Poland Population

Poland has had good economic development since the fall of communism. In recent years, the country has taken steps in an undemocratic direction.

Key figures and facts

• Capital: Warsaw
• Ethnic groups: Poles 97%, Silesians 1%, Germans/Ukrainians/others 2% (2011)
• Language: Polish (official) 98%, Silesian 1%, other/unspecified 3% (2011) (the figures come from a survey, the total is more than 100% because people stated more than one language.)
• Religion: Catholics 87%, Orthodox 1% Protestants/unspecified/others 12% (2012)
• Population: 38 171 000
• Control Form: Democratic Republic
• Area: 312 680 km2
• Currency: Złoty
• GNP per capita: 27 383 PPP $
• National Day: November 11th

Poland has a population of 38 420 687 residents (2018, CIA World Factbook). This makes Poland the most populous of the new EU countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

In 2018, the number of residents was reduced by 0.16 percent. There has been a corresponding annual reduction in population since 2000. This is linked to a low birth rate of 1.36 percent (2018) and emigration. Against this background, with a view to, among other things, promoting population growth, a system of child benefit was introduced on April 1, 2016, which means that families with more than one child will receive PLN 500 (approximately NOK 1150) per month in child benefit per child, but not for the first child. Approximately 2.7 million families received such support in 2018. From September 2019 child benefit was also provided for the first child.

However, the Polish Statistics Agency’s projections show that by 2050 the country’s population will be reduced to approximately 34 million residents.

In 2016, Poland had a population density of 125.47 per square kilometer. Life expectancy at birth increased from 74.0 years in 1990 to 77.9 years in 2018 for the population as a whole, for women to 82.0 years and for men 74.1 years.

Population of Poland by Year (Historical)

Year	Population	Annual Growth Rate	Population Density	Global Rank
2020	37,846,500	-0.110%	123.5888	38
2019	37,887,657	-0.090%	123.7232	38
2018	37,921,481	-0.080%	123.8337	37
2017	37,953,069	-0.090%	123.9368	36
2016	37,989,109	-0.120%	124.0545	36
2015	38,033,968	-0.150%	124.2010	36
2010	38,329,670	-0.020%	125.1666	33
2005	38,368,838	-0.100%	125.2946	32
2000	38,556,582	0.050%	125.9076	30
1995	38,458,527	0.260%	125.5874	29
1990	37,960,082	0.440%	123.9597	27
1985	37,133,759	0.880%	121.2614	27
1980	35,539,609	0.910%	116.0556	25
1975	33,970,613	0.800%	110.9321	24
1970	32,639,147	0.800%	106.5841	23
1965	31,360,796	1.150%	102.4096	20
1960	29,614,090	1.660%	96.7057	19
1955	27,269,638	1.900%	89.0499	19
1950	24,823,907	0.000%	81.0633	18

