Updated
Overview
Poland has 3.6 times the population of Israel: 36.44 million people against 10.12 million (2025).
Poland's economy is about 70% larger than Israel's, at $1.04T versus $610.78B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $28,420 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Poland | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.04T | $610.78B | 2025 | $914.70B / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $28,420 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.6% | 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.8% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | 3.8% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 52 | 101 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,302 | Higher: $3,383 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,241 | Higher: $1,589 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.44 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 38.75 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | -0.3% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.5 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.31 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.4 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 60% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 89% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 312,679 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 116.5/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 273 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.1 t | Lower: 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $38.00B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 189,000 | 178,000 | 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 faster: 3.6% annual GDP growth versus 2.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.8% in Poland and 3.0% in Israel.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Poland: a price level of 52 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Israel: $3,383 against $2,302 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Israel is the far younger society: median age 29.2 versus 42.5 years.
Life expectancy is 4.8 years longer in Israel (83.2 vs 78.4).
Israel is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 60%.
Geography
By land area, Poland is 15 times the size of Israel: 312,679 km² versus 20,770 km².
Israel is far more densely settled: 487 people per km² against 117.
Military
Israel spends 22% more on defence than Poland: $46.51B versus $38.00B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 4.2%.
Poland fields the larger armed forces: 189,000 personnel against 178,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Poland bigger than Israel?
- Poland is larger by land area. Poland covers 312,679 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so Poland is 15 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Poland or Israel?
- Poland has the larger population: 36.44 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Poland richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $28,420. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.04T for Poland versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, Poland or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $38.00B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).