAAQBAJ&dq=polish+state+railways+largest+railway+regional&pg=PA280 |title=Sustainable Rail Transport 4: Innovate Rail Research and Education |last2=Piip |first2=Janene |date=2021 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-030-82095-4 |location=Cham |page=280}}</ref> Poland has a number of international airports, the largest of which is [[Warsaw Chopin Airport]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Paweł Churski |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIuFEAAAQBAJ&dq=largest+airport+chopin&pg=PA321 |title=Three decades of Polish socio-economic transformations: geographical perspectives |last2=Tomasz Kaczmarek |date=2022 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-031-06108-0 |location=Cham |page=321}}</ref> It is the primary global hub for [[LOT Polish Airlines]], the country's [[flag carrier]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Anne Graham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XzkLEAAAQBAJ&dq=lot+polish+airlines+flag+carrier&pg=PT118 |title=Air Transport and Regional Development Case Studies |last2=Nicole Adler |last3=Hans-Martin Niemeier |date=2020 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-003-09207-0 |location=Abingdon}}</ref>
In 2022, the nation had {{convert|19393|km}} of railway track, the third longest in the European Union after Germany and France.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Linie kolejowe w Polsce |url=https://utk.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci/20336,Linie-kolejowe-w-Polsce.html?search=6784142599555 |access-date=26 November 2023 |website=utk.gov.pl |archive-date=27 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827100942/https://utk.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci/20336,Linie-kolejowe-w-Polsce.html?search=6784142599555 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Polish State Railways]] (PKP) is the dominant railway operator, with certain major voivodeships or urban areas possessing their own [[commuter rail|commuter]] and [[regional rail]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Marinov |first1=Marin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t2ZXEAAAQBAJ&dq=polish+state+railways+largest+railway+regional&pg=PA280 |title=Sustainable Rail Transport 4: Innovate Rail Research and Education |last2=Piip |first2=Janene |date=2021 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-030-82095-4 |location=Cham |page=280 |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901114704/https://books.google.com/books?id=t2ZXEAAAQBAJ&dq=polish+state+railways+largest+railway+regional&pg=PA280 |url-status=live }}</ref> Poland has a number of international airports, the largest of which is [[Warsaw Chopin Airport]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Paweł Churski |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIuFEAAAQBAJ&dq=largest+airport+chopin&pg=PA321 |title=Three decades of Polish socio-economic transformations: geographical perspectives |last2=Tomasz Kaczmarek |date=2022 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-031-06108-0 |location=Cham |page=321 |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901114649/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIuFEAAAQBAJ&dq=largest+airport+chopin&pg=PA321 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the primary global hub for [[LOT Polish Airlines]], the country's [[flag carrier]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Anne Graham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XzkLEAAAQBAJ&dq=lot+polish+airlines+flag+carrier&pg=PT118 |title=Air Transport and Regional Development Case Studies |last2=Nicole Adler |last3=Hans-Martin Niemeier |date=2020 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-003-09207-0 |location=Abingdon |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901114702/https://books.google.com/books?id=XzkLEAAAQBAJ&dq=lot+polish+airlines+flag+carrier&pg=PT118 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Seaports exist all along Poland's Baltic coast, with most freight operations using [[Port of Świnoujście|Świnoujście]], [[Port of Police|Police]], [[Port of Szczecin|Szczecin]], [[Port of Kołobrzeg|Kołobrzeg]], [[Port of Gdynia|Gdynia]], [[Port of Gdańsk|Gdańsk]] and [[Elbląg]] as their base. The [[Port of Gdańsk]] is the only port in the [[Baltic Sea]] adapted to receive oceanic vessels. [[Polferries]] and [[Unity Line]] are the largest Polish ferry operators, with the latter providing [[roll-on/roll-off]] and [[train ferry]] services to [[Scandinavia]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gennady Fedorov |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VEa5DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22polferries%22+unity+line+poland&pg=PA203 |title=Baltic Region—The Region of Cooperation |last2=Alexander Druzhinin |last3=Elena Golubeva |last4=Dmitry Subetto |last5=Tadeusz Palmowski |date=2019 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-030-14519-4 |location=Cham |page=203}}</ref>
Seaports exist all along Poland's Baltic coast, with most freight operations using [[Port of Świnoujście|Świnoujście]], [[Port of Police|Police]], [[Port of Szczecin|Szczecin]], [[Port of Kołobrzeg|Kołobrzeg]], [[Port of Gdynia|Gdynia]], [[Port of Gdańsk|Gdańsk]] and [[Elbląg]] as their base. The [[Port of Gdańsk]] is the only port in the [[Baltic Sea]] adapted to receive oceanic vessels. [[Polferries]] and [[Unity Line]] are the largest Polish ferry operators, with the latter providing [[roll-on/roll-off]] and [[train ferry]] services to [[Scandinavia]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gennady Fedorov |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VEa5DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22polferries%22+unity+line+poland&pg=PA203 |title=Baltic Region—The Region of Cooperation |last2=Alexander Druzhinin |last3=Elena Golubeva |last4=Dmitry Subetto |last5=Tadeusz Palmowski |date=2019 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-030-14519-4 |location=Cham |page=203 |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901114645/https://books.google.com/books?id=VEa5DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22polferries%22+unity+line+poland&pg=PA203 |url-status=live }}</ref>


===Energy===
===Energy===
{{main|Energy in Poland}}
{{main|Energy in Poland}}
The electricity generation sector in Poland is largely [[Fossil fuel|fossil-fuel]]–based. Coal production in Poland is a major source of employment and the largest source of the nation's [[greenhouse gas emissions]].<ref name="International Energy Agency 2022">{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |date=20 May 2022 |title=Poland – Countries & Regions |url=https://www.iea.org/countries/poland |access-date=24 May 2022 |publisher=IEA |location=Paris}}</ref> Many power plants nationwide use Poland's position as a major European exporter of coal to their advantage by continuing to use coal as the primary raw material in the production of their energy. The three largest Polish coal mining firms ([[Węglokoks]], [[Kompania Węglowa]] and [[Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa|JSW]]) extract around 100 million tonnes of coal annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poland. Summary of Coal Industry. |url=https://www.globalmethane.org/documents/toolsres_coal_overview_ch27.pdf |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref> After coal, Polish energy supply relies significantly on oil—the nation is the third-largest buyer of Russian oil exports to the EU.<ref>{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |date=13 April 2022 |title=Frequently Asked Questions on Energy Security |url=https://www.iea.org/articles/frequently-asked-questions-on-energy-security |access-date=27 April 2022 |publisher=IEA |location=Paris}}</ref>
The electricity generation sector in Poland is largely [[Fossil fuel|fossil-fuel]]–based. Coal production in Poland is a major source of employment and the largest source of the nation's [[greenhouse gas emissions]].<ref name="International Energy Agency 2022">{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |date=20 May 2022 |title=Poland – Countries & Regions |url=https://www.iea.org/countries/poland |access-date=24 May 2022 |publisher=IEA |location=Paris |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524015401/https://www.iea.org/countries/poland |url-status=live }}</ref> Many power plants nationwide use Poland's position as a major European exporter of coal to their advantage by continuing to use coal as the primary raw material in the production of their energy. The three largest Polish coal mining firms ([[Węglokoks]], [[Kompania Węglowa]] and [[Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa|JSW]]) extract around 100 million tonnes of coal annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poland. Summary of Coal Industry. |url=https://www.globalmethane.org/documents/toolsres_coal_overview_ch27.pdf |access-date=5 March 2022 |archive-date=21 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121082617/https://www.globalmethane.org/documents/Toolsres_coal_overview_ch27.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> After coal, Polish energy supply relies significantly on oil—the nation is the third-largest buyer of Russian oil exports to the EU.<ref>{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |date=13 April 2022 |title=Frequently Asked Questions on Energy Security |url=https://www.iea.org/articles/frequently-asked-questions-on-energy-security |access-date=27 April 2022 |publisher=IEA |location=Paris |archive-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116162240/https://www.iea.org/articles/frequently-asked-questions-on-energy-security |url-status=live }}</ref>


The new [[Energy in Poland|Energy Policy of Poland until 2040]] (EPP2040) would reduce the share of coal and [[lignite]] in electricity generation by 25% from 2017 to 2030. The plan involves deploying new nuclear plants, increasing energy efficiency, and decarbonising the Polish transport system in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prioritise long-term energy security.<ref name="International Energy Agency 2022" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ministry of Climate and Environment |date=2 February 2021 |title=Energy Policy of Poland until 2040 (EPP2040) |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/climate/energy-policy-of-poland-until-2040-epp2040 |access-date=24 May 2022 |website=Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland |language=en-GB}}</ref>
The new [[Energy in Poland|Energy Policy of Poland until 2040]] (EPP2040) would reduce the share of coal and [[lignite]] in electricity generation by 25% from 2017 to 2030. The plan involves deploying new nuclear plants, increasing energy efficiency, and decarbonising the Polish transport system in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prioritise long-term energy security.<ref name="International Energy Agency 2022" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ministry of Climate and Environment |date=2 February 2021 |title=Energy Policy of Poland until 2040 (EPP2040) |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/climate/energy-policy-of-poland-until-2040-epp2040 |access-date=24 May 2022 |website=Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland |language=en-GB |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524122522/https://www.gov.pl/web/climate/energy-policy-of-poland-until-2040-epp2040 |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Science and technology ===
=== Science and technology ===
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[[File:Marie Curie c1920.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|Physicist and chemist [[Marie Curie]] was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.<ref name="Mould 1993" />]]
[[File:Marie Curie c1920.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|Physicist and chemist [[Marie Curie]] was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.<ref name="Mould 1993" />]]


Over the course of history, the Polish people have made considerable contributions in the fields of science, technology and mathematics.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Nodzyńska |first1=Małgorzata |url=http://uatacz.up.krakow.pl/~wwwchemia/pliki/ISBN_978_83_7271_768_9_From_alchemy_to_the_present_day |title=From alchemy to the present day – the choice of biographies of Polish scientists |last2=Cieśla |first2=Paweł |publisher=Pedagogical University of Kraków |year=2012 |isbn=978-83-7271-768-9 |location=Cracow |access-date=3 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201958/http://uatacz.up.krakow.pl/~wwwchemia/pliki/ISBN_978_83_7271_768_9_From_alchemy_to_the_present_day |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> Perhaps the most renowned Pole to support this theory was [[Nicolaus Copernicus]] (''Mikołaj Kopernik''), who triggered the [[Copernican Revolution]] by placing the [[Heliocentrism|Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 March 2018 |title=Nicolaus Copernicus Biography: Facts & Discoveries |url=https://www.space.com/15684-nicolaus-copernicus.html |access-date=6 April 2018 |website=[[Space.com]]}}</ref> He also derived a [[quantity theory of money]], which made him a pioneer of economics. Copernicus' achievements and discoveries are considered the basis of Polish culture and cultural identity.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wolak |first=Arthur J. |title=Forced Out: The Fate of Polish Jewry in Communist Poland |date=12 March 2004 |publisher=Arthur Wolak |isbn=978-1-58736-291-0}}</ref> Poland was ranked 41st in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=WIPO |title=Global Innovation Index 2023, 15th Edition |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |access-date=28 October 2023 |website=www.wipo.int}}</ref>
Over the course of history, the Polish people have made considerable contributions in the fields of science, technology and mathematics.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Nodzyńska |first1=Małgorzata |url=http://uatacz.up.krakow.pl/~wwwchemia/pliki/ISBN_978_83_7271_768_9_From_alchemy_to_the_present_day |title=From alchemy to the present day – the choice of biographies of Polish scientists |last2=Cieśla |first2=Paweł |publisher=Pedagogical University of Kraków |year=2012 |isbn=978-83-7271-768-9 |location=Cracow |access-date=3 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201958/http://uatacz.up.krakow.pl/~wwwchemia/pliki/ISBN_978_83_7271_768_9_From_alchemy_to_the_present_day |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> Perhaps the most renowned Pole to support this theory was [[Nicolaus Copernicus]] (''Mikołaj Kopernik''), who triggered the [[Copernican Revolution]] by placing the [[Heliocentrism|Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 March 2018 |title=Nicolaus Copernicus Biography: Facts & Discoveries |url=https://www.space.com/15684-nicolaus-copernicus.html |access-date=6 April 2018 |website=[[Space.com]] |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530193602/https://www.space.com/15684-nicolaus-copernicus.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He also derived a [[quantity theory of money]], which made him a pioneer of economics. Copernicus' achievements and discoveries are considered the basis of Polish culture and cultural identity.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wolak |first=Arthur J. |title=Forced Out: The Fate of Polish Jewry in Communist Poland |date=12 March 2004 |publisher=Arthur Wolak |isbn=978-1-58736-291-0}}</ref> Poland was ranked 41st in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=WIPO |title=Global Innovation Index 2023, 15th Edition |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |access-date=28 October 2023 |website=www.wipo.int |archive-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022042128/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


