Demographics of Poland
The demographics of Poland constitute all demographic features of the population of Poland, including population density, ethnicity, education level, the health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population.
Demographics of Poland | |
---|---|
![]() Population pyramid of Poland in 2021 | |
Population | 37,940,000 (2022 est.) |
Growth rate | -0.26% (2022 est.) |
Birth rate | 8.7 births/1,000 population |
Death rate | 13.6 deaths/1,000 population |
Life expectancy | 78.76 years |
• male | 75.02 years |
• female | 82.73 years |
Fertility rate | 1.32 children |
Infant mortality rate | 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births |
Net migration rate | -0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population |
Nationality | |
Nationality | Pole |
Major ethnic | Polish - 96.9% |
Language | |
Official | Polish |
According to the 2011 census by the Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS), at the end of 2011, Poland had a population of 38,538,447,[1] which translates into an average population density of 123 people/km2 (urban 1,105/km2 or 2,860/sq mi; rural 50/km2 or 130/sq mi). 61.5% of the Polish population lives in urban areas, a number which is slowly diminishing. Poland is the 37th most populous country in the world (8th in Europe, with 5.4% of the European population). The total population of Poland is almost stagnant (population growth was 0.08%). In 2018, the average life expectancy was 77.9 years; 74.1 for men and 82 for women. Population distribution is uneven.
Ethnically, Poland used to be one of, if not the most multi-ethnic countries in Europe before World War Two and it hosted the largest Jewish community in Europe with Warsaw being home to the second largest community of people of Jewish origin after New York. After war, Poland became an ethnically homogeneous country but this has been changing in recent years as large cities have been attracting migrant workers from Eastern Europe. For example, already in 2017 (i.e. before 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine), 10% of the population of Wroclaw (4th largest city in Poland) was Ukrainian; this jumped to 23% in a few months after 2022 war in Ukraine. In connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, as part of the Russian-Ukrainian war, by 2 August 2022, more than 10.4 million Ukrainian refugees left the territory of Ukraine, moving to the countries closest to the west of Ukraine, of which more than 5.1 million people fled to neighboring Poland.[2] The number of Ukrainians refugees who continued living in Poland instead of moving to other countries is large and robust estimates using social security number registrations and geodata indicate that Ukrainian population in major Polish cities ranges between 15% - 25% of their total population.[3]
A number of censuses have assessed this data, including a national census in 2002, and a survey by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), which confirmed there are numerous autochthonous ethnic groups in Poland. Estimates by INTEREG and Eurominority present a similar demographic picture of Poland, but they provide estimates only for the most numerous of these ethnic groups.
Like many nations with falling birth rates and considerable emigration, Poland is ageing. In 1950, the median age was 25.8; today it is 41.7, and if current trends continue, it may be 51 by 2050.[4] As the population is ageing, it also started to decline in the 1990s mainly due to low birth rates and continued emigration overseas, which impacted the local economy; however, this has started to change, with the Polish government encouraging citizens to return to Poland with increased wage incentives. The number of children born in Polish families (TFR of 1.31, down from 2 in 1990) is one of the lowest in Central Europe, but has started to increase in recent years.[5][6]
History
For many centuries, until the end of World War II in 1945, the population of Poland included many significant ethnic minorities.
Twentieth century
The population of Poland decreased by about six million due to the losses sustained during the Holocaust and German occupation during World War II (1939-1945), and Poland became one of the most ethnically homogeneous areas in Europe (next to the populations of Slovakia and the Czech Republic) as a result of radically altered borders and population expulsions at the end of and after the war. The post-war population movements were accompanied by waves of forced migrations ordered by the Soviet and Polish communist authorities, including the transfers of sizable Polish populations (1944–1946) from Poland's pre-war eastern territories, which were incorporated into the Soviet Union, the expulsion of ethnic Ukrainians to the USSR (1944–1946), Operation Vistula (1947), and the expulsion of Germans (1945–1950) from former German provinces awarded to Poland.
Recent trends
According to GUS, about 38,325,000 people live in Poland; however, the same report states that the number of residents living in the country all the time is approximately 37,200,000, with 1,125,000 people living abroad for 6 to 7 months or more. It means that the permanent population may be correspondingly smaller.[8]
In the 21st century, many Poles migrated following Poland's accession to the European Union in 2004 and the opening of the EU's labor market, with approximately 2 million (primarily young) Poles taking up jobs abroad.[9]
Population


1.4 - 1.5 1.3 - 1.4 < 1.3 |
Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019.[10]
- One birth every 2 minutes
- One death every 1 minutes
- Net loss of one person every 7 minutes
- One net migrant every 53 minutes
Fertility

The total fertility rate is the number of children born per woman. It is based on fairly good data for the entire period. Sources: Our World In Data and Gapminder Foundation.[11]
Years | 1800 | 1801 | 1802 | 1803 | 1804 | 1805 | 1806 | 1807 | 1808 | 1809 | 1810[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 6.28 | 6.26 | 6.25 | 6.23 | 6.22 | 6.2 | 6.19 | 6.17 | 6.16 | 6.14 | 6.12 |
Years | 1811 | 1812 | 1813 | 1814 | 1815 | 1816 | 1817 | 1818 | 1819 | 1820[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 6.11 | 6.09 | 6.08 | 6.06 | 6.05 | 6.03 | 6.03 | 6.16 | 6.3 | 6.03 |
Years | 1821 | 1822 | 1823 | 1824 | 1825 | 1826 | 1827 | 1828 | 1829 | 1830[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 6.3 | 6.03 | 5.76 | 5.49 | 6.83 | 6.16 | 6.3 | 6.22 | 6.14 | 6.06 |
Years | 1831 | 1832 | 1833 | 1834 | 1835 | 1836 | 1837 | 1838 | 1839 | 1840[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 5.98 | 5.9 | 6.43 | 6.83 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 6.57 | 6.03 | 6.43 | 6.57 |
Years | 1841 | 1842 | 1843 | 1844 | 1845 | 1846 | 1847 | 1848 | 1849 | 1850[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 6.16 | 6.43 | 6.3 | 6.03 | 5.36 | 5.49 | 5.09 | 4.82 | 5.49 | 5.63 |
Years | 1851 | 1852 | 1853 | 1854 | 1855 | 1856 | 1857 | 1858 | 1859 | 1860[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 5.63 | 5.49 | 5.63 | 5.36 | 4.82 | 5.36 | 5.76 | 6.3 | 6.57 | 6.57 |
Years | 1861 | 1862 | 1863 | 1864 | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | 1869 | 1870[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 6.43 | 6.97 | 6.57 | 6.2 | 5.83 | 5.46 | 5.09 | 5.63 | 5.63 | 6.16 |
Years | 1871 | 1872 | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1879 | 1880[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 5.76 | 5.49 | 5.76 | 5.76 | 5.49 | 5.49 | 5.23 | 5.23 | 5.36 | 5.23 |
Years | 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 | 1890[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 5.09 | 5.23 | 5.23 | 5.09 | 5.36 | 5.36 | 5.36 | 5.49 | 5.76 | 5.63 |
Years | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 | 1900[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 5.63 | 5.36 | 5.63 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.76 | 5.63 | 5.49 | 5.49 | 5.49 |
Years | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909 | 1910[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 5.36 | 5.36 | 5.09 | 5.09 | 4.96 | 5.09 | 5.09 | 4.96 | 4.96 | 4.82 |
Years | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 4.69 | 4.56 | 4.69 | 4.82 | 3.89 | 3.62 | 3.22 | 3.22 | 4.42 | 4.69 |
- Birth rateBirth and death rates of Poland in 1950-2008
- 9.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 202nd
- Total fertility rate
- 1.36 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 214th
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 27.4 years (2014 est.)
