Updated
Overview
The United States has 9.4 times the population of Poland: 341.78 million people against 36.44 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 30 times the size of Poland's, at $30.77T versus $1.04T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $28,420 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Poland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $1.04T | 2025 | $29.18T / $914.70B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $28,420 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.2% | Higher: 3.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 3.8% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 3.8% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $2,302 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,257 | $1,241 | 2026 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $6.22 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 36.44 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 38.75 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 42.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.9 yrs | 78.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 60% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 312,679 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 116.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 273 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 7.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $38.00B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 4.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 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 2.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 3.8% in Poland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Poland: a price level of 52 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $2,302 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United States is the younger society: median age 38.5 versus 42.5 years.
The United States is considerably more urbanized: 80% of people live in cities, against 60%.
Geography
By land area, the United States is 31 times the size of Poland: 9,833,517 km² versus 312,679 km².
Poland is far more densely settled: 117 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 26 times as much on defence as Poland: $997.31B versus $38.00B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 189,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Poland?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Poland covers 312,679 km², so the United States is 31 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Poland?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 36.44 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Poland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $28,420. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $1.04T for Poland.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Poland?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $38.00B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).