Updated
Overview
Poland has 6.7 times the population of Slovakia: 36.44 million people against 5.41 million (2025).
Poland's economy is 6.7 times the size of Slovakia's, at $1.04T versus $154.53B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Poland | Slovakia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.04T | $154.53B | 2025 | $914.70B / $141.78B |
| GDP per capita | $28,420 | Higher: $28,544 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.6% | 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.8% | 4.0% | 2025 | 3.8% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 5.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 52 | 58 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,302 | Higher: $2,496 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,241 | $922 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.44 million | 5.41 million | 2025 | 38.75 million / 5.56 million |
| Population growth | -0.3% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.5 yrs | 42.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.31 | 1.57 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.4 yrs | 78.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 60% | 53% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 90% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 312,679 km² | 49,037 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 116.5/km² | 110.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 273 Mt | Lower: 29 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.1 t | Lower: 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $38.00B | $2.85B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 189,000 | 18,000 | 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 0.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.8% in Poland and 4.0% in Slovakia.
Average monthly earnings favour Slovakia: $2,496 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 (Slovakia).
Geography
By land area, Poland is 6.4 times the size of Slovakia: 312,679 km² versus 49,037 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Poland spends 13 times as much on defence as Slovakia: $38.00B versus $2.85B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 2.0%.
Poland fields the larger armed forces: 189,000 personnel against 18,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Poland bigger than Slovakia?
- Poland is larger by land area. Poland covers 312,679 km² while Slovakia covers 49,037 km², so Poland is 6.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Poland or Slovakia?
- Poland has the larger population: 36.44 million versus 5.41 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Poland richer than Slovakia?
- They are effectively level on GDP per capita: $28,420 for Poland against $28,544 for Slovakia, a gap too small to call. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.04T for Poland versus $154.53B for Slovakia.
- Who spends more on their military, Poland or Slovakia?
- Poland spends more: $38.00B versus $2.85B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).