Life expectancy

Period | Life expectancy in Years |
---|---|
1950–1955 | 61.4 |
1955–1960 | 65.9 |
1960–1965 | 68.3 |
1965–1970 | 69.8 |
1970–1975 | 70.3 |
1975–1980 | 70.4 |
1980–1985 | 70.7 |
1985–1990 | 70.7 |
1990–1995 | 71.2 |
1995–2000 | 72.7 |
2000–2005 | 74.6 |
2005–2010 | 75.6 |
2010–2015 | 77.0 |
Source: UN World Population Prospects

Age structure
- 0-14 years: 14.8% (male 2,924,077 /female 2,762,634)
- 15-24 years: 10.34% (male 2,040,043 /female 1,932,009)
- 25-54 years: 43.44% (male 8,431,045 /female 8,260,124)
- 55-64 years: 13.95% (male 2,538,566 /female 2,819,544)
- 65 years and over: 17.47% (male 2,663,364 /female 4,049,281) (2018 est.)
- Median age
- total: 41.1 years. Country comparison to the world: 44th
- male: 39.4 years
- female: 42.8 years (2018 est.)
Vital statistics
Vital statistics from 1921 to 1938
Year [15] | Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Total fertility rates[fn 1][11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1921 | 27,224,000 | 890,400 | 568,300 | 322,100 | 32.7 | 20.9 | 11.8 | 4.40 |
1922 | 27,846,000 | 983,100 | 554,600 | 482,500 | 35.3 | 19.9 | 15.4 | 4.73 |
1923 | 28,480,000 | 1,014,700 | 493,800 | 520,900 | 35.6 | 17.3 | 18.3 | 4.82 |
1924 | 29,007,000 | 1,000,100 | 519,200 | 480,900 | 34.5 | 17.9 | 16.6 | 4.69 |
1925 | 29,475,000 | 1,036,600 | 492,200 | 544,400 | 35.2 | 16.7 | 18.5 | 4.74 |
1926 | 29,906,000 | 989,100 | 532,700 | 456,400 | 33.1 | 17.8 | 15.3 | 4.44 |
1927 | 30,302,000 | 958,733 | 525,633 | 433,100 | 31.6 | 17.3 | 14.3 | 4.23 |
1928 | 30,693,000 | 990,993 | 504,207 | 486,786 | 32.3 | 16.4 | 15.9 | 4.29 |
1929 | 31,084,000 | 994,101 | 518,929 | 475,172 | 32.0 | 16.7 | 15.3 | 4.26 |
1930 | 31,490,000 | 1,022,811 | 488,417 | 534,394 | 32.5 | 15.5 | 17.0 | 4.33 |
1931 | 31,935,000 | 964,573 | 493,703 | 470,870 | 30.2 | 15.5 | 14.7 | 4.05 |
1932 | 32,394,000 | 934,663 | 486,548 | 448,115 | 28.9 | 15.0 | 13.8 | 3.87 |
1933 | 32,823,000 | 868,675 | 466,210 | 402,465 | 26.5 | 14.2 | 12.3 | 3.55 |
1934 | 33,223,000 | 881,615 | 479,684 | 401,931 | 26.5 | 14.4 | 12.1 | 3.56 |
1935 | 33,616,000 | 876,667 | 470,998 | 405,669 | 26.1 | 14.0 | 12.1 | 3.50 |
1936 | 34,020,000 | 892,320 | 482,633 | 409,687 | 26.2 | 14.2 | 12.0 | 3.51 |
1937 | 34,441,000 | 856,064 | 481,594 | 374,470 | 24.9 | 14.0 | 10.9 | 3.34 |
1938 | 34,849,000 | 849,873 | 479,602 | 370,271 | 24.4 | 13.8 | 10.6 | 3.26 |
Years | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Fertility Rate in Poland | 3.23 | 3.21 | 3.18 | 3.16 | 3.13 | 3.11 | 3.08 |
After World War II
[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21][11][22][23][24][25][26]
Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Crude migration change (per 1000) | Crude population change (per 1000) | Total fertility rates | Life expectancy (males) | Life expectancy (females) | Share of births outside marriage | Immigration | Emigration | Net external migration | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1946 | 23,777,000 | 570,000 | 335,000 | 235,000 | 24.0 | 14.1 | 9.9 | 3.06 | ||||||||
1947 | 23,970,000 | 630,000 | 271,000 | 359,000 | 26.3 | 11.3 | 15.0 | -6.9 | 8.1 | 3.51 | ||||||
1948 | 23,980,000 | 704,772 | 268,000 | 436,772 | 29.4 | 11.2 | 18.2 | -17.8 | 0.4 | 3.93 | ||||||
1949 | 24,410,000 | 725,061 | 284,000 | 441,061 | 29.7 | 11.6 | 18.1 | -0.5 | 17.6 | 3.94 | ||||||
1950 | 24,824,000 | 763,108 | 288,685 | 474,423 | 30.7 | 11.6 | 19.1 | -2.4 | 16.7 | 3.71 | 56.07 | 61.68 | ||||
1951 | 25,271,000 | 783,597 | 312,314 | 471,283 | 31.0 | 12.4 | 18.6 | -1 | 17.7 | 3.75 | 55.11 | 60.67 | ||||
1952 | 25,753,000 | 778,962 | 286,730 | 492,232 | 30.2 | 11.1 | 19.1 | -0.4 | 18.7 | 3.67 | 57.59 | 63.07 | ||||
1953 | 26,255,000 | 779,000 | 266,527 | 512,473 | 29.7 | 10.2 | 19.5 | -0.4 | 19.1 | 3.61 | 59.58 | 65.05 | ||||
1954 | 26,761,000 | 778,054 | 276,406 | 501,648 | 29.1 | 10.3 | 18.7 | 0.2 | 18.9 | 3.58 | 59.80 | 65.06 | ||||
1955 | 27,281,000 | 793,847 | 261,576 | 532,271 | 29.1 | 9.6 | 19.5 | -0.4 | 19.1 | 3.61 | 60.82 | 66.19 | ||||
1956 | 27,815,000 | 779,835 | 249,606 | 530,229 | 28.0 | 9.0 | 19.1 | 19.2 | 3.61 | 62.29 | 67.52 | |||||
