Demographics of Poland

The population of Poland, Data of FAO, 1961-2010 ; Number of inhabitants in millions.

Largest cities and towns in Poland (over 20,000 citizens; 2010 data)
Alternative map

The demographics of Poland constitute all demographic features of the population of Poland, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

According to estimates produced by the Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS), at the end of 2007 Poland had a population of 37,115,000, which translates into an average population density of 122 people/km² (urban 1105 per 1 km², rural 50 per 1 km²). 61.5% of the Polish population lives in urban areas, a number which is slowly diminishing. Poland is the 33rd most populous country in the world (9th in Europe, with 5.4% of the European population). Total population of Poland is almost stagnant (population growth was 0.08%). Average life expectancy was 70.5 for men and 78.9 for women. In 2009, it was expected to be 73.1 for men and 79.5 for women. Population distribution is uneven. Ethnically, Poland is a very homogeneous country, with 96.7% of population being Polish.

A number of censuses have assessed this data, including a national census in 2002, and a survey by the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), which confirmed there are numerous autochthonous ethnic groups in Poland. Estimates by INTEREG and Eurominority present a similar demographic picture of Poland but they provide estimates only for the most numerous of these ethnic groups.

Poland is aging rapidly. In 1950, the median age was 25.8: half of the Polish population was younger, half older. Today it is 38.2. If current trends continue, it will be 51 by 2050.^[1] As the population is aging, it has also started to decline mainly due to low birth rates and continued emigration which is impacting the economy. The number of children born in Polish families (TFR of 1.31, down from 2 in 1990) is one of the lowest in Eastern Europe.^[2][3]

Historical population

Population of Poland 1900-2010

For many centuries, until the end of World War II, the Polish population was composed of many significant ethnic minorities. The population of Poland decreased due to the losses sustained during the Holocaust, and became one of the most ethnically homogeneous in Europe ( next to populations of Slovakia and Czech Republik ) as a result of radically altered borders after the war. The subsequent repatriations were accompanied by two waves of forced migrations ordered by the Soviet and Polish communist authorities, including the transfers of sizable Polish population from the prewar territories of Eastern Poland, which today are divided between Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine, the transfer of ethnic Ukrainians back to USSR, and the Germans to Germany from lands ceded to Poland after the Yalta Conference.

At present

According to GUS, about 38,325,000 people live in Poland, however, the same report states that the number of residents living in the country all the time is approximately 37,200,000; with 1,125,000 people living abroad for 6–7 months or more. It means that the permanent population may be correspondingly smaller.^[4]

A recent large migration of Poles took place following Poland's accession to the European Union and opening of the EU's labor market; with an approximate number of 2 million primarily young Poles taking up jobs abroad.^[5]

Vital statistics

Total fertility rate by Polish regions in 2014 (Eurostat)

1.4 - 1.5   1.3 - 1.4   < 1.3

^[6][7][8]

Before WW II

After WW II

^{[10] [11] [12]}

Current vital statistics^[13]

Number of births from January to September 2015 = 284 000 (9,8‰)

Number of births from January to September 2016 = 290 000 (10,0‰)

Number of deaths from January to September 2015 = 296 000 (10,3‰)

Number of deaths from January to September 2016 = 289 000 (10,0‰)

Natural increase from January to September 2015 = -12 000 (-0,5‰)

Natural increase from January to September 2016 = 1 000 (0,0‰)

Structure of the population

^[14][15]

Nationalities

96.5% of the people of Poland claim Polish nationality, and 97.9% declare that they speak Polish at home (2010).

Largest metropolitan and urban areas

Population numbers by database

Demographics by town

Demographics by voivodeship

Demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Total asylum seekers admitted

13,780 (2010) applications, mostly from the Russian Federation (99% Chechen),^[25] Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine.^[26]

Age structure

0–14 years: 14.8% (male 2,931,732/female 2,769,021)

15–64 years: 71.7% (male 13,725,939/female 13,863,103)

65 years and over: 13.5% (male 1,971,763/female 3,202,131) (2010 est.)

0-14 years: 14.7% (male 2,910,324/female 2,748,546)

15-64 years: 71.6% (male 13,698,363/female 13,834,779)

65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,004,550/female 3,245,026) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 38.5 years

male: 36.8 years

female: 40.3 years (2011 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2012 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.42 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 7.12 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.85 years

male: 71.88 years

female: 80.06 years (2010 est.)

total population: 76.25 years

male: 72.31 years

female: 80.43 years (2012 est.)

Ethnic groups

Religions

Roman Catholic 91%, Orthodox 1%, Other 2%, atheist/non-believer/agnostic 5%, not stated 1% (Eurobarometer 2012)^[28]

Languages

Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)

See also

• Health in Poland
• Polish diaspora

References

External links

• Central Statistical Office for the Republic of Poland
• Commonwealth of Diverse Cultures: Poland's Heritage
• CIA World Factbook 2004
• Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights
• Poland - Population and ethnic composition
• Armenians in Poland
• Poland's president expresses regret over 1947 Akcja Wisla
• INTEREG

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