Major Cities in Poland by Population

Rank	City	Population
1	Warsaw	1,702,028
2	Lodz	768,644
3	Krakow	754,939
4	Wroclaw	634,782
5	Poznan	570,241
6	Gdansk	461,754
7	Szczecin	407,700
8	Bydgoszcz	366,341
9	Lublin	359,933
10	Katowice	317,205
11	Bialystok	291,744
12	Gdynia	253,619
13	Czestochowa	248,014
14	Sosnowiec	227,184
15	Radom	226,683
16	Mokotow	212,559
17	Torun	208,606
18	Kielce	208,487
19	Gliwice	198,724
20	Zabrze	192,066
21	Bytom	189,075
22	Praga Poludnie	187,734
23	Bielsko-Biala	176,404
24	Olsztyn	171,692
25	Rzeszow	158,271
26	Ursynow	147,565
27	Ruda Slaska	146,078
28	Wola	143,885
29	Rybnik	142,399
30	Bielany	134,743
31	Srodmiescie	134,195
32	Dabrowa Gornicza	130,490
33	Tychy	129,889
34	Opole	127,565
35	Elblag	127,447
36	Plock	127,363
37	Walbrzych	127,320
38	Gorzow Wielkopolski	124,319
39	Targowek	124,205
40	Wloclawek	120,228
41	Zielona Gora	118,322
42	Tarnow	117,688
43	Chorzow	113,319
44	Kalisz	108,648
45	Koszalin	107,339
46	Legnica	105,922
47	Bemowo	102,282
48	Grudziadz	99,375
49	Slupsk	98,497
50	Jaworzno	96,430
51	Jastrzebie Zdroj	95,702
52	Praga Polnoc	93,081
53	Ochota	93,081
54	Bialoleka	89,213
55	Jelenia Gora	87,199
56	Nowy Sacz	84,265
57	Konin	81,147
58	Piotrkow Trybunalski	80,017
59	Inowroclaw	77,486
60	Lubin	77,421
61	Siedlce	77,074
62	Pila	75,421
63	Myslowice	75,170
64	Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski	73,878
65	Siemianowice Slaskie	73,010
66	Ostrow Wielkopolski	72,787
67	Stargard	71,113
68	Pabianice	70,431
69	Gniezno	70,158
70	Fordon	69,889
71	Suwalki	69,111
72	Glogow	68,419
73	Chelm	67,932
74	Tomaszow Mazowiecki	67,086
75	Przemysl	66,902
76	Stalowa Wola	66,384
77	Zamosc	65,923
78	Kedzierzyn-Kozle	65,525
79	Lomza	63,612
80	Leszno	63,454
81	Zory	63,063
82	Belchatow	62,785
83	Wawer	62,545
84	Mielec	60,882
85	Tarnowskie Gory	60,827
86	Swidnica	60,240
87	Tczew	60,022
88	Piekary Slaskie	59,646
89	Raciborz	58,353
90	Bedzin	58,125
91	Zgierz	57,925
92	Biala Podlaska	57,430
93	Elk	55,658
94	Swietochlowice	55,489
95	Pruszkow	55,260
96	Ostroleka	53,629
97	Starachowice	53,628
98	Zawiercie	53,048
99	Zoliborz	50,823
100	Legionowo	50,675
101	Tarnobrzeg	50,348
102	Pulawy	49,648
103	Wodzislaw Slaski	49,410
104	Skarzysko-Kamienna	49,299
105	Radomsko	49,064
106	Skierniewice	48,931
107	Kutno	48,212
108	Starogard Gdanski	48,091
109	Krosno	47,673
110	Debica	47,255
111	Ursus	47,174
112	Nysa	47,172
113	Wejherowo	46,709
114	Ciechanow	46,327
115	Rumia	44,680
116	Zdunska Wola	44,404
117	Sieradz	44,325
118	Kolobrzeg	44,266
119	Otwock	43,277
120	Zyrardow	41,068
121	Oswiecim	41,032
122	Swinoujscie	40,808
123	Boleslawiec	40,571
124	Nowa Sol	40,243
125	Sopot	40,031
126	Jaroslaw	40,023
127	Swidnik	39,939
128	Chrzanow	39,862
129	Knurow	39,633
130	Sanok	39,573
131	Chojnice	39,296
132	Mikolow	38,710
133	Zary	38,668