1957 | 28,310,000 | 782,319 | 269,137 | 513,182 | 27.6 | 9.5 | 18.1 | -0.6 | 17.5 | 3.49 | 61.20 | 66.70 | ||||
1958 | 28,770,000 | 752,600 | 241,435 | 511,165 | 26.2 | 8.4 | 17.8 | -1.8 | 16 | 3.36 | 63.08 | 68.57 | ||||
1959 | 29,240,000 | 722,928 | 252,430 | 470,498 | 24.7 | 8.6 | 16.1 | 0 | 16.1 | 3.22 | 62.71 | 68.30 | ||||
1960 | 29,561,000 | 669,485 | 224,167 | 445,318 | 22.6 | 7.6 | 15.1 | -4.2 | 10.9 | 2.98 | 64.94 | 70.60 | ||||
1961 | 29,965,000 | 627,624 | 227,759 | 399,865 | 20.9 | 7.6 | 13.3 | 0.1 | 13.5 | 2.83 | 64.91 | 70.78 | ||||
1962 | 30,324,000 | 599,505 | 239,199 | 360,306 | 19.8 | 7.9 | 11.9 | 0 | 11.8 | 2.72 | 64.53 | 70.49 | ||||
1963 | 30,691,000 | 588,235 | 230,072 | 358,163 | 19.2 | 7.5 | 11.7 | 0.3 | 12 | 2.70 | 65.41 | 71.52 | ||||
1964 | 31,161,000 | 562,855 | 235,919 | 326,936 | 18.1 | 7.6 | 10.5 | 4.6 | 15.1 | 2.57 | 65.78 | 71.60 | ||||
1965 | 31,496,000 | 546,362 | 232,421 | 313,941 | 17.3 | 7.4 | 10.0 | 0.7 | 10.6 | 2.52 | 66.58 | 72.40 | ||||
1966 | 31,698,000 | 530,307 | 232,945 | 297,362 | 16.7 | 7.3 | 9.4 | -3.0 | 6.4 | 2.33 | 66.87 | 72.85 | ||||
1967 | 31,944,000 | 520,383 | 247,705 | 272,678 | 16.3 | 7.8 | 8.5 | -0.8 | 7.7 | 2.30 | 66.44 | 72.61 | ||||
1968 | 32,426,000 | 524,174 | 244,115 | 280,059 | 16.2 | 7.5 | 8.6 | 6.2 | 14.9 | 2.24 | 67.04 | 73.55 | ||||
1969 | 32,555,000 | 531,135 | 262,823 | 268,312 | 16.3 | 8.1 | 8.2 | -4.2 | 4 | 2.20 | 66.50 | 73.09 | ||||
1970 | 32,526,000 | 545,973 | 266,799 | 279,174 | 16.8 | 8.2 | 8.6 | -9.5 | -0.9 | 2.22 | 66.62 | 73.33 | 5.0 | |||
1971 | 32,805,000 | 562,341 | 283,702 | 278,639 | 17.1 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 0 | 8.5 | 2.25 | 66.13 | 73.25 | ||||
1972 | 33,068,000 | 575,725 | 265,250 | 310,475 | 17.4 | 8.0 | 9.4 | -1.4 | 8 | 2.24 | 67.32 | 74.17 | ||||
1973 | 33,363,000 | 598,559 | 277,188 | 321,371 | 17.9 | 8.3 | 9.6 | -0.8 | 8.8 | 2.24 | 67.15 | 74.30 | ||||
1974 | 33,691,000 | 621,080 | 277,085 | 343,995 | 18.4 | 8.2 | 10.2 | -0.5 | 9.7 | 2.26 | 67.80 | 74.64 | ||||
1975 | 34,022,000 | 643,772 | 296,896 | 346,876 | 18.9 | 8.7 | 10.2 | -0.5 | 9.7 | 2.27 | 67.02 | 74.26 | 4.7 | |||
1976 | 34,362,000 | 670,140 | 304,057 | 366,083 | 19.5 | 8.8 | 10.7 | -0.8 | 9.9 | 2.31 | 66.92 | 74.55 | ||||
1977 | 34,698,000 | 662,582 | 312,956 | 349,626 | 19.1 | 9.0 | 10.1 | -0.4 | 9.7 | 2.33 | 66.49 | 74.50 | ||||
1978 | 35,010,000 | 666,336 | 325,104 | 341,232 | 19.0 | 9.3 | 9.7 | -0.8 | 8.9 | 2.30 | 66.36 | 74.53 | ||||
1979 | 35,257,000 | 688,293 | 323,048 | 365,245 | 19.5 | 9.2 | 10.4 | -3.4 | 7 | 2.39 | 66.79 | 74.91 | 4.8 | |||
1980 | 35,578,000 | 692,798 | 350,203 | 342,595 | 19.5 | 9.8 | 9.6 | -0.6 | 9 | 2.42 | 66.01 | 74.44 | ||||
1981 | 35,902,000 | 678,696 | 328,923 | 349,773 | 18.9 | 9.2 | 9.7 | -0.7 | 9 | 2.34 | 67.10 | 75.24 | ||||
1982 | 36,227,000 | 702,351 | 334,869 | 367,482 | 19.4 | 9.2 | 10.1 | -0.4 | 9 | 2.38 | 67.24 | 75.20 | ||||
1983 | 36,571,000 | 720,756 | 349,388 | 371,368 | 19.7 | 9.6 | 10.2 | -0.7 | 9.4 | 2.41 | 67.04 | 75.16 | ||||
1984 | 36,914,000 | 699,041 | 364,883 | 334,158 | 18.9 | 9.9 | 9.1 | 0.2 | 9.3 | 2.36 | 66.84 | 74.97 | ||||
1985 | 37,203,000 | 677,576 | 381,458 | 296,118 | 18.2 | 10.3 | 8.0 | -0.2 | 7.8 | 2.33 | 66.50 | 74.81 | 5.0 | |||
1986 | 37,456,000 | 634,748 | 376,316 | 258,432 | 16.9 | 10.0 | 6.9 | -0.1 | 6.8 | 2.21 | 66.76 | 75.13 | ||||
1987 | 37,664,000 | 605,492 | 378,365 | 227,127 | 16.1 | 10.0 | 6.0 | -0.5 | 5.5 | 2.15 | 66.81 | 75.20 | ||||
1988 | 37,862,000 | 587,741 | 370,821 | 216,920 | 15.5 | 9.8 | 5.7 | -0.5 | 5.2 | 2.12 | 67.15 | 75.67 | ||||
1989 | 37,963,000 | 562,530 | 381,173 | 181,357 | 14.8 | 10.0 | 4.8 | -2.1 | 2.7 | 2.08 | 66.76 | 75.45 | ||||
1990 | 38,119,000 | 545,817 | 390,343 | 155,474 | 14.3 | 10.2 | 4.1 | 0 | 4.1 | 2.04 | 66.23 | 75.24 | 6.2 | |||
1991 | 38,245,000 | 547,719 | 405,716 | 142,003 | 14.3 | 10.6 | 3.7 | -0.4 | 3.3 | 2.05 | 65.88 | 75.06 | 6.6 | |||
1992 | 38,365,000 | 515,214 | 394,729 | 120,485 | 13.4 | 10.3 | 3.1 | 0 | 3.1 | 1.91 | 66.47 | 75.48 | 7.2 | |||
1993 | 38,459,000 | 494,310 | 392,259 | 102,051 | 12.9 | 10.2 | 2.7 | -0.3 | 2.4 | 1.86 | 67.17 | 75.81 | 8.2 | |||
