GeoRealityMatch
Charming panoramic view of Warsaw Old Town's colorful rooftops and classic architecture under a clear sky.Skyline of Warsaw with modern buildings and a train passing amidst the greenery.

Poland

Europe · Central Europe

Very high safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and human development is high. Incomes are low for Europe.

ExpatCombines very high development, very high safety and affordable cost of living.RetireeCombines high life expectancy, very high safety and affordable cost of living.
vs Lithuaniavs Portugalvs Germany
Safety

22nd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.615lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#22 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.8per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
71.3Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the European median

Median disposable income
€14,394per adult, a year, after tax and transfersLow
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
18.4New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
10.2years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 213% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 105% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$30K$60K$54,262 PPP$28,420Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $9,069 a person, $15,205 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2007, $11,273 a person, $16,833 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2008, $14,049 a person, $18,372 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2009, $11,556 a person, $19,300 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2010, $12,568 a person, $20,991 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2011, $13,868 a person, $22,809 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2012, $13,087 a person, $23,728 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2013, $13,622 a person, $24,434 at PPP, inflation 1%2014, $14,262 a person, $25,460 at PPP2015, $12,638 a person, $26,988 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2016, $12,464 a person, $28,360 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2017, $13,913 a person, $30,170 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2018, $15,658 a person, $32,345 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2019, $15,875 a person, $35,882 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2020, $16,151 a person, $37,089 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2021, $18,636 a person, $41,060 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2022, $18,891 a person, $46,778 at PPP, inflation 14.4%2023, $22,145 a person, $48,473 at PPP, inflation 11.5%2024, $25,104 a person, $51,263 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2025, $28,420 a person, $54,262 at PPP, inflation 3.8%$0$30K$60KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $9,069 a person, $15,205 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2007, $11,273 a person, $16,833 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2008, $14,049 a person, $18,372 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2009, $11,556 a person, $19,300 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2010, $12,568 a person, $20,991 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2011, $13,868 a person, $22,809 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2012, $13,087 a person, $23,728 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2013, $13,622 a person, $24,434 at PPP, inflation 1%2014, $14,262 a person, $25,460 at PPP2015, $12,638 a person, $26,988 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2016, $12,464 a person, $28,360 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2017, $13,913 a person, $30,170 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2018, $15,658 a person, $32,345 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2019, $15,875 a person, $35,882 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2020, $16,151 a person, $37,089 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2021, $18,636 a person, $41,060 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2022, $18,891 a person, $46,778 at PPP, inflation 14.4%2023, $22,145 a person, $48,473 at PPP, inflation 11.5%2024, $25,104 a person, $51,263 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2025, $28,420 a person, $54,262 at PPP, inflation 3.8%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
78.4years, at birthHigh
#48 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
82WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
14.7PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Lower youth unemployment than most of Europe

Youth unemployment
12.2%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceLow
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
218 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
600EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet218 MbpsVery fast
Mobile114 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Skyline of Warsaw with modern buildings and a train passing amidst the greenery.
How it changed

Poland's Human Development Index

0.906Very high human development

35th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 25th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #32Cyprus0.913
  2. #34Greece0.908
  3. #35Poland0.906
  4. #36Estonia0.905
  5. #37Saudi Arabia0.900
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.722 in 1990 to 0.906 in 2023.

0.700.820.950.90619902000201020231990: 0.7221991: 0.7201992: 0.7241993: 0.7371994: 0.7471995: 0.7541996: 0.7631997: 0.7751998: 0.7841999: 0.7932000: 0.8012001: 0.8092002: 0.8162003: 0.8222004: 0.8202005: 0.8262006: 0.8312007: 0.8362008: 0.8412009: 0.8462010: 0.8522011: 0.8582012: 0.8632013: 0.8732014: 0.8732015: 0.8792016: 0.8842017: 0.8822018: 0.8842019: 0.8872020: 0.8802021: 0.8842022: 0.9022023: 0.9060.700.820.9519902000201020231990: 0.7221991: 0.7201992: 0.7241993: 0.7371994: 0.7471995: 0.7541996: 0.7631997: 0.7751998: 0.7841999: 0.7932000: 0.8012001: 0.8092002: 0.8162003: 0.8222004: 0.8202005: 0.8262006: 0.8312007: 0.8362008: 0.8412009: 0.8462010: 0.8522011: 0.8582012: 0.8632013: 0.8732014: 0.8732015: 0.8792016: 0.8842017: 0.8822018: 0.8842019: 0.8872020: 0.8802021: 0.8842022: 0.9022023: 0.906

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
78.4 years2024at birthUp 3.4 years from 75 years in 2005
Internet users
89%2024of people onlineUp 44 points from 45% in 2006
Urban population
60%2025of people in towns and citiesDown 1 point from 61% in 2006
Births per woman
1.142024births per womanDown 0.10 from 1.24 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
15%2021of energy usedUp 8 points from 7% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
42024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 3 from 7 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
7.5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 0.8 t from 8.3 t in 2005
Forest area
31%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 30% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Rapidly growing economy with affordable living, increasingly popular with remote workers. The case for living here is peace, very high human development and good English among locals. The case against is low incomes for Europe.

About Poland

Poland is a Central European country with a history of great complexity and a culture of extraordinary resilience, expressed in the beautiful rebuilt streets of Warsaw and Wrocław, the medieval university city of Kraków, and the Baltic coast. The food tradition is hearty and satisfying, the cities are energetic and increasingly cosmopolitan, and the countryside has a quiet, pastoral beauty. It suits those who appreciate history with depth, a strong sense of national identity, and excellent value.

Practical facts

  • CapitalWarsaw
  • LanguagesPolish
  • CurrencyPolish złoty (PLN)
  • Area306,270 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

BelarusCzechiaGermanyLithuaniaRussiaSlovakiaUkraine

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Quick answers

What is Poland's Human Development Index?

Poland's Human Development Index is 0.906 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #35 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Poland safe?

Poland scores 1.61 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #22 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Poland?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Poland at 47.3 (New York = 100); that is #88 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Poland?

Life expectancy at birth in Poland is 78.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #48 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Poland?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Poland at 156.1, ranked #37 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.