The złoty (PLN)
Its own floating currency, issued by Narodowy Bank Polski. The NBP’s inflation target is 2.5% (± 1 percentage point). Prices, invoices and taxes are settled in złoty; contracts between businesses may also be concluded in euros.
Poland at a glance
Everything worth knowing before you start doing business here: the economy, regions, cities, taxes, culture and history. Status: October 2026.
37.5 million inhabitants (GUS)
312.7 thousand km² in area, 9th largest country in Europe
16 voivodeships
5.–6. economy in the European Union (GDP at purchasing power parity and nominal)
2004 member of the European Union, in the Schengen Area since 2007
1999 member of NATO
Poland’s position
Poland in Europe
6. EU economy by GDP
5. EU country by population
6. EU country by area
Top 3 lowest unemployment in the EU (Eurostat)
the basics
Key facts
| Capital | Warsaw |
| Waluta | złoty (PLN); Poland is not in the euro area |
| Language | Polish; English is widely used in business in large cities |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer |
| Political system | parliamentary republic |
| Phone | +48 |
| Public holidays | 13 statutory holidays; most shops are closed on Sundays |
| EU driving licences and documents | recognised without exchange |
economy
Growth for 30 years
- For more than 30 years GDP has grown by an average of over 3% a year; Poland is among the world’s roughly 20 largest economies.
- In 2026 growth exceeds 3% a year, placing Poland among the few large economies in the world growing at this pace.
- Poland has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU since joining in 2004 and came through the 2009 crisis without a recession.
- Unemployment is among the lowest in the European Union.
- The largest sectors are industry, trade, logistics, construction and business services; IT and fintech are growing fast.
- The main trading partners are Germany, the Czech Republic, France and the United Kingdom.
- Labour and office costs are lower than in Western Europe, with good access to an educated workforce.
Sources: GUS, Eurostat, IMF, NBP. Figures rounded.
currency and the european union
The złoty, the euro and the single market
Poland outside the euro area
Poland is obliged under the Accession Treaty to adopt the euro in the future but has not set a date. A company may hold a euro account and settle with counterparties in euros.
Member of the European Union since 2004
The EU single market: free movement of goods, services, capital and people, common VAT rules for intra-EU trade, and the Schengen Area since 2007. A company in Poland operates in a market of approx. 450 million consumers.
regions
The main business regions
Masovia
Warsaw →
Finance, company headquarters, administration, professional services. The highest salaries and prices in the country.
- population
- 1.86 million
- from the capital
- capital
- airport
- Chopin (WAW), Modlin
- kolej
- national hub, Berlin 5.5 h
Lesser Poland
Kraków →
IT, business service centres, tourism, universities. A large pool of multilingual specialists.
- population
- 0.80 million
- from Warsaw
- ≈ 290 km · 2 h 20 min by train
- airport
- Balice (KRK)
- universities
- approx. 20, including the Jagiellonian University and AGH
Lower Silesia
Wrocław →
Manufacturing, electronics, automotive, IT. Close to the borders with Germany and the Czech Republic.
- population
- 0.67 million
- from Warsaw
- ≈ 350 km · 3 h 40 min by train
- airport
- Strachowice (WRO)
- border
- Germany and the Czech Republic approx. 1.5–2 h
Silesia
Katowice →
Industry, automotive, energy. A metropolis of approx. 2 million people.
- metropolis
- approx. 2 million
- from Warsaw
- ≈ 300 km · 2 h 40 min by train
- airport
- Pyrzowice (KTW)
- motorways
- A1 and A4
Greater Poland
Poznań →
Trade, logistics, processing, trade fairs. On the Berlin–Warsaw route.
- population
- 0.54 million
- from Warsaw
- ≈ 310 km · 2 h 30 min by train
- airport
- Ławica (POZ)
- Berlin
- approx. 2 h 40 min via the A2 motorway
Pomerania
Gdańsk →
Ports, maritime logistics, shipyards, IT, fintech.
- population
- 0.49 million (Tricity approx. 1 million)
- from Warsaw
- ≈ 340 km · 2 h 40 min by train
- airport
- Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN)
- port
- Port of Gdańsk and container terminal
Łódź Voivodeship
Łódź →
Logistics and warehousing in the centre of the country, light industry, services.
