Statistics Poland has published its latest report, Poland in Numbers 2026, offering a concise statistical overview of the country’s demographic, social and economic situation. The publication covers areas such as population trends, the labour market, wages, prices, housing, healthcare, education, tourism, digitalisation and the broader economy.
The data present Poland as a country with a relatively stable labour market, rising incomes and growing digital connectivity. At the same time, the report highlights one of the country’s most important long-term challenges: demographic decline and population ageing.
Poland’s population continues to shrink
According to Statistics Poland, Poland’s population stood at 37.333 million at the end of 2025. This confirms a continued decline compared with 2010, when the country had 38.530 million inhabitants.
The ageing of society is clearly visible in the median age. In 1990, the median age in Poland was 32.3 years. By 2020 it had risen to 41.6 years, and in 2025 it reached 43.8 years. Among women, the median age was even higher, at 45.4 years.
The structure of the population also shows the scale of demographic pressure. In 2025, people of pre-working age accounted for 17.7% of the population, those of working age for 58.2%, and those of post-working age for 24.1%. This means that demographic change will increasingly affect the labour market, public finances, healthcare and the pension system.
Labour market remains stable
The Labour Force Survey data show that in 2025 Poland had an average of 17.799 million economically active people, while the number of employed persons reached 17.241 million.
The unemployment rate remained low at 3.1%, compared with 2.9% in 2024. The employment rate for the population aged 15–89 stood at 56.8%, while the activity rate reached 58.6%.
Unemployment was highest among young people. In the 15–24 age group, the unemployment rate was 12.2%. By comparison, it stood at only 2.3% in both the 35–44 and 45–54 age groups. This confirms that although the overall labour market situation remains favourable, young people still face greater difficulty entering employment.
Wages continued to rise
Average monthly gross wages in Poland reached PLN 8,903.56 in 2025. In the public sector, the figure was PLN 10,225.35, while in the private sector it stood at PLN 8,424.73.
Nominal wages increased by 9.1% year-on-year, while real wages rose by 5.5%. This means that wage growth outpaced inflation, improving purchasing power for many employees.
The rise in incomes was also visible in social benefits. The average monthly gross pension and disability pension from the non-agricultural social insurance system amounted to PLN 4,170.43 in 2025. For individual farmers, the corresponding figure was PLN 2,228.07.
Inflation lower than during the price shock, but prices remain much higher than a decade ago
The consumer price index stood at 103.6 in 2025, meaning that prices increased by 3.6% compared with the previous year. Goods became 2.7% more expensive, while services rose by 6.0%.
Although inflation was much lower than during the recent price shock period, the longer-term comparison shows how significantly everyday costs have changed over the past decade. Between 2015 and 2025, the price of cold mains water per cubic metre rose from PLN 4.40 to PLN 10.76. The price of wheat-rye bread increased from PLN 2.87 to PLN 4.40, UHT milk from PLN 2.74 to PLN 5.39, and 95-octane petrol from PLN 4.65 to PLN 6.04 per litre.
More homes completed, but average size is falling
In 2025, 208,300 dwellings were completed in Poland, compared with 200,100 in 2024 and 147,700 in 2015. This means that 5.6 new dwellings were completed per 1,000 inhabitants.
At the same time, the average usable floor area of newly completed dwellings continued to fall. In 2015, it stood at 99.8 square metres. By 2024 it had declined to 89.2 square metres, and in 2025 it fell further to 87.0 square metres.
The figures point to a broader housing trend: more units are being delivered, but they are becoming smaller on average.
Tourism and digitalisation continue to grow
Tourism continued to recover and expand in 2025. Tourist accommodation establishments were used by 42.738 million people, compared with 38.842 million in 2024 and 26.942 million in 2015.
The number of bed places rose to 887,200, while the occupancy rate reached 40.2%.
The data also show the continued digitalisation of Polish households. In 2025, 96.2% of households had internet access, and 94.9% had broadband internet. Among households with children, internet access was universal, reaching 100%.
Poland’s data show development and pressure at the same time
Poland in Numbers 2026 presents a country that is still developing in many measurable areas. Wages are rising, unemployment remains low, more homes are being completed, tourism is expanding, and internet access has become almost universal.
At the same time, demographic indicators remain a major warning signal. Poland’s population is shrinking, the median age is rising, and the share of people in post-working age is growing. These trends will increasingly shape the labour market, the pension system, healthcare demand and the country’s long-term development potential.
The overall picture is therefore mixed: Poland remains economically resilient, but its future growth will depend not only on investment, productivity and wages, but also on how effectively it responds to demographic ageing.