[[File:Nikolaus Kopernikus.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Nicolaus Copernicus]], the 16th century Polish astronomer who formulated the [[Heliocentrism|heliocentric]] model of the solar system]]
[[File:Nikolaus Kopernikus.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Nicolaus Copernicus]], the 16th century Polish astronomer who formulated the [[Heliocentrism|heliocentric]] model of the solar system]]
Line 499: Line 499:
== Demographics ==
== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Poland|List of cities and towns in Poland|Metropolitan areas in Poland|Polish people|Polish diaspora}}
{{Main|Demographics of Poland|List of cities and towns in Poland|Metropolitan areas in Poland|Polish people|Polish diaspora}}
Poland has a population of approximately 38.2 million as of 2021, and is the [[List of European countries by population|ninth-most populous country]] in Europe, as well as the fifth-most populous member state of the [[European Union]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Statistics Poland |url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/national-census/national-population-and-housing-census-2021/national-population-and-housing-census-2021/preliminary-results-of-the-national-population-and-housing-census-2021,1,1.html |title=Preliminary results of the National Population and Housing Census 2021 |date=2021 |publisher=Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS |page=1 |language=en}}</ref> It has a population density of {{convert|122|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants|}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Statistics Poland |url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/population/population/area-and-population-in-the-territorial-profile-in-2021,4,15.html |title=Area and population in the territorial profile |date=2021 |publisher=Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS |page=20 |language=en, pl}}</ref> The [[total fertility rate]] was estimated at 1.33 children born to a woman in 2021, which is [[List of sovereign states and dependencies by total fertility rate|among the world's lowest]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fertility rate, total (births per woman) – Poland |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?locations=PL |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=[[World Bank]]}}</ref> Furthermore, Poland's population is [[List of countries by median age|aging significantly]], and the country has a [[median age]] of 42.2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Median age |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/median-age/country-comparison/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=www.cia.gov}}</ref>
Poland has a population of approximately 38.2 million as of 2021, and is the [[List of European countries by population|ninth-most populous country]] in Europe, as well as the fifth-most populous member state of the [[European Union]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Statistics Poland |url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/national-census/national-population-and-housing-census-2021/national-population-and-housing-census-2021/preliminary-results-of-the-national-population-and-housing-census-2021,1,1.html |title=Preliminary results of the National Population and Housing Census 2021 |date=2021 |publisher=Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS |page=1 |language=en |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-date=6 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306123848/https://stat.gov.pl/en/national-census/national-population-and-housing-census-2021/national-population-and-housing-census-2021/preliminary-results-of-the-national-population-and-housing-census-2021,1,1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It has a population density of {{convert|122|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants|}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Statistics Poland |url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/population/population/area-and-population-in-the-territorial-profile-in-2021,4,15.html |title=Area and population in the territorial profile |date=2021 |publisher=Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS |page=20 |language=en, pl |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-date=6 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306132200/https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/population/population/area-and-population-in-the-territorial-profile-in-2021,4,15.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[total fertility rate]] was estimated at 1.33 children born to a woman in 2021, which is [[List of sovereign states and dependencies by total fertility rate|among the world's lowest]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fertility rate, total (births per woman) – Poland |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?locations=PL |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=[[World Bank]] |archive-date=3 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603193244/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.IN?locations=PL |url-status=live }}</ref> Furthermore, Poland's population is [[List of countries by median age|aging significantly]], and the country has a [[median age]] of 42.2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Median age |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/median-age/country-comparison/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=www.cia.gov |archive-date=21 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221070333/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/median-age/country-comparison/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Population of Poland.svg|upright=1.1|thumb|Population of Poland from 1900 to 2010 in millions of inhabitants]]
[[File:Population of Poland.svg|upright=1.1|thumb|Population of Poland from 1900 to 2010 in millions of inhabitants]]
Around 60% of the country's population lives in urban areas or major cities and 40% in rural zones.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Urban population (% of the population) – Poland |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=PL |access-date=13 March 2022 |website=[[World Bank]]}}</ref> In 2020, 50.2% of Poles resided in [[detached dwelling]]s and 44.3% in apartments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Distribution of population by degree of urbanisation, dwelling type and income group – EU-SILC survey |url=https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/submitViewTableAction.do |access-date=6 April 2022 |website=European Statistical Office "Eurostat" |publisher=European Commission}}</ref> The most populous administrative province or state is the [[Masovian Voivodeship]] and the most populous city is the capital, [[Warsaw]], at 1.8 million inhabitants with a further 2–3 million people living in its [[Warsaw metropolitan area|metropolitan area]].<ref>[http://www.mrr.gov.pl/polityka_regionalna/SRPW_2020/Dokumenty%20i%20ekspertyzy/Documents/17d0ccd2c3f14ed3893369e56d59849cMarkowski.pdf Funkcje Metropolitalne Pięciu Stolic Województw Wschodnich] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327120341/http://www.mrr.gov.pl/polityka_regionalna/SRPW_2020/Dokumenty%20i%20ekspertyzy/Documents/17d0ccd2c3f14ed3893369e56d59849cMarkowski.pdf |date=27 March 2009 }} – [[:pl:Tadeusz Markowski (ekonomista)|Markowski]]</ref><ref>[https://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2003/2003WUPHighlights.pdf ''World Urbanization Prospects''] – United Nations – Department of Economic and Social Affairs / Population Division, The 2003 Revision (data of 2000)</ref><ref>[[Eurostat]], [http://www.urbanaudit.org/DataAccessed.aspx Urban Audit database] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406130058/http://www.urbanaudit.org/DataAccessed.aspx |date=6 April 2011 }}, accessed on 12 March 2009. Data for 2004.</ref> The [[Katowice urban area|metropolitan area]] of [[Katowice]] is the largest urban [[conurbation]] with a population between 2.7 million<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Wendell |date=2013 |title=Major Metropolitan Areas in Europe |url=http://www.newgeography.com/content/003879-major-metropolitan-areas-europe |website=New Geography |publisher=Joel Kotkin and Praxis Strategy Group}}</ref> and 5.3 million residents.<ref>[[European Spatial Planning Observation Network]], [https://www.espon.eu/sites/default/files/attachments/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf Study on Urban Functions (Project 1.4.3)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002318/http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf |date=24 September 2015 }}, Final Report, Chapter 3, (ESPON, 2007)</ref> Population density is higher in the south of Poland and mostly concentrated between the cities of [[Wrocław]] and [[Kraków]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jażdżewska |first=Iwona |date=September 2017 |title=Changes in population density of the urban population in southern Poland in the period 1950–2011 against the background of political and economic transformation |journal=Miscellanea Geographica |publisher=Sciendo |volume=21 |pages=107–113 |doi=10.1515/mgrsd-2017-0017 |issn=2084-6118 |s2cid=134111630 |doi-access=free |number=3}}</ref>
Around 60% of the country's population lives in urban areas or major cities and 40% in rural zones.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Urban population (% of the population) – Poland |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=PL |access-date=13 March 2022 |website=[[World Bank]] |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531090338/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=PL |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, 50.2% of Poles resided in [[detached dwelling]]s and 44.3% in apartments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Distribution of population by degree of urbanisation, dwelling type and income group – EU-SILC survey |url=https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/submitViewTableAction.do |access-date=6 April 2022 |website=European Statistical Office "Eurostat" |publisher=European Commission |archive-date=21 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121154457/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/eurostat/web/main/help/faq/data-services |url-status=live }}</ref> The most populous administrative province or state is the [[Masovian Voivodeship]] and the most populous city is the capital, [[Warsaw]], at 1.8 million inhabitants with a further 2–3 million people living in its [[Warsaw metropolitan area|metropolitan area]].<ref>[http://www.mrr.gov.pl/polityka_regionalna/SRPW_2020/Dokumenty%20i%20ekspertyzy/Documents/17d0ccd2c3f14ed3893369e56d59849cMarkowski.pdf Funkcje Metropolitalne Pięciu Stolic Województw Wschodnich] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327120341/http://www.mrr.gov.pl/polityka_regionalna/SRPW_2020/Dokumenty%20i%20ekspertyzy/Documents/17d0ccd2c3f14ed3893369e56d59849cMarkowski.pdf |date=27 March 2009 }} – [[:pl:Tadeusz Markowski (ekonomista)|Markowski]]</ref><ref>[https://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2003/2003WUPHighlights.pdf ''World Urbanization Prospects''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716184129/http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2003/2003WUPHighlights.pdf |date=16 July 2012 }} – United Nations – Department of Economic and Social Affairs / Population Division, The 2003 Revision (data of 2000)</ref><ref>[[Eurostat]], [http://www.urbanaudit.org/DataAccessed.aspx Urban Audit database] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406130058/http://www.urbanaudit.org/DataAccessed.aspx |date=6 April 2011 }}, accessed on 12 March 2009. Data for 2004.</ref> The [[Katowice urban area|metropolitan area]] of [[Katowice]] is the largest urban [[conurbation]] with a population between 2.7 million<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Wendell |date=2013 |title=Major Metropolitan Areas in Europe |url=http://www.newgeography.com/content/003879-major-metropolitan-areas-europe |website=New Geography |publisher=Joel Kotkin and Praxis Strategy Group |access-date=14 May 2021 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531075700/http://www.newgeography.com/content/003879-major-metropolitan-areas-europe |url-status=live }}</ref> and 5.3 million residents.<ref>[[European Spatial Planning Observation Network]], [https://www.espon.eu/sites/default/files/attachments/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf Study on Urban Functions (Project 1.4.3)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002318/http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf |date=24 September 2015 }}, Final Report, Chapter 3, (ESPON, 2007)</ref> Population density is higher in the south of Poland and mostly concentrated between the cities of [[Wrocław]] and [[Kraków]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jażdżewska |first=Iwona |date=September 2017 |title=Changes in population density of the urban population in southern Poland in the period 1950–2011 against the background of political and economic transformation |journal=Miscellanea Geographica |publisher=Sciendo |volume=21 |pages=107–113 |doi=10.1515/mgrsd-2017-0017 |issn=2084-6118 |s2cid=134111630 |doi-access=free |number=3}}</ref>


In the [[Polish census of 2011|2011 Polish census]], 37,310,341 people reported [[Polish people|Polish]] identity, 846,719 [[Silesians|Silesian]], 232,547 [[Kashubians|Kashubian]] and 147,814 [[German minority in Poland|German]]. Other [[Polish people#National minorities|identities]] were reported by 163,363 people (0.41%) and 521,470 people (1.35%) did not specify any nationality.<ref name="Central Statistical Office 2015">{{Cite book |url=https://stat.gov.pl/files/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5670/22/1/1/struktura_narodowo-etniczna.pdf |title=Struktura narodowo-etniczna, językowa i wyznaniowa ludności Polski. Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2011 |publisher=Central Statistical Office |year=2015 |isbn=978-83-7027-597-6 |page=36 |language=pl |trans-title=National-ethnic, linguistic and religious structure of Poland. National Census of Population and Housing 2011}}</ref> Official population statistics do not include migrant workers who do not possess a permanent residency permit or [[Karta Polaka]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Statistics Poland |url=https://stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/p_inter_migration_stat_system_in_poland.pdf |title=The Concept of the International Migration. Statistics System in Poland. |date=n.d. |publisher=Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS |page=5 |language=en}}</ref> More than 1.7 million [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] citizens worked legally in Poland in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Filling Poland's labour gap |work=Poland Today |url=https://poland-today.pl/filling-polands-labour-gap/ |access-date=24 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144010/https://poland-today.pl/filling-polands-labour-gap/ |archive-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> The number of migrants is rising steadily; the country approved 504,172 work permits for foreigners in 2021 alone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Departament Rynku Pracy MRPiPS |date=2021 |title=Zezwolenia na pracę cudzoziemców |url=https://psz.praca.gov.pl/-/8180075-zezwolenia-na-prace-cudzoziemcow |website=psz.praca.gov.pl |language=pl}}</ref>
In the [[Polish census of 2011|2011 Polish census]], 37,310,341 people reported [[Polish people|Polish]] identity, 846,719 [[Silesians|Silesian]], 232,547 [[Kashubians|Kashubian]] and 147,814 [[German minority in Poland|German]]. Other [[Polish people#National minorities|identities]] were reported by 163,363 people (0.41%) and 521,470 people (1.35%) did not specify any nationality.<ref name="Central Statistical Office 2015"/> Official population statistics do not include migrant workers who do not possess a permanent residency permit or [[Karta Polaka]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Statistics Poland |url=https://stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/p_inter_migration_stat_system_in_poland.pdf |title=The Concept of the International Migration. Statistics System in Poland. |date=n.d. |publisher=Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS |page=5 |language=en |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-date=28 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128120002/https://stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/p_inter_migration_stat_system_in_poland.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> More than 1.7 million [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] citizens worked legally in Poland in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Filling Poland's labour gap |work=Poland Today |url=https://poland-today.pl/filling-polands-labour-gap/ |access-date=24 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144010/https://poland-today.pl/filling-polands-labour-gap/ |archive-date=12 May 2022}}</ref> The number of migrants is rising steadily; the country approved 504,172 work permits for foreigners in 2021 alone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Departament Rynku Pracy MRPiPS |date=2021 |title=Zezwolenia na pracę cudzoziemców |url=https://psz.praca.gov.pl/-/8180075-zezwolenia-na-prace-cudzoziemcow |website=psz.praca.gov.pl |language=pl |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531072214/https://psz.praca.gov.pl/-/8180075-zezwolenia-na-prace-cudzoziemcow |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{Largest cities
{{Largest cities
| country = Poland
| country = Poland
| stat_ref = Statistics Poland (GUS) 2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Informacja o wynikach Narodowego Spisu Powszechnego Ludności i Mieszkań 2021 na poziomie województw, powiatów i gmin |url=https://stat.gov.pl/spisy-powszechne/nsp-2021/nsp-2021-wyniki-wstepne/informacja-o-wynikach-narodowego-spisu-powszechnego-ludnosci-i-mieszkan-2021-na-poziomie-wojewodztw-powiatow-i-gmin,8,1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173954/https://stat.gov.pl/spisy-powszechne/nsp-2021/nsp-2021-wyniki-wstepne/informacja-o-wynikach-narodowego-spisu-powszechnego-ludnosci-i-mieszkan-2021-na-poziomie-wojewodztw-powiatow-i-gmin,8,1.html |archive-date=20 September 2022 |access-date=21 September 2022 |website=stat.gov.pl}}</ref> and GUS BDL 2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=GUS – Bank Danych Lokalnych |url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/podgrup/temat |website=bdl.stat.gov.pl}}</ref>
| stat_ref = Statistics Poland (GUS) 2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Informacja o wynikach Narodowego Spisu Powszechnego Ludności i Mieszkań 2021 na poziomie województw, powiatów i gmin |url=https://stat.gov.pl/spisy-powszechne/nsp-2021/nsp-2021-wyniki-wstepne/informacja-o-wynikach-narodowego-spisu-powszechnego-ludnosci-i-mieszkan-2021-na-poziomie-wojewodztw-powiatow-i-gmin,8,1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173954/https://stat.gov.pl/spisy-powszechne/nsp-2021/nsp-2021-wyniki-wstepne/informacja-o-wynikach-narodowego-spisu-powszechnego-ludnosci-i-mieszkan-2021-na-poziomie-wojewodztw-powiatow-i-gmin,8,1.html |archive-date=20 September 2022 |access-date=21 September 2022 |website=stat.gov.pl}}</ref> and GUS BDL 2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=GUS – Bank Danych Lokalnych |url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/podgrup/temat |website=bdl.stat.gov.pl |access-date=21 September 2022 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922004152/https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/podgrup/temat |url-status=live }}</ref>
| div_name = Voivodeship
| div_name = Voivodeship


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[[File:Dolina Jadwigi znak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|''Dolina Jadwigi''—a [[bilingual]] Polish-[[Kashubian language|Kashubian]] road sign with the village name]]
[[File:Dolina Jadwigi znak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|''Dolina Jadwigi''—a [[bilingual]] Polish-[[Kashubian language|Kashubian]] road sign with the village name]]


[[Polish language|Polish]] is the [[official language|official]] and predominant spoken language in Poland, and is one of the official [[languages of the European Union]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mori |first=Laura |url={{GBurl|id=upF5DwAAQBAJ|dq=polish+official+language+poland+and+European+Union|p=295}} |title=Observing eurolects corpus analysis of linguistic variation in EU law |date=2018 |publisher=John Benjamins Publishing Company |isbn=978-90-272-0170-6 |location=Philadelphia |page=295}}</ref> It is also a [[second language]] in parts of neighbouring [[Lithuania]], where it is taught in Polish-minority schools.<ref>{{cite act |url=http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?NT=157&CM=2&DF=18/04/02&CL=ENG |title=Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities |index=157 |type=Treaty |legislature=Council of Europe |date=1 February 1995 |access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lazdiņa |first1=Sanita |url={{GBurl|id=LQ92DwAAQBAJ|q=polish+taught+in+schools+in+lithuania|p=164}} |title=Multilingualism in the Baltic States: Societal Discourses and Contact Phenomena |last2=Marten |first2=Heiko F. |date=2018 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-137-56914-1}}</ref> Contemporary Poland is a linguistically [[homogeneous]] nation, with 97% of respondents declaring Polish as their mother tongue.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Natalia Kucirkova |url={{GBurl|id=sUAlDwAAQBAJ|dq=polish+mother+tongue+97+percent|p=139}} |title=The Routledge international handbook of early literacy education |last2=Catherine E Snow |last3=Vibeke Grøver |last4=Catherine McBride |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-138-78788-9 |location=New York |page=139}}</ref> There are currently 15 minority languages in Poland,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Act of 6 January 2005 on national and ethnic minorities and on the regional languages |url=http://ksng.gugik.gov.pl/english/files/act_on_national_minorities.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306175740/http://ksng.gugik.gov.pl/english/files/act_on_national_minorities.pdf |archive-date=6 March 2021 |access-date=6 April 2020 |website=GUGiK.gov.pl |publisher=Główny Urząd Geodezji i Kartografii (Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography)}}</ref> including one recognised regional language, [[Kashubian language|Kashubian]], which is spoken by approximately 100,000 people on a daily basis in the northern regions of [[Kashubia]] and [[Pomerania]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Michna |first1=Ewa |url={{GBurl|id=kIvgDwAAQBAJ|dq=kashubian+regional+language+kashubia+pomerania|p=16}} |title=Identity Strategies of Stateless Ethnic Minority Groups in Contemporary Poland |last2=Warmińska |first2=Katarzyna |date=2020 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-41575-4 |location=Cham |page=16}}</ref> Poland also recognises [[Bilingual communes in Poland|secondary administrative languages or auxiliary languages in bilingual municipalities]], where bilingual signs and placenames are commonplace.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 5 kwietnia 2017 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy o mniejszościach narodowych i etnicznych oraz o języku regionalnym |url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20170000823 |website=isap.sejm.gov.pl}}</ref> According to the [[Centre for Public Opinion Research]], around 32% of Polish citizens declared knowledge of the English language in 2015.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2016 |title=O wyjazdach zagranicznych i znajomości języków obcych. |url=https://cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2016/K_005_16.PDF |journal=CBOS Komunikat z Badań |language=pl |issue=5 |page=13 |issn=2353-5822 |access-date=15 March 2022}}</ref>
[[Polish language|Polish]] is the [[official language|official]] and predominant spoken language in Poland, and is one of the official [[languages of the European Union]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mori |first=Laura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=upF5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA295&dq=%22polish%2Bofficial%2Blanguage%2Bpoland%2Band%2BEuropean%2BUnion%22 |title=Observing eurolects corpus analysis of linguistic variation in EU law |date=2018 |publisher=John Benjamins Publishing Company |isbn=978-90-272-0170-6 |location=Philadelphia |page=295 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180503/https://books.google.com/books?id=upF5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA295&dq=%22polish+official+language+poland+and+European+Union%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is also a [[second language]] in parts of neighbouring [[Lithuania]], where it is taught in Polish-minority schools.<ref>{{cite act |url=http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?NT=157&CM=2&DF=18/04/02&CL=ENG |title=Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities |index=157 |type=Treaty |legislature=Council of Europe |date=1 February 1995 |access-date=15 September 2021 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016045738/http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?NT=157&CM=2&DF=18%2F04%2F02&CL=ENG |date=16 October 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lazdiņa |first1=Sanita |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQ92DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA164&q=polish%2Btaught%2Bin%2Bschools%2Bin%2Blithuania |title=Multilingualism in the Baltic States: Societal Discourses and Contact Phenomena |last2=Marten |first2=Heiko F. |date=2018 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-137-56914-1 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235928/https://books.google.com/books?id=LQ92DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA164&q=polish%2Btaught%2Bin%2Bschools%2Bin%2Blithuania |url-status=live }}</ref> Contemporary Poland is a linguistically [[homogeneous]] nation, with 97% of respondents declaring Polish as their mother tongue.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Natalia Kucirkova |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sUAlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA139&dq=%22polish%2Bmother%2Btongue%2B97%2Bpercent%22 |title=The Routledge international handbook of early literacy education |last2=Catherine E Snow |last3=Vibeke Grøver |last4=Catherine McBride |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-138-78788-9 |location=New York |page=139 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180455/https://books.google.com/books?id=sUAlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA139&dq=%22polish+mother+tongue+97+percent%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> There are currently 15 minority languages in Poland,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Act of 6 January 2005 on national and ethnic minorities and on the regional languages |url=http://ksng.gugik.gov.pl/english/files/act_on_national_minorities.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306175740/http://ksng.gugik.gov.pl/english/files/act_on_national_minorities.pdf |archive-date=6 March 2021 |access-date=6 April 2020 |website=GUGiK.gov.pl |publisher=Główny Urząd Geodezji i Kartografii (Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography)}}</ref> including one recognised regional language, [[Kashubian language|Kashubian]], which is spoken by approximately 100,000 people on a daily basis in the northern regions of [[Kashubia]] and [[Pomerania]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Michna |first1=Ewa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kIvgDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA16&dq=%22kashubian%2Bregional%2Blanguage%2Bkashubia%2Bpomerania%22 |title=Identity Strategies of Stateless Ethnic Minority Groups in Contemporary Poland |last2=Warmińska |first2=Katarzyna |date=2020 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-41575-4 |location=Cham |page=16 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180500/https://books.google.com/books?id=kIvgDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA16&dq=%22kashubian+regional+language+kashubia+pomerania%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Poland also recognises [[Bilingual communes in Poland|secondary administrative languages or auxiliary languages in bilingual municipalities]], where bilingual signs and placenames are commonplace.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 5 kwietnia 2017 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy o mniejszościach narodowych i etnicznych oraz o języku regionalnym |url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20170000823 |website=isap.sejm.gov.pl |access-date=11 December 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702055920/https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20170000823 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the [[Centre for Public Opinion Research]], around 32% of Polish citizens declared knowledge of the English language in 2015.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2016 |title=O wyjazdach zagranicznych i znajomości języków obcych. |url=https://cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2016/K_005_16.PDF |journal=CBOS Komunikat z Badań |language=pl |issue=5 |page=13 |issn=2353-5822 |access-date=15 March 2022 |archive-date=16 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216121343/https://cbos.pl/SPISKOM.POL/2016/K_005_16.PDF |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Religion ===
=== Religion ===
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According to the 2021 census, 71.3% of all Polish citizens adhere to the [[Roman Catholic Church in Poland|Roman Catholic Church]], with 6.9% identifying as having no religion and 20.6% refusing to answer.<ref name="Census 2021" />
According to the 2021 census, 71.3% of all Polish citizens adhere to the [[Roman Catholic Church in Poland|Roman Catholic Church]], with 6.9% identifying as having no religion and 20.6% refusing to answer.<ref name="Census 2021" />


