Poland
At a glance
- Official language
- Polish
- Currency
- Złoty (PLZ)
- Government
- Unitary state
- Legislature
- Parliament of Poland
- Demonym
- Polish
- Time zones
- Central European Summer Time, Central European Time, UTC+01:00, UTC+02:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +48
- Internet TLD
- .pl
- ISO 3166
- PL
- Established
- 1918
- Highest point
- Rysy (2,501 m (8,205 ft))
- National anthem
- Poland Is Not Yet Lost
Facts via Wikidata.
Economy and developmentHigh income
Ranks are among sovereign countries with data; ★ marks a top-5% finish. Sources: World Bank Open Data and Our World in Data (UNDP, UN, V-Dem; CC BY 4.0). Each figure is the most recent year available.
Alliances & Organisations4 full memberships
Full memberDashed border = Candidate / ApplicantItalic = Dialogue / Observer
Leadership History66 leaders · click to expand
Third Polish Republic
Karol Nawrocki✦ Current
2025–PresentPresident
Donald Tusk✦ Current
2023–PresentPrime Minister
Mateusz Morawiecki
2017–2023Prime Minister
Beata Szydło
2015–2017Prime Minister
Andrzej Duda
2015–2025President
Ewa Kopacz
2014–2015Prime Minister
Bronisław Komorowski
2010–2015President
Bronisław Komorowski
2010–2010Acting President
Donald Tusk
2007–2014Prime Minister
Jarosław Kaczyński
2006–2007Prime Minister
Lech Kaczyński
2005–2010President
Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz
2005–2006Prime Minister
Marek Belka
2004–2005Prime Minister
Leszek Miller
2001–2004Prime Minister
Jerzy Buzek
1997–2001Prime Minister
Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz
1996–1997Prime Minister
Aleksander Kwaśniewski
1995–2005President
Józef Oleksy
1995–1996Prime Minister
Waldemar Pawlak
1993–1995Prime Minister
Hanna Suchocka
1992–1993Prime Minister
Jan Olszewski
1991–1992Prime Minister
Jan Krzysztof Bielecki
1991–1991Prime Minister
Lech Wałęsa
1990–1995President
Tadeusz Mazowiecki
1989–1991Prime Minister
Wojciech Jaruzelski
1989–1990President
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Karol Nawrocki✦ Current | President | 2025–Present |
| Donald Tusk✦ Current | Prime Minister | 2023–Present |
| Mateusz Morawiecki | Prime Minister | 2017–2023 |
| Beata Szydło | Prime Minister | 2015–2017 |
| Andrzej Duda | President | 2015–2025 |
| Ewa Kopacz | Prime Minister | 2014–2015 |
| Bronisław Komorowski | President | 2010–2015 |
| Bronisław Komorowski | Acting President | 2010–2010 |
| Donald Tusk | Prime Minister | 2007–2014 |
| Jarosław Kaczyński | Prime Minister | 2006–2007 |
| Lech Kaczyński | President | 2005–2010 |
| Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz | Prime Minister | 2005–2006 |
| Marek Belka | Prime Minister | 2004–2005 |
| Leszek Miller | Prime Minister | 2001–2004 |
| Jerzy Buzek | Prime Minister | 1997–2001 |
| Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz | Prime Minister | 1996–1997 |
| Aleksander Kwaśniewski | President | 1995–2005 |
| Józef Oleksy | Prime Minister | 1995–1996 |
| Waldemar Pawlak | Prime Minister | 1993–1995 |
| Hanna Suchocka | Prime Minister | 1992–1993 |
| Jan Olszewski | Prime Minister | 1991–1992 |
| Jan Krzysztof Bielecki | Prime Minister | 1991–1991 |
| Lech Wałęsa | President | 1990–1995 |
| Tadeusz Mazowiecki | Prime Minister | 1989–1991 |
| Wojciech Jaruzelski | President | 1989–1990 |
Polish People's Republic
Wojciech Jaruzelski
1981–1989General Secretary
Stanisław Kania
1980–1981General Secretary
Edward Gierek
1970–1980General Secretary
Władysław Gomułka
1956–1970General Secretary
Edward Ochab
1956–1956General Secretary
⚠️ Bolesław Bierut
1945–1956President
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Wojciech Jaruzelski | General Secretary | 1981–1989 |
| Stanisław Kania | General Secretary | 1980–1981 |
| Edward Gierek | General Secretary | 1970–1980 |
| Władysław Gomułka | General Secretary | 1956–1970 |
| Edward Ochab | General Secretary | 1956–1956 |
| ⚠️ Bolesław Bierut | President | 1945–1956 |
Government-in-Exile / WWII
Władysław Sikorski
1939–1943Prime Minister (in exile)
Władysław Raczkiewicz
1939–1945President (in exile)
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Władysław Sikorski | Prime Minister (in exile) | 1939–1943 |
| Władysław Raczkiewicz | President (in exile) | 1939–1945 |
Second Polish Republic
Ignacy Mościcki
1926–1939President
Józef Piłsudski
1926–1935De facto leader (post-May Coup)
Stanisław Wojciechowski
1922–1926President
Gabriel Narutowicz
1922–1922President
Józef Piłsudski
1918–1922President (Chief of State)
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Ignacy Mościcki | President | 1926–1939 |
| Józef Piłsudski | De facto leader (post-May Coup) | 1926–1935 |
| Stanisław Wojciechowski | President | 1922–1926 |
| Gabriel Narutowicz | President | 1922–1922 |
| Józef Piłsudski | President (Chief of State) | 1918–1922 |
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
👑 Stanisław II August Poniatowski
