Why (not) Poland?
In terms of population, Poland has the size of California. It is smaller than Ukraine, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, France and over 2 times smaller than Germany. It is over 2 times larger than Netherlands and 4 times larger than Czech Republic, Sweden, Portugal, Hungary, Austria or Switzerland.
In terms of area, Poland has the size of New Mexico. It is smaller than Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Spain, France or Ukraine. It is larger than Italy, United Kingdom, Denmark, Switzerland or Netherlands.
In terms of gross domestic product (nominal) per capita, Poland is richer than Croatia, Romania or Russia, but poorer than most other European countries or any US State. Tax burden is approximately 43%. Over 450 thousand people (5% of all those who work) work in the public administration.
Tradition of religious and ethnic tolerance
Poland has a long tradition of religious and ethnic tolerance. In 1931, for example, 65% of the population were Roman Catholic, 10% were Greek Catholic, 12% were Eastern Orthodox, 3% were Protestant and 10% were Jewish. In comparison, in 1925 in neighboring Germany there were only 564 thousand Jews (less than 1% of the German population). Between the 16th century and the Holocaust, Poland was at the center of Jewish religious life.
Polish people are known for their heroic struggle to rescue Jews under the German Nazi occupation. Tens of thousands (if not millions) risked their lives and the lives of their families to rescue at least a handful of Jews. We have the highest count of Righteous Among the Nations.
Poland has a long history of peaceful co-existence with its (small) native muslim minority. It is a living example of a muslim minority living in peace and fighting for a predominantly Catholic country since the 15th century.
Unlike in Western Europe, there have been no religious wars in Poland.
Tradition of resistance against the enemies
Europe owes Poland its rescue at least twice: from the Ottoman Empire in 1683 and from the Soviet Russia in 1920.
When under military occupation, Poland is famous for its uprisings. During World War II, the Polish people who stayed in the country organized the largest resistance organization in Europe. Even more, it was a fully functional underground state, complete with its parliament, administration, courts, police, theatres, lectures, exhibitions, concerts, schools, universities and publishing, including books and some 1400 press titles. This was unique in Europe. It even included a special department which rescued thousands of Jews from the Holocaust (including 2.5 thousand children, see Irena Sendler), despite the constant death threat from the Germans. At the same time, Ładoś Group in Switzerland were busy mass-producing (and smuggling) false Latin-American passports for the Jews to let them escape Europe. In the meantime, we decoded the Enigma and rescued Great Britain. In 1944 we captured Monte Cassino.
Witold Pilecki volunteered to the German-Nazi death camp Auschwitz, organized a resistance movement there, and then escaped. He wrote and delivered to the Allies a comprehensive, first-hand report on the atrocities happening there.
The history of peaceful resistance includes the Solidarity movement and the organic work under the 123 years long Partitions of Poland. Pope John Paul II is credited with bringing down the Soviet Empire.
Tadeusz Kościuszko and Casimir Pułaski are two of America's national heroes.
Religion
In 2015, 93% of the Polish population were (officially) Roman Catholic. In 2020, 38% of the Catholics were attending the Sunday Mass. Poland is a country with the 3rd highest count of Catholic priests in the world (in absolute numbers), following Italy and USA. The sacrament of confession is by no means dead.
List of internationally recognizable Polish Catholic saints include: Faustina Kowalska, Maximilian Kolbe, Stanisław Kostka and Pope John Paul II.
Other Christian Churches present in Poland include: The Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX), Polish Orthodox Church, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland. For the general overview of the religious situation in Poland please check here.
Education
Educational law in Poland is quite liberal compared to some other European countries, like France or Germany. In particular, it is legal to home educate your own children. See the FAQ.
Secondary education
Young Polish programmers are world class. Young Polish mathematicians are good. Note: this applies just to the elite.
Healthcare
Public healthcare is in a bad shape. Many people use private healthcare in addition to the public system.
National Security
Nowadays Poland is under constant threat from Russia — see: war with Georgia, war with Ukraine, tensions with NATO around the Kaliningrad Region.
There has been only 1 terrorist attack since World War II.