polska

Polska, or Poland in English, is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine to the southeast, Belarus and Lithuania to the east, and the Baltic Sea and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to the north. The country covers about 312,700 square kilometers and has a population of around 38 million. Its capital and largest city is Warsaw.

The official language is Polish, and the population is predominantly ethnically Polish. Roman Catholicism has the largest share of religious affiliation, though Poland is religiously diverse and constitutionally secular. Poland has a rich cultural heritage, with many regional traditions, literature, music, and cuisine contributing to its national identity.

Polska operates as a unitary parliamentary republic. The president serves as head of state, while the prime minister is the head of government. Legislative power is vested in a bicameral parliament, consisting of the Sejm (lower house) and the Senate (upper house). Administratively, the country is divided into 16 voivodeships (provinces), further subdivided into counties and gminas.

Historically, Poland emerged as a medieval state under the Piast and Jagiellonian dynasties, formed a significant union with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and later experienced partitions in the late 18th century. It regained independence in 1918, endured occupation during World War II, and transitioned from communism to democracy in 1989. Poland joined the European Union in 2004 and NATO in 1999; it has been part of the Schengen Area since 2007. Poland's economy is diversified, with strong services and manufacturing sectors, and it uses the Polish złoty (PLN) rather than the euro. UNESCO sites such as Kraków's Historic Centre, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, and the Białowieża Forest reflect its cultural and natural heritage.