Poland is one of the [[Religion in Europe|most religious countries in Europe]], where Roman Catholicism remains a part of national identity and Polish-born [[Pope John Paul II]] is widely revered.<ref name="Rocca 2022">{{Cite news |last1=Rocca |first1=Francis X. |last2=Ojewska |first2=Natalia |date=19 February 2022 |title=In Traditionally Catholic Poland, the Young Are Leaving the Church |language=en-US |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-old-school-catholic-poland-youth-are-leaving-the-church-11645263383 |access-date=23 October 2023 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Graf Strachwitz |first=Rupert |url={{GBurl|id=ykj2DwAAQBAJ|dq=poland+one+of+most+religious+Catholic+national+identity|pg=PT184}} |title=Religious communities and civil society in Europe |date=2020 |publisher=De Gruyter Oldenburg |isbn=978-3-11-067299-2 |volume=II |location=Berlin |page=177}}</ref> In 2015, 61.6% of respondents outlined that religion is of high or very high importance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Infographic – Religiousness of Polish inhabitants |url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/infographics-and-widgets/infographics/infographic-religiousness-of-polish-inhabitiants,4,1.html |access-date=13 March 2022 |publisher=Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny)}}</ref> However, church attendance has greatly decreased in recent years; only 28% of Catholics attended [[Mass (liturgy)|mass]] weekly in 2021, down from around half in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coppen |first=Luke |date=18 January 2023 |title=How steep is Poland's drop in Mass attendance? |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/how-steep-is-polands-drop-in-mass-attendance |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=[[The Pillar]] |language=en}}</ref> According to ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', "Of [the] more than 100 countries studied by the ''[[Pew Research Center]]'' in 2018, Poland was [[Secularization|secularizing]] the fastest, as measured by the disparity between the religiosity of young people and their elders."<ref name="Rocca 2022" />
Poland is one of the [[Religion in Europe|most religious countries in Europe]], where Roman Catholicism remains a part of national identity and Polish-born [[Pope John Paul II]] is widely revered.<ref name="Rocca 2022">{{Cite news |last1=Rocca |first1=Francis X. |last2=Ojewska |first2=Natalia |date=19 February 2022 |title=In Traditionally Catholic Poland, the Young Are Leaving the Church |language=en-US |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-old-school-catholic-poland-youth-are-leaving-the-church-11645263383 |access-date=23 October 2023 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014092223/https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-old-school-catholic-poland-youth-are-leaving-the-church-11645263383 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Graf Strachwitz |first=Rupert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ykj2DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT184&dq=%22poland%2Bone%2Bof%2Bmost%2Breligious%2BCatholic%2Bnational%2Bidentity%22 |title=Religious communities and civil society in Europe |date=2020 |publisher=De Gruyter Oldenburg |isbn=978-3-11-067299-2 |volume=II |location=Berlin |page=177 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180456/https://books.google.com/books?id=ykj2DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT184&dq=%22poland+one+of+most+religious+Catholic+national+identity%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, 61.6% of respondents outlined that religion is of high or very high importance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Infographic – Religiousness of Polish inhabitants |url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/infographics-and-widgets/infographics/infographic-religiousness-of-polish-inhabitiants,4,1.html |access-date=13 March 2022 |publisher=Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny) |archive-date=9 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309160430/https://stat.gov.pl/en/infographics-and-widgets/infographics/infographic-religiousness-of-polish-inhabitiants,4,1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, church attendance has greatly decreased in recent years; only 28% of Catholics attended [[Mass (liturgy)|mass]] weekly in 2021, down from around half in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coppen |first=Luke |date=18 January 2023 |title=How steep is Poland's drop in Mass attendance? |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/how-steep-is-polands-drop-in-mass-attendance |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=[[The Pillar]] |language=en |archive-date=18 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018193907/https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/how-steep-is-polands-drop-in-mass-attendance |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', "Of [the] more than 100 countries studied by the ''[[Pew Research Center]]'' in 2018, Poland was [[Secularization|secularizing]] the fastest, as measured by the disparity between the religiosity of young people and their elders."<ref name="Rocca 2022" />


Freedom of religion in Poland is guaranteed by the Constitution, and Poland's [[concordat]] with the [[Holy See]] enables the teaching of religion in public schools.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ramet |first1=Sabrina P. |url={{GBurl|id=hopjDQAAQBAJ|dq=religion+in+school+poland+constitution|p=147}} |title=Religion, Politics, and Values in Poland: Continuity and Change Since 1989 |last2=Borowik |first2=Irena |date=26 October 2016 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-1-137-43751-8 |location=New York |page=147}}</ref> Historically, the Polish state maintained a high degree of [[Warsaw Confederation|religious tolerance]] and provided asylum for refugees fleeing religious persecution in other parts of Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Laursen |first1=John Christian |url={{GBurl|id=AnYSxFMq48gC|dq=poland+safe+haven+religious+persecution+refugees|p=103}} |title=Beyond the Persecuting Society: Religious Toleration Before the Enlightenment |last2=Nederman |first2=Cary J. |date=2011 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0-8122-1567-0 |location=Philadelphia |page=103}}</ref> Poland hosted Europe's largest [[History of the Jews in Poland|Jewish diaspora]], and the country was a centre of [[Ashkenazi Jewish]] culture and traditional learning until the [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Marcus |first=Joseph |url={{GBurl|id=oEfDKjjX5AEC|dq=Poland+centre+of+jewish+culture|pg=PR7}} |title=Social and Political History of the Jews in Poland 1919–1939 |date=2011 |publisher=De Gruyter Mouton |isbn=978-3-11-083868-8 |location=Boston |page=7}}</ref>
Freedom of religion in Poland is guaranteed by the Constitution, and Poland's [[concordat]] with the [[Holy See]] enables the teaching of religion in public schools.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ramet |first1=Sabrina P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hopjDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA147&dq=%22religion%2Bin%2Bschool%2Bpoland%2Bconstitution%22 |title=Religion, Politics, and Values in Poland: Continuity and Change Since 1989 |last2=Borowik |first2=Irena |date=26 October 2016 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-1-137-43751-8 |location=New York |page=147 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180448/https://books.google.com/books?id=hopjDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA147&dq=%22religion+in+school+poland+constitution%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Historically, the Polish state maintained a high degree of [[Warsaw Confederation|religious tolerance]] and provided asylum for refugees fleeing religious persecution in other parts of Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Laursen |first1=John Christian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AnYSxFMq48gC&pg=PA103&dq=%22poland%2Bsafe%2Bhaven%2Breligious%2Bpersecution%2Brefugees%22 |title=Beyond the Persecuting Society: Religious Toleration Before the Enlightenment |last2=Nederman |first2=Cary J. |date=2011 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0-8122-1567-0 |location=Philadelphia |page=103 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180450/https://books.google.com/books?id=AnYSxFMq48gC&pg=PA103&dq=%22poland+safe+haven+religious+persecution+refugees%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Poland hosted Europe's largest [[History of the Jews in Poland|Jewish diaspora]], and the country was a centre of [[Ashkenazi Jewish]] culture and traditional learning until the [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Marcus |first=Joseph |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oEfDKjjX5AEC&pg=PR7&dq=%22Poland%2Bcentre%2Bof%2Bjewish%2Bculture%22 |title=Social and Political History of the Jews in Poland 1919–1939 |date=2011 |publisher=De Gruyter Mouton |isbn=978-3-11-083868-8 |location=Boston |page=7 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180503/https://books.google.com/books?id=oEfDKjjX5AEC&pg=PR7&dq=%22Poland+centre+of+jewish+culture%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Contemporary religious minorities include [[Polish Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christians]], [[Protestants]]—including [[Lutherans]] of the [[Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland|Evangelical-Augsburg Church]], [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]] in the [[Pentecostal Church in Poland]], [[Adventists]] in the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]], and other smaller [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] denominations—[[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholics]], [[Mariavite Church|Mariavites]], [[History of the Jews in Poland|Jews]], [[Islam in Poland|Muslims]] ([[Tatars]]), and [[Modern Paganism|neopagans]], some of whom are members of the [[Native Polish Church]].<ref name="Central Statistical Office 2008" />
Contemporary religious minorities include [[Polish Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christians]], [[Protestants]]—including [[Lutherans]] of the [[Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland|Evangelical-Augsburg Church]], [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]] in the [[Pentecostal Church in Poland]], [[Adventists]] in the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]], and other smaller [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] denominations—[[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholics]], [[Mariavite Church|Mariavites]], [[History of the Jews in Poland|Jews]], [[Islam in Poland|Muslims]] ([[Tatars]]), and [[Modern Paganism|neopagans]], some of whom are members of the [[Native Polish Church]].<ref name="Central Statistical Office 2008" />


[[Pilgrimage]]s to the [[Jasna Góra Monastery]], a shrine [[The Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland#History|dedicated]] to the [[Black Madonna of Częstochowa|Black Madonna]], take place annually.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brabbs |first=Derry |url={{GBurl|id=PNkGEAAAQBAJ|dq=jasna+g%C3%B3ra+black+madonna+pilgrimage|p=116}} |title=Great Pilgrimage Sites of Europe. |date=2020 |publisher=Frances Lincoln |isbn=978-0-7112-4508-2 |location=London |page=116}}</ref>
[[Pilgrimage]]s to the [[Jasna Góra Monastery]], a shrine [[The Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland#History|dedicated]] to the [[Black Madonna of Częstochowa|Black Madonna]], take place annually.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brabbs |first=Derry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PNkGEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA116&dq=%22jasna%2Bg%25C3%25B3ra%2Bblack%2Bmadonna%2Bpilgrimage%22 |title=Great Pilgrimage Sites of Europe. |date=2020 |publisher=Frances Lincoln |isbn=978-0-7112-4508-2 |location=London |page=116 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180449/https://books.google.com/books?id=PNkGEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA116&dq=%22jasna+g%C3%B3ra+black+madonna+pilgrimage%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Health ===
=== Health ===
{{Main|Health in Poland}}
{{Main|Health in Poland}}
Medical service providers and [[hospitals]] (''szpitale'') in Poland are subordinate to the [[Ministry of Health of the Republic of Poland|Ministry of Health]]; it provides administrative oversight and scrutiny of general medical practice, and is obliged to maintain a high standard of [[hygiene]] and patient care. Poland has a [[Universal health care|universal healthcare system]] based on an all-inclusive [[Health insurance|insurance system]]; state subsidised healthcare is available to all citizens covered by the general health insurance program of the [[National Health Fund]] (NFZ). Private medical complexes exist nationwide; over 50% of the population uses both public and private sectors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niecierpliwi |url=https://www.termedia.pl/mz/Niecierpliwi,34562.html |website=www.termedia.pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 September 2018 |title=Prywatnie leczy się już ponad połowa Polaków |url=https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/wiadomosci/artykul/prywatnie-leczy-sie-juz-ponad-polowa-polakow,218,0,2416090.html#:~:text=Z%20danych%20Polskiej%20Izby%20Ubezpiecze%C5%84%20wynika%2C%20%C5%BCe%20ponad%20po%C5%82owa%20Polak%C3%B3w,Tylko%2038%20proc.}}</ref><ref name="justlanded" />
Medical service providers and [[hospitals]] (''szpitale'') in Poland are subordinate to the [[Ministry of Health of the Republic of Poland|Ministry of Health]]; it provides administrative oversight and scrutiny of general medical practice, and is obliged to maintain a high standard of [[hygiene]] and patient care. Poland has a [[Universal health care|universal healthcare system]] based on an all-inclusive [[Health insurance|insurance system]]; state subsidised healthcare is available to all citizens covered by the general health insurance program of the [[National Health Fund]] (NFZ). Private medical complexes exist nationwide; over 50% of the population uses both public and private sectors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niecierpliwi |url=https://www.termedia.pl/mz/Niecierpliwi,34562.html |website=www.termedia.pl |access-date=3 December 2020 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531133259/https://www.termedia.pl/mz/Niecierpliwi,34562.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 September 2018 |title=Prywatnie leczy się już ponad połowa Polaków |url=https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/wiadomosci/artykul/prywatnie-leczy-sie-juz-ponad-polowa-polakow,218,0,2416090.html#:~:text=Z%20danych%20Polskiej%20Izby%20Ubezpiecze%C5%84%20wynika%2C%20%C5%BCe%20ponad%20po%C5%82owa%20Polak%C3%B3w,Tylko%2038%20proc. |access-date=3 December 2020 |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601045546/https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/wiadomosci/artykul/prywatnie-leczy-sie-juz-ponad-polowa-polakow,218,0,2416090.html#:~:text=Z%20danych%20Polskiej%20Izby%20Ubezpiecze%C5%84%20wynika%2C%20%C5%BCe%20ponad%20po%C5%82owa%20Polak%C3%B3w,Tylko%2038%20proc. |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="justlanded" />


According to the [[HDI|Human Development Report]] from 2020, the average life expectancy at birth is 79 years (around 75 years for an infant male and 83 years for an infant female);<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nations |first=United |date=2020 |title=Poland – Human Development Indicators |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/POL |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |access-date=16 December 2020 |website=Human Development Reports}}</ref> the country has a low [[infant mortality rate]] (4 per 1,000 births).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.IMRT.IN |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref> In 2019, the principal cause of death was [[ischemic heart disease]]; diseases of the [[circulatory system]] accounted for 45% of all deaths.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poland: Country Health Profile 2019 &#124; READ online |url=https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/poland-country-health-profile-2019_297e4b92-en |website=OECD iLibrary}}</ref> In the same year, Poland was also the 15th-largest importer of [[medications]] and pharmaceutical products.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2020 |title=Imports of Drugs and Medicines by Country |url=http://www.worldstopexports.com/international-markets-for-imported-drugs-by-country/ |website=World's Top Exports}}</ref>
According to the [[HDI|Human Development Report]] from 2020, the average life expectancy at birth is 79 years (around 75 years for an infant male and 83 years for an infant female);<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nations |first=United |date=2020 |title=Poland – Human Development Indicators |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/POL |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |access-date=16 December 2020 |website=Human Development Reports |archive-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128095417/http://www.hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/POL |url-status=live }}</ref> the country has a low [[infant mortality rate]] (4 per 1,000 births).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) &#124; Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.IMRT.IN |website=data.worldbank.org |access-date=3 December 2020 |archive-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425025221/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.IMRT.IN |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, the principal cause of death was [[ischemic heart disease]]; diseases of the [[circulatory system]] accounted for 45% of all deaths.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poland: Country Health Profile 2019 &#124; READ online |url=https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/poland-country-health-profile-2019_297e4b92-en |website=OECD iLibrary |access-date=3 December 2020 |archive-date=23 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223070948/https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/poland-country-health-profile-2019_297e4b92-en |url-status=live }}</ref> In the same year, Poland was also the 15th-largest importer of [[medications]] and pharmaceutical products.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2020 |title=Imports of Drugs and Medicines by Country |url=http://www.worldstopexports.com/international-markets-for-imported-drugs-by-country/ |website=World's Top Exports |access-date=3 December 2020 |archive-date=11 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211225831/https://www.worldstopexports.com/international-markets-for-imported-drugs-by-country/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Education ===
=== Education ===
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[[File:Jagiellonian University 05.jpg|thumb|[[Jagiellonian University]] in [[Kraków]]]]
[[File:Jagiellonian University 05.jpg|thumb|[[Jagiellonian University]] in [[Kraków]]]]


