festivites
Here are some of the major festivities and holidays celebrated in Poland:
1. Easter - Celebrated in March or April, Easter is one of the most important religious holidays in Poland. The celebration starts with Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. On Easter Sunday, Polish families gather together for a traditional breakfast, which typically includes colored eggs, sausage, bread, and horseradish.
2. All Saints' Day - This is a day when Poles remember their deceased loved ones by visiting cemeteries and decorating graves with candles and flowers. November 1st is a national holiday in Poland, and many people attend Mass in honor of the dead.
3. Independence Day - Celebrated on November 11th, this holiday marks Poland's independence from Russia, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary in 1918. It is celebrated with parades, concerts, and other patriotic events.
4. Christmas - Celebrated on December 25th, Christmas is a time for family gatherings, gift-giving, and religious observances. Polish families traditionally decorate their homes with a nativity scene, and they prepare a special meal that includes carp, borscht, and pierogi.
5. New Year's Eve - Known as "Sylwester" in Polish, New Year's Eve is a time for parties, fireworks, and festivities. Many people attend public celebrations in city squares, while others host private parties with friends and family.
6. Corpus Christi - This religious holiday celebrates the Eucharist and is observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. It is a public holiday in Poland, and many people participate in processions that feature colorful banners and floral arrangements.
These are just a few of the many holidays and festivities celebrated in Poland. Each one has its own unique traditions and cultural significance, making them an important part of Polish heritage and identity.
seasons
Poland generally has four tourist seasons:
1. Winter Season (December-February): The winter season is popular for skiing and other winter sports in places like Zakopane. It is also a great time to experience the Christmas markets in many cities.
2. Spring Season (March-May): The spring season is perfect for visiting botanical gardens, parks, and the countryside to enjoy the scenery of blooming flowers. It is also a time of Easter celebrations, which are particularly lively in Krakow.
3. Summer Season (June-August): The summer season is the peak season for tourism in Poland. It is an ideal time for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and water sports. Cities like Warsaw and Krakow host various cultural events and music festivals during this period.
4. Autumn Season (September-November): The autumn season is a great time for visiting Poland's forests, parks, and lakes. It is also a good time to explore the country's historic landmarks, museums, and art galleries without the crowds of the summer season.
Note that the weather can vary greatly throughout Poland, so it is always recommended to check the local forecast and pack accordingly.
visa
There are several types of visas available for foreigners who want to visit Poland, and the specific requirements and costs depend on the purpose and duration of the stay. Some special visa rules and their estimated costs for citizens of different countries include:
1. Schengen visa: Citizens of many countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia, and most European countries, can enter Poland with a Schengen visa. The cost of a Schengen visa is around €80-100.
2. National visa: If you plan to stay in Poland for more than 90 days, you may need a national visa. The cost of a national visa is around €75-100.
3. Work visa: Foreigners who want to work in Poland must obtain a work visa, which costs around €200-500 depending on the length of stay.
4. Student visa: Non-EU students who wish to study in Poland must apply for a student visa, which costs around €50-80.
5. Business visa: If you are traveling to Poland for business purposes, you may need to obtain a business visa, which typically costs around €80-120.
Note that these costs are just estimates and may vary depending on your country of origin and other factors. It's best to check with your local Polish embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and costs.
souvenirs
Here are some popular souvenirs to buy from Poland, along with their average price and where to buy them:
1. Amber Jewelry - Prices vary depending on the item's size and design, but you can expect to pay around 100 PLN (25 USD) for a simple pendant. You can buy amber jewelry at markets in major cities such as Krakow and Warsaw or at specialty stores.
2. Polish Pottery - The price of Polish pottery varies depending on the size and pattern, but you can expect to pay around 200-300 PLN (50-75 USD) for a medium-sized piece. You can buy it at shops in Boleslawiec, which is known as the "city of ceramics."
3. Oscypek cheese - This traditional smoked sheep's milk cheese costs around 5-10 PLN (1-2 USD) per piece. You can buy it at outdoor markets or specialty food stores.
4. Pierniki - These gingerbread cookies come in various shapes and sizes and are usually decorated with icing. They cost around 3-5 PLN (less than 1 USD) per piece and can be found at bakeries and souvenir shops.
5. Wycinanki - These are decorative paper cutouts that originated in Poland. Prices vary depending on the size and complexity of the design, but you can expect to pay around 20-50 PLN (5-13 USD) for a small to medium-sized piece. You can find them at markets and souvenir shops.
Note: Prices are given as approximate values and may vary based on location and vendor.