1994 | 38,544,000 | 481,285 | 386,398 | 94,887 | 12.5 | 10.0 | 2.5 | -0.3 | 2.2 | 1.78 | 67.50 | 76.08 | 9.0 | |||
1995 | 38,588,000 | 443,109 | 386,084 | 57,025 | 11.5 | 10.0 | 1.5 | -0.3 | 1.1 | 1.65 | 67.62 | 76.39 | 9.5 | |||
1996 | 38,618,000 | 428,203 | 385,496 | 42,707 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 1.1 | -0.3 | 0.8 | 1.58 | 68.12 | 76.57 | 10.2 | |||
1997 | 38,650,000 | 412,635 | 380,201 | 32,434 | 10.7 | 9.8 | 0.8 | 0 | 0.8 | 1.52 | 68.45 | 76.99 | 11.0 | |||
1998 | 38,666,000 | 395,619 | 375,354 | 20,265 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 0.5 | -0.1 | 0.4 | 1.44 | 68.87 | 77.34 | 11.6 | |||
1999 | 38,654,000 | 382,002 | 381,415 | 587 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 0.0 | -0.3 | -0.3 | 1.37 | 68.83 | 77.49 | 11.7 | |||
2000 | 38,649,000 | 378,348 | 368,028 | 10,320 | 9.8 | 9.5 | 0.3 | -0.4 | -0.1 | 1.35 | 69.74 | 78.00 | 12.1 | |||
2001 | 38,572,026 | 368,205 | 363,220 | 4,985 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 0.1 | -1.9 | -2.0 | 1.32 | 70.21 | 78.38 | 13.1 | |||
2002 | 38,548,360 | 353,765 | 359,486 | -5,721 | 9.2 | 9.3 | -0.2 | -0.6 | -0.8 | 1.25 | 70.40 | 78.80 | 14.4 | 6,587 | 24,532 | -17,945 |
2003 | 38,520,437 | 351,072 | 365,230 | -14,158 | 9.1 | 9.5 | -0.4 | -0.4 | -0.7 | 1.22 | 70.50 | 78.90 | 15.8 | 7,048 | 20,813 | -13,765 |
2004 | 38,503,664 | 356,131 | 363,522 | -7,391 | 9.2 | 9.4 | -0.2 | -0.2 | -0.4 | 1.23 | 70.70 | 79.20 | 17.1 | 9,495 | 18,877 | -9,382 |
2005 | 38,486,884 | 364,383 | 368,285 | -3,902 | 9.5 | 9.6 | -0.1 | -0.3 | -0.4 | 1.24 | 70.80 | 79.40 | 18.5 | 9,364 | 22,242 | -12,878 |
2006 | 38,455,308 | 374,244 | 369,686 | 4,558 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 0.1 | -0.9 | -0.8 | 1.27 | 70.90 | 79.60 | 18.9 | 10,802 | 46,936 | -36,134 |
2007 | 38,445,470 | 387,873 | 377,226 | 10,647 | 10.1 | 9.9 | 0.3 | -0.5 | -0.3 | 1.31 | 71.00 | 79.70 | 19.5 | 14,995 | 35,480 | -20,485 |
2008 | 38,465,705 | 414,499 | 379,399 | 35,100 | 10.8 | 9.9 | 0.9 | -0.4 | 0.5 | 1.39 | 71.30 | 80.00 | 19.9 | 15,275 | 30,140 | -14,865 |
2009 | 38,497,158 | 417,589 | 384,940 | 32,649 | 10.8 | 10.0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0.8 | 1.40 | 71.50 | 80.10 | 20.2 | 17,424 | 18,620 | -1,196 |
2010 | 38,529,866 | 413,300 | 378,478 | 34,822 | 10.7 | 9.8 | 0.9 | -0.1 | 0.8 | 1.38 | 72.10 | 80.60 | 20.6 | 15,246 | 17,360 | -2,114 |
2011 | 38,538,447 | 388,416 | 375,501 | 12,915 | 10.1 | 9.7 | 0.3 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 1.30 | 72.40 | 80.90 | 21.2 | 15,524 | 19,858 | -4,334 |
2012 | 38,533,299 | 387,858 | 384,788 | 3,070 | 10.1 | 10.0 | 0.1 | -0.2 | -0.1 | 1.30 | 72.70 | 81.00 | 22.3 | 14,583 | 21,200 | -6,617 |
2013 | 38,495,659 | 369,576 | 387,312 | -17,736 | 9.6 | 10.1 | -0.5 | -0.5 | -1 | 1.26 | 73.10 | 81.10 | 23.4 | 12,199 | 32,103 | -19,904 |
2014 | 38,478,602 | 375,160 | 376,467 | -1,307 | 9.7 | 9.8 | -0.0 | -0.4 | -0.4 | 1.29 | 73.80 | 81.60 | 24.2 | 12,330 | 28,080 | -15,750 |
2015 | 38,437,239 | 369,308 | 394,921 | -25,613 | 9.6 | 10.3 | -0.7 | -0.4 | -1.1 | 1.29 | 73.60 | 81.60 | 24.6 | 12,330 | 28,080 | -15,750 |
2016 | 38,432,992 | 382,257 | 388,009 | -5,752 | 9.9 | 10.1 | -0.1 | 0 | -0.1 | 1.36 | 73.90 | 81.90 | 25.0 | 13,475 | 11,970 | 1,505 |
2017 | 38,433,558 | 401,982 | 402,852 | -870 | 10.5 | 10.5 | -0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.45 | 74.00 | 81.80 | 24.1 | 13,324 | 11,888 | 1,436 |
2018 | 38,411,148 | 388,178 | 414,200 | -26,022 | 10.1 | 10.8 | -0.7 | 0.1 | -0.6 | 1.44 | 73.80 | 81.70 | 26.4 | 15,461 | 11,849 | 3,612 |
2019 | 38,382,576 | 374,954 | 409,709 | -34,755 | 9.8 | 10.7 | -0.9 | 0.2 | -0.7 | 1.42 | 74.10 | 81.80 | 25.4 | 16,909 | 10,726 | 6,183 |
2020 | 38,265,013 | 355,309 | 477,355 | -122,046 | 9.3 | 12.5 | -3.2 | 0.1 | -3.1 | 1.38 | 72.60 | 80.70 | 26.4 | 13,263 | 8,780 | 4,483 |
2021 | 38,080,411 | 331,511 | 519,517 | -188,006 | 8.7 | 13.6 | -4.9 | 1.32 | 71.80 | 79.70 | 26.7 | 15,409 | 12,005 | 3,404 | ||
2022 | 37,940,000 | 305,132 | 448,448 | -143,316 | 8.1 | 11.9 | -3.8 | 15,572 | 13,633 | 1,939 |
Current vital statistics
Period | Live births | Deaths | Natural increase |
---|---|---|---|