The [[Jagiellonian University]] founded in 1364 by [[Casimir III the Great|Casimir III]] in [[Kraków]] was the first institution of higher learning established in Poland, and is one of the [[List of oldest universities in continuous operation|oldest universities]] still in continuous operation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – Jagiellonian University – Jagiellonian University |url=https://en.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/about-university/history |website=en.uj.edu.pl}}</ref> Poland's [[Commission of National Education]] (''Komisja Edukacji Narodowej''), established in 1773, was the world's first state ministry of education.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jan IJ. van der Meer |url={{GBurl|id=-98Z_F7SWroC|p=233}} |title=Literary Activities and Attitudes in the Stanislavian Age in Poland (1764–1795): A Social System? |publisher=Rodopi |year=2002 |isbn=978-90-420-0933-2 |page=233 |access-date=26 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Norman Davies |url=https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0 |title=God's Playground: 1795 to the present |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-231-12819-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0/page/167 167] |oclc=660185612 |author-link=Norman Davies |url-access=registration}}</ref>
The [[Jagiellonian University]] founded in 1364 by [[Casimir III the Great|Casimir III]] in [[Kraków]] was the first institution of higher learning established in Poland, and is one of the [[List of oldest universities in continuous operation|oldest universities]] still in continuous operation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – Jagiellonian University – Jagiellonian University |url=https://en.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/about-university/history |website=en.uj.edu.pl |access-date=3 December 2020 |archive-date=13 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213000720/https://en.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/about-university/history |url-status=live }}</ref> Poland's [[Commission of National Education]] (''Komisja Edukacji Narodowej''), established in 1773, was the world's first state ministry of education.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jan IJ. van der Meer |url={{GBurl|id=-98Z_F7SWroC|p=233}} |title=Literary Activities and Attitudes in the Stanislavian Age in Poland (1764–1795): A Social System? |publisher=Rodopi |year=2002 |isbn=978-90-420-0933-2 |page=233 |access-date=26 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Norman Davies |url=https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0 |title=God's Playground: 1795 to the present |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-231-12819-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0/page/167 167] |oclc=660185612 |author-link=Norman Davies |url-access=registration}}</ref>


The framework for primary, secondary and higher tertiary education are established by the [[Ministry of National Education (Poland)|Ministry of Education and Science]]. Kindergarten attendance is optional for children aged between three and five, with one year being [[compulsory education|compulsory]] for six-year-olds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zmiany w wychowaniu przedszkolnym - Informacje - Wychowanie przedszkolne w Polsce - wiek, obowiązek, miejsce, opłaty - dlaprzedszkolaka.info |url=https://www.dlaprzedszkolaka.info/s/4146/77362-Informacje/4080018-Zmiany-w-wychowaniu-przedszkolnym.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125190653/https://www.dlaprzedszkolaka.info/s/4146/77362-Informacje/4080018-Zmiany-w-wychowaniu-przedszkolnym.htm |archive-date=25 November 2020 |access-date=3 December 2020 |website=www.dlaprzedszkolaka.info}}</ref><ref name="Sejm 2016">{{Cite web |title=Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2016 r. |url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20170000059/T/D20170059L.pdf |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=isap.sejm.gov.pl |language=pl}}</ref> Primary education traditionally begins at the age of seven, although children aged six can attend at the request of their parents or guardians.<ref name="Sejm 2016" /> Elementary school spans eight grades and secondary schooling is dependent on student preference – a four-year high school (''[[General education liceum|liceum]]''), a five-year technical school (''[[Technikum (Polish education)|technikum]]'') or various [[vocational school|vocational studies]] (''szkoła branżowa'') can be pursued by each individual pupil.<ref name="Sejm 2016" /> A liceum or technikum is concluded with a maturity exit exam (''[[matura]]''), which must be passed in order to apply for a university or other institutions of higher learning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MATURA 2020 &#124; wymagania na STUDIA &#124; jak wygląda &#124; terminy |url=https://www.otouczelnie.pl/artykul/4578/Matura-2020-i-wszystko-co-trzeba-o-niej-wiedziec |website=otouczelnie.pl}}</ref>
The framework for primary, secondary and higher tertiary education are established by the [[Ministry of National Education (Poland)|Ministry of Education and Science]]. Kindergarten attendance is optional for children aged between three and five, with one year being [[compulsory education|compulsory]] for six-year-olds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zmiany w wychowaniu przedszkolnym - Informacje - Wychowanie przedszkolne w Polsce - wiek, obowiązek, miejsce, opłaty - dlaprzedszkolaka.info |url=https://www.dlaprzedszkolaka.info/s/4146/77362-Informacje/4080018-Zmiany-w-wychowaniu-przedszkolnym.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125190653/https://www.dlaprzedszkolaka.info/s/4146/77362-Informacje/4080018-Zmiany-w-wychowaniu-przedszkolnym.htm |archive-date=25 November 2020 |access-date=3 December 2020 |website=www.dlaprzedszkolaka.info}}</ref><ref name="Sejm 2016">{{Cite web |title=Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2016 r. |url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20170000059/T/D20170059L.pdf |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=isap.sejm.gov.pl |language=pl |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110085743/http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20170000059/T/D20170059L.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Primary education traditionally begins at the age of seven, although children aged six can attend at the request of their parents or guardians.<ref name="Sejm 2016" /> Elementary school spans eight grades and secondary schooling is dependent on student preference – a four-year high school (''[[General education liceum|liceum]]''), a five-year technical school (''[[Technikum (Polish education)|technikum]]'') or various [[vocational school|vocational studies]] (''szkoła branżowa'') can be pursued by each individual pupil.<ref name="Sejm 2016" /> A liceum or technikum is concluded with a maturity exit exam (''[[matura]]''), which must be passed in order to apply for a university or other institutions of higher learning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MATURA 2020 &#124; wymagania na STUDIA &#124; jak wygląda &#124; terminy |url=https://www.otouczelnie.pl/artykul/4578/Matura-2020-i-wszystko-co-trzeba-o-niej-wiedziec |website=otouczelnie.pl}}</ref>


In Poland, there are over 500 university-level institutions,<ref>Central Statistical Office: [http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/PUBL_E_szkoly_wyzsze_2008.pdf Studenci szkół wyższych (łącznie z cudzoziemcami) na dzień 30 XI 2008.] Number of students at Poland's institutions of higher education, as of 30 November 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2012. Archived at [https://web.archive.org/web/20081028221046/http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/PUBL_maly_rocznik_statystyczny_2008.pdf Archive.org] on 28 October 2008. {{in lang|pl}}</ref> with technical, medical, economic, agricultural, pedagogical, theological, musical, maritime and military faculties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Study in Poland |url=https://studies.info/en/country/poland |access-date=27 March 2019 |website=studies.info}}</ref> The [[University of Warsaw]] and [[Warsaw Polytechnic]], the [[University of Wrocław]], [[Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań]] and the [[Gdańsk University of Technology|University of Technology in Gdańsk]] are among the most prominent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ranking Uczelni Akademickich – Ranking Szkół Wyższych PERSPEKTYWY 2019 |url=http://ranking.perspektywy.pl/2019/ranking-uczelni-akademickich |website=ranking.perspektywy.pl}}</ref> There are three conventional [[academic degree]]s in Poland – ''[[Licentiate (degree)|licencjat]]'' or ''[[Bachelor's degree|inżynier]]'' (first cycle qualification), ''[[magister (degree)|magister]]'' (second cycle qualification) and ''[[PhD|doktor]]'' (third cycle qualification).<ref name="OECD 2009" /> In 2018, the [[Programme for International Student Assessment]], coordinated by the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]], ranked Poland's educational system higher than the OECD average; the study showed that students in Poland perform better academically than in most OECD countries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Results from PISA 2018 |url=https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/PISA2018_CN_POL.pdf |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=OECD}}</ref>
In Poland, there are over 500 university-level institutions,<ref>Central Statistical Office: [http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/PUBL_E_szkoly_wyzsze_2008.pdf Studenci szkół wyższych (łącznie z cudzoziemcami) na dzień 30 XI 2008.] Number of students at Poland's institutions of higher education, as of 30 November 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2012. Archived at [https://web.archive.org/web/20081028221046/http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/PUBL_maly_rocznik_statystyczny_2008.pdf Archive.org] on 28 October 2008. {{in lang|pl}}</ref> with technical, medical, economic, agricultural, pedagogical, theological, musical, maritime and military faculties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Study in Poland |url=https://studies.info/en/country/poland |access-date=27 March 2019 |website=studies.info}}</ref> The [[University of Warsaw]] and [[Warsaw Polytechnic]], the [[University of Wrocław]], [[Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań]] and the [[Gdańsk University of Technology|University of Technology in Gdańsk]] are among the most prominent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ranking Uczelni Akademickich – Ranking Szkół Wyższych PERSPEKTYWY 2019 |url=http://ranking.perspektywy.pl/2019/ranking-uczelni-akademickich |website=ranking.perspektywy.pl}}</ref> There are three conventional [[academic degree]]s in Poland – ''[[Licentiate (degree)|licencjat]]'' or ''[[Bachelor's degree|inżynier]]'' (first cycle qualification), ''[[magister (degree)|magister]]'' (second cycle qualification) and ''[[PhD|doktor]]'' (third cycle qualification).<ref name="OECD 2009" /> In 2018, the [[Programme for International Student Assessment]], coordinated by the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]], ranked Poland's educational system higher than the OECD average; the study showed that students in Poland perform better academically than in most OECD countries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Results from PISA 2018 |url=https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/PISA2018_CN_POL.pdf |access-date=30 June 2022 |publisher=OECD}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:09, 28 March 2024

Republic of Poland
Rzeczpospolita Polska (Polish)
Anthem: Mazurek Dąbrowskiego
"Poland Is Not Yet Lost"
(Dąbrowski's Mazurka)
Location of Poland (dark green)

– in Europe (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (green)  –  [Legend]

Capital
and largest city
Warsaw
52°13′N 21°02′E / 52.217°N 21.033°E / 52.217; 21.033
Official languagePolish[1]
Ethnic groups
(2011)[2]
  • 98% Poles
  • 2% other / undeclared
Religion
(2021[3])
    • 72.2% Christianity
  • 6.9% no religion
  • 0.4% other
  • 20.5% unanswered
Demonym(s)
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary republic
• President
Andrzej Duda
Donald Tusk
LegislatureParliament
Senate
Sejm
Formation
c. 960
14 April 966
18 April 1025
1 July 1569
24 October 1795
11 November 1918
17 September 1939
22 July 1944
31 December 1989[6]
Area
• Total
312,696 km2 (120,733 sq mi)[8][9] (69th)
• Water (%)
1.48 (2015)[7]
Population
• 2022 census
Neutral decrease 38,036,118[10] (38th)
• Density
122/km2 (316.0/sq mi) (75th)
GDP (PPP)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $1.712 trillion[11] (20th)
• Per capita
Increase $45,538[11] (39th)
GDP (nominal)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $842.172 billion[11] (21st)
• Per capita
Increase $22,393[11] (45th)
Gini (2020)Positive decrease 27.2[12]
low inequality
HDI (2022)Increase 0.881[13]
very high (36th)
CurrencyZłoty (PLN)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+2 (CEST)
Date formatdd.mm.yyyy (CE)
Drives onright
Calling code+48
ISO 3166 codePL
Internet TLD.pl [a]
  1. Also .eu, shared with other European Union member states.

Poland,[c] officially the Republic of Poland,[d] is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative voivodeship provinces, covering an area of 312,696 km2 (120,733 sq mi).[14] Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous member state of the European Union. Warsaw is the nation's capital and largest metropolis. Other major cities include Kraków, Wrocław, Łódź, Poznań, and Gdańsk.

Poland has a temperate transitional climate, and its territory traverses the Central European Plain, extending from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south. The longest Polish river is the Vistula, and Poland's highest point is Mount Rysy, situated in the Tatra mountain range of the Carpathians. The country is bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast,[e] Belarus and Ukraine to the east, Slovakia and the Czech Republic to the south, and Germany to the west. It also shares maritime boundaries with Denmark and Sweden.

Prehistoric human activity on Polish soil dates to the Lower Paleolithic, with continuous settlement since the end of the Last Glacial Period. Culturally diverse throughout late antiquity, in the early medieval period the region became inhabited by the tribal Polans, who gave Poland its name. The process of establishing proper statehood, which began in 966, coincided with the conversion of a pagan ruler of the Polans to Christianity, under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church. The Kingdom of Poland emerged in 1025, and in 1569 cemented its long-standing association with Lithuania, thus forming the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. At the time, the Commonwealth was one of the great powers of Europe, with a uniquely liberal political system which adopted Europe's first modern constitution in 1791.

With the passing of the prosperous Polish Golden Age, the country was partitioned by neighbouring states at the end of the 18th century. Poland regained its independence in 1918 as the Second Polish Republic and successfully defended it in the Polish–Soviet War from 1919 to 1921. In September 1939, the invasion of Poland by Germany and the Soviet Union marked the beginning of World War II, which resulted in the Holocaust and millions of Polish casualties. Forced into the Eastern Bloc in the global Cold War, the Polish People's Republic was a founding signatory of the Warsaw Pact. Through the emergence and contributions of the Solidarity movement, the communist government was dissolved and Poland re-established itself as a democratic state in 1989.

Poland is a parliamentary republic, with its bicameral legislature comprising the Sejm and the Senate. It is a developed market and a high-income economy. Considered a middle power, Poland has the sixth-largest economy in the European Union by GDP (nominal) and the fifth-largest by GDP (PPP). It provides a very high standard of living, safety, and economic freedom, as well as free university education and a universal health care system. The country has 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 15 of which are cultural. Poland is a founding member state of the United Nations, as well as a member of the World Trade Organization, OECD, NATO, and the European Union (including the Schengen Area).

Etymology

The native Polish name for Poland is Polska.[15] The name is derived from the Polans, a West Slavic tribe who inhabited the Warta River basin of present-day Greater Poland region (6th–8th century CE).[16] The tribe's name stems from the Proto-Slavic noun pole meaning field, which in-itself originates from the Proto-Indo-European word *pleh₂- indicating flatland.[17] The etymology alludes to the topography of the region and the flat landscape of Greater Poland.[18][19] During the Middle Ages, the Latin form Polonia was widely used throughout Europe.[20]

The country's alternative archaic name is Lechia and its root syllable remains in official use in several languages, notably Hungarian, Lithuanian, and Persian.[21] The exonym possibly derives from either Lech, a legendary ruler of the Lechites, or from the Lendians, a West Slavic tribe that dwelt on the south-easternmost edge of Lesser Poland.[22][23] The origin of the tribe's name lies in the Old Polish word lęda (plain).[24] Initially, both names Lechia and Polonia were used interchangeably when referring to Poland by chroniclers during the Middle Ages.[25]

History

Prehistory and protohistory

A reconstruction of a Bronze Age, Lusatian culture settlement in Biskupin, 8th century BC

The first Stone Age archaic humans and Homo erectus species settled what was to become Poland approximately 500,000 years ago, though the ensuing hostile climate prevented early humans from founding more permanent encampments.[26] The arrival of Homo sapiens and anatomically modern humans coincided with the climatic discontinuity at the end of the Last Glacial Period (Northern Polish glaciation 10,000 BC), when Poland became habitable.[27] Neolithic excavations indicated broad-ranging development in that era; the earliest evidence of European cheesemaking (5500 BC) was discovered in Polish Kuyavia,[28] and the Bronocice pot is incised with the earliest known depiction of what may be a wheeled vehicle (3400 BC).[29]

The period spanning the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age (1300 BC–500 BC) was marked by an increase in population density, establishment of palisaded settlements (gords) and the expansion of Lusatian culture.[30][31] A significant archaeological find from the protohistory of Poland is a fortified settlement at Biskupin, attributed to the Lusatian culture of the Late Bronze Age (mid-8th century BC).[32]

Throughout antiquity (400 BC–500 AD), many distinct ancient populations inhabited the territory of present-day Poland, notably Celtic, Scythian, Germanic, Sarmatian, Baltic and Slavic tribes.[33] Furthermore, archaeological findings confirmed the presence of Roman Legions sent to protect the amber trade.[34] The Polish tribes emerged following the second wave of the Migration Period around the 6th century AD;[20] they were Slavic and may have included assimilated remnants of peoples that earlier dwelled in the area.[35][36] Beginning in the early 10th century, the Polans would come to dominate other Lechitic tribes in the region, initially forming a tribal federation and later a centralised monarchial state.[37]

Kingdom of Poland

Poland under the rule of Mieszko I, whose acceptance of Christianity under the auspices of the Roman Church and the Baptism of Poland marked the beginning of statehood in 966

Poland began to form into a recognisable unitary and territorial entity around the middle of the 10th century under the Piast dynasty.[38] In 966, ruler of the Polans Mieszko I accepted Christianity under the auspices of the Roman Church with the Baptism of Poland.[39] In 968, a missionary bishopric was established in Poznań. An incipit titled Dagome iudex first defined Poland's geographical boundaries with its capital in Gniezno and affirmed that its monarchy was under the protection of the Apostolic See.[40] The country's early origins were described by Gallus Anonymus in Gesta principum Polonorum, the oldest Polish chronicle.[41] An important national event of the period was the martyrdom of Saint Adalbert, who was killed by Prussian pagans in 997 and whose remains were reputedly bought back for their weight in gold by Mieszko's successor, Bolesław I the Brave.[40]

In 1000, at the Congress of Gniezno, Bolesław obtained the right of investiture from Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor, who assented to the creation of additional bishoprics and an archdioceses in Gniezno.[40] Three new dioceses were subsequently established in Kraków, Kołobrzeg, and Wrocław.[42] Also, Otto bestowed upon Bolesław royal regalia and a replica of the Holy Lance, which were later used at his coronation as the first King of Poland in c. 1025, when Bolesław received permission for his coronation from Pope John XIX.[43][44] Bolesław also expanded the realm considerably by seizing parts of German Lusatia, Czech Moravia, Upper Hungary and southwestern regions of the Kievan Rus'.[45]

Casimir III the Great is the only Polish king to receive the title of Great. He built extensively during his reign, and reformed the Polish army along with the country's legal code, 1333–70.

