Updated
Overview
Germany has 2.3 times the population of Poland: 83.49 million people against 36.44 million (2025).
Germany's economy is 4.9 times the size of Poland's, at $5.05T versus $1.04T.
Per person, Germany is the wealthier of the two: $60,496 against $28,420 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Germany | Poland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $5.05T | $1.04T | 2025 | $4.66T / $914.70B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $60,496 | $28,420 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.2% | Higher: 3.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.2% | 3.8% | 2025 | 2.3% / 3.8% |
| Unemployment | 3.7% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 80 | 52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $4,647 | $2,302 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $2,442 | $1,241 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $6.22 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 83.49 million | 36.44 million | 2025 | 84.01 million / 38.75 million |
| Population growth | 0.0% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 45.5 yrs | 42.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 80.8 yrs | 78.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 82% | 60% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 93% | 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 357,114 km² | 312,679 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 233.8/km² | 116.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 572 Mt | Lower: 273 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 6.8 t | 7.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $88.46B | $38.00B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 4.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 183,000 | 189,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Poland is growing much faster: 3.6% annual GDP growth versus 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.2% in Germany and 3.8% in Poland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Poland: a price level of 52 versus 80 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Germany: $4,647 against $2,302 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Poland is the younger society: median age 42.5 versus 45.5 years.
Life expectancy is 2.4 years longer in Germany (80.8 vs 78.4).
Germany is considerably more urbanized: 82% of people live in cities, against 60%.
Geography
By land area, Germany is 14% larger than Poland: 357,114 km² versus 312,679 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Germany is far more densely settled: 234 people per km² against 117.
Military
Germany spends 2.3 times as much on defence as Poland: $88.46B versus $38.00B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 1.9%.
Poland fields the larger armed forces: 189,000 personnel against 183,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Germany bigger than Poland?
- Germany is larger by land area. Germany covers 357,114 km² while Poland covers 312,679 km², so Germany is 14% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Germany or Poland?
- Germany has the larger population: 83.49 million versus 36.44 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Germany richer than Poland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Germany is richer: $60,496 against $28,420. Total GDP tells the same story: $5.05T for Germany versus $1.04T for Poland.
- Who spends more on their military, Germany or Poland?
- Germany spends more: $88.46B versus $38.00B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).