Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Poland: Warsaw — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Poland is Warsaw. Poland sits in Europe, has a population of 39,857,145, and uses the PLN. Official languages include Polish.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Warsaw
  • Continent: Europe
  • Population: ~39,857,145
  • Area: 312,696 km²
  • Population density: 127 people per km²
  • Official language: Polish
  • Currency: PLN
  • ISO code: PL

How big is Poland?

By population, Poland ranks 37th in the world, holding roughly 0.50% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 69th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Poland has 127 people per square kilometre, which is about 2.1 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.

Within Europe, Poland is the 7th most populous country of 46.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Poland in population are Canada (38,929,902) and Afghanistan (41,128,771).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Oman (309,500 km²) and Ivory Coast (322,463 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Polish is listed as an official language of Poland alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.

Poland uses the PLN, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Poland

Warsaw stands on the Vistula River in east-central Poland. A legend says the city is named after a fisherman called Wars and a mermaid called Sawa, and a mermaid is still the city's symbol. For the flag, think of the white eagle above its red shield: white on top, red below.

The flag of Poland: white and red

🇵🇱 The flag is two horizontal stripes, white on top and red below. The colours come from Poland's emblem, a white eagle on a red shield.

Region and neighbours

Poland is a large country in Central Europe, with a coast on the Baltic Sea in the north and the Tatra Mountains on its southern border. It shares land borders with 7 countries: Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia. The border with Russia is with Kaliningrad Oblast, a part of Russia on the Baltic coast that is separated from the rest of the country.

Three facts about Poland

  1. The scientist Marie Curie (Maria Skłodowska-Curie) was born in Warsaw, and she was the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.
  2. Białowieża Forest, on the border with Belarus, is one of the last parts of the ancient forest that once covered the European Plain, and European bison live there.
  3. Warsaw's Old Town was rebuilt after the Second World War, and the reconstructed Old Town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.

Sources: Wikipedia: Poland, Wikipedia: Flag of Poland, Wikipedia: Warsaw, Wikipedia: Marie Curie, Wikipedia: Białowieża Forest, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Poland

Poland capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Poland 🇵🇱?

    • Andorra la Vella
    • Warsaw
    • Bucharest
    • Athens
    Show answer

    Warsaw

  2. What is the capital of Ukraine 🇺🇦?

    • Vatican City
    • Paris
    • Monaco
    • Kyiv
    Show answer

    Kyiv

  3. What is the capital of Spain 🇪🇸?

    • Madrid
    • Warsaw
    • Luxembourg
    • Athens
    Show answer

    Madrid

  4. What is the capital of Italy 🇮🇹?

    • Bratislava
    • Rome
    • Vienna
    • Warsaw
    Show answer

    Rome

  5. What is the capital of France 🇫🇷?

    • Minsk
    • Amsterdam
    • Sofia
    • Paris
    Show answer

    Paris

Poland in Europe

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Poland belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Poland.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Poland?

The capital of Poland is Warsaw.

What is the population of Poland?

About 39,857,145, making it the 37th most populous country in the world.

How big is Poland?

312,696 square kilometres, ranking 69th by land area, at a density of 127 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Poland use?

The PLN, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Poland flag?

The flag of Poland is two horizontal stripes, white on top and red below. The colours come from Poland's emblem, a white eagle on a red shield.

Which countries border Poland?

Poland shares land borders with Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia. The border with Russia is with Kaliningrad Oblast, a part of Russia on the Baltic coast that is separated from the rest of the country.

How can I remember the capital of Poland?

Warsaw stands on the Vistula River in east-central Poland. A legend says the city is named after a fisherman called Wars and a mermaid called Sawa, and a mermaid is still the city's symbol. For the flag, think of the white eagle above its red shield: white on top, red below.

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