The Republic of Poland, commonly known as Poland, is a country situated in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces, known as voivodeships, covering an area of 312,700 km² (120,700 sq mi). Poland is the fifth most populous member state of the European Union, with over 38 million residents. The capital and largest city is Warsaw, which is a significant metropolis alongside other major cities like Kraków, Wrocław, Łódź, Poznań, Gdańsk, and Szczecin.
Geography
Poland’s landscape is varied, spanning from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south. The country’s longest river is the Vistula, and its highest point is Mount Rysy in the Tatra Mountains, part of the Carpathians. Poland’s geographical positioning places it at the borders of Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, 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.
The Central European Plain plays a significant role in Poland’s topography, characterized by a relatively flat terrain. The country’s coastline along the Baltic Sea is notable for its sand dune fields and coastal ridges. In the south, the landscape transforms into the mountainous regions of the Sudetes and Carpathians, which are significant natural barriers and tourist attractions.
Demographics
As of 2021, Poland’s population stands at approximately 38.2 million, making it the ninth-most populous country in Europe and the fifth-most populous in the European Union. The population density is about 122 inhabitants per square kilometer. Despite this significant population, Poland has one of the world’s lowest total fertility rates, estimated at 1.42 children per woman in 2019.
Poland is predominantly urbanized, with about 60% of its population residing in urban areas or major cities and the remaining 40% in rural regions. The most populous administrative region is the Masovian Voivodeship, with Warsaw being the most populous city. Warsaw’s metropolitan area alone houses approximately 2-3 million people, reflecting the country’s urban concentration.
Ethnically, the vast majority of the population identifies as Polish. Other ethnic groups include Silesians, Kashubians, and Germans, with a notable presence of Ukrainian migrant workers and other nationalities contributing to Poland’s demographic diversity.