134	Malbork	38,544
135	Szczecinek	38,385
136	Sochaczew	38,156
137	Brzeg	38,148
138	Jaslo	37,740
139	Olkusz	37,633
140	Kwidzyn	37,490
141	Minsk Mazowiecki	36,916
142	Olesnica	36,845
143	Wolomin	36,481
144	Piaseczno	36,167
145	Wlochy	36,165
146	Krasnik	35,723
147	Cieszyn	35,475
148	Lebork	35,050
149	Czechowice-Dziedzice	34,592
150	Police	34,239
151	Czeladz	34,197
152	Dzierzoniow	34,057
153	Nowy Targ	33,652
154	Ostroda	33,413
155	Myszkow	33,162
156	Zgorzelec	33,136
157	Ilawa	32,446
158	Zywiec	32,021
159	Olawa	30,787
160	Bielawa	30,713
161	Lukow	30,354
162	Srem	30,293
163	Gizycko	29,861
164	Lowicz	29,698
165	Augustow	29,641
166	Turek	29,422
167	Mlawa	29,287
168	Krotoszyn	29,120
169	Bochnia	29,073
170	Swarzedz	28,899
171	Czerwionka-Leszczyny	28,629
172	Wrzesnia	28,592
173	Gorlice	28,498
174	Gierloz	28,240
175	Ketrzyn	28,060
176	Klodzko	27,830
177	Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki	27,522
178	Zakopane	27,469
179	Brodnica	27,230
180	Bilgoraj	26,876
181	Grodzisk Mazowiecki	26,573
182	Wyszkow	26,517
183	Bielsk Podlaski	26,382
184	Lubon	26,320
185	Zagan	26,140
186	Szczytno	25,933
187	Kluczbork	25,867
188	Walcz	25,860
189	Swiecie	25,732
190	Jarocin	25,554
191	Bartoszyce	25,549
192	Pszczyna	25,177
193	Sandomierz	24,976
194	Kabaty	24,889
195	Nowa Ruda	24,642
196	Wagrowiec	24,317
197	Wielun	24,273
198	Bialogard	24,154
199	Lubliniec	24,022
200	Koscian	23,985
201	Jawor	23,754
202	Skawina	23,536
203	Pruszcz Gdanski	23,507
204	Kolo	23,382
205	Zabki	23,362
206	Koscierzyna	23,250
207	Prudnik	23,232
208	Piastow	23,179
209	Swiebodzice	23,117
210	Marki	23,066
211	Zambrow	22,746
212	Lubartow	22,728
213	Grajewo	22,692
214	Ostrow Mazowiecka	22,542
215	Opoczno	22,481
216	Goleniow	22,394
217	Luban	22,134
218	Plonsk	22,106
219	Hajnowka	22,046
220	Laziska Gorne	21,872
221	Mragowo	21,854
222	Andrychow	21,843
223	Rembertow	21,782
224	Rydultowy	21,776
225	Sroda Wielkopolska	21,646
226	Swiebodzin	21,646
227	Kamienna Gora	21,632
228	Leczna	21,608
229	Polkowice	21,454
230	Rawicz	21,269
231	Gryfino	21,159
232	Dzialdowo	21,016
233	Gostyn	20,660
234	Konskie	20,645
235	Ozorkow	20,497
236	Chelmno	20,465
237	Aleksandrow Lodzki	20,181
238	Tomaszow Lubelski	20,150
239	Strzelce Opolskie	20,130
240	Wesola	19,889
241	Pionki	19,855
242	Chodziez	19,665
243	Bierun	19,548
244	Naklo nad Notecia	19,454
245	Krasnystaw	19,421
246	Kety	19,138
247	Wadowice	19,127
248	Pisz	19,121
249	Sokolka	18,968
250	Pultusk	18,928
251	Pyskowice	18,907
252	Gostynin	18,865
253	Sierpc	18,755
254	Trzebinia	18,717
255	Bogatynia	18,577
256	Kozienice	18,566
257	Wieliczka	18,566
258	Miedzyrzecz	18,558
259	Hrubieszow	18,494
260	Szamotuly	18,477
261	Lask	18,466
262	Orzesze	18,327
263	Sulejowek	18,303
264	Zlotow	18,284
265	Braniewo	18,245
266	Krapkowice	18,164
267	Lancut	18,155
