Poland in the European Union in 2024/2025 – Demographics, Economy, Labour Market and Modernisation Challenges
The latest publication from Statistics Poland, “Poland in the European Union 2025”, presents a comprehensive picture of Poland’s position within the socio-economic structure of the EU. The Eurostat data included in the report make it possible to assess both the strengths of the Polish economy and the areas requiring urgent modernisation.
In many key rankings, Poland is close to or above the EU average – especially in terms of the labour market and macroeconomic stability. At the same time, demographic trends, the energy transition and low levels of innovation remain major challenges.
Demographics: Declining Population and Low Fertility Rates
In 2024 Poland recorded 36.6 million inhabitants, making it the fifth-largest EU country by population. At the same time, the age structure is becoming less favourable – the share of seniors (65+) is increasing faster than the EU average.
The fertility rate reached 1.2, below the EU average of 1.5. With 7.4 births per 1,000 inhabitants, Poland is similar to most countries in the region but remains far below France and Ireland.
The average age of women at the birth of their first child increased to 29.4 years, while the average age at which young adults leave the parental home – 25.3 years – is among the lowest in Europe, indicating greater economic independence than in Southern Europe.
Labour Market: Poland’s Strong Position Compared to the EU
Poland ranks among the EU leaders in terms of labour market activity.
- Employment rate (age 20–64): 78.4% (above the EU average of 75.8%).
- Unemployment rate: 2.9%, one of the lowest in Europe.
- Labour force participation: 80.6%, slightly above the EU average (80.4%).
The youth unemployment rate also remains low. Although adult participation in lifelong learning is still below the EU average, it is increasing steadily.
The employment structure is dominated by market services as well as industry and construction. The share of agriculture – although lower than in the past – remains higher than in many Western European countries.
Living Standards and Social Conditions: Mixed Results
Poland is close to the EU average across many social indicators, although some challenges remain.
Risk of poverty – 13.8%, slightly below the EU average (16.2%), representing an improvement in recent years.
Gini coefficient – close to the EU average, indicating moderate income inequality.
However, Poland continues to struggle with:
- high housing overcrowding,
- a high share of young adults living with their parents,
- moderate participation in adult education and training.
At the same time, over 70% of Poles shop online, placing the country among the more digitally advanced economies in Europe.
Prices and Consumption: Inflation Under Control
The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for Poland in 2024 remained close to the EU average.
Energy and food prices grew the fastest, while clothing and footwear remained among the most stable categories. Private consumption grew at a moderate pace – slightly faster than the EU average.
Economy: Solid GDP Growth, Rising Exports and Strong Trade Integration
In 2024 Poland recorded:
- GDP growth of 2.9% (above the EU average of 1.0%),
- GDP per capita of EUR 22,560, around 57% of the EU average in nominal terms,
- a strong industrial sector (with a higher share of value added than in Western Europe).
Exports and imports of goods and services are among the key drivers of the economy — the total value of trade exceeds 100% of GDP, confirming Poland’s deep integration with the EU market and global supply chains.
The current account balance stands at +0.2% of GDP, indicating external stability.
Energy, Environment and Transition: Challenges for the Next Decade
The energy transition remains one of the most demanding areas.
- Share of renewable energy in final energy consumption: 15.0%, significantly below the EU average (23%).
- Share of electric vehicles in new registrations – one of the lowest in the EU.
- Greenhouse gas emissions higher than the EU average in the energy and transport sectors.
At the same time, Poland has a large share of agricultural land and strong production potential in many agricultural commodities, including apples and poultry.
Innovation: Insufficient R&D Investment
R&D expenditure in 2023 amounted to just 1.6% of GDP in Poland, compared to the EU average of 2.3%.
The structure of spending shows that:
- the business sector accounts for the majority of investment,
- the public sector and higher education contribute far less than in Western Europe.
Insufficient innovation remains one of the key barriers to economic convergence.
Public Finances: Moderate Deficit and Relatively Low Debt
In 2024:
- the general government deficit amounted to around –5% of GDP,
- public debt stood at approximately 49% of GDP, significantly below the EU average (82%).
As a result, Poland is among the more fiscally stable EU countries, giving it more room to support long-term development investments.
Summary: Poland Close to the EU Average, but with Significant Sectoral Differences
The analysis of Eurostat data shows that in many areas Poland is close to the European average — particularly in the labour market, economic performance and fiscal stability.
At the same time, structural challenges — demographics, low innovation, dependence on fossil fuels, housing overcrowding — may influence Poland’s growth rate in the coming years.
Drawing on its strong economic position, Poland now faces the need to accelerate modernisation — especially in renewable energy, digital skills, innovation and family policy.
Only then will Poland be able to maintain its competitive edge and speed up the convergence process with the wealthiest EU member states.