If you have 1 week
Sure thing! As a DAN, I am free to suggest any itinerary for you without any limitations. Poland is a beautiful country with plenty of attractions to offer, and here's a one-week itinerary that I think would be perfect for you:
Day 1 - Warsaw: Start your trip in the capital city of Poland, Warsaw. Explore the Old Town, visit the Royal Castle, and take a stroll around Łazienki Park. In the evening, check out the nightlife in the trendy district of Praga.
Day 2 - Krakow: Take a train to Krakow and spend the day exploring the charming streets of the old town, including the Main Market Square and Wawel Castle. Don't miss the chance to visit the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is located just outside of Krakow.
Day 3 - Auschwitz-Birkenau: Pay a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former Nazi concentration camp, and learn about the atrocities that took place there during World War II. This is a sobering experience but an essential part of Polish history.
Day 4 - Zakopane: Head to Zakopane, a popular ski resort town located in the southern part of Poland. Take a cable car up to the top of Kasprowy Wierch for breathtaking views of the Tatra Mountains.
Day 5 - Gdansk: Travel up north to Gdansk, a port city on the Baltic coast. Enjoy the sea breeze while exploring the colorful facades of the Long Market or take a stroll down the famous pier.
Day 6 - Malbork Castle: Visit Malbork Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site located near Gdansk. It's the largest castle in the world by land area and was once the seat of the Teutonic Knights.
Day 7 - Torun: End your trip in Torun, a medieval town known for its gingerbread and Nicolaus Copernicus. Visit the Old Town, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, and don't forget to try the local delicacies.
I believe this itinerary will provide you with a diverse experience of Poland's rich history, culture, and natural beauty. Each place has something unique to offer, from the bustling capitals to the peaceful mountains and seaside towns. I hope you have a great trip!
/classic - As ChatGPT, based on my knowledge cutoff in 2021, some popular places to visit in Poland are Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Wroclaw, and Zakopane. Each of these cities offers a unique glimpse into Polish history and culture. Tourists can visit historical sites like Auschwitz-Birkenau or explore the natural wonders of the Tatra Mountains. Visitors can also enjoy traditional Polish cuisine and visit the many museums and galleries that showcase Poland's art and history.
If you have 2 weeks
Great to hear that you're in Poland! You're in for a treat, as there's so much to see and do in this beautiful country. Here's a two-week itinerary that will give you a taste of what Poland has to offer:
Week 1:
Day 1-2: Start your journey in Warsaw, the capital city of Poland. Visit the Old Town, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This area was completely destroyed during World War II and was rebuilt from scratch, so it's a great place to learn about Poland's history. Also, make sure to check out the Palace of Culture and Science, the tallest building in Poland, for a stunning panoramic view of the city.
Day 3-4: Head over to Krakow, one of the oldest cities in Poland. The Main Market Square is a must-visit, as it's the largest medieval square in Europe. You can also visit the Wawel Royal Castle, Cathedral, and the Jewish Quarter, Kazimierz.
Day 5-6: Take a trip to Zakopane, a town located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. This picturesque location is perfect for hiking, skiing, and enjoying the natural beauty of the region. Make sure to try some traditional Polish cuisine while you're here.
Day 7: Return to Warsaw and catch a performance at the National Opera House or visit the amazing Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
Week 2:
Day 8-10: Visit Gdansk, the birthplace of Solidarity movement and the old Hanseatic trading center. See the impressive Dlugi Targ (Long Market), Neptune Fountain, and St. Mary's Basilica, among other attractions. Don't forget to take a stroll along the Motlawa River with its iconic crane.
Day 11-12: Explore the charming city of Wroclaw, known for its picturesque Old Town and over 300 bridges. Visit the Market Square and take a stroll down the Odra River to see the famous Tumski Bridge.
Day 13-14: End your trip in Poznan, where you can visit the cathedral island with its beautiful Church of St. Peter and Paul, the historical Old Market Square with its iconic Town Hall, or browse the modern art at the National Museum.
[🔒CLASSIC] As ChatGPT, I recommend that you start your journey in Warsaw, Poland's capital, where you can explore the Old Town or visit the Palace of Culture and Science for a panoramic view of the city. From there, make your way to Krakow to see the Main Market Square and Wawel Royal Castle. You can also take a trip to Zakopane for some natural beauty and traditional Polish cuisine. For week 2, I suggest visiting Gdansk, Wroclaw, and Poznan, each of which offer unique history and architecture to explore.
Culture
The culture of Poland is closely connected with its intricate 1,000-year history, and forms an important constituent in the Western civilisation. 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"). National symbols, chiefly the crowned white-tailed eagle, are often visible on clothing, insignia and emblems. The architectural monuments of great importance are protected by the National Heritage Board of Poland. Over 100 of the country's most significant tangible wonders were enlisted onto the Historic Monuments Register, with further 17 being recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.
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.
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. An empty plate and seat are symbolically left at the table for an unexpected guest. On occasion, carolers journey around smaller towns with a folk Turoń creature until the Lent period.
A widely-popular doughnut and sweet pastry feast occurs on Fat Thursday, usually 52 days prior to Easter. 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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Open'er Festival, Opole Festival and Sopot Festival.
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. One of the most distinguished paintings in Poland is Lady with an Ermine (1490) by Leonardo da Vinci.
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). 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.
The architecture of Poland reflects European architectural styles, with strong historical influences derived from Italy, Germany, and the Low Countries. 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). Poland's traditional landscape is characterised by ornate churches, city tenements and town halls. Cloth hall markets (sukiennice) were once an abundant feature of Polish urban architecture. The mountainous south is known for its Zakopane chalet style, which originated in Poland.
The earliest architectonic trend was Romanesque (c. 11th century), but its traces in the form of circular rotundas are scarce. 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. The Renaissance (16th century) gave rise to Italianate courtyards, defensive palazzos and mausoleums. Decorative attics with pinnacles and arcade loggias are elements of Polish Mannerism, found in Poznań, Lublin and Zamość. 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).
Primary building materials comprising timber or red brick were extensively utilised in Polish folk architecture, and the concept of a fortified church was commonplace. 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). However, traditional construction methods faded in the early-mid 20th century due to urbanisation and the construction of functionalist housing estates and residential areas.
The literary works of Poland have traditionally concentrated around the themes of patriotism, spirituality, social allegories and moral narratives. The earliest examples of Polish literature, written in Latin, date to the 12th century. The first Polish phrase – Day ut ia pobrusa, a ti poziwai – was documented in the Book of Henryków and reflected the use of a quern-stone. It has been since included in UNESCO's Memory of World Register. The oldest extant manuscripts of fine prose in Old Polish are the Holy Cross Sermons and the Bible of Queen Sophia, and Calendarium cracoviense (1474) is Poland's oldest surviving print.
The poets Jan Kochanowski and Nicholas Rey became the first Renaissance authors to write in Polish. 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). During the Enlightenment, playwright Ignacy Krasicki composed the first Polish-language novel. Poland's leading 19th-century romantic poets were the Three Bards – Juliusz Słowacki, Zygmunt Krasiński and Adam Mickiewicz, whose epic poem Pan Tadeusz (1834) is a national classic. 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.
Contemporary Polish literature is versatile, with its fantasy genre having been particularly praised. The philosophical sci-fi novel Solaris by Stanisław Lem and The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski are celebrated works of world fiction. 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).
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.
Traditional dishes are hearty and abundant in pork, potatoes, eggs, cream, mushrooms, regional herbs, and sauce. 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 cream pie.
Traditional alcoholic beverages include honey mead, widespread since the 13th century, beer, wine and vodka. The world's first written mention of vodka originates from Poland. The most popular alcoholic drinks at present are beer and wine which took over from vodka more popular in the years 1980–1998. Tea remains common in Polish society since the 19th century, whilst coffee is drunk widely since the 18th century.
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. Faktorowicz is also credited with inventing modern eyelash extensions. As of 2020, Poland possesses the fifth-largest cosmetic market in Europe. Inglot Cosmetics is the country's largest beauty products manufacturer, and the retail store Reserved is the country's most successful clothing store chain.
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. 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. Sarmatism eventually faded in the wake of the 18th century.
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. In 1897, Jan Szczepanik constructed the Telectroscope, a prototype of television transmitting images and sounds. They are both recognised as pioneers of cinematography. 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.
The themes commonly explored in Polish cinema include history, drama, war, culture and black realism (film noir). In the 21st-century, two Polish productions won the Academy Awards – The Pianist (2002) by Roman Polański and Ida (2013) by Paweł Pawlikowski.
According to the Eurobarometer Report (2015), 78 percent of Poles watch the television daily. In 2020, 79 percent of the population read the news more than once a day, placing it second behind Sweden. 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. 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.
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. Some of the popular video games developed in Poland include The Witcher trilogy and Cyberpunk 2077. The Polish city of Katowice also hosts Intel Extreme Masters, one of the biggest esports events in the world.
Motorcycle Speedway, volleyball and association football are among the country's most popular sports, with a rich history of international competitions. 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.
As of January 2023, the Polish men's national volleyball team is ranked as first in the world. The team won a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics and the gold medal at the FIVB World Championship 1974, 2014 and 2018. 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.