- population
- 0.65 million
- from Warsaw
- ≈ 135 km · 1 h 20 min by train
- airport
- Lublinek (LCJ), close to Chopin
- location
- junction of the A1 and A2
security
A safe country to live and do business in
A stable democracy in the EU and NATO, low crime and predictable law.
.01
Low crime
Poland ranks among the safest countries in Europe in security rankings; a walk in the centre of a large city in the evening is usually safe.
.02
NATO and the EU
Member of NATO since 1999 and of the EU since 2004. Defence spending is among the highest in NATO relative to GDP.
.03
Emergency number 112
Works throughout the EU, also in English. Police 997, ambulance 999, fire brigade 998.
.04
Law and courts
Property and contracts are protected by EU law; commercial disputes are resolved by the common courts, and cases against authorities by the administrative courts.
.05
Healthcare
Public (NFZ) and networks of private clinics on a subscription basis, popular in employee benefit packages.
.06
What to watch out for
Pickpockets in tourist areas and suspicious e-mails “from the authorities”. Always check company details in the KRS and on the VAT white list.
miasta
The largest cities
Population according to GUS. Including their metropolitan areas, Warsaw and Katowice each have approx. 2–3 million inhabitants.
- Warsaw1.86 million
- Kraków0.80 million
- Wrocław0.67 million
- Łódź0.65 million
- Poznań0.54 million
- Gdańsk0.49 million
- Szczecin0.39 million
taxes
Taxes in brief
Calculate it| CIT | 19%; 9% for small taxpayers (revenue up to EUR 2 million) and in the first year of business; Estonian CIT available if the conditions are met |
| VAT | 23% standard rate; 8% and 5% reduced rates; mandatory National e-Invoicing System (KSeF) since 2026 |
| PIT | tax scale of 12% and 32% (threshold PLN 120,000), 19% flat tax for business owners, lump-sum tax for selected industries |
| Dividends | 19% withholding tax; for foreign shareholders the rate may be lower under a double taxation treaty |
| Employer ZUS | approx. 20% on top of gross salary (pension, disability, accident, Labour Fund, FGŚP) |
| IP Box | 5% on income from qualifying intellectual property rights, e.g. software |
| Polish Investment Zone | CIT exemption for 10–15 years for new investments that meet the criteria |
General description, not tax advice. We will prepare the details for your company in a report.
business culture
How business is done here
.01
Punctuality
Meetings start on time. If you are going to be late, let people know.
.02
Forms of address
At first “Pan” and “Pani” with the surname or title. First names are used once the older or more senior person suggests it.
.03
Greeting
A handshake and eye contact. Business cards are still in use.
.04
Decisions
Important decisions are made at the top. It is worth talking to the person who can sign the contract.
.05
Agreements in writing
Poles attach importance to detailed contracts. It is good practice to confirm what was agreed in a conversation by e-mail.
.06
Relationships
Trust is built at meetings. A shared lunch or industry event helps more than yet another e-mail.
.07
Holidays
Christmas and Easter are times when decisions get postponed. July and August are the holiday season.
history
A thousand years in eight dates
966
The Baptism of Poland and the beginning of the state.
1569
The Union of Lublin and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the largest states in Europe.
1795
The Third Partition; Poland disappears from the map for 123 years.
1918
On 11 November Poland regains its independence.
1939–1945
The Second World War; huge loss of life and the destruction of Warsaw.
1989
The first partially free elections and the beginning of the market economy.
1999
Accession to NATO.
2004
Accession to the European Union; rapid economic growth ever since.
Want to know what this means for your company?
embassies and institutions
Contacts for investors
Embassies in Warsaw have trade sections that help companies from their countries. The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) supports investors on the ground. We can accompany you to meetings with institutions.
- Chinypl.china-embassy.gov.cn
- Japanpl.emb-japan.go.jp
- Niemcypolen.diplo.de
- USApl.usembassy.gov
- United Kingdomgov.uk
- Ukrainepoland.mfa.gov.ua
How we can help
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