268	Sokolow Podlaski	18,130
269	Reda	18,005
270	Kostrzyn nad Odra	17,988
271	Sulechow	17,944
272	Oborniki	17,804
273	Jozefow	17,799
274	Libiaz	17,723
275	Deblin	17,664
276	Rawa Mazowiecka	17,659
277	Myslenice	17,575
278	Kobylka	17,548
279	Pleszew	17,529
280	Slubice	17,456
281	Zielonka	17,407
282	Radlin	17,368
283	Konstantynow Lodzki	17,304
284	Radzionkow	17,056
285	Miedzyrzec Podlaski	17,047
286	Busko-Zdroj	16,984
287	Strzegom	16,893
288	Trzcianka	16,803
289	Brzesko	16,755
290	Jedrzejow	16,681
291	Boguszow-Gorce	16,615
292	Bytow	16,613
293	Gryfice	16,609
294	Przasnysz	16,607
295	Nowogard	16,592
296	Gubin	16,518
297	Zlotoryja	16,501
298	Rypin	16,478
299	Konstancin-Jeziorna	16,437
300	Lidzbark Warminski	16,429
301	Lapy	16,323
302	Namyslow	16,265
303	Zabkowice Slaskie	16,210
304	Ledziny	16,194
305	Ustka	16,139
306	Staszow	16,026
307	Swidwin	15,965
308	Radzyn Podlaski	15,960
309	Olecko	15,812
310	Garwolin	15,801
311	Przeworsk	15,694
312	Milanowek	15,673
313	Choszczno	15,622
314	Ustron	15,526
315	Nisko	15,462
316	Leczyca	15,417
317	Siemiatycze	15,310
318	Chelmza	15,292
319	Jelcz Laskowice	15,229
320	Lomianki	15,204
321	Jelcz	15,197
322	Ropczyce	15,168
323	Nowy Tomysl	15,068
324	Solec Kujawski	15,014
325	Glucholazy	15,009
326	Glowno	14,992
327	Kartuzy	14,891
328	Cieplice Slaskie Zdroj	14,889
329	Lubsko	14,883
330	Wladyslawowo	14,778
331	Grojec	14,769
332	Lipno	14,710
333	Kepno	14,702
334	Skoczow	14,699
335	Kozle	14,669
336	Czluchow	14,648
337	Morag	14,634
338	Nidzica	14,609
339	Limanowa	14,603
340	Slupca	14,365
341	Wschowa	14,347
342	Ostrzeszow	14,335
343	Darlowo	14,287
344	Barlinek	14,274
345	Chojnow	14,098
346	Wilanow	13,921
347	Pszow	13,917
348	Znin	13,897
349	Lezajsk	13,847
350	Wabrzezno	13,800
351	Grodzisk Wielkopolski	13,715
352	Debno	13,693
353	Goldap	13,658
354	Glubczyce	13,586
355	Wolsztyn	13,578
356	Tuchola	13,575
357	Niedobczyce	13,389
358	Slawno	13,304
359	Zdzieszowice	13,290
360	Koluszki	13,232
361	Zlocieniec	13,226
362	Klobuck	13,079
363	Wlodawa	13,031
364	Rabka-Zdroj	12,960
365	Golub-Dobrzyn	12,826
366	Pyrzyce	12,782
367	Szprotawa	12,675
368	Brzeg Dolny	12,578
369	Gora	12,557
370	Lubaczow	12,484
371	Wegrow	12,401
372	Mogilno	12,354
373	Wolin	12,327
374	Strzelin	12,283
375	Mosina	12,207
376	Brwinow	12,204
377	Aleksandrow Kujawski	12,179
378	Brzeziny	12,178
379	Wolow	12,165
380	Krynica-Zdroj	12,159
381	Paslek	12,156
382	Trzebnica	12,101
383	Blonie	12,084
384	Krosno Odrzanskie	12,067
385	Milicz	12,058
386	Szydlowiec	12,017
387	Mysliborz	11,981
388	Kozy	11,809
389	Wegorzewo	11,753
390	Kowary	11,723
391	Janow Lubelski	11,700
392	Pinczow	11,695
393	Brzeszcze	11,676
394	Miechow	11,624
395	Czarnkow	11,451
396	Nowa Deba	11,378
397	Wronki	11,351
398	Puck	11,304
399	Wisla	11,268
400	Dabrowa Tarnowska	11,180

