Over the past decade, housing standards in Poland have significantly improved, with homes becoming larger, better equipped, and less overcrowded. Experts from GetHome.pl examined if this progress is visible across all major Polish cities or only in a select few.
A key metric often used to assess housing needs is the number of dwellings per thousand residents. According to Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS), this figure rose nationally from 360 to 419 in the past ten years, while the average floor area per person increased from just over 26 to nearly 32 square meters. The government’s National Housing Program aims to achieve a ratio of 435 dwellings per 1,000 people by 2030, aligning with the EU average.
Currently, most provincial capitals surpass the EU’s average. Łódź, in particular, has a high dwellings-per-capita rate, driven by both new construction and a population decline. Similarly, Katowice saw a housing boom, from 500 units in 2013 to nearly 3,000 in 2023, despite a shrinking population.
Though there’s often discussion of a housing deficit in Poland—estimated at 1.5 to 2 million units—GUS data indicates a stock of around 15.8 million dwellings, both occupied and vacant, for 12.5 million households. Thus, if housing shortages persist, they likely affect only the largest urban areas.
The good news is that all cities have seen a reduction in household overcrowding, with more living space per person and fewer individuals per dwelling. However, expert Marek Wielgo from GetHome.pl notes persistent challenges: the condition of many homes remains poor, and purchasing a home remains financially out of reach for many households.