Adriana Sas
Research expert covering the Polish market
Demographics of Poland - statistics & facts
Poland's demographic situation has been gradually deteriorating since the beginning of the transition period in 1989. By 2100, the population is projected to shrink by 60 percent compared to 2017. The Polish government has been trying to combat this problem with pro-natalist and pro-social policies for many years. Despite this, the Family 500+ program launched in 2016, extended maternity and parental leaves, social benefits, and support for families with many children introduced by local governments have not translated into an increase in fertility, and thus an increase in Poland's population.
The country has 1.26 million more women than men, and the average age of women was more than three years higher than that of men in 2022. Poland, like other European countries, is facing an aging population problem. The life expectancy for a newborn born in this period, regardless of gender, was 77.1 years. In comparison, the median age for women was nearly 17 years higher than in 1950.
Characteristics of Polish society
Since 2010, Poland's population has been steadily declining. A significant decrease was recorded in 2020, affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The unfavorable mortality situation and a low birth rate contributed to the record low level of natural increase. Poland diminished by 141 thousand people in 2022 compared to the previous year. Most of the population lives in urbanized areas, and the Mazowieckie Voivodeship is the most populous region. In 2022, all the Polish regions experienced a year-on-year decrease in the population.The country has 1.26 million more women than men, and the average age of women was more than three years higher than that of men in 2022. Poland, like other European countries, is facing an aging population problem. The life expectancy for a newborn born in this period, regardless of gender, was 77.1 years. In comparison, the median age for women was nearly 17 years higher than in 1950.
Causes of Poland's demographic problems
One of the significant demographic problems is the low fertility rate. Births are the key factor influencing the number and structure of the population. A decreasing number of women of childbearing age will affect future births. This is mainly due to young people postponing the decision to start a family, having fewer children, or even living alone. Since 1990, the fertility rate has been below two, which does not guarantee a simple replacement of generations. In 2022, only 306 thousand children were born – the fewest in the postwar period. The number of live births declined by approximately eight percent compared to the previous year. After 1990, changes caused the highest female fertility rate to shift from the 20-24 age group to the 30-34 age group. A significant increase in fertility occurs in the oldest age groups. Between 1995 and 2022, the number of women of reproductive age declined by almost 14 percent. The low birth rate is not the only problem of Poland's demographic crisis. It is also exacerbated by mortality, life expectancy, marriage breakdown, and migration.
