Updated
Overview
Poland has about 75% more people than Kazakhstan: 36.44 million against 20.84 million (2025).
Poland's economy is 3.4 times the size of Kazakhstan's, at $1.04T versus $306.24B.
Per person, Poland is the wealthier of the two: $28,420 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Poland | Kazakhstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.04T | $306.24B | 2025 | $914.70B / $288.41B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $28,420 | $14,692 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.6% | Higher: 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.8% | 11.4% | 2025 | 3.8% / 8.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 4.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 52 | 33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $2,302 | $673 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,241 | $181 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.44 million | 20.84 million | 2025 | 38.75 million / 20.43 million |
| Population growth | -0.3% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.5 yrs | 29.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.31 | 2.95 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.4 yrs | 74.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 60% | 62% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 312,679 km² | 2,724,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 116.5/km² | 7.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 273 Mt | 287 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 7.1 t | 13.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $38.00B | $1.21B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 0.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 189,000 | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 3.6%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 3.8%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 52 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Poland: $2,302 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 42.5 years.
Life expectancy is 3.9 years longer in Poland (78.4 vs 74.5).
Geography
By land area, Poland is 89% smaller than Kazakhstan: 312,679 km² versus 2,724,900 km².
Poland is far more densely settled: 117 people per km² against 8.
Military
Poland spends 31 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $38.00B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Poland fields the larger armed forces: 189,000 personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Poland bigger than Kazakhstan?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Poland covers 312,679 km² while Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km², so Kazakhstan is 8.7 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Poland or Kazakhstan?
- Poland has the larger population: 36.44 million versus 20.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Poland richer than Kazakhstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Poland is richer: $28,420 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.04T for Poland versus $306.24B for Kazakhstan.
- Who spends more on their military, Poland or Kazakhstan?
- Poland spends more: $38.00B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).