January - February 2022 | 47,900 | 90,000 | -42,000 |
January - February 2023 | 47,000 | 75,500 | -28,500 |
Difference | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Structure of the population
Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 18 651 441 | 19 882 348 | 38 533 789 | 100 |
0-4 | 1 058 874 | 1 005 069 | 2 063 943 | 5.36 |
5-9 | 945 643 | 897 723 | 1 843 366 | 4.78 |
10-14 | 974 509 | 925 506 | 1 900 015 | 4.93 |
15-19 | 1 158 367 | 1 108 267 | 2 266 634 | 5.88 |
20-24 | 1 394 761 | 1 341 393 | 2 736 154 | 7.10 |
25-29 | 1 623 072 | 1 575 546 | 3 198 618 | 8.30 |
30-34 | 1 602 736 | 1 558 622 | 3 161 358 | 8.20 |
35-39 | 1 470 751 | 1 432 822 | 2 903 573 | 7.54 |
40-44 | 1 231 083 | 1 209 751 | 2 440 834 | 6.33 |
45-49 | 1 196 548 | 1 192 952 | 2 389 500 | 6.20 |
50-54 | 1 369 258 | 1 414 996 | 2 784 254 | 7.23 |
55-59 | 1 404 141 | 1 522 140 | 2 926 281 | 7.59 |
60-64 | 1 163 935 | 1 350 684 | 2 514 619 | 6.53 |
65-69 | 675 573 | 861 584 | 1 537 157 | 3.99 |
70-74 | 529 739 | 776 722 | 1 306 461 | 3.39 |
75-79 | 424 407 | 720 249 | 1 144 656 | 2.97 |
80-84 | 278 428 | 566 126 | 844 554 | 2.19 |
85-89 | 115 213 | 311 388 | 426 601 | 1.11 |
90-94 | 28 565 | 91 223 | 119 788 | 0.31 |
95-99 | 4614 | 18 265 | 22 879 | 0.06 |
100+ | 224 | 1320 | 1544 | <0.01 |
Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
0-14 | 2 979 026 | 2 828 298 | 5 807 324 | 15.07 |
15-64 | 13 615 652 | 13 707 173 | 27 322 825 | 70.91 |
65+ | 2 056 763 | 3 346 877 | 5 403 640 | 14.02 |
Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 18 607 417 | 19 847 159 | 38 454 576 | 100 |
0-4 | 982 639 | 928 662 | 1 911 301 | 4.97 |
5-9 | 1 047 830 | 996 205 | 2 044 035 | 5.32 |
10-14 | 924 671 | 877 780 | 1 802 451 | 4.69 |
15-19 | 1 028 884 | 979 585 | 2 008 469 | 5.22 |
20-24 | 1 257 703 | 1 209 498 | 2 467 201 | 6.42 |
25-29 | 1 464 438 | 1 417 040 | 2 881 478 | 7.49 |
30-34 | 1 647 147 | 1 602 930 | 3 250 077 | 8.45 |
35-39 | 1 561 396 | 1 522 202 | 3 083 598 | 8.02 |
40-44 | 1 354 899 | 1 329 476 | 2 684 375 | 6.98 |
45-49 | 1 166 358 | 1 160 878 | 2 327 236 | 6.05 |
50-54 | 1 211 294 | 1 238 398 | 2 449 692 | 6.37 |
55-59 | 1 386 303 | 1 489 816 | 2 876 119 | 7.48 |
60-64 | 1 256 035 | 1 443 985 | 2 700 020 | 7.02 |
65-69 | 917 893 | 1 147 725 | 2 065 618 | 5.37 |
70-74 | 501 311 | 716 224 | 1 217 535 | 3.17 |
75-79 | 426 059 | 715 629 | 1 141 688 | 2.97 |
80-84 | 287 908 | 573 415 | 861 323 | 2.24 |
85+ | 184 649 | 497 711 | 682 360 | 1.77 |
Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
0-14 | 2 955 140 | 2 802 647 | 5 757 787 | 14.97 |
15-64 | 13 334 457 | 13 393 808 | 26 728 265 | 69.51 |
65+ | 2 317 820 | 3 650 704 | 5 968 524 | 15.52 |
Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 18 307 488 | 19 532 513 | 37 840 001 | 100 |
0–4 | 978 526 | 926 796 | 1 905 322 | 5.04 |
5–9 | 979 042 | 925 737 | 1 904 779 | 5.03 |
10–14 | 1 049 403 | 997 556 | 2 046 959 | 5.41 |
15–19 | 911 890 | 866 575 | 1 778 465 | 4.70 |
20–24 | 1 000 405 | 957 358 | 1 957 763 | 5.17 |
25–29 | 1 221 584 | 1 177 960 | 2 399 544 | 6.34 |
30–34 | 1 420 368 | 1 367 645 | 2 788 013 | 7.37 |
35–39 | 1 594 620 | 1 543 389 | 3 138 009 | 8.29 |
40–44 | 1 515 234 | 1 482 301 | 2 997 535 | 7.92 |
45–49 | 1 328 852 | 1 316 404 | 2 645 256 | 6.99 |
50–54 | 1 116 244 | 1 130 951 | 2 247 195 | 5.94 |
55–59 | 1 115 823 | 1 176 530 | 2 292 353 | 6.06 |
60–64 | 1 246 589 | 1 407 097 | 2 653 686 | 7.01 |
65-69 | 1 114 311 | 1 374 477 | 2 488 788 | 6.58 |
70-74 | 806 003 | 1 102 945 | 1 908 948 | 5.04 |
75-79 | 388 818 | 621 315 | 1 010 133 | 2.67 |
80-84 | 291 685 | 571 202 | 862 887 | 2.28 |
85-89 | 159 279 | 376 980 | 536 259 | 1.42 |
90-94 | 56 278 | 164 806 | 221 084 | 0.58 |
95-99 | 10 821 | 38 970 | 49 791 | 0.13 |
100+ | 1 713 | 5 519 | 7 232 | 0.02 |
Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
0–14 | 3 006 971 | 2 850 089 | 5 857 060 | 15.48 |
15–64 | 12 471 609 | 12 426 210 | 24 897 819 | 65.80 |
65+ | 2 828 908 | 4 256 214 | 7 085 122 | 18.72 |
Employment and income
- Unemployment, youth ages 15–24
- total: 17.7%. Country comparison to the world: 74th
- male: 17.4%
- female: 18% (2016 est.)