The transition from paganism in Poland was not instantaneous and resulted in the pagan reaction of the 1030s.[46] In 1031, Mieszko II Lambert lost the title of king and fled amidst the violence.[47] The unrest led to the transfer of the capital to Kraków in 1038 by Casimir I the Restorer.[48] In 1076, Bolesław II re-instituted the office of king, but was banished in 1079 for murdering his opponent, Bishop Stanislaus.[49] In 1138, the country fragmented into five principalities when Bolesław III Wrymouth divided his lands among his sons.[22] These comprised Lesser Poland, Greater Poland, Silesia, Masovia and Sandomierz, with intermittent hold over Pomerania.[50] In 1226, Konrad I of Masovia invited the Teutonic Knights to aid in combating the Baltic Prussians; a decision that later led to centuries of warfare with the Knights.[51]

In the first half of the 13th century, Henry I the Bearded and Henry II the Pious aimed to unite the fragmented dukedoms, but the Mongol invasion and the death of Henry II in battle hindered the unification.[52][53] As a result of the devastation which followed, depopulation and the demand for craft labour spurred a migration of German and Flemish settlers into Poland, which was encouraged by the Polish dukes.[54] In 1264, the Statute of Kalisz introduced unprecedented autonomy for the Polish Jews, who came to Poland fleeing persecution elsewhere in Europe.[55]

In 1320, Władysław I the Short became the first king of a reunified Poland since Przemysł II in 1296,[56] and the first to be crowned at Wawel Cathedral in Kraków.[57] Beginning in 1333, the reign of Casimir III the Great was marked by developments in castle infrastructure, army, judiciary and diplomacy.[58][59] Under his authority, Poland transformed into a major European power; he instituted Polish rule over Ruthenia in 1340 and imposed quarantine that prevented the spread of Black Death.[60][61] In 1364, Casimir inaugurated the University of Kraków, one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Europe.[62] Upon his death in 1370, the Piast dynasty came to an end.[63] He was succeeded by his closest male relative, Louis of Anjou, who ruled Poland, Hungary and Croatia in a personal union.[64] Louis' younger daughter Jadwiga became Poland's first female monarch in 1384.[64]

The Battle of Grunwald was fought against the German Order of Teutonic Knights, and resulted in a decisive victory for the Kingdom of Poland, 15 July 1410.

In 1386, Jadwiga of Poland entered a marriage of convenience with Władysław II Jagiełło, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, thus forming the Jagiellonian dynasty and the Polish–Lithuanian union which spanned the late Middle Ages and early Modern Era.[65] The partnership between Poles and Lithuanians brought the vast multi-ethnic Lithuanian territories into Poland's sphere of influence and proved beneficial for its inhabitants, who coexisted in one of the largest European political entities of the time.[66]

In the Baltic Sea region, the struggle of Poland and Lithuania with the Teutonic Knights continued and culminated at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, where a combined Polish-Lithuanian army inflicted a decisive victory against them.[67] In 1466, after the Thirteen Years' War, king Casimir IV Jagiellon gave royal consent to the Peace of Thorn, which created the future Duchy of Prussia under Polish suzerainty and forced the Prussian rulers to pay tributes.[22] The Jagiellonian dynasty also established dynastic control over the kingdoms of Bohemia (1471 onwards) and Hungary.[68] In the south, Poland confronted the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean Tatars, and in the east helped Lithuania to combat Russia.[22]

Poland was developing as a feudal state, with a predominantly agricultural economy and an increasingly powerful landed nobility that confined the population to private manorial farmsteads, or folwarks.[69] In 1493, John I Albert sanctioned the creation of a bicameral parliament composed of a lower house, the Sejm, and an upper house, the Senate.[70] The Nihil novi act adopted by the Polish General Sejm in 1505, transferred most of the legislative power from the monarch to the parliament, an event which marked the beginning of the period known as Golden Liberty, when the state was ruled by the seemingly free and equal Polish nobles.[71]

Wawel Castle in Kraków, seat of Polish kings from 1038 until the capital was moved to Warsaw in 1596

The 16th century saw Protestant Reformation movements making deep inroads into Polish Christianity, which resulted in the establishment of policies promoting religious tolerance, unique in Europe at that time.[72] This tolerance allowed the country to avoid the religious turmoil and wars of religion that beset Europe.[72] In Poland, Nontrinitarian Christianity became the doctrine of the so-called Polish Brethren, who separated from their Calvinist denomination and became the co-founders of global Unitarianism.[73]

The European Renaissance evoked under Sigismund I the Old and Sigismund II Augustus a sense of urgency in the need to promote a cultural awakening.[22] During the Polish Golden Age, the nation's economy and culture flourished.[22] The Italian-born Bona Sforza, daughter of the Duke of Milan and queen consort to Sigismund I, made considerable contributions to architecture, cuisine, language and court customs at Wawel Castle.[22]

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at its greatest extent in 1619. At that time it was the largest country in Europe

The Union of Lublin of 1569 established the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, a unified federal state with an elective monarchy, but largely governed by the nobility.[74] The latter coincided with a period of prosperity; the Polish-dominated union thereafter becoming a leading power and a major cultural entity, exercising political control over parts of Central, Eastern, Southeastern and Northern Europe. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth occupied approximately 1 million km2 (390,000 sq mi) at its peak and was the largest state in Europe.[75][76] Simultaneously, Poland imposed Polonisation policies in newly acquired territories which were met with resistance from ethnic and religious minorities.[74]

In 1573, Henry de Valois of France, the first elected king, approbated the Henrician Articles which obliged future monarchs to respect the rights of nobles.[77] His successor, Stephen Báthory, led a successful campaign in the Livonian War, granting Poland more lands across the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea.[78] State affairs were then headed by Jan Zamoyski, the Crown Chancellor.[79] In 1592, Sigismund III of Poland succeeded his father, John Vasa, in Sweden.[80] The Polish-Swedish union endured until 1599, when he was deposed by the Swedes.[81]

King John III Sobieski defeated the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Vienna on 12 September 1683.

In 1609, Sigismund invaded Russia which was engulfed in a civil war,[22] and a year later the Polish winged hussar units under Stanisław Żółkiewski occupied Moscow for two years after defeating the Russians at Klushino.[22] Sigismund also countered the Ottoman Empire in the southeast; at Khotyn in 1621 Jan Karol Chodkiewicz achieved a decisive victory against the Turks, which ushered the downfall of Sultan Osman II.[82][83]

Sigismund's long reign in Poland coincided with the Silver Age.[84] The liberal Władysław IV effectively defended Poland's territorial possessions but after his death the vast Commonwealth began declining from internal disorder and constant warfare.[85][86] In 1648, the Polish hegemony over Ukraine sparked the Khmelnytsky Uprising,[87] followed by the decimating Swedish Deluge during the Second Northern War,[88] and Prussia's independence in 1657.[88] In 1683, John III Sobieski re-established military prowess when he halted the advance of an Ottoman Army into Europe at the Battle of Vienna.[89] The successive Saxon era, under Augustus II and Augustus III, saw the rise of neighbouring countries in the aftermath of the Great Northern War (1700) and the War of the Polish Succession (1733).[90]

Partitions

Stanisław II Augustus, the last King of Poland, reigned from 1764 until his abdication on 25 November 1795.

The royal election of 1764 resulted in the elevation of Stanisław II Augustus Poniatowski to the monarchy.[91] His candidacy was extensively funded by his sponsor and former lover, Empress Catherine II of Russia.[92] The new king maneuvered between his desire to implement necessary modernising reforms, and the necessity to remain at peace with surrounding states.[93] His ideals led to the formation of the 1768 Bar Confederation, a rebellion directed against the Poniatowski and all external influence, which ineptly aimed to preserve Poland's sovereignty and privileges held by the nobility.[94] The failed attempts at government restructuring as well as the domestic turmoil provoked its neighbours to intervene.[95]

In 1772, the First Partition of the Commonwealth by Prussia, Russia and Austria took place; an act which the Partition Sejm, under considerable duress, eventually ratified as a fait accompli.[96] Disregarding the territorial losses, in 1773 a plan of critical reforms was established, in which the Commission of National Education, the first government education authority in Europe, was inaugurated.[97] Corporal punishment of schoolchildren was officially prohibited in 1783. Poniatowski was the head figure of the Enlightenment, encouraged the development of industries, and embraced republican neoclassicism.[98] For his contributions to the arts and sciences he was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Society.[99]

In 1791, Great Sejm parliament adopted the 3 May Constitution, the first set of supreme national laws, and introduced a constitutional monarchy.[100] The Targowica Confederation, an organisation of nobles and deputies opposing the act, appealed to Catherine and caused the 1792 Polish–Russian War.[101] Fearing the reemergence of Polish hegemony, Russia and Prussia arranged and in 1793 executed, the Second Partition, which left the country deprived of territory and incapable of independent existence. On 24 October 1795, the Commonwealth was partitioned for the third time and ceased to exist as a territorial entity.[102][103] Stanisław Augustus, the last King of Poland, abdicated the throne on 25 November 1795.[104]

Era of insurrections

The partitions of Poland, carried out by the Kingdom of Prussia (blue), the Russian Empire (brown), and the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy (green) in 1772, 1793 and 1795

The Polish people rose several times against the partitioners and occupying armies. An unsuccessful attempt at defending Poland's sovereignty took place in the 1794 Kościuszko Uprising, where a popular and distinguished general Tadeusz Kościuszko, who had several years earlier served under George Washington in the American Revolutionary War, led Polish insurgents.[105] Despite the victory at the Battle of Racławice, his ultimate defeat ended Poland's independent existence for 123 years.[106]

In 1806, an insurrection organised by Jan Henryk Dąbrowski liberated western Poland ahead of Napoleon's advance into Prussia during the War of the Fourth Coalition. In accordance with the 1807 Treaty of Tilsit, Napoleon proclaimed the Duchy of Warsaw, a client state ruled by his ally Frederick Augustus I of Saxony. The Poles actively aided French troops in the Napoleonic Wars, particularly those under Józef Poniatowski who became Marshal of France shortly before his death at Leipzig in 1813.[107] In the aftermath of Napoleon's exile, the Duchy of Warsaw was abolished at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and its territory was divided into Russian Congress Kingdom of Poland, the Prussian Grand Duchy of Posen, and Austrian Galicia with the Free City of Kraków.[108]

Tadeusz Kościuszko was a veteran and hero of both the Polish and American wars of independence.[105]

In 1830, non-commissioned officers at Warsaw's Officer Cadet School rebelled in what was the November Uprising.[109] After its collapse, Congress Poland lost its constitutional autonomy, army and legislative assembly.[110] During the European Spring of Nations, Poles took up arms in the Greater Poland Uprising of 1848 to resist Germanisation, but its failure saw duchy's status reduced to a mere province; and subsequent integration into the German Empire in 1871.[111] In Russia, the fall of the January Uprising (1863–1864) prompted severe political, social and cultural reprisals, followed by deportations and pogroms of the Polish-Jewish population. Towards the end of the 19th century, Congress Poland became heavily industrialised; its primary exports being coal, zinc, iron and textiles.[112][113]

Second Polish Republic

Chief of State Marshal Józef Piłsudski was a hero of the Polish independence campaign and the nation's premiere statesman from 1918 until his death on 12 May 1935.

In the aftermath of World War I, the Allies agreed on the reconstitution of Poland, confirmed through the Treaty of Versailles of June 1919.[114] A total of 2 million Polish troops fought with the armies of the three occupying powers, and over 450,000 died.[115] Following the armistice with Germany in November 1918, Poland regained its independence as the Second Polish Republic.[116]

The Second Polish Republic reaffirmed its sovereignty after a series of military conflicts, most notably the Polish–Soviet War, when Poland inflicted a crushing defeat on the Red Army at the Battle of Warsaw.[117]

The inter-war period heralded a new era of Polish politics. Whilst Polish political activists had faced heavy censorship in the decades up until World War I, a new political tradition was established in the country. Many exiled Polish activists, such as Ignacy Jan Paderewski, who would later become prime minister, returned home. A significant number of them then went on to take key positions in the newly formed political and governmental structures. Tragedy struck in 1922 when Gabriel Narutowicz, inaugural holder of the presidency, was assassinated at the Zachęta Gallery in Warsaw by a painter and right-wing nationalist Eligiusz Niewiadomski.[118]

In 1926, the May Coup, led by the hero of the Polish independence campaign Marshal Józef Piłsudski, turned rule of the Second Polish Republic over to the nonpartisan Sanacja (Healing) movement to prevent radical political organisations on both the left and the right from destabilizing the country.[119] By the late 1930s, due to increased threats posed by political extremism inside the country, the Polish government became increasingly heavy-handed, banning a number of radical organisations, including communist and ultra-nationalist political parties, which threatened the stability of the country.[120]

World War II

Polish Army 7TP tanks on military manoeuvres shortly before the invasion of Poland in 1939

World War II began with the Nazi German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939, followed by the Soviet invasion of Poland on 17 September. On 28 September 1939, Warsaw fell. As agreed in the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Poland was split into two zones, one occupied by Nazi Germany, the other by the Soviet Union. In 1939–1941, the Soviets deported hundreds of thousands of Poles. The Soviet NKVD executed thousands of Polish prisoners of war (among other incidents in the Katyn massacre) ahead of Operation Barbarossa.[121] German planners had in November 1939 called for "the complete destruction of all Poles" and their fate as outlined in the genocidal Generalplan Ost.[122]

Pilots of the 303 Polish Fighter Squadron during the Battle of Britain, October 1940

Poland made the fourth-largest troop contribution in Europe,[123][124][125] and its troops served both the Polish Government in Exile in the west and Soviet leadership in the east. Polish troops played an important role in the Normandy, Italian, North African Campaigns and Netherlands and are particularly remembered for the Battle of Britain and Battle of Monte Cassino.[126][127] Polish intelligence operatives proved extremely valuable to the Allies, providing much of the intelligence from Europe and beyond,[128] Polish code breakers were responsible for cracking the Enigma cipher and Polish scientists participating in the Manhattan Project were co-creators of the American atomic bomb. In the east, the Soviet-backed Polish 1st Army distinguished itself in the battles for Warsaw and Berlin.[129]

The wartime resistance movement, and the Armia Krajowa (Home Army), fought against German occupation. It was one of the three largest resistance movements of the entire war, and encompassed a range of clandestine activities, which functioned as an underground state complete with degree-awarding universities and a court system.[130] The resistance was loyal to the exiled government and generally resented the idea of a communist Poland; for this reason, in the summer of 1944 it initiated Operation Tempest, of which the Warsaw Uprising that began on 1 August 1944 is the best-known operation.[129][131]

Map of the Holocaust in German-occupied Poland with deportation routes and massacre sites. Major ghettos are marked with yellow stars. Nazi extermination camps are marked with white skulls in black squares. The border in 1941 between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union is marked in red.

