In the first half of 2026, 94,900 dwellings were completed in Poland, 3.2% more than a year earlier. Leading indicators grew much more strongly: the number of dwellings for which building permits were issued increased by as much as 18.9%, while the number of housing starts rose by 3.5%. This signals that, after two years of stagnation, the supply of new housing is beginning to accelerate.
The figures are preliminary. Developers completed 57,400 dwellings (+0.7% y/y), while private investors completed 34,100 (+4.2% y/y). Together, these two forms of construction accounted for 96.4% of all new dwellings. The usable floor area of newly completed dwellings amounted to 8.5 million m² (+2.8% y/y), while the average dwelling had an area of 89.8 m².
Three indicators, three different rates of growth
A comparison of the three key residential construction indicators reveals clearly diverging growth rates. Building permits – the most forward-looking indicator, reflecting investors’ plans for the next one to two years – are rising the fastest after two years of relative stagnation in 2024 and 2025. Housing starts are increasing at a moderate pace, while completions are growing the slowest because they reflect investment decisions made two to three years ago, when the housing market was going through a period of high interest rates and uncertainty about demand.
Residential construction in Poland – monthly data, 01/2022–06/2026
Source: Statistics Poland. Own calculations based on Statistics Poland data.
The 18.9% increase in the number of building permits in the first half of 2026 is the strongest sign of an investment recovery in the housing market for several years. The resulting increase in new supply, however, will not become visible for another one to two years.
Who is building: developers record the strongest growth in permits
In the building permit segment, developers recorded a 25.4% year-on-year increase, to 96,000 dwellings, while private investors posted growth of 9.6%, to 45,100. Developers therefore account for most of the acceleration, as they are responding most strongly to improving financing conditions and demand signals. The picture is more balanced for housing starts: developers recorded growth of 1.9% y/y, to 69,600 dwellings, while private investors posted an increase of 3.8%, to 42,100.
Dwellings completed – full data
| Form of construction | June 2026 (number) | June 2026 vs May 2026 | June 2026 vs June 2025 | 01–06/2026 (number) | 01–06/2026 vs 01–06/2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 18,705 | 122.5 | 121.5 | 94,886 | 103.2 |
| Private construction | 5,442 | 101.8 | 112.9 | 34,131 | 104.2 |
| Built for sale or rent | 11,706 | 123.5 | 115.0 | 57,363 | 100.7 |
| including for rent | 142 | 75.9 | 95.3 | 629 | 136.1 |
| Cooperative construction | 78 | 136.8 | – | 329 | 128.5 |
| Municipal construction | 182 | 132.8 | 165.5 | 389 | 75.7 |
| Social rental housing | 1,295 | 500.0 | 456.0 | 2,531 | 174.0 |
| Company housing | 2 | – | – | 143 | 357.5 |
Particularly noteworthy is the rapid growth in social rental housing, albeit from a low base (+74% year on year in cumulative terms). This reflects social housing programmes implemented by local authorities and social housing associations. Nationwide, this segment still accounts for only a small share of the market – 2,500 out of nearly 95,000 dwellings – but it is growing faster than any other form of construction.
Mazowieckie, Śląskie and Małopolskie lead the market
In the first half of 2026, the highest numbers of dwellings completed, started and granted building permits were recorded in the Mazowieckie voivodeship (18,900, 21,800 and 25,700 respectively), Śląskie (8,600, 10,200 and 16,800) and Małopolskie (10,200, 11,100 and 13,300). Śląskie stands out for its particularly high number of permits relative to completions, suggesting that the region may see a marked acceleration in housing supply over the coming quarters.
Residential construction by voivodeship, 01–06/2026 (thousand dwellings)
Source: Statistics Poland. Own calculations based on Statistics Poland data.
What this means for the market
The first-half picture for 2026 points to a housing market entering a phase of supply recovery after the slowdown of 2024–2025. Current completions are rising slowly because they reflect decisions made several years ago. However, the sharp increase in building permits – particularly among developers, where growth reached 25.4% y/y – indicates a significant rise in the number of projects entering the construction phase in 2026 and 2027. For developers, this means securing land and construction capacity well in advance, especially as earlier Statistics Poland data show that construction and installation prices are rising by 5.5% y/y while the building construction segment is recording a decline in production volume. A growing number of permits combined with weaker current output in building construction could increase pressure on the availability of contractors and subcontractors over the coming quarters.
Source: Statistics Poland. Own calculations based on Statistics Poland data. Preliminary figures are subject to revision.