Population density and urban areas

- Urbanization
- urban population: 60.1% of total population (2018)
- rate of urbanization: -0.25% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Area | ESPON [29] | Eurostat LUZ [30] | Ministry of Regional Development[31] | United Nations [32] | Demographia.com[33] | Citypopulation.de[34] | Scientific study by T. Markowski[35] | Scientific study by Swianiewicz, Klimska [36] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Katowice (Katowice urban area) | 3,029,000[37](5,294,000) | 2,710,397 | 3,239,200 | 3,069,000 | 2,500,000 | 2,775,000 | 2,746,000 | 2,733,000 |
Warsaw | 2,785,000 | 2,660,406 | 2,680,600 | 2,194,000 | 2,030,000 | 2,375,000 | 2,631,900 | 2,504,000 |
Kraków | 1,236,000 | 1,264,322 | 1,227,200 | 818,000 | 750,000 | Not listed | 1,257,500 | 1,367,000 |
Łódź | 1,165,000 | 1,163,516 | 1,061,600 | 974,000 | 950,000 | 1,060,000 | 1,178,000 | 1,129,000 |
Gdańsk | 993,000 | 1,105,203 | 1,220,800 | 854,000 | 775,000 | No data | 1,098,400 | 1,210,000 |
Poznań | 919,000 | 1,018,511 | 1,227,200 | No data | 600,000 | No data | 1,011,200 | 846,000 |
Wrocław | 861,000 | 1,031,439 | 1,136,900 | No data | 700,000 | No data | 1,029,800 | 956,000 |
Szczecin | 721,000 | 878,314 | 724,700 | No data | 500,000 | No data | No data | 755,806 |
Demographics by town
City | Voivodeship | Inhabitants May 20, 2002 |
Inhabitants December 31, 2006 |
Inhabitants December 31, 2010 |
Inhabitants December 31, 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Warsaw | Masovian | 1,671,670 | 1,702,139 | 1,720,398 | 1,790,658 |
2 | Kraków | Lesser Poland | 758,544 | 756,267 | 756,183 | 779,115 |
3 | Łódź | Łódź | 789,318 | 760,251 | 737,098 | 679,941 |
4 | Wrocław | Lower Silesia | 640,367 | 634,630 | 632,996 | 642,869 |
5 | Poznań | Greater Poland | 578,886 | 564,951 | 551,627 | 534,813 |
6 | Gdańsk | Pomeranian | 461,334 | 456,658 | 456,967 | 470,907 |
7 | Szczecin | Western Pomeranian | 415,399 | 409,068 | 405,606 | 401,907 |
8 | Bydgoszcz | Kuyavia-Pomeranian | 373,804 | 363,468 | 356,177 | 348,190 |
9 | Lublin | Lublin | 357,110 | 353,483 | 348,450 | 339,784 |
10 | Białystok | Podlaskie | 291,383 | 294,830 | 295,198 | 297,554 |
11 | Katowice | Silesia | 327,222 | 314,500 | 306,826 | 292,774 |
12 | Gdynia | Pomerania | 253,458 | 251,844 | 247,324 | 246,348 |
13 | Częstochowa | Silesian | 251,436 | 245,030 | 238,042 | 220,433 |
14 | Radom | Masovian | 229,699 | 225,810 | 222,496 | 211,371 |
15 | Toruń | Kuyavia-Pomerania | 211,243 | 207,190 | 205,312 | 201,447 |
16 | Sosnowiec | Silesia | 232,622 | 225,030 | 217,638 | 199,974 |
17 | Rzeszów | Subcarpathia | 160,376 | 165,578 | 178,227 | 196,208 |
18 | Kielce | Świętokrzyskie | 212,429 | 207,188 | 203,804 | 194,852 |
19 | Gliwice | Silesia | 203,814 | 198,499 | 195,472 | 178,603 |
20 | Zabrze | Silesia | 195,293 | 190,110 | 186,913 | 172,360 |
21 | Olsztyn | Warmia-Masuria | 173,102 | 174,941 | 176,463 | 171,979 |
22 | Bielsko-Biała | Silesia | 178,028 | 176,453 | 175,008 | 170,663 |
23 | Bytom | Silesia | 193,546 | 186,540 | 181,617 | 165,263 |
24 | Zielona Góra | Lubusz | 118,293 | 138,512 | 117,699 | 141,222 |
25 | Rybnik | Silesia | 142,731 | 141,388 | 141,410 | 138,098 |
26 | Ruda Śląska | Silesia | 150,595 | 145,471 | 142,950 | 137,360 |
27 | Opole | Opole | 129,946 | 127,602 | 125,710 | 128,035 |
28 | Tychy | Silesia | 132,816 | 130,492 | 129,386 | 127,590 |
29 | Gorzów Wielkopolski | Lubusz | 125,914 | 125,504 | 125,394 | 123,609 |
30 | Płock | Masovian | 128,361 | 127,224 | 126,061 | 119,425 |
31 | Dąbrowa Górnicza | Silesia | 132,236 | 129,559 | 127,431 | 119,373 |
32 | Elbląg | Warmia-Masuria | 128,134 | 126,985 | 126,049 | 119,317 |
33 | Wałbrzych | Lower Silesia | 130,268 | 124,988 | 120,197 | 111,356 |
34 | Włocławek | Kuyavia-Pomerania | 121,229 | 119,256 | 116,914 | 109,883 |
35 | Tarnów | Lesser Poland | 119,913 | 116,967 | 114,635 | 108,470 |
36 | Chorzów | Silesia | 117,430 | 113,978 | 112,697 | 107,807 |
37 | Koszalin | Western Pomerania | 108,709 | 107,693 | 107,948 | 107,048 |
38 | Kalisz | Greater Poland | 109,498 | 108,477 | 106,664 | 100,246 |
39 | Legnica | Lower Silesia | 107,100 | 105,186 | 103,892 | 99,350 |
40 | Grudziądz | Kuyavia-Pomerania | 99,943 | 99,244 | 98,757 | 94,368 |
41 | Jaworzno | Silesia | 96,791 | 95,771 | 94,831 | 91,115 |
42 | Słupsk | Pomerania | 100,376 | 98,092 | 96,665 | 90,681 |
43 | Jastrzębie-Zdrój | Silesia | 96,821 | 94,716 | 92,622 | 88,743 |
44 | Nowy Sącz | Lesser Poland | 84,421 | 84,487 | 84,537 | 83,794 |
45 | Jelenia Góra | Lower Silesia | 88,866 | 86,503 | 84,023 | 79,061 |
46 | Siedlce | Masovian | 76,686 | 77,051 | 76,303 | 78,185 |
47 | Mysłowice | Silesia | 75,642 | 75,063 | 75,501 | 74,618 |
48 | Konin | Greater Poland | 82,177 | 80,471 | 78,670 | 73,522 |