Nazi German forces under orders from Adolf Hitler set up six German extermination camps in occupied Poland, including Treblinka, Majdanek and Auschwitz. The Germans transported millions of Jews from across occupied Europe to be murdered in those camps.[132][133] Altogether, 3 million Polish Jews[134][135] – approximately 90% of Poland's pre-war Jewry – and between 1.8 and 2.8 million ethnic Poles[136][137][138] were killed during the German occupation of Poland, including between 50,000 and 100,000 members of the Polish intelligentsia – academics, doctors, lawyers, nobility and priesthood. During the Warsaw Uprising alone, over 150,000 Polish civilians were killed, most were murdered by the Germans during the Wola and Ochota massacres.[139][140] Around 150,000 Polish civilians were killed by Soviets between 1939 and 1941 during the Soviet Union's occupation of eastern Poland (Kresy), and another estimated 100,000 Poles were murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) between 1943 and 1944 in what became known as the Wołyń Massacres.[141][142] Of all the countries in the war, Poland lost the highest percentage of its citizens: around 6 million perished – more than one-sixth of Poland's pre-war population – half of them Polish Jews.[143][144][145] About 90% of deaths were non-military in nature.[146]

In 1945, Poland's borders were shifted westwards. Over two million Polish inhabitants of Kresy were expelled along the Curzon Line by Stalin.[147] The western border became the Oder-Neisse line. As a result, Poland's territory was reduced by 20%, or 77,500 square kilometres (29,900 sq mi). The shift forced the migration of millions of other people, most of whom were Poles, Germans, Ukrainians, and Jews.[148][149][150]

Post-war communism

At High Noon, 4 June 1989—political poster featuring Gary Cooper to encourage votes for the Solidarity party in the 1989 elections

At the insistence of Joseph Stalin, the Yalta Conference sanctioned the formation of a new provisional pro-Communist coalition government in Moscow, which ignored the Polish government-in-exile based in London. This action angered many Poles who considered it a betrayal by the Allies. In 1944, Stalin had made guarantees to Churchill and Roosevelt that he would maintain Poland's sovereignty and allow democratic elections to take place. However, upon achieving victory in 1945, the elections organised by the occupying Soviet authorities were falsified and were used to provide a veneer of legitimacy for Soviet hegemony over Polish affairs. The Soviet Union instituted a new communist government in Poland, analogous to much of the rest of the Eastern Bloc. As elsewhere in Communist Europe, the Soviet influence over Poland was met with armed resistance from the outset which continued into the 1950s.[151]

Despite widespread objections, the new Polish government accepted the Soviet annexation of the pre-war eastern regions of Poland[152] (in particular the cities of Wilno and Lwów) and agreed to the permanent garrisoning of Red Army units on Poland's territory. Military alignment within the Warsaw Pact throughout the Cold War came about as a direct result of this change in Poland's political culture. In the European scene, it came to characterise the full-fledged integration of Poland into the brotherhood of communist nations.[153]

The new communist government took control with the adoption of the Small Constitution on 19 February 1947. The Polish People's Republic (Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa) was officially proclaimed in 1952. In 1956, after the death of Bolesław Bierut, the régime of Władysław Gomułka became temporarily more liberal, freeing many people from prison and expanding some personal freedoms. Collectivisation in the Polish People's Republic failed. A similar situation repeated itself in the 1970s under Edward Gierek, but most of the time persecution of anti-communist opposition groups persisted. Despite this, Poland was at the time considered to be one of the least oppressive states of the Eastern Bloc.[154]

Labour turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" ("Solidarność"), which over time became a political force. Despite persecution and imposition of martial law in 1981 by General Wojciech Jaruzelski, it eroded the dominance of the Polish United Workers' Party and by 1989 had triumphed in Poland's first partially free and democratic parliamentary elections since the end of the Second World War. Lech Wałęsa, a Solidarity candidate, eventually won the presidency in 1990. The Solidarity movement heralded the collapse of communist regimes and parties across Europe.[155]

Third Polish Republic

Flowers in front of the Presidential Palace following the death of Poland's top government officials in a plane crash on 10 April 2010

A shock therapy program, initiated by Leszek Balcerowicz in the early 1990s, enabled the country to transform its Soviet-style planned economy into a market economy.[156] As with other post-communist countries, Poland suffered temporary declines in social, economic, and living standards,[157] but it became the first post-communist country to reach its pre-1989 GDP levels as early as 1995, largely due to its booming economy.[158] Poland became a member of the Visegrád Group in 1991,[159] and joined NATO in 1999.[160] Poles then voted to join the European Union in a referendum in June 2003,[161] with Poland becoming a full member on 1 May 2004, following the consequent enlargement of the organisation.[162]

Poland joined the Schengen Area in 2007, as a result of which, the country's borders with other member states of the European Union were dismantled, allowing for full freedom of movement within most of the European Union.[163] On 10 April 2010, the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński, along with 89 other high-ranking Polish officials died in a plane crash near Smolensk, Russia.[164]

In 2011, the ruling Civic Platform won parliamentary elections.[165] In 2014, the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, was chosen to be President of the European Council, and resigned as prime minister.[166] The 2015 and 2019 elections were won by the national-conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS) led by Jarosław Kaczyński,[167][168] resulting in increased Euroscepticism and increased friction with the European Union.[169] In December 2017, Mateusz Morawiecki was sworn in as the Prime Minister, succeeding Beata Szydlo, in office since 2015. President Andrzej Duda, supported by Law and Justice party, was re-elected in the 2020 presidential election.[170] As of November 2023 the Russian invasion of Ukraine had led to 17 million Ukrainian refugees crossing the border to Poland.[171] As of November 2023, 0.9 million of those had stayed in Poland.[171] In October 2023, the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party won the largest share of the vote in the election, but lost its majority in parliament. In December 2023, Donald Tusk became the new Prime Minister leading a coalition called Civic Coalition made up of Civic Platform, Third Way, and The Left. Law and Justice became the leading opposition party.[172]

Geography

Topographic map of Poland

Poland covers an administrative area of 312,722 km2 (120,743 sq mi), and is the ninth-largest country in Europe. Approximately 311,895 km2 (120,423 sq mi) of the country's territory consists of land, 2,041 km2 (788 sq mi) comprises internal waters and 8,783 km2 (3,391 sq mi) is territorial sea.[173] Topographically, the landscape of Poland is characterised by diverse landforms, water bodies and ecosystems.[174] The central and northern region bordering the Baltic Sea lie within the flat Central European Plain, but its south is hilly and mountainous.[175] The average elevation above the sea level is estimated at 173 metres.[173]

The country has a coastline spanning 770 km (480 mi); extending from the shores of the Baltic Sea, along the Bay of Pomerania in the west to the Gulf of Gdańsk in the east.[173] The beach coastline is abundant in sand dune fields or coastal ridges and is indented by spits and lagoons, notably the Hel Peninsula and the Vistula Lagoon, which is shared with Russia.[176] The largest Polish island on the Baltic Sea is Wolin, located within Wolin National Park.[177] Poland also shares the Szczecin Lagoon and the Usedom island with Germany.[178]

The mountainous belt in the extreme south of Poland is divided into two major mountain ranges; the Sudetes in the west and the Carpathians in the east. The highest part of the Carpathian massif are the Tatra Mountains, extending along Poland's southern border.[179] Poland's highest point is Mount Rysy at 2,501 metres (8,205 ft) in elevation, located in the Tatras.[180] The highest summit of the Sudetes massif is Mount Śnieżka at 1,603.3 metres (5,260 ft), shared with the Czech Republic.[181] The lowest point in Poland is situated at Raczki Elbląskie in the Vistula Delta, which is 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) below sea level.[173]

Morskie Oko alpine lake in the Tatra Mountains. Poland has one of the highest densities of lakes in the world.

Poland's longest rivers are the Vistula, the Oder, the Warta, and the Bug.[173] The country also possesses one of the highest densities of lakes in the world, numbering around ten thousand and mostly concentrated in the north-eastern region of Masuria, within the Masurian Lake District.[182] The largest lakes, covering more than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi), are Śniardwy and Mamry, and the deepest is Lake Hańcza at 108.5 metres (356 ft) in depth.[173]

Climate

The climate of Poland is temperate transitional, and varies from oceanic in the north-west to continental in the south-east.[183] The mountainous southern fringes are situated within an alpine climate.[183] Poland is characterised by warm summers, with a mean temperature of around 20 °C (68.0 °F) in July, and moderately cold winters averaging −1 °C (30.2 °F) in December.[184] The warmest and sunniest part of Poland is Lower Silesia in the southwest and the coldest region is the northeast corner, around Suwałki in Podlaskie province, where the climate is affected by cold fronts from Scandinavia and Siberia.[185] Precipitation is more frequent during the summer months, with highest rainfall recorded from June to September.[184]

There is a considerable fluctuation in day-to-day weather and the arrival of a particular season can differ each year.[183] Climate change and other factors have further contributed to interannual thermal anomalies and increased temperatures; the average annual air temperature between 2011 and 2020 was 9.33 °C (48.8 °F), around 1.11 °C higher than in the 2001–2010 period.[185] Winters are also becoming increasingly drier, with less sleet and snowfall.[183]

Biodiversity

The wisent, one of Poland's national animals, is commonly found at the ancient and UNESCO-protected Białowieża Forest.

Phytogeographically, Poland belongs to the Central European province of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. The country has four Palearctic ecoregions – Central, Northern, Western European temperate broadleaf and mixed forest, and the Carpathian montane conifer. Forests occupy 31% of Poland's land area, the largest of which is the Lower Silesian Wilderness.[186] The most common deciduous trees found across the country are oak, maple, and beech; the most common conifers are pine, spruce, and fir.[187] An estimated 69% of all forests are coniferous.[188]

The flora and fauna in Poland is that of Continental Europe, with the wisent, white stork and white-tailed eagle designated as national animals, and the red common poppy being the unofficial floral emblem.[189] Among the most protected species is the European bison, Europe's heaviest land animal, as well as the Eurasian beaver, the lynx, the gray wolf and the Tatra chamois.[173] The region was also home to the extinct aurochs, the last individual dying in Poland in 1627.[190] Game animals such as red deer, roe deer, and wild boar are found in most woodlands.[191] Poland is also a significant breeding ground for migratory birds and hosts around one quarter of the global population of white storks.[192]

Around 315,100 hectares (1,217 sq mi), equivalent to 1% of Poland's territory, is protected within 23 Polish national parks, two of which – Białowieża and Bieszczady – are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.[193] There are 123 areas designated as landscape parks, along with numerous nature reserves and other protected areas under the Natura 2000 network.[194]

Government and politics

Andrzej Sebastian Duda
President
Andrzej Duda
since 6 August 2015
Donald Franciszek Tusk
Prime Minister
Donald Tusk
since 13 December 2023

Poland is a unitary parliamentary republic and a representative democracy, with a president as the head of state.[195] The executive power is exercised further by the Council of Ministers and the prime minister who acts as the head of government.[195] The council's individual members are selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president and approved by parliament.[195] The head of state is elected by popular vote for a five-year term.[196] The current president is Andrzej Duda and the prime minister is Donald Tusk.

Poland's legislative assembly is a bicameral parliament consisting of a 460-member lower house (Sejm) and a 100-member upper house (Senate).[197] The Sejm is elected under proportional representation according to the d'Hondt method for vote-seat conversion.[198] The Senate is elected under the first-past-the-post electoral system, with one senator being returned from each of the one hundred constituencies.[199] The Senate has the right to amend or reject a statute passed by the Sejm, but the Sejm may override the Senate's decision with a majority vote.[200]

The Sejm is the lower house of the parliament of Poland.

With the exception of ethnic minority parties, only candidates of political parties receiving at least 5% of the total national vote can enter the Sejm.[199] Both the lower and upper houses of parliament in Poland are elected for a four-year term and each member of the Polish parliament is guaranteed parliamentary immunity.[201] Under current legislation, a person must be 21 years of age or over to assume the position of deputy, 30 or over to become senator and 35 to run in a presidential election.[201]

Members of the Sejm and Senate jointly form the National Assembly of the Republic of Poland.[202] The National Assembly, headed by the Sejm Marshal, is formed on three occasions – when a new president takes the oath of office; when an indictment against the president is brought to the State Tribunal; and in case a president's permanent incapacity to exercise his duties due to the state of his health is declared.[202]

Administrative divisions

Poland is divided into 16 provinces or states known as voivodeships.[203] As of 2022, the voivodeships are subdivided into 380 counties (powiats), which are further fragmented into 2,477 municipalities (gminas).[203] Major cities normally have the status of both gmina and powiat.[203] The provinces are largely founded on the borders of historic regions, or named for individual cities.[204] Administrative authority at the voivodeship level is shared between a government-appointed governor (voivode), an elected regional assembly (sejmik) and a voivodeship marshal, an executive elected by the assembly.[204]

Voivodeship Capital city Area Population
in English in Polish km2[205] 2021[205]
Greater Poland Wielkopolskie Poznań 29,826 3,496,450
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Kujawsko-Pomorskie Bydgoszcz & Toruń 17,971 2,061,942
Lesser Poland Małopolskie Kraków 15,183 3,410,441
Łódź Łódzkie Łódź 18,219 2,437,970
Lower Silesian Dolnośląskie Wrocław 19,947 2,891,321
Lublin Lubelskie Lublin 25,123 2,095,258
Lubusz Lubuskie Gorzów Wielkopolski &
Zielona Góra
13,988 1,007,145
Masovian Mazowieckie Warsaw 35,559 5,425,028
Opole Opolskie Opole 9,412 976,774
Podlaskie Podlaskie Białystok 20,187 1,173,286
Pomeranian Pomorskie Gdańsk 18,323 2,346,671
Silesian Śląskie Katowice 12,333 4,492,330
Subcarpathian Podkarpackie Rzeszów 17,846 2,121,229
Holy Cross Świętokrzyskie Kielce 11,710 1,224,626
Warmian-Masurian Warmińsko-Mazurskie Olsztyn 24,173 1,416,495
West Pomeranian Zachodniopomorskie Szczecin 22,905 1,688,047

Law

The Constitution of 3 May adopted in 1791 was the first modern constitution in Europe.

The Constitution of Poland is the enacted supreme law, and Polish judicature is based on the principle of civil rights, governed by the code of civil law.[206] The current democratic constitution was adopted by the National Assembly of Poland on 2 April 1997; it guarantees a multi-party state with freedoms of religion, speech and assembly, prohibits the practices of forced medical experimentation, torture or corporal punishment, and acknowledges the inviolability of the home, the right to form trade unions, and the right to strike.[207]

The judiciary in Poland is composed of the Supreme Court as the country's highest judicial organ, the Supreme Administrative Court for the judicial control of public administration, Common Courts (District, Regional, Appellate) and the Military Court.[208] The Constitutional and State Tribunals are separate judicial bodies, which rule the constitutional liability of people holding the highest offices of state and supervise the compliance of statutory law, thus protecting the Constitution.[209] Judges are nominated by the National Council of the Judiciary and are appointed for life by the president.[209] On the approval of the Senate, the Sejm appoints an ombudsman for a five-year term to guard the observance of social justice.[199]

Poland has a low homicide rate at 0.7 murders per 100,000 people, as of 2018.[210] Rape, assault and violent crime remain at a very low level.[211] The country has imposed strict regulations on abortion, which is permitted only in cases of rape, incest or when the woman's life is in danger; congenital disorder and stillbirth are not covered by the law, prompting some women to seek abortion abroad.[212]

Historically, the most significant Polish legal act is the Constitution of 3 May 1791. Instituted to redress long-standing political defects of the federative Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and its Golden Liberty, it was the first modern constitution in Europe and influenced many later democratic movements across the globe.[213][214][215] In 1918, the Second Polish Republic became one of the first countries to introduce universal women's suffrage.[216]

Foreign relations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, located in Warsaw

Poland is a middle power and is transitioning into a regional power in Europe.[217][218] It has a total of 52 representatives in the European Parliament as of 2022.[219] Warsaw serves as the headquarters for Frontex, the European Union's agency for external border security as well as ODIHR, one of the principal institutions of the OSCE.[220][221] Apart from the European Union, Poland has been a member of NATO, the United Nations, and the WTO.

In recent years, Poland significantly strengthened its relations with the United States, thus becoming one of its closest allies and strategic partners in Europe.[222] Historically, Poland maintained strong cultural and political ties to Hungary; this special relationship was recognised by the parliaments of both countries in 2007 with the joint declaration of 23 March as "The Day of Polish-Hungarian Friendship".[223]

Military

Polish Air Force F-16s, a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft

The Polish Armed Forces are composed of five branches – the Land Forces, the Navy, the Air Force, the Special Forces and the Territorial Defence Force.[224] The military is subordinate to the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland.[224] However, its commander-in-chief in peacetime is the president, who nominates officers, the Minister for National Defence and the chief of staff.[224] Polish military tradition is generally commemorated by the Armed Forces Day, celebrated annually on 15 August.[225] As of 2022, the Polish Armed Forces have a combined strength of 114,050 active soldiers, with a further 75,400 active in the gendarmerie and defence force.[226]

Poland is spending 2% of its GDP on defence, equivalent to approximately US$14.5 billion in 2022, with a slated increase to US$29 billion in 2023.[227][228] From 2022, Poland is set to spend 110 billion euros on the modernisation of its armed forces, in close cooperation with American, South Korean and local Polish defence manufacturers.[229] Also, the Polish military is set to increase its size to 250,000 enlisted and officers, and 50,000 defence force personnel.[230] According to SIPRI, the country exported €487 million worth of arms and armaments to foreign countries in 2020.[231]

Compulsory military service for men, who previously had to serve for nine months, was discontinued in 2008.[232] Polish military doctrine reflects the same defensive nature as that of its NATO partners and the country actively hosts NATO's military exercises.[226] Since 1953, the country has been a large contributor to various United Nations peacekeeping missions,[233] and currently maintains military presence in the Middle East, Africa, the Baltic states and southeastern Europe.[226]

Security, law enforcement and emergency services

A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter patrol van belonging to the Polish State Police Service (Policja)

Thanks to its location, Poland is a country essentially free from the threat of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes and tropical cyclones. However, floods have occurred in low-lying areas from time to time during periods of extreme rainfall (e.g. during the 2010 Central European floods).

