Updated
Overview
Poland has 13 times the population of Lithuania: 36.44 million people against 2.89 million (2025).
Poland's economy is 11 times the size of Lithuania's, at $1.04T versus $95.21B.
Per person, Lithuania is the wealthier of the two: $32,959 against $28,420 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Poland | Lithuania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.04T | $95.21B | 2025 | $914.70B / $84.87B |
| GDP per capita | $28,420 | Higher: $32,959 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.6% | 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.8% | Lower: 3.8% | 2025 | 3.8% / 0.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 6.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 52 | 58 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,302 | Higher: $2,634 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,241 | $1,173 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.44 million | 2.89 million | 2025 | 38.75 million / 2.82 million |
| Population growth | -0.3% | 0.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.5 yrs | 42.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.31 | 1.22 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.4 yrs | 77.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 60% | 69% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 312,679 km² | 65,300 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 116.5/km² | 44.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 273 Mt | Lower: 13 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.1 t | Lower: 4.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $38.00B | $2.63B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 3.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 189,000 | 37,000 | 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 3.8% in Lithuania.
Average monthly earnings favour Lithuania: $2,634 against $2,302 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 42.5 (Poland) and 42.3 (Lithuania).
Life expectancy is 1.2 years longer in Poland (78.4 vs 77.2).
Geography
By land area, Poland is 4.8 times the size of Lithuania: 312,679 km² versus 65,300 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Poland is far more densely settled: 117 people per km² against 44.
Military
Poland spends 14 times as much on defence as Lithuania: $38.00B versus $2.63B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 3.1%.
Poland fields the larger armed forces: 189,000 personnel against 37,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Poland bigger than Lithuania?
- Poland is larger by land area. Poland covers 312,679 km² while Lithuania covers 65,300 km², so Poland is 4.8 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Poland or Lithuania?
- Poland has the larger population: 36.44 million versus 2.89 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Poland richer than Lithuania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Lithuania is richer: $32,959 against $28,420. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.04T for Poland versus $95.21B for Lithuania.
- Who spends more on their military, Poland or Lithuania?
- Poland spends more: $38.00B versus $2.63B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).