Updated
Overview
Russia has 3.9 times the population of Poland: 143.51 million people against 36.44 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 2.5 times the size of Poland's, at $2.56T versus $1.04T.
Per person, Poland is the wealthier of the two: $28,420 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Poland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $1.04T | 2025 | $2.17T / $914.70B |
| GDP per capita | $17,547 | Higher: $28,420 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 3.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 3.8% | 2025 | 6.7% / 3.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 52 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | Higher: $2,302 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | Higher: $1,241 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | $6.22 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 36.44 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 38.75 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 42.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 78.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 60% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 312,679 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 116.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 273 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 7.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $38.00B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 4.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 189,000 | 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 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 3.8%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 52 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Poland: $2,302 against $777 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Russia is the younger society: median age 40.3 versus 42.5 years.
Life expectancy is 5.0 years longer in Poland (78.4 vs 73.4).
Russia is considerably more urbanized: 75% of people live in cities, against 60%.
Geography
By land area, Russia is 55 times the size of Poland: 17,098,242 km² versus 312,679 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 8.
Military
Russia spends 3.9 times as much on defence as Poland: $148.97B versus $38.00B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 4.2%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 189,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Poland?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Poland covers 312,679 km², so Russia is 55 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Poland?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 36.44 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Poland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Poland is richer: $28,420 against $17,547. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.56T for Russia versus $1.04T for Poland.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Poland?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $38.00B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).