Law enforcement in Poland is performed by several agencies which are subordinate to the Ministry of Interior and Administration – the State Police (Policja), assigned to investigate crimes or transgression; the Municipal City Guard, which maintains public order; and several specialised agencies, such as the Polish Border Guard.[234] Private security firms are also common, although they possess no legal authority to arrest or detain a suspect.[234][235] Municipal guards are primarily headed by provincial, regional or city councils; individual guards are not permitted to carry firearms unless instructed by the superior commanding officer.[236] Security service personnel conduct regular patrols in both large urban areas or smaller suburban localities.[237]

The Internal Security Agency (ABW, or ISA in English) is the chief counter-intelligence instrument safeguarding Poland's internal security, along with Agencja Wywiadu (AW) which identifies threats and collects secret information abroad.[238] The Central Investigation Bureau of Police (CBŚP) and the Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA) are responsible for countering organised crime and corruption in state and private institutions.[239][240]

Emergency services in Poland consist of the emergency medical services, search and rescue units of the Polish Armed Forces and State Fire Service. Emergency medical services in Poland are operated by local and regional governments,[241] but are a part of the centralised national agency – the National Medical Emergency Service (Państwowe Ratownictwo Medyczne).[242]

Economy

Economic indicators
GDP (PPP) $1.705 trillion (2023)[11]
Nominal GDP $748.8 billion (2023)[11]
Real GDP growth 5.3% (2022)[243]
CPI inflation 14.4% (2022)[244]
Employment-to-population ratio 57% (2022)[245]
Unemployment 2.8% (2023)[246]
Total public debt $340 billion (2022)[247]

As of 2023, Poland's economy and gross domestic product (GDP) is the sixth largest in the European Union by nominal standards and the fifth largest by purchasing power parity. It is also one of the fastest growing within the Union and reached a developed market status in 2018.[248] The unemployment rate published by Eurostat in 2023 amounted to 2.8%, which was the second-lowest in the EU.[246] As of 2023, around 62% of the employed population works in the service sector, 29% in manufacturing, and 8% in the agricultural sector.[249] Although Poland is a member of the European single market, the country has not adopted the Euro as legal tender and maintains its own currency – the Polish złoty (zł, PLN).

Poland is the regional economic leader in Central Europe, with nearly 40 per cent of the 500 biggest companies in the region (by revenues) as well as a high globalisation rate.[250] The country's largest firms compose the WIG20 and WIG30 indexes, which is traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. According to reports made by the National Bank of Poland, the value of Polish foreign direct investments reached almost 300 billion PLN at the end of 2014. The Central Statistical Office estimated that in 2014 there were 1,437 Polish corporations with interests in 3,194 foreign entities.[251]

Poland has the largest banking sector in Central Europe,[252] with 32.3 branches per 100,000 adults.[253] It was the only European economy to have avoided the recession of 2008.[254] The country is the 20th largest exporter of goods and services in the world.[255] Exports of goods and services are valued at approximately 56% of GDP, as of 2020.[256] In 2019, Poland passed a law that would exempt workers under the age of 26 from income tax.[257]

Tourism

The Old City of Zamość is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Poland experienced a significant increase in the number of tourists after joining the European Union in 2004.[258][259] With over 21 million international arrivals in 2019, tourism contributes considerably to the overall economy and makes up a relatively large proportion of the country's service market.[260]

Tourist attractions in Poland vary, from the mountains in the south to the sandy beaches in the north, with a trail of nearly every architectural style. The most visited city is Kraków, which was the former capital of Poland and serves as a relic of the Polish Golden Age and the Renaissance. Kraków also held royal coronations of most Polish kings and monarchs at Wawel, the nation's chief historical landmark. Among other notable sites in the country is Wrocław, one of the oldest cities in Poland which was a model for the founding of Kraków. Wrocław is famous for its dwarf statues, a large market square with two town halls, and the oldest Zoological Gardens with one of the world's largest number of animal species. The Polish capital Warsaw and its historical Old Town were entirely reconstructed after wartime destruction. Other cities attracting countless tourists include Gdańsk, Poznań, Lublin, Toruń as well as the site of the German Auschwitz concentration camp in Oświęcim. A highlight is the 13th-century Wieliczka Salt Mine with its labyrinthine tunnels, underground lake and chapels carved by miners out of rock salt beneath the ground.[261]

Poland has a 770 km long coastline of the southern Baltic Sea with many wide sandy beaches, which are frequently visited by tourists in the summer season.

Other tourist destinations include the Masurian Lake District and Białowieża Forest in the east; on the south Karkonosze, the Table Mountains and the Tatra Mountains, where Rysy – the highest peak of Poland, and Eagle's Path mountain trail are located. The Pieniny and Bieszczady Mountains lie in the extreme south-east.[262] There are over 100 castles in the country, most in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, and also on the Trail of the Eagles' Nests.[263] The largest castle in the world by land area is situated in Malbork, in north-central Poland.[264]

Transport

PKP Intercity Pendolino at the Wrocław railway station

Transport in Poland is provided by means of rail, road, marine shipping and air travel. The country is part of EU's Schengen Area and is an important transport hub due to its strategic geographical position in Central Europe.[265] Some of the longest European routes, including the E30 and E40, run through Poland. The country has a good network of highways comprising express roads and motorways. As of August 2023, Poland has the world's 21st-largest road network, maintaining over 5,000 km (3,100 mi) of highways in use.[266]

In 2022, the nation had 19,393 kilometres (12,050 mi) of railway track, the third longest in the European Union after Germany and France.[267] The Polish State Railways (PKP) is the dominant railway operator, with certain major voivodeships or urban areas possessing their own commuter and regional rail.[268] Poland has a number of international airports, the largest of which is Warsaw Chopin Airport.[269] It is the primary global hub for LOT Polish Airlines, the country's flag carrier.[270]

Seaports exist all along Poland's Baltic coast, with most freight operations using Świnoujście, Police, Szczecin, Kołobrzeg, Gdynia, Gdańsk and Elbląg as their base. The Port of Gdańsk is the only port in the Baltic Sea adapted to receive oceanic vessels. Polferries and Unity Line are the largest Polish ferry operators, with the latter providing roll-on/roll-off and train ferry services to Scandinavia.[271]

Energy

The electricity generation sector in Poland is largely fossil-fuel–based. Coal production in Poland is a major source of employment and the largest source of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions.[272] Many power plants nationwide use Poland's position as a major European exporter of coal to their advantage by continuing to use coal as the primary raw material in the production of their energy. The three largest Polish coal mining firms (Węglokoks, Kompania Węglowa and JSW) extract around 100 million tonnes of coal annually.[273] After coal, Polish energy supply relies significantly on oil—the nation is the third-largest buyer of Russian oil exports to the EU.[274]

The new Energy Policy of Poland until 2040 (EPP2040) would reduce the share of coal and lignite in electricity generation by 25% from 2017 to 2030. The plan involves deploying new nuclear plants, increasing energy efficiency, and decarbonising the Polish transport system in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prioritise long-term energy security.[272][275]

Science and technology

Physicist and chemist Marie Curie was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.[276]

Over the course of history, the Polish people have made considerable contributions in the fields of science, technology and mathematics.[277] Perhaps the most renowned Pole to support this theory was Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik), who triggered the Copernican Revolution by placing the Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe.[278] He also derived a quantity theory of money, which made him a pioneer of economics. Copernicus' achievements and discoveries are considered the basis of Polish culture and cultural identity.[279] Poland was ranked 41st in the Global Innovation Index in 2023.[280]

Nicolaus Copernicus, the 16th century Polish astronomer who formulated the heliocentric model of the solar system

Poland's tertiary education institutions; traditional universities, as well as technical, medical, and economic institutions, employ around tens of thousands of researchers and staff members. There are hundreds of research and development institutes.[281] However, in the 19th and 20th centuries many Polish scientists worked abroad; one of the most important of these exiles was Marie Curie, a physicist and chemist who lived much of her life in France. In 1925, she established Poland's Radium Institute.[276]

In the first half of the 20th century, Poland was a flourishing centre of mathematics. Outstanding Polish mathematicians formed the Lwów School of Mathematics (with Stefan Banach, Stanisław Mazur, Hugo Steinhaus, Stanisław Ulam) and Warsaw School of Mathematics (with Alfred Tarski, Kazimierz Kuratowski, Wacław Sierpiński and Antoni Zygmund). Numerous mathematicians, scientists, chemists or economists emigrated due to historic vicissitudes, among them Benoit Mandelbrot, Leonid Hurwicz, Alfred Tarski, Joseph Rotblat and Nobel Prize laureates Roald Hoffmann, Georges Charpak and Tadeusz Reichstein.

Demographics

Poland has a population of approximately 38.2 million as of 2021, and is the ninth-most populous country in Europe, as well as the fifth-most populous member state of the European Union.[282] It has a population density of 122 inhabitants per square kilometre (320 inhabitants/sq mi).[283] The total fertility rate was estimated at 1.33 children born to a woman in 2021, which is among the world's lowest.[284] Furthermore, Poland's population is aging significantly, and the country has a median age of 42.2.[285]

Population of Poland from 1900 to 2010 in millions of inhabitants

Around 60% of the country's population lives in urban areas or major cities and 40% in rural zones.[286] In 2020, 50.2% of Poles resided in detached dwellings and 44.3% in apartments.[287] The most populous administrative province or state is the Masovian Voivodeship and the most populous city is the capital, Warsaw, at 1.8 million inhabitants with a further 2–3 million people living in its metropolitan area.[288][289][290] The metropolitan area of Katowice is the largest urban conurbation with a population between 2.7 million[291] and 5.3 million residents.[292] Population density is higher in the south of Poland and mostly concentrated between the cities of Wrocław and Kraków.[293]

In the 2011 Polish census, 37,310,341 people reported Polish identity, 846,719 Silesian, 232,547 Kashubian and 147,814 German. Other identities were reported by 163,363 people (0.41%) and 521,470 people (1.35%) did not specify any nationality.[2] Official population statistics do not include migrant workers who do not possess a permanent residency permit or Karta Polaka.[294] More than 1.7 million Ukrainian citizens worked legally in Poland in 2017.[295] The number of migrants is rising steadily; the country approved 504,172 work permits for foreigners in 2021 alone.[296]

 
 
Largest cities or towns in Poland
Statistics Poland (GUS) 2021[297] and GUS BDL 2021[298]
Rank Name Voivodeship Pop. Rank Name Voivodeship Pop.
Warsaw
Warsaw
Kraków
Kraków
1 Warsaw Masovian 1,860,281 11 Katowice Silesian 285,711 Wrocław
Wrocław
Łódź
Łódź
2 Kraków Lesser Poland 800,653 12 Gdynia Pomeranian 245,222
3 Wrocław Lower Silesian 672,929 13 Częstochowa Silesian 213,107
4 Łódź Łódź 670,642 14 Radom Masovian 201,601
5 Poznań Greater Poland 546,859 15 Toruń Kuyavian-Pomeranian 198,273
6 Gdańsk Pomeranian 486,022 16 Rzeszów Subcarpathian 195,871
7 Szczecin West Pomeranian 396,168 17 Sosnowiec Silesian 193,660
8 Bydgoszcz Kuyavian-Pomeranian 337,666 18 Kielce Świętokrzyskie 186,894
9 Lublin Lublin 334,681 19 Gliwice Silesian 174,016
10 Białystok Podlaskie 294,242 20 Olsztyn Warmian-Masurian 170,225

Languages

Dolina Jadwigi—a bilingual Polish-Kashubian road sign with the village name

Polish is the official and predominant spoken language in Poland, and is one of the official languages of the European Union.[299] It is also a second language in parts of neighbouring Lithuania, where it is taught in Polish-minority schools.[300][301] Contemporary Poland is a linguistically homogeneous nation, with 97% of respondents declaring Polish as their mother tongue.[302] There are currently 15 minority languages in Poland,[303] including one recognised regional language, Kashubian, which is spoken by approximately 100,000 people on a daily basis in the northern regions of Kashubia and Pomerania.[304] Poland also recognises secondary administrative languages or auxiliary languages in bilingual municipalities, where bilingual signs and placenames are commonplace.[305] According to the Centre for Public Opinion Research, around 32% of Polish citizens declared knowledge of the English language in 2015.[306]

Religion

John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła, held the papacy between 1978 and 2005 and was the first Pole to become a Roman Catholic Pope.

According to the 2021 census, 71.3% of all Polish citizens adhere to the Roman Catholic Church, with 6.9% identifying as having no religion and 20.6% refusing to answer.[3]

Poland is one of the most religious countries in Europe, where Roman Catholicism remains a part of national identity and Polish-born Pope John Paul II is widely revered.[307][308] In 2015, 61.6% of respondents outlined that religion is of high or very high importance.[309] However, church attendance has greatly decreased in recent years; only 28% of Catholics attended mass weekly in 2021, down from around half in 2000.[310] According to The Wall Street Journal, "Of [the] more than 100 countries studied by the Pew Research Center in 2018, Poland was secularizing the fastest, as measured by the disparity between the religiosity of young people and their elders."[307]

Freedom of religion in Poland is guaranteed by the Constitution, and Poland's concordat with the Holy See enables the teaching of religion in public schools.[311] Historically, the Polish state maintained a high degree of religious tolerance and provided asylum for refugees fleeing religious persecution in other parts of Europe.[312] Poland hosted Europe's largest Jewish diaspora, and the country was a centre of Ashkenazi Jewish culture and traditional learning until the Holocaust.[313]

Contemporary religious minorities include Orthodox Christians, Protestants—including Lutherans of the Evangelical-Augsburg Church, Pentecostals in the Pentecostal Church in Poland, Adventists in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and other smaller Evangelical denominations—Jehovah's Witnesses, Eastern Catholics, Mariavites, Jews, Muslims (Tatars), and neopagans, some of whom are members of the Native Polish Church.[314]

Pilgrimages to the Jasna Góra Monastery, a shrine dedicated to the Black Madonna, take place annually.[315]

Health

Medical service providers and hospitals (szpitale) in Poland are subordinate to the Ministry of Health; it provides administrative oversight and scrutiny of general medical practice, and is obliged to maintain a high standard of hygiene and patient care. Poland has a universal healthcare system based on an all-inclusive insurance system; state subsidised healthcare is available to all citizens covered by the general health insurance program of the National Health Fund (NFZ). Private medical complexes exist nationwide; over 50% of the population uses both public and private sectors.[316][317][318]

According to the Human Development Report from 2020, the average life expectancy at birth is 79 years (around 75 years for an infant male and 83 years for an infant female);[319] the country has a low infant mortality rate (4 per 1,000 births).[320] In 2019, the principal cause of death was ischemic heart disease; diseases of the circulatory system accounted for 45% of all deaths.[321] In the same year, Poland was also the 15th-largest importer of medications and pharmaceutical products.[322]

Education

Jagiellonian University in Kraków

The Jagiellonian University founded in 1364 by Casimir III in Kraków was the first institution of higher learning established in Poland, and is one of the oldest universities still in continuous operation.[323] Poland's Commission of National Education (Komisja Edukacji Narodowej), established in 1773, was the world's first state ministry of education.[324][325]

The framework for primary, secondary and higher tertiary education are established by the Ministry of Education and Science. Kindergarten attendance is optional for children aged between three and five, with one year being compulsory for six-year-olds.[326][327] Primary education traditionally begins at the age of seven, although children aged six can attend at the request of their parents or guardians.[327] Elementary school spans eight grades and secondary schooling is dependent on student preference – a four-year high school (liceum), a five-year technical school (technikum) or various vocational studies (szkoła branżowa) can be pursued by each individual pupil.[327] A liceum or technikum is concluded with a maturity exit exam (matura), which must be passed in order to apply for a university or other institutions of higher learning.[328]

In Poland, there are over 500 university-level institutions,[329] with technical, medical, economic, agricultural, pedagogical, theological, musical, maritime and military faculties.[330] The University of Warsaw and Warsaw Polytechnic, the University of Wrocław, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the University of Technology in Gdańsk are among the most prominent.[331] There are three conventional academic degrees in Poland – licencjat or inżynier (first cycle qualification), magister (second cycle qualification) and doktor (third cycle qualification).[332] In 2018, the Programme for International Student Assessment, coordinated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ranked Poland's educational system higher than the OECD average; the study showed that students in Poland perform better academically than in most OECD countries.[333]

Culture

The Polish White Eagle is Poland's enduring national and cultural symbol.

