Updated
Overview
Italy has about 60% more people than Poland: 58.92 million against 36.44 million (2025).
Italy's economy is 2.5 times the size of Poland's, at $2.55T versus $1.04T.
Per person, Italy is the wealthier of the two: $43,309 against $28,420 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Italy | Poland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.55T | $1.04T | 2025 | $2.37T / $914.70B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $43,309 | $28,420 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.5% | Higher: 3.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 3.8% | 2025 | 1.0% / 3.8% |
| Unemployment | 6.4% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 69 | 52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,994 | $2,302 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $1,241 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $6.22 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 58.92 million | 36.44 million | 2025 | 60.92 million / 38.75 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 48.2 yrs | 42.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.21 | 1.31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 78.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 60% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 89% | 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 301,336 km² | 312,679 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 195.5/km² | 116.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 302 Mt | Lower: 273 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 5.1 t | 7.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $37.96B | $38.00B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 4.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 338,000 | 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 0.5%.
Poland runs the hotter price environment: 3.8% inflation versus 1.5%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Poland: a price level of 52 versus 69 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Italy: $3,994 against $2,302 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Poland is the younger society: median age 42.5 versus 48.2 years.
Life expectancy is 5.5 years longer in Italy (84.0 vs 78.4).
Geography
By land area, Italy is almost exactly the same size as Poland: 301,336 km² versus 312,679 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $37.96B (Italy) and $38.00B (Poland).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 1.6%.
Italy fields the larger armed forces: 338,000 personnel against 189,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Italy bigger than Poland?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. Italy covers 301,336 km² while Poland covers 312,679 km², a difference of under 4%.
- Which has more people, Italy or Poland?
- Italy has the larger population: 58.92 million versus 36.44 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Italy richer than Poland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Italy is richer: $43,309 against $28,420. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.55T for Italy versus $1.04T for Poland.
- Who spends more on their military, Italy or Poland?
- Poland spends more: $38.00B versus $37.96B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).