Poland’s population fell by 147,000 in 2024, driven by declining birth rates and accelerating demographic challenges.
Poland has seen a sharp population decline in 2024. By the end of the third quarter, the population dropped by 147,000 year-on-year, reaching 37.532 million people, according to data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS). Compared to the end of 2023, this represents a decrease of 105,000 people.
Decreasing Birth Rates
In the first three quarters of 2024, approximately 192,000 live births were registered—18,000 fewer than the previous year. The birth rate fell by 0.6 percentage points, reaching 6.8%. This decline highlights ongoing demographic challenges, as the natural decrease in population is accelerating. The actual population decline rate for the first three quarters stood at -0.28%, meaning for every 10,000 people, 28 were lost, up from 23 a year ago.
Future Implications
The combination of lower birth rates and an aging population is expected to continue shaping Poland’s demographic landscape in the coming years, posing potential challenges for the economy and society.