Updated
Overview
Poland has 6.5 times the population of Finland: 36.44 million people against 5.65 million (2025).
Poland's economy is 3.3 times the size of Finland's, at $1.04T versus $317.04B.
Per person, Finland is the wealthier of the two: $56,149 against $28,420 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Poland | Finland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.04T | $317.04B | 2025 | $914.70B / $299.84B |
| GDP per capita | $28,420 | Higher: $56,149 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.6% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.8% | Lower: 0.3% | 2025 | 3.8% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 9.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 52 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,302 | Higher: $5,760 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,241 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.44 million | 5.65 million | 2025 | 38.75 million / 5.55 million |
| Population growth | -0.3% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.5 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.31 | 1.30 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.4 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 60% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 312,679 km² | 338,424 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 116.5/km² | 16.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 273 Mt | Lower: 30 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.1 t | Lower: 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $38.00B | $6.99B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 189,000 | 22,000 | 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%.
Poland runs the hotter price environment: 3.8% inflation versus 0.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Poland: a price level of 52 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Finland: $5,760 against $2,302 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 42.5 (Poland) and 43.2 (Finland).
Life expectancy is 3.9 years longer in Finland (82.3 vs 78.4).
Finland is considerably more urbanized: 75% of people live in cities, against 60%.
Geography
By land area, Poland is almost exactly the same size as Finland: 312,679 km² versus 338,424 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Poland is far more densely settled: 117 people per km² against 17.
Military
Poland spends 5.4 times as much on defence as Finland: $38.00B versus $6.99B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 2.3%.
Poland fields the larger armed forces: 189,000 personnel against 22,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Poland bigger than Finland?
- Finland is larger by land area. Poland covers 312,679 km² while Finland covers 338,424 km², so Finland is 8% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Poland or Finland?
- Poland has the larger population: 36.44 million versus 5.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Poland richer than Finland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Finland is richer: $56,149 against $28,420. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.04T for Poland versus $317.04B for Finland.
- Who spends more on their military, Poland or Finland?
- Poland spends more: $38.00B versus $6.99B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).