1764–1795King
👑 Augustus III
1733–1763King
👑 Augustus II the Strong
1697–1733King
👑 John III Sobieski
1674–1696King
👑 Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki
1669–1673King
👑 John II Casimir Vasa
1648–1668King
👑 Władysław IV Vasa
1632–1648King
👑 Sigismund III Vasa
1587–1632King
👑 Stephen Báthory
1576–1586King
👑 Henry de Valois
1573–1575King
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Stanisław II August Poniatowski | King | 1764–1795 |
| 👑 Augustus III | King | 1733–1763 |
| 👑 Augustus II the Strong | King | 1697–1733 |
| 👑 John III Sobieski | King | 1674–1696 |
| 👑 Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki | King | 1669–1673 |
| 👑 John II Casimir Vasa | King | 1648–1668 |
| 👑 Władysław IV Vasa | King | 1632–1648 |
| 👑 Sigismund III Vasa | King | 1587–1632 |
| 👑 Stephen Báthory | King | 1576–1586 |
| 👑 Henry de Valois | King | 1573–1575 |
Kingdom of Poland
👑 Sigismund II Augustus
1548–1572King
👑 Sigismund I the Old
1506–1548King
👑 Alexander Jagiellon
1501–1506King
👑 John I Albert
1492–1501King
👑 Casimir IV Jagiellon
1447–1492King
👑 Władysław III
1434–1444King
👑 Władysław II Jagiełło
1386–1434King
👑 Jadwiga
1384–1399Queen
👑 Louis I
1370–1382King
👑 Casimir III the Great
1333–1370King
👑 Władysław I the Elbow-high
1320–1333King
👑 Bolesław III Wrymouth
1107–1138Duke
👑 Władysław I Herman
1079–1102Duke
👑 Bolesław II the Generous
1058–1079King
👑 Casimir I the Restorer
1039–1058Duke
👑 Mieszko II Lambert
1025–1031King
👑 Bolesław I the Brave
992–1025King
👑 Mieszko I
960–992Duke
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Sigismund II Augustus | King | 1548–1572 |
| 👑 Sigismund I the Old | King | 1506–1548 |
| 👑 Alexander Jagiellon | King | 1501–1506 |
| 👑 John I Albert | King | 1492–1501 |
| 👑 Casimir IV Jagiellon | King | 1447–1492 |
| 👑 Władysław III | King | 1434–1444 |
| 👑 Władysław II Jagiełło | King | 1386–1434 |
| 👑 Jadwiga | Queen | 1384–1399 |
| 👑 Louis I | King | 1370–1382 |
| 👑 Casimir III the Great | King | 1333–1370 |
| 👑 Władysław I the Elbow-high | King | 1320–1333 |
| 👑 Bolesław III Wrymouth | Duke | 1107–1138 |
| 👑 Władysław I Herman | Duke | 1079–1102 |
| 👑 Bolesław II the Generous | King | 1058–1079 |
| 👑 Casimir I the Restorer | Duke | 1039–1058 |
| 👑 Mieszko II Lambert | King | 1025–1031 |
| 👑 Bolesław I the Brave | King | 992–1025 |
| 👑 Mieszko I | Duke | 960–992 |
Power over timeThe Power Atlas →
The powerline is the headline share of world power, running from the state’s first ranked year (benchmark estimates with wide error bars before 1816). Latent power is material mass a state could mobilise (population, manpower, heavy industry). Recognised power is what the system actually treats it as (military spending, productive economy, reach, and status such as a Security Council seat or nuclear arsenal). When latent runs above recognised, a power is rising or under-rated; when recognised runs higher, it is punching above its weight or coasting on prestige. Material sub-indices run 1816 through 2016.
Conflicts since 19451 interstate war · click to expand
| Conflict | Years | Against | Combat deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia | 1968 | Czechoslovakia | 254+ |
Bold = principal belligerent. Source: Wikipedia, “List of interstate wars since 1945.”
Billionaires11 · $31.3B combined · click to expand
| # | Name | Net worth | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 704 | Michal Solowow | $5.9B | Finance & Investments |
| 772 | Jerzy Starak | $5.5B | Healthcare |
| 949 | Tomasz Biernacki | $4.5B | Fashion & Retail |
| 1489 | Zygmunt Solorz & family | $2.8B | Media & Entertainment |
| 1886 | Pawel Marchewka | $2.2B | Technology |
| 2026 | Dominika Kulczyk(inherited) | $2.1B | Finance & Investments |
| 2164 | Zbigniew Juroszek & family | $1.9B | Diversified |
| 2273 | Sebastian Kulczyk(inherited) | $1.8B | Finance & Investments |
| 2366 | Mati Staniszewski | $1.8B | Technology |
| 2366 | Piotr Dabkowski(inherited) | $1.8B | Technology |
| 3181 | Rafal Brzoska | $1.1B | Logistics |
Source: Forbes real-time billionaires (via the rtb-api project). Net worth as of the latest monthly snapshot.
National Teams
Poland on the international stage. Click a card for the full record.
National Teams Champions
Every major championship won by Poland's national teams, newest first. 4 in total.
| Year | Date | Champion | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | — | Poland | FIVB World Championship |
| 2014 | — | Poland | FIVB World Championship |
| 1976 | — | Poland | Olympic men's volleyball |
| 1974 | — | Poland | FIVB World Championship |
Provinces
16 entries listed under Poland. Click any to see its metros and footprint.
Poland metro footprint
71 metrosPolygons shaded by composite tier. Hover for rank, click to open the metro page. Boundaries derived from Overture Maps administrative divisions; metros without source coverage are omitted.