Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Poland
Poland: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 60.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
60.1%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
139th
of 236 countries
All-time high
61.8%
in 2002
All-time low
38.4%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Poland, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban and rural areas in Poland is 60.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Poland peaked at 61.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 38.4%, in 1950.
That places Poland 139th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Poland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 38.4% | — |
| 1951 | 39.7% | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 40.8% | +2.9% |
| 1953 | 42.0% | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 43.0% | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 44.0% | +2.4% |
| 1956 | 45.0% | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 45.9% | +2.0% |
| 1958 | 46.7% | +1.8% |
| 1959 | 47.4% | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 48.1% | +1.4% |
| 1961 | 48.6% | +1.2% |
| 1962 | 49.1% | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 49.5% | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 49.9% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 50.2% | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 50.6% | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 50.9% | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 51.2% | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 51.6% | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 52.1% | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 52.6% | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 53.2% | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 53.9% | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 54.6% | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 55.3% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 56.0% | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 56.7% | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 57.2% | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 57.7% | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 58.2% | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 58.7% | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 59.2% | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 59.6% | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 60.1% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 60.4% | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 60.7% | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 61.0% | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 61.1% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 61.2% | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 61.3% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 61.4% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 61.4% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 61.5% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 61.5% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 61.6% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 61.6% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 61.7% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 61.7% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 61.7% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 61.7% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 61.8% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 61.8% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 61.7% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 61.7% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 61.5% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 61.4% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 61.3% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 61.1% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 61.0% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 60.8% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 60.7% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 60.6% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 60.5% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 60.4% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 60.3% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 60.2% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 60.1% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 60.1% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 60.0% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 59.9% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 59.8% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 59.8% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 59.9% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 60.0% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 60.1% | +0.2% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 60.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 81.3%, 74% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Poland's 60.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 69.6%, 86% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 43.3% | 38.4% | 47.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 50.0% | 48.1% | 51.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 54.9% | 52.1% | 57.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 60.0% | 58.2% | 61.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 61.5% | 61.3% | 61.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.5% | 61.0% | 61.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.4% | 60.0% | 60.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.9% | 59.8% | 60.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More population data for Poland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.49 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.7516 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6386 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Population density 63.15 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 624,863 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.0% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.8441 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Poland?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Poland was 60.1% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 61.8% in 2002.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.4% in 1950.
- How does Poland rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Poland ranks 139th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Poland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.