Population Composition

The median age has increased from 25.9 years in 1950 to 41.1 years in 2018. Projections show that it will be 51 years in 2050.

In 2018, persons in the age group up to 14 years made up 14.80 percent, for the age group 15-24 years 10.34 percent, for the age group 43.44 percent, for the age group 55-64 years 13.95 percent and for the group over 65 years 17, 47 percent.

51.7 percent of the population are women according to the Polish Statistical Office’s yearbook (2018). There are more men than women for all age groups 1–48 years, while there are more women than men in all age groups 49 years and older.

98 percent of the population is ethnically Polish. Ukrainians and Belarusians make up one percent, while the last percent mainly comprises Germans, Jews, Lithuanians and Roma.

The official language is Polish, which is the mother tongue of about 98 percent of the population. The largest linguistic minorities are German, Ukrainian, Belarusian and Kashubian.

Immigration and immigration before World War II

In the Middle Ages, Poland was a free zone for Jews from other countries in Central and Southern Europe.

Immigration of Jews began in the late 11th century and peaked in the 16th century. In the mid-14th century, there were Jewish settlements in at least 35 cities in Poland.

From the middle of the 18th century many Poles emigrated to the Ruhr district, Belgium and France, but also to Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Italy and Turkey. The bulk of the emigration to North and South America took place in the period 1860-1914. It was initially about farmers and workers who then had difficult living conditions in Poland. The largest group of emigrants went to the United States. After World War I, many Polish intellectuals settled in Paris, and in 1919-1920 a large number of Polish miners emigrated to Pas-de-Calais.

In the first half of the 17th century, Polish prisoners of war were sent to Siberia. During the period 1795-1918 deportation of Poles from the part of the country which then belonged to Russia continued. In the city of Irkutsk, a large Polish colony was registered in 1880.

Figures for emigration and deportation before World War II are uncertain, but it is recorded that only in the period 1914-1931 approximately 3.6 million people left Poland.

The population of Poland during World War II

Before World War II, Poland was one of the most mixed European countries. Of a population of about 35 million, Poles made up 24, Ukrainians 5-7, Jews 3.3, Belarusians 1.5 and Lithuanians/Germans about 0.5 million.

Poland was the country in the world that suffered the greatest loss of human life during World War II. About six million people were killed as a result of war, terror and concentration camps. Over 90 percent of the country’s Jewish population was exterminated.

As a result of World War II, Poland lost 180,000 square kilometers of land in the east, now parts of Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine. In contrast, the western border was shifted to the Oder-Neisse line, while the former Free State of Danzig and an area south of Kaliningrad became part of Poland. This led to displacements, partly by force, of about ten million people.

By the changes of the eastern border in 1945, 1.7 million Poles and 0.5 million Ukrainians and Belarusians were exchanged between Poland and the Soviet Union. In the German territories taken over by Poland in 1944–1845, before the war there were 8.5 million people, predominantly Germans. The majority of the German population fled or were expelled. 2.5 million Poles moved to the area from the central and eastern parts of Poland, and from the Lithuanian/Belarusian and Ukrainian territories that Poland had to relinquish to the Soviet Union. Of the few remaining Germans, a large proportion later left Poland, especially after the 1976 agreement was signed by the country to repatriate the majority of the German-speaking population over the next 10-15 years. But there are still a significant number who feel like Germans in Poland, especially in former Silesia. In 1991, Poland committed itself to respecting minorities linguistic, cultural and religious identity.

Immigration and immigration after World War II

Most of the Jews who survived World War II have emigrated. Thus, during communism, but especially during the years 1956–1957 and 1968–1969, there was an extensive emigration of Polish Jews, especially to the United States and Israel. The result is that today there are just under 10,000 Jews living in Poland.

Since Poland joined the EU and part of the EEA on 1 May 2004, approximately 2.3 million Poles have taken up employment in other EU/EEA countries, most of them in the UK and Ireland. Many of these have emigrated. About Poles in Norway see the article Poland’s relations with Norway.

In total, Polish authorities estimate that between 15 and 18 million Poles/people of Polish descent live abroad. The largest group is in the United States. In Chicago there is a Polish colony of about one million people.

Around 200,000 foreign nationals, mainly from other EU countries, Ukraine and Belarus, are currently working in Poland. Most have not immigrated. In light of Poland’s relatively strong economy, the Polish authorities expect some immigration from countries in southern Europe in the years to come. Following the influx of refugees to Italy and Greece in 2015, the Polish government decided in the autumn of 2015 to accept 5000 of these refugees, see the article Poland’s foreign policy.

Population Patterns

Population density is highest in the industrialized regions in the south and the middle part of the country, lowest in the northeast and northwest. In 2018, the capital Warsaw had 1,764,615 residents. Warsaw is the only Polish city with more than one million residents. Other cities with a population of more than 500,000 in 2018 were: Kraków (767 348), Łódź (690 422), Wrocław (638 586) and Poznan (538 633). In Poland, there are 37 cities with a population of more than 100,000.

60.1 percent of the population lives in urban areas (2018). In only four of the country’s 16 counties, more people live in rural areas than in urban areas. There are the following four counties in the south and southeast: Podkarpackie, ietwietokrzyskie, Lubelskie and Małopolskie.