49 | Piła | Greater Poland | 75,197 | 74,720 | 74,550 | 73,139 |
50 | Piotrków Trybunalski | Łódź | 80,923 | 78,954 | 77,669 | 73,090 |
Demographics by voivodeship
Inhabitants of voivodeships (2008, according to GUS) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Lower Silesian | 19 947 | 2 887 059 | -0,04 |
Kuyavian-Pomeranian | 17 972 | 2 067 918 | +0,07 |
Lublin | 25 122 | 2 161 832 | -0,15 |
Lubusz | 13 998 | 1 008 926 | 0,00 |
Łódź | 18 219 | 2 548 861 | -0,20 |
Lesser Poland | 15 183 | 3 287 136 | +0.22 |
Masovian | 35 558 | 5 204 495 | +0,26 |
Opole | 9412 | 1 033 040 | -0,31 |
Subcarpathian | 17 846 | 2 099 495 | +0,03 |
Podlaskie (Demographics) | 20 187 | 1 191 470 | -0,07 |
Pomeranian | 18 310 | 2 219 512 | +0,32 |
Silesian | 12 334 | 4 645 665 | -0.12 |
Świętokrzyskie | 11 710 | 1 272 784 | -0,20 |
Warmian-Masurian | 24 173 | 1 427 073 | +0,03 |
Greater Poland | 29 827 | 3 397 617 | +0.26 |
West Pomeranian | 22 892 | 1 692 957 | +0,04 |
Poland | 312 679 | 38 135 876 | +0,05 |
Immigration
Immigration to Poland has only picked up recently after 2014, when unemployment started falling and more workforce was needed. Most migration is temporary, with workers arriving for 3 to 12 months and then returning home with the earned money. Some of them stay long enough to acquire permanent and long-term stay permits (table below), but the actual amount of immigrants in Poland is far higher.
Nationality | Population (2021) |
---|---|
![]() |
256,821 |
![]() |
30,228 |
![]() ![]() |
20,240 |
![]() |
12,607 |
![]() |
10,551 |
![]() ![]() |
8,483 |
![]() |
8,345 |
![]() |
6,812 |
![]() |
6,527 |
![]() ![]() |
5,873 |
![]() ![]() |
5,540 |
![]() ![]() |
5,343 |
![]() ![]() |
4,712 |
![]() |
3,990 |
![]() |
3,700 |
![]() |
3,101 |
![]() |
2,600 |
![]() ![]() |
2,388 |
![]() ![]() |
2,368 |
![]() ![]() |
2,357 |
![]() ![]() |
2,302 |
![]() ![]() |
2,214 |
Country | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 50,465 | 106,223 | 192,547 | 238,334 | 330,495 | 295,272 |
![]() | 2,037 | 4,870 | 10,518 | 19,233 | 27,130 | 27,304 |
![]() | 88 | 142 | 398 | 2,752 | 7,438 | 8,213 |
![]() | 1,488 | 2,844 | 3,792 | 6,035 | 8,341 | 7,616 |
![]() | 179 | 249 | 733 | 2,057 | 6,317 | 7,391 |
![]() | 1,433 | 836 | 1,409 | 2,634 | 6,309 | 5,873 |
![]() | 75 | 111 | 148 | 352 | 2,023 | 3,885 |
![]() | 579 | 1,008 | 1,433 | 1,903 | 2,862 | 3,371 |
![]() | 732 | 439 | 658 | 1,313 | 3,367 | 2,992 |
![]() | 74 | 112 | 321 | 803 | 1,689 | 2,464 |
![]() | 116 | 193 | 1,336 | 3,302 | 3,183 | 2,125 |
![]() | 1,288 | 1,205 | 1,179 | 1,473 | 1,935 | 1,380 |
![]() | 59 | 98 | 353 | 868 | 1,323 | 1,186 |
![]() | 42 | 19 | 81 | 654 | 1,283 | 1,095 |
![]() | 5 | 4 | 16 | 43 | 317 | 961 |
![]() | 650 | 804 | 878 | 930 | 911 | 811 |
![]() | 544 | 391 | 405 | 479 | 560 | 477 |
![]() | 212 | 291 | 348 | 376 | 625 | 459 |
![]() | 51 | 36 | 139 | 261 | 499 | 457 |
![]() | 140 | 156 | 181 | 281 | 433 | 349 |
Others | 2,175 | 2,421 | 2,643 | 3,657 | 5,958 | 5,536 |
Total | 65,786 | 127,394 | 235,626 | 328,768 | 444,738 | 406,496 |
Most immigrants are hired using short-term work registrations, which are an easier way for employers to hire foreigners, than work permits, and only apply to workers from 6 former CIS countries.[40][41] Between 2007 and 2017, they figured as a "Declaration of intention to entrust work to a foreigner", though it led to numerous abuses, since after submitting the statement, employers were not obliged to report whether the foreigner had come, and whether he had taken the job. Migrants would sometimes take up different work than previously indicated, use the permit to move to Western Europe, or not arrive at all. On 1 January 2018, it was replaced by "Declaration of entrusting work to a foreigner". Since then, employers are obliged to report the fact that the migrant has taken up employment. The change limits the comparability of the data from the previous periods.[42]
Country | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | 1,446,304 | 1,475,923 | 1,329,491 |
![]() | 62,805 | 66,045 | 78,905 |
![]() | 36,742 | 39,414 | 45,281 |
![]() | 28,008 | 45,137 | 44,270 |
![]() | 6,718 | 11,262 | 19,246 |
![]() | 1,648 | 2,302 | 2,406 |
Total | 1,582,225 | 1,640,083 | 1,519,599 |
Since January 2018, employers may hire foreigners on a seasonal work permit, used specifically for agricultural and tourism-related work.[43] In 2020, 60,8% of hired foreigners were women, 42% were under 35 years old, and most worked in Poland from 31 to 90 days.[44] The vast majority of migrants come from Ukraine, as well as Belarus, Moldova, and Georgia, since the law doesn't require the employer to look for potential Polish workers before hiring a foreigner from said countries.
