The majority of immigrants in Poland in 2023 were from Ukraine (******), a decrease of ** percent compared to the previous year. Immigration to Poland for different reasons In 2022, nearly ****** people immigrated to Poland for permanent residence, of which most came from Ukraine, the UK, and Germany, respectively. Furthermore, the majority of immigrants for temporary stay in Poland in 2022 were from Ukraine (****** immigrants), a decrease of *** percent compared to the previous year. In 2023, most Ukrainian citizens chose Poland as a place for economic emigration. The main reason for that choice was geographical and cultural proximity. Nearly every second respondent valued the low language barrier, and for every third person, the motivation was earnings. Poles attitudes toward Russia’s war with Ukraine In 2022, most Poles had a negative attitude toward Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Poles’ biggest concerns about the Russia-Ukraine war were the military threats from Russia and the impact of the war on the condition of the Polish economy. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Poles proved their support for Ukrainians. One of the most common forms of support for refugees fleeing the Russia-Ukraine war to Poland was to provide blankets, food, and hygiene items. Four out of 10 Poles donated money to a charity fundraiser and volunteered in organizations.

Net migration reached its lowest level in 1950 (-******) when the number of migrants arriving in the country was estimated at *****, compared to around ****** people departing. In 2024, there were more inflows than outflows, resulting in a net migration of nearly ***** people. Foreign migration of population For several years Poland has been witnessing a positive balance of migration. The number of immigrants reached ******, while emigration reached ****** in 2024. The main directions of permanent emigration are Germany and the United Kingdom. Immigrants coming to Poland to live permanently are mostly returning Polish emigrants. Hence, the most significant number of people came from the United Kingdom and Germany. Much larger is the scale of migration for temporary residence. There has been an increase in the number of immigrants temporarily staying in Poland recently. The number of economic immigrants is growing, especially Ukrainian citizens interested in taking up temporary employment. There is also a noticeable increase in the number of foreigners interested in continuing their education at Polish universities. The analysis of migration trends indicates that Poland is transforming from a typical emigration country into an emigration and immigration country. Internal migration of the population The period from 2017 to 2019 saw an increased number of internal movements. However, due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of internal migrants fell to ******* in 2020. As a result of internal migration, rural areas gained residents. The balance of migration for rural areas amounted to nearly ****** people. In Mazowieckie, Pomorskie, Małopolskie, Dolnośląskie, and Wielkopolskie region, the inflow of population was greater than the outflow. Therefore, internal migrations caused an increase in the population of those voivodeships. The remaining voivodeships recorded a decrease. The most significant population loss in 2020 was experienced by Lubelskie and Śląskie voivodeships — this trend has been maintained for several years.

The number of immigrants in Poland reached nearly ****** in 2023 and increased by seven percent compared to the previous year. Population in Poland Since 2010, the population of Poland has been decreasing year by year. In 2022, Poland’s society was about ******* lower than in 2012. This result is influenced by birth and death rates, as well as migration rate. Many factors are contributing to these rates. For birth rates, the number of women of reproductive age, changing attitudes toward having many children at a young age, household income, and government incentives such as the 500+ program must be considered. Regarding the death rate, it is necessary to consider the age and number of seniors, as well as medical progress. Therefore, it is estimated that Poland’s population will decrease to slightly over **** million in 2100. Migration in Poland In 1950, Poland had the lowest net migration level, amounting to *******, where more than ****** chose to emigrate, and only about ***** decided to immigrate to Poland. In contrast, net migration in 2023 has reached ***** people, which means more people decided to live in Poland than to leave it. That year, the most Poles who decided to emigrate moved to Ukraine, Germany, and the United Kingdom. By comparison, Poland also had the most significant number of immigrants from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Poland PL: Net Migration data was reported at -50,002.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of -73,997.000 Person for 2012. Poland PL: Net Migration data is updated yearly, averaging -131,153.500 Person from Dec 1962 (Median) to 2017, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of -50,002.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of -304,973.000 Person in 1987. Poland PL: Net Migration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the total number of immigrants less the annual number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens. Data are five-year estimates.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;

Between 1820 and 1957, at least 400,000 people migrated from Poland to the United States. Due to Poland's complicated border-history, many Polish migrants were recorded as having other nationalities, particularly Austrian, German and Russian (all migrants who claimed to be Polish between 1899 and 1919 were recorded as being one of these other nationalities), therefore the exact number of Polish migrants to the United States during this time is unknown. From 1920 onwards, Poland's sovereignty and independence was acknowledged by the United States government (US President Wilson was instrumental in helping to establish the independent Republic of Poland), and the figures become more reliable. The years with the highest number of documented Polish migrants to the US was after the First World War in the early 1920s, with almost 100,000 Poles migrating in 1921 alone, although the number fell below 10,000 again by 1925.