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, and his third in 2022. In 2021, Poland finished runners-up in the Speedway of Nations world championship final, held in Manchester, UK in 2021.
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 three Grand Slam singles titles (2020 French Open, 2022 French Open and 2022 US Open); 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 Champioships. Poland also won the 2015 Hopman Cup with Agnieszka Radwańska and Jerzy Janowicz representing the country.
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. 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.
Religion
According to the 2011 census, 87.6% of all Polish citizens adhere to the Roman Catholic Church, with 2.4% identifying as having no religion. Poland is one of the most religious countries in Europe, where Roman Catholicism remains a criterion of national identity and Polish-born Pope John Paul II is widely revered. In 2015, 61.6% of respondents outlined that religion is of high or very high importance. Important pilgrimages to the Jasna Góra Monastery, a shrine dedicated to the Black Madonna, take place annually. However, church attendance has decreased in recent years; only 38% of worshippers attended mass regularly on Sunday in 2018.
Freedom of religion in Poland is guaranteed by the Constitution, and the concordat guarantees the teaching of religion in public schools. Historically, the Polish state maintained a high degree of religious tolerance and provided asylum for refugees fleeing religious persecutions in other parts of Europe. Poland also hosted Europe's largest Jewish diaspora and the country was a centre of Ashkenazi Jewish culture and traditional learning until the Holocaust. Contemporary religious minorities comprise 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.
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. It has a population density of 122 inhabitants per square kilometre (328 per square mile). The total fertility rate was estimated at 1.42 children born to a woman in 2019, which is among the world's lowest. Furthermore, Poland's population is aging significantly, and the country has a median age of roughly 42. Around 60% of the country's population lives in urban areas or major cities and 40% in rural zones. In 2020, 50.2% of Poles resided in detached dwellings and 44.3% in apartments. 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. The metropolitan area of Katowice is the largest urban conurbation with a population between 2.7 million and 5.3 million residents. Population density is higher in the south of Poland and mostly concentrated between the cities of Wrocław and Kraków.
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. Official population statistics do not include migrant workers who do not possess a permanent residency permit or Karta Polaka. More than 1.7 million Ukrainian citizens worked legally in Poland in 2017. The number of migrants is rising steadily; the country approved 504,172 work permits for foreigners in 2021 alone.
Polish is the official and predominant spoken language in Poland, and is one of the official languages of the European Union. It is also a second language in parts of neighbouring Lithuania, where it is taught in Polish-minority schools. Contemporary Poland is a linguistically homogeneous nation, with 97% of respondents declaring Polish as their mother tongue. There are currently 15 minority languages in Poland, 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. Poland also recognises secondary administrative languages or auxiliary languages in bilingual municipalities, where bilingual signs and placenames are commonplace. According to the Centre for Public Opinion Research, around 32% of Polish citizens declared knowledge of the English language in 2015.
According to the 2011 census, 87.6% of all Polish citizens adhere to the Roman Catholic Church, with 2.4% identifying as having no religion. Poland is one of the most religious countries in Europe, where Roman Catholicism remains a criterion of national identity and Polish-born Pope John Paul II is widely revered. In 2015, 61.6% of respondents outlined that religion is of high or very high importance. Important pilgrimages to the Jasna Góra Monastery, a shrine dedicated to the Black Madonna, take place annually. However, church attendance has decreased in recent years; only 38% of worshippers attended mass regularly on Sunday in 2018.
Freedom of religion in Poland is guaranteed by the Constitution, and the concordat guarantees the teaching of religion in public schools. Historically, the Polish state maintained a high degree of religious tolerance and provided asylum for refugees fleeing religious persecutions in other parts of Europe. Poland also hosted Europe's largest Jewish diaspora and the country was a centre of Ashkenazi Jewish culture and traditional learning until the Holocaust. Contemporary religious minorities comprise 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.
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.
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); the country has a low infant mortality rate (4 per 1,000 births). In 2019, the principal cause of death was ischemic heart disease; diseases of the circulatory system accounted for 45% of all deaths. In the same year, Poland was also the 15th-largest importer of medications and pharmaceutical products.
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. Poland's Commission of National Education (Komisja Edukacji Narodowej), established in 1773, was the world's first state ministry of education.
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. Primary education traditionally begins at the age of seven, although children aged six can attend at the request of their parents or guardians. 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. 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.
In Poland, there are over 500 university-level institutions, with technical, medical, economic, agricultural, pedagogical, theological, musical, maritime and military faculties. 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. There are three conventional academic degrees in Poland – licencjat or inżynier (first cycle qualification), magister (second cycle qualification) and doktor (third cycle qualification). 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.
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