Country | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | 119,926 | 129,683 | 135,482 |
![]() | 607 | 659 | 625 |
![]() | 359 | 380 | 342 |
![]() | 199 | 302 | 291 |
![]() | 3 | 66 | 122 |
![]() | 15 | 78 | 78 |
![]() | 45 | 79 | 62 |
![]() | 0 | 3 | 44 |
Others | 35 | 97 | 175 |
Total | 121,436 | 131,446 | 137,403 |
Ethnic groups

Population background | % | Population[45] |
---|---|---|
European | 98.6 | 37,962,000 |
European Union | 98.2 | 37,813,000 |
Ethnic Polish (including Silesians and Kashubians) | 97.7 | 37,602,000 |
Other EU member states (primarily German) | 0.5 | 211,000 |
European Other (primarily Ukrainian and Belarusian) | 0.4 | 149,000 |
Other background (primarily Vietnamese and Chechen) | 0.1 | 29,000 |
Mixed or unspecified background | 1.4 | 521,000 |
Total population | 100 | 38,512,000 |
Ethnicity | census 1921 | census 1931 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Number | % | Number | % | |
Poles | 17,789,287 | 69,23 | 21,993,444 | 68,91 |
Ukrainians | 3,898,428 | 15,17 | 3,221,975 | 10,10 |
Jews | 2,048,878 | 7,97 | 2,732,573 | 8,56 |
Ruthenians | 1,219,647 | 3,82 | ||
Belarusians | 1,035,693 | 4,03 | 989,852 | 3,10 |
Germans | 769,392 | 2,99 | 740,992 | 2,32 |
Lithuanians | 24,044 | 0,09 | 83,116 | 0,26 |
Russians | 48,920 | 0,19 | 138,713 | 0,43 |
Local | 38,943 | 0,15 | 707,088 | 2,22 |
Czechs | 30,628 | 0,12 | 38,097 | 0,12 |
Others | 9,856 | 0,04 | 11,119 | ~0,04 |
Unknown | 631 | ~0,002 | 39,163 | 0,12 |
Total | 25,694,700 | 31,915,779 |
Ethnicity | census 1946 | |
---|---|---|
Number | % | |
Poles | 20,520,178 | 85,75 |
Germans | 2,288,300 | 9,56 |
Not shown | 417,431 | 1,74 |
Others | 399,526 | 1,67 |
Total | 23,929,757 |
Ethnicity | census 2002[46] | census 2011 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Number | % | Number | % | |
Poles | 36,983,720 | 96,74 | 37,310,300 | 96,88 |
Silesians | 173,153 | 0,45 | 435,800 | 1,13 |
Kashubians | 5,062 | 0,01 | 17,700 | 0,05 |
Germans | 152,897 | 0,40 | 74,500 | 0,19 |
Ukrainians | 30,957 | 0,08 | 38,400 | 0,10 |
Belarusians | 48,737 | 0,13 | 36,400 | 0,09 |
Romani | 12,855 | 0,03 | 12,600 | 0,03 |
Russians | 6,103 | 0,02 | 8,200 | 0,02 |
Lemkos | 5,863 | 0,02 | 7,100 | 0,02 |
Lithuanians | 5,846 | 0,02 | 5,600 | 0,01 |
Vietnamese | 1,808 | 0,00 | 3,600 | 0,01 |
Armenians | 1,082 | 0,00 | 3,000 | 0,01 |
Jews | 1,133 | 0,00 | 2,500 | 0,01 |
Slovaks | 2,001 | 0,01 | 2,300 | 0,01 |
Italians | 1,367 | 0,00 | 1,700 | 0,00 |
French | 1,633 | 0,00 | 1,500 | 0,00 |
Czechs | 831 | 0,00 | 1,300 | 0,00 |
Americans | 1,541 | 0,00 | 1,200 | 0,00 |
Greeks | 1,404 | 0,00 | 1,100 | 0,00 |
Bulgarians | 1,112 | 0,00 | ||
Others | 11,863 | 0,03 | 25,300 | 0,07 |
Unknown | 4,227 | 0,01 | 200 | 0,00 |
Undeclared | 774,885 | 2,03 | 521,500 | 1,35 |
Total | 38,230,080 | 38,511,824 |
Religions
Religion in Poland (2018) conducted by the Central Statistical Office (GUS)[47]
Languages
- Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)
Notes
- In fertility rates, 2.1 and above is a stable population and has been marked blue, 2 and below leads to an aging population and the result is that the population decreases.
References
- "Ludność w gminach według stanu w dniu 31.12.2011 r. - bilans opracowany w oparciu o wyniki NSP 2011". Stat.gov.pl. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- "Refugees fleeing Ukraine (since 24 February 2022)". UNHCR. 2022.
- "Miejska gościnność: wielki wzrost, wyzwania i szanse - Raport o uchodźcach z Ukrainy w największych polskich miastach". metropolie.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-10.
- "Poland: Aging and the Economy". Worldbank.org. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- "Poland Total fertility rate". Indexmundi.com. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
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- Note: Crude migration change (per 1000) is a trend analysis, an extrapolation based average population change (current year minus previous) minus natural change of the current year (see table vital statistics). As average population is an estimate of the population in the middle of the year and not end of the year.
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External links
- Statistics Poland
- CIA World Factbook 2004
- The Protection of National Minorities in Poland report by Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights
- Internationales Institut für Nationalitätenrecht und Regionalismus (in German)
- The First Large Emigration of the Armenians at the Wayback Machine (archived March 3, 2016)
- Poland's president expresses regret over 1947 Akcja Wisla at the Wayback Machine (archived September 30, 2007)
- U.S.ENGLISH Foundation Official Language Research - Poland at the Wayback Machine (archived September 28, 2007)