Poland, officially known as the Republic of Poland, is a vibrant and culturally rich country situated in Central Europe. With its territory spanning 313,931 square kilometers (121,209 sq mi), Poland is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships. Home to over 38 million people, it ranks as the fifth-most populous member state of the European Union. The nation's bustling capital and largest metropolis is Warsaw, while other major cities include Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Katowice, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin, and Lublin.
Geographically, Poland boasts a temperate transitional climate and features diverse landscapes that traverse the Central European Plain. Its terrain extends from the picturesque Baltic Sea coastline in the north to the majestic Sudeten and Carpathian Mountains in the south. The Vistula River, the longest river in Poland, meanders through its heartland, while Mount Rysy, situated in the Tatra mountain range of the Carpathians, stands as the country's highest point.
Poland shares borders with 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. Additionally, it enjoys maritime boundaries with Denmark and Sweden.
The history of human activity on Polish soil dates back to approximately 10,000 BC, showcasing a rich and diverse cultural heritage. In the early medieval period, the region became inhabited by the tribal Polans, from whom Poland derives its name. Statehood was established in 966, coinciding with the conversion of a pagan ruler of the Polans to Christianity under the Roman Church. The Kingdom of Poland emerged in 1025 and later forged a close association with Lithuania, culminating in the formation of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569. At its zenith, the Commonwealth was a major European power, known for its liberal political system and the adoption of Europe's first modern constitution in 1791.
However, the prosperous Polish Golden Age gave way to a tumultuous period marked by partitioning at the hands of neighboring states in the late 18th century. Poland regained its independence in 1918 as the Second Polish Republic, only to be invaded by Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939, igniting World War II and resulting in immense human suffering, including the Holocaust and millions of Polish casualties.
Amidst the global Cold War, Poland found itself aligned with the Communist Bloc as a founding signatory of the Warsaw Pact. However, the emergence of the Solidarity movement in the 1980s marked a turning point, leading to the dissolution of the communist government and the re-establishment of Poland as a democratic state in 1989.
Presently, Poland operates as a parliamentary republic, with its bicameral legislature comprising the Sejm and the Senate. It boasts a developed market economy with a high income level and is considered a middle power on the world stage. Poland's economy ranks sixth in the European Union by GDP (nominal) and fifth by GDP (PPP). The country offers its citizens a very high standard of living, safety, and economic freedom, complemented by free university education and a universal healthcare system.
Poland is renowned for its rich heritage, boasting 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 15 of which are cultural landmarks. As a founding member state of the United Nations and a member of prestigious organizations such as the World Trade Organization, NATO, and the European Union (including the Schengen Area), Poland continues to play a significant role in global affairs while preserving its unique identity and contributing to the cultural mosaic of Europe.