Country explorer: Poland

Poland has demonstrated remarkable economic resilience and growth, evident from a steady increase in GDP per capita, significant reduction in poverty across all thresholds, a consistent decrease in unemployment rates to below the European average, and managed inflation rates, distinguishing it as one of the dynamically transforming economies among its European peers.

Poland has witnessed a moderate decrease in population, contrasting migration trends with a shift from net emigration to mild fluctuations including a brief period of net immigration, a gradual increase in fertility rates yet remaining below the replacement level, and a significant improvement in life expectancy, a pattern that aligns with broader trends observed in high-income countries but with distinct variances in migration and fertility dynamics.

Poland has seen substantial improvements in basic needs, achieving near-universal access to clean cooking fuels, electricity, and safe water, with significant progress in safely managed sanitation, reflecting a convergence towards the standards observed in high-income countries.

Poland has seen significant improvements in human development, characterized by a consistent increase in the Human Development Index, a substantial reduction in child mortality rates, a near-universal literacy rate, and improvements in average learning-adjusted years of schooling, aligning its human development trajectory more closely with that of high-income European peers.

Poland has experienced significant transformations in its environment and energy sectors, marked by a gradual decrease in per capita CO₂ emissions despite its heavy reliance on coal, an increase in electricity production from renewable sources, and a stable expansion of forest area, illustrating a complex shift toward sustainability while navigating its coal-dependent energy landscape, a trajectory that shares similarities with other high-income countries yet stands out due to its specific energy mix challenges.

Poland has exhibited significant growth in technology and innovation, evidenced by a substantial increase in internet penetration, mobile phone subscriptions, research & development spending, and scientific publications, reflecting a remarkable transition toward a knowledge-based economy aligned with its high-income European counterparts.

Poland has experienced modest immigration, steady improvements in life satisfaction, significant advancements in gender equality, and a notable shift in its age dependency ratio, reflecting broader socio-cultural transformations that both distinguish it from and align it with its European peers.

Poland has experienced significant governance challenges, marked by a notable decline in the rule of law, an increase in corruption perception, a deterioration in political civil liberties, and restrictions on press freedom, setting it apart from many of its European peers who have maintained or improved their governance indicators in these areas.