The culture of Poland is closely connected with its intricate 1,000-year history, and forms an important constituent in the Western civilisation.[334] The Poles take great pride in their national identity which is often associated with the colours white and red, and exuded by the expression biało-czerwoni ("whitereds").[335] National symbols, chiefly the crowned white-tailed eagle, are often visible on clothing, insignia and emblems.[336] The architectural monuments of great importance are protected by the National Heritage Board of Poland.[337] Over 100 of the country's most significant tangible wonders were enlisted onto the Historic Monuments Register,[338] with further 17 being recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.[339]

Holidays and traditions

All Saints' Day on 1 November is one of the most important public holidays in Poland.

There are 13 government-approved annual public holidays – New Year on 1 January, Three Kings' Day on 6 January, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, Labour Day on 1 May, Constitution Day on 3 May, Pentecost, Corpus Christi, Feast of the Assumption on 15 August, All Saints' Day on 1 November, Independence Day on 11 November and Christmastide on 25 and 26 December.[340]

Particular traditions and superstitious customs observed in Poland are not found elsewhere in Europe. Though Christmas Eve (Wigilia) is not a public holiday, it remains the most memorable day of the entire year. Trees are decorated on 24 December, hay is placed under the tablecloth to resemble Jesus' manger, Christmas wafers (opłatek) are shared between gathered guests and a twelve-dish meatless supper is served that same evening when the first star appears.[341] An empty plate and seat are symbolically left at the table for an unexpected guest.[342] On occasion, carolers journey around smaller towns with a folk Turoń creature until the Lent period.[343]

A widely-popular doughnut and sweet pastry feast occurs on Fat Thursday, usually 52 days prior to Easter.[344] Eggs for Holy Sunday are painted and placed in decorated baskets that are previously blessed by clergymen in churches on Easter Saturday. Easter Monday is celebrated with pagan dyngus festivities, where the youth is engaged in water fights.[345][344] Cemeteries and graves of the deceased are annually visited by family members on All Saints' Day; tombstones are cleaned as a sign of respect and candles are lit to honour the dead on an unprecedented scale.[346]

Music

Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin was a renowned classical composer and virtuoso pianist.
Artur Rubinstein
Artur Rubinstein was one of the greatest concert pianists of the 20th century.

Artists from Poland, including famous musicians such as Frédéric Chopin, Artur Rubinstein, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Wieniawski, Karol Szymanowski, and traditional, regionalised folk composers create a lively and diverse music scene, which even recognises its own music genres, such as sung poetry and disco polo.[347]

The origins of Polish music can be traced to the 13th century; manuscripts have been found in Stary Sącz containing polyphonic compositions related to the Parisian Notre Dame School. Other early compositions, such as the melody of Bogurodzica and God Is Born (a coronation polonaise tune for Polish kings by an unknown composer), may also date back to this period, however, the first known notable composer, Nicholas of Radom, lived in the 15th century. Diomedes Cato, a native-born Italian who lived in Kraków, became a renowned lutenist at the court of Sigismund III; he not only imported some of the musical styles from southern Europe but blended them with native folk music.[348]

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Polish baroque composers wrote liturgical music and secular compositions such as concertos and sonatas for voices or instruments. At the end of the 18th century, Polish classical music evolved into national forms like the polonaise. Wojciech Bogusławski is accredited with composing the first Polish national opera, titled Krakowiacy i Górale, which premiered in 1794.[349]

Poland today has an active music scene, with the jazz and metal genres being particularly popular among the contemporary populace. Polish jazz musicians such as Krzysztof Komeda created a unique style, which was most famous in the 1960s and 1970s and continues to be popular to this day. Poland has also become a major venue for large-scale music festivals, chief among which are the Pol'and'Rock Festival,[350] Open'er Festival, Opole Festival and Sopot Festival.[351]

Art

Jan Matejko
Jan Matejko, leading Polish history painter whose works depict Poland's heritage and key historical events
Lady with an Ermine
Lady with an Ermine (1490) by Leonardo da Vinci is displayed in the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków.

Art in Poland has invariably reflected European trends, with Polish painting pivoted on folklore, Catholic themes, historicism and realism, but also on impressionism and romanticism. An important art movement was Young Poland, developed in the late 19th century for promoting decadence, symbolism and art nouveau. Since the 20th century Polish documentary art and photography has enjoyed worldwide fame, especially the Polish School of Posters.[352] One of the most distinguished paintings in Poland is Lady with an Ermine (1490) by Leonardo da Vinci.[353]

Internationally renowned Polish artists include Jan Matejko (historicism), Jacek Malczewski (symbolism), Stanisław Wyspiański (art nouveau), Henryk Siemiradzki (Roman academic art), Tamara de Lempicka (art deco), and Zdzisław Beksiński (dystopian surrealism).[354] Several Polish artists and sculptors were also acclaimed representatives of avant-garde, constructivist, minimalist and contemporary art movements, including Katarzyna Kobro, Władysław Strzemiński, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Alina Szapocznikow, Igor Mitoraj and Wilhelm Sasnal.

Notable art academies in Poland include the Kraków Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Art Academy of Szczecin, University of Fine Arts in Poznań and the Geppert Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław. Contemporary works are exhibited at Zachęta, Ujazdów, and MOCAK art galleries.[355]

Architecture

Saint Mary's Church in Kraków
St. Mary's Basilica on the Main Market Square in Kraków is an example of Brick Gothic architecture.
Poznań City Hall
The 16th-century City Hall of Poznań illustrates the Renaissance style.

The architecture of Poland reflects European architectural styles, with strong historical influences derived from Italy, Germany, and the Low Countries.[356] Settlements founded on Magdeburg Law evolved around central marketplaces (plac, rynek), encircled by a grid or concentric network of streets forming an old town (stare miasto).[357] Poland's traditional landscape is characterised by ornate churches, city tenements and town halls.[358] Cloth hall markets (sukiennice) were once an abundant feature of Polish urban architecture.[359] The mountainous south is known for its Zakopane chalet style, which originated in Poland.[360]

The earliest architectonic trend was Romanesque (c. 11th century), but its traces in the form of circular rotundas are scarce.[361] The arrival of brick Gothic (c. 13th century) defined Poland's most distinguishable medieval style, exuded by the castles of Malbork, Lidzbark, Gniew and Kwidzyn as well as the cathedrals of Gniezno, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Frombork and Kraków.[362] The Renaissance (16th century) gave rise to Italianate courtyards, defensive palazzos and mausoleums.[363] Decorative attics with pinnacles and arcade loggias are elements of Polish Mannerism, found in Poznań, Lublin and Zamość.[364][365] Foreign artisans often came at the expense of kings or nobles, whose palaces were built thereafter in the Baroque, Neoclassical and Revivalist styles (17th–19th century).[366]

Primary building materials comprising timber or red brick were extensively utilised in Polish folk architecture,[367] and the concept of a fortified church was commonplace.[368] Secular structures such as dworek manor houses, farmsteads, granaries, mills and country inns are still present in some regions or in open air museums (skansen).[369] However, traditional construction methods faded in the early-mid 20th century due to urbanisation and the construction of functionalist housing estates and residential areas.[370]

Literature

Adam Mickiewicz
Adam Mickiewicz, whose national epic poem Pan Tadeusz (1834) is considered a masterpiece of Polish literature
Joseph Conrad-Korzeniowski
Joseph Conrad, author of popular books such as Heart of Darkness (1899) and Nostromo (1904)

The literary works of Poland have traditionally concentrated around the themes of patriotism, spirituality, social allegories and moral narratives.[371] The earliest examples of Polish literature, written in Latin, date to the 12th century.[372] The first Polish phrase Day ut ia pobrusa, a ti poziwai (officially translated as "Let me, I shall grind, and you take a rest") was documented in the Book of Henryków and reflected the use of a quern-stone.[373] It has been since included in UNESCO's Memory of World Register.[374] The oldest extant manuscripts of fine prose in Old Polish are the Holy Cross Sermons and the Bible of Queen Sophia,[375] and Calendarium cracoviense (1474) is Poland's oldest surviving print.[376]

The poets Jan Kochanowski and Nicholas Rey became the first Renaissance authors to write in Polish.[377] Prime literarians of the period included Dantiscus, Modrevius, Goslicius, Sarbievius and theologian John Laski. In the Baroque era, Jesuit philosophy and local culture greatly influenced the literary techniques of Jan Andrzej Morsztyn (Marinism) and Jan Chryzostom Pasek (sarmatian memoirs).[378] During the Enlightenment, playwright Ignacy Krasicki composed the first Polish-language novel.[379] Poland's leading 19th-century romantic poets were the Three BardsJuliusz Słowacki, Zygmunt Krasiński and Adam Mickiewicz, whose epic poem Pan Tadeusz (1834) is a national classic.[380] In the 20th century, the English impressionist and early modernist writings of Joseph Conrad made him one of the most eminent novelists of all time.[381][382]

Contemporary Polish literature is versatile, with its fantasy genre having been particularly praised.[383] The philosophical sci-fi novel Solaris by Stanisław Lem and The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski are celebrated works of world fiction.[384] Poland has six Nobel-Prize winning authors – Henryk Sienkiewicz (Quo Vadis; 1905), Władysław Reymont (The Peasants; 1924), Isaac Bashevis Singer (1978), Czesław Miłosz (1980), Wisława Szymborska (1996), and Olga Tokarczuk (2018).[385][386][387]

Cuisine

Selection of popular traditional dishes from Poland, including hunter's stew, stuffed cabbage rolls, rye soup, pierogi, potato pancakes, and rye bread

The cuisine of Poland is eclectic and shares similarities with other regional cuisines. Among the staple or regional dishes are pierogi (filled dumplings), kielbasa (sausage), bigos (hunter's stew), kotlet schabowy (breaded cutlet), gołąbki (cabbage rolls), barszcz (borscht), żurek (soured rye soup), oscypek (smoked cheese), and tomato soup.[388][389] Bagels, a type of bread roll, also originated in Poland.[390]

Traditional dishes are hearty and abundant in pork, potatoes, eggs, cream, mushrooms, regional herbs, and sauce.[391] Polish food is characteristic for its various kinds of kluski (soft dumplings), soups, cereals and a variety of breads and open sandwiches. Salads, including mizeria (cucumber salad), coleslaw, sauerkraut, carrot and seared beets, are common. Meals conclude with a dessert such as sernik (cheesecake), makowiec (poppy seed roll), or napoleonka (mille-feuille) cream pie.[392]

Traditional alcoholic beverages include honey mead, widespread since the 13th century, beer, wine and vodka.[393] The world's first written mention of vodka originates from Poland.[394] The most popular alcoholic drinks at present are beer and wine which took over from vodka more popular in the years 1980–1998.[395] Grodziskie, sometimes referred to as "Polish Champagne", is an example of a historical beer style from Poland.[396] Tea remains common in Polish society since the 19th century, whilst coffee is drunk widely since the 18th century.[397]

Fashion and design

Traditional polonaise dresses, 1780–1785

Several Polish designers and stylists left a legacy of beauty inventions and cosmetics; including Helena Rubinstein and Maksymilian Faktorowicz, who created a line of cosmetics company in California known as Max Factor and formulated the term "make-up" which is now widely used as an alternative for describing cosmetics.[398] Faktorowicz is also credited with inventing modern eyelash extensions.[399][400] As of 2020, Poland possesses the sixth-largest cosmetic market in Europe. Inglot Cosmetics is the country's largest beauty products manufacturer,[401] and the retail store Reserved is the country's most successful clothing store chain.[402]

Historically, fashion has been an important aspect of Poland's national consciousness or cultural manifestation, and the country developed its own style known as Sarmatism at the turn of the 17th century.[403] The national dress and etiquette of Poland also reached the court at Versailles, where French dresses inspired by Polish garments included robe à la polonaise and the witzchoura. The scope of influence also entailed furniture; rococo Polish beds with canopies became fashionable in French châteaus.[404] Sarmatism eventually faded in the wake of the 18th century.[403]

Cinema

Andrzej Wajda, the recipient of an Honorary Oscar, the Palme d'Or, as well as Honorary Golden Lion and Golden Bear awards

The cinema of Poland traces its origins to 1894, when inventor Kazimierz Prószyński patented the Pleograph and subsequently the Aeroscope, the first successful hand-held operated film camera.[405][406] In 1897, Jan Szczepanik constructed the Telectroscope, a prototype of television transmitting images and sounds.[405] They are both recognised as pioneers of cinematography.[405] Poland has also produced influential directors, film producers and actors, many of whom were active in Hollywood, chiefly Roman Polański, Andrzej Wajda, Pola Negri, Samuel Goldwyn, the Warner brothers, Max Fleischer, Agnieszka Holland, Krzysztof Zanussi and Krzysztof Kieślowski.[407]

The themes commonly explored in Polish cinema include history, drama, war, culture and black realism (film noir).[405][406] In the 21st-century, two Polish productions won the Academy AwardsThe Pianist (2002) by Roman Polański and Ida (2013) by Paweł Pawlikowski.[406] Polish cinematography also created many well-received comedies. The most known of them were made by Stanisław Bareja and Juliusz Machulski.

Media

According to the Eurobarometer Report (2015), 78 percent of Poles watch the television daily.[408] In 2020, 79 percent of the population read the news more than once a day, placing it second behind Sweden.[409] Poland has a number of major domestic media outlets, chiefly the public broadcasting corporation TVP, free-to-air channels TVN and Polsat as well as 24-hour news channels TVP Info, TVN 24 and Polsat News.[410] Public television extends its operations to genre-specific programmes such as TVP Sport, TVP Historia, TVP Kultura, TVP Rozrywka, TVP Seriale and TVP Polonia, the latter a state-run channel dedicated to the transmission of Polish-language telecasts for the Polish diaspora. In 2020, the most popular types of newspapers were tabloids and socio-political news dailies.[408]

Poland is a major European hub for video game developers and among the most successful companies are CD Projekt, Techland, The Farm 51, CI Games and People Can Fly.[411] Some of the popular video games developed in Poland include The Witcher trilogy and Cyberpunk 2077.[411] The Polish city of Katowice also hosts Intel Extreme Masters, one of the biggest esports events in the world.[411]

Sports

The Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw, home of the national football team

Motorcycle Speedway, volleyball and association football are among the country's most popular sports, with a rich history of international competitions.[412][413] Track and field, basketball, handball, boxing, MMA, ski jumping, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, tennis, fencing, swimming, and weightlifting are other popular sports. The golden era of football in Poland occurred throughout the 1970s and went on until the early 1980s when the Polish national football team achieved their best results in any FIFA World Cup competitions finishing third place in the 1974 and the 1982 tournaments. The team won a gold medal in football at the 1972 Summer Olympics and two silver medals, in 1976 and in 1992. In 2012, Poland co-hosted the UEFA European Football Championship.[414]

As of August 2023, the Polish men's national volleyball team is ranked as first in the world.[415] The team won a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics and the gold medal at the FIVB World Championship 1974, 2014 and 2018.[416][417] Mariusz Pudzianowski is a highly successful strongman competitor and has won more World's Strongest Man titles than any other competitor in the world, winning the event in 2008 for the fifth time.[418]

Poland has made a distinctive mark in motorcycle speedway racing. The top Ekstraliga division has one of the highest average attendances for any sport in Poland. The national speedway team of Poland is one of the major teams in international speedway. Individually, Poland has three Speedway Grand Prix World Champions, with the most successful being three-time World Champion Bartosz Zmarzlik who won back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2020 as well as 2022 and 2023. In 2021, Poland finished runners-up in the Speedway of Nations world championship final, held in Manchester, England in 2021.[419]

In the 21st century, the country has seen a growth of popularity of tennis and produced a number of successful tennis players including World No. 1 Iga Świątek, winner of four Grand Slam singles titles; former World No. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska, winner of 20 WTA career singles titles including 2015 WTA Finals; Top 10 ATP player Hubert Hurkacz; and former World No. 1 doubles player Łukasz Kubot whose career highlights include winning two Grand Slam doubles titles – 2014 Australian Open and 2017 Wimbledon Championships. Poland also won the 2015 Hopman Cup with Agnieszka Radwańska and Jerzy Janowicz representing the country.[420][421]

Poles made significant achievements in mountaineering, in particular, in the Himalayas and the winter ascending of the eight-thousanders. Polish mountains are one of the tourist attractions of the country. Hiking, climbing, skiing and mountain biking and attract numerous tourists every year from all over the world.[262] Water sports are the most popular summer recreation activities, with ample locations for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing especially in the northern regions of the country.[422]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "The dukes (dux) were originally the commanders of an armed retinue (drużyna) with which they broke the authority of the chieftains of the clans, thus transforming the original tribal organization into a territorial unit."[4]
  2. ^ "Mieszko accepted Roman Catholicism via Bohemia in 966. A missionary bishopric directly dependent on the papacy was established in Poznań. This was the true beginning of Polish history, for Christianity was a carrier of Western civilization with which Poland was henceforth associated."[5]
  3. ^ Template:Lang-pl [ˈpɔlska]
  4. ^ Template:Lang-pl [ʐɛt͡ʂpɔsˈpɔlita ˈpɔlska]
  5. ^ Poland borders the Kaliningrad Oblast, an exclave of Russia.

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