United States Immigrants Admitted: Poland data was reported at 4,845.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,603.000 Person for 2016. United States Immigrants Admitted: Poland data is updated yearly, averaging 10,222.500 Person from Sep 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28,048.000 Person in 1994 and a record low of 4,845.000 Person in 2017. United States Immigrants Admitted: Poland data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Department of Homeland Security. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.G087: Immigration.

Historical dataset showing Poland immigration statistics by year from 1960 to 2015.

Informacje o liczbie rezydentów Ukrainy, którzy przyjechali do Polski z zamiarem przebywania ponad 12 miesięcy (imigracja na pobyt stały) lub o wymeldowaniach rezydentów Polski, wyjeżdżających do Ukrainy z zamiarem przebywania ponad 12 miesięcy (emigracja na pobyt stały). Dane od 2010 r. w podziale na płeć i stan cywilny migranta.

Definicje pojęć i wyjaśnienia metodologiczne:

Emigracja (wg Rozporządzenia (WE) nr 862/2007)

Działanie, w ramach którego osoba, mająca uprzednio miejsce zamieszkania na terytorium państwa członkowskiego, zaprzestaje posiadania swojego zwyczajowego miejsca zamieszkania w tym państwie członkowskim na okres, który wynosi co najmniej dwanaście miesięcy lub co do którego przewiduje się, że będzie on tyle wynosić.

Wyjaśnienia metodologiczne:

Obowiązujące w Unii Europejskiej rozporządzenie (WE) nr 862/2007 Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady z dnia 11 lipca 2007 r. w sprawie statystyk Wspólnoty z zakresu migracji i ochrony międzynarodowej zawiera definicję migracji uwzględniającą zamierzony okres zamieszkania w innym kraju wynoszący co najmniej 12 miesięcy. W rozumieniu tej definicji emigracja to opuszczenie kraju przez jego rezydenta z zamiarem przebywania za granicą przez okres co najmniej 12 miesięcy. Dane o emigracji na pobyt stały pochodzą z rejestru PESEL 07 i dotyczą osób wymeldowanych w związku z wyjazdem za granicę z zamiarem stałego pobytu.

Imigracja (wg Rozporządzenia (WE) nr 862/2007)

Działanie, w wyniku którego osoba ustanawia swoje miejsce zamieszkania na terytorium państwa członkowskiego na okres, który wynosi co najmniej dwanaście miesięcy lub co do którego przewiduje się, że będzie on tyle wynosić, będąc uprzednio rezydentem innego państwa członkowskiego lub państwa trzeciego.

Wyjaśnienia metodologiczne:

Obowiązujące w Unii Europejskiej rozporządzenie (WE) nr 862/2007 Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady z dnia 11 lipca 2007 r. w sprawie statystyk Wspólnoty z zakresu migracji i ochrony międzynarodowej zawiera definicję migracji uwzględniającą zamierzony okres zamieszkania w innym kraju wynoszący co najmniej 12 miesięcy. W rozumieniu tej definicji imigracja to przybycie do kraju osoby będącej uprzednio rezydentem innego kraju z zamiarem przebywania przez okres co najmniej 12 miesięcy. Dane o imigracji na pobyt stały pochodzą z rejestru PESEL 04 i dotyczą osób zameldowanych na pobyt stały po przyjeździe z zagranicy.

Akty prawne

- rozporządzenie (WE) nr 862/2007 Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady z dnia 11 lipca 2007 r. w sprawie statystyk Wspólnoty z zakresu migracji i ochrony międzynarodowej oraz uchylające rozporządzenie Rady (EWG) nr 311/76 w sprawie zestawienia statystyk dotyczących pracowników cudzoziemców (Dz. Urz. UE L 199 z 31.07.2007, str. 23, z późn. zm.)
- rozporządzenie Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady (UE) nr 1260/2013 z dnia 20 listopada 2013 r. w sprawie statystyk europejskich w dziedzinie demografii (Dz. Urz. UE L 330 z 10.12.2013, str. 39)

Częstotliwość: rok

Szereg czasowy: 2010-2022

Przekroje: Polska; Płeć; Kraj; Stan cywilny migranta

Źródło danych: GUS (dane z rejestru PESEL i Ministerstwa Cyfryzacji)

The research project Political Resocialization of Immigrants (PRI) examines political interest and participation among immigrants. The aim of the project was to study immigrant´s relations to community and politics; their living conditions; experiences of immigration to Sweden; factors possible to stimulate increasing political commitment; political attitudes and political behaviour; representatives and demands; information about the Swedish administrative and political system. More than 2 500 interviews were conducted in 1975-1976 with random samples of immigrants born in Finland, Yugoslavia, Poland and Turkey, and a comparison group of Swedish citizens in the 18-67 age group and domiciled in Stockholm municipality. Stratified samples drawn from among the respondents from the first-wave survey were reinterviewed in an election survey during the weeks following the municipal elections of September 1976, in which immigrants participated for the first time. