Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Poland
Poland: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 17.48 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Poland, 1985–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Poland stood at 17.48 million people. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 152.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Poland peaked at 17.48 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 683,770 people, in 1985.
That places Poland 15th out of 120 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Poland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 683,770 people | — |
| 1986 | 786,580 people | +15.0% |
| 1987 | 830,581 people | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 3.33 million people | +301.1% |
| 1992 | 1.38 million people | -58.5% |
| 1995 | 1.04 million people | -24.5% |
| 1999 | 1.66 million people | +59.5% |
| 2004 | 2.74 million people | +65.0% |
| 2005 | 3.15 million people | +14.9% |
| 2006 | 3.44 million people | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 4.52 million people | +31.3% |
| 2008 | 5.47 million people | +21.0% |
| 2009 | 5.92 million people | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 6.03 million people | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 6.38 million people | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 6.35 million people | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 6.91 million people | +8.9% |
| 2014 | 7.34 million people | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 8.31 million people | +13.3% |
| 2016 | 9.23 million people | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 9.87 million people | +6.9% |
| 2018 | 11.63 million people | +17.8% |
| 2019 | 14.56 million people | +25.2% |
| 2020 | 15.27 million people | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 16.80 million people | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 16.89 million people | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 17.48 million people | +3.5% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 17.48 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.96 million people, 3.5× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Poland's 17.48 million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.67 million people, 10.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Poland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +301.1% | 830,581 people | 3.33 million people |
| 1992 | -58.5% | 3.33 million people | 1.38 million people |
| 2004 | +65.0% | 1.66 million people | 2.74 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.41 million people | 683,770 people | 3.33 million people | 4 |
| 1990s | 1.36 million people | 1.04 million people | 1.66 million people | 3 |
| 2000s | 4.21 million people | 2.74 million people | 5.92 million people | 6 |
| 2010s | 8.66 million people | 6.03 million people | 14.56 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.61 million people | 15.27 million people | 17.48 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More poverty & inequality data for Poland
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.3 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 4,895 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 0.6829 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 35.13 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 35.1% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Poland?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Poland was 17.48 million people in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 17.48 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 683,770 people in 1985.
- How does Poland rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Poland ranks 15th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 152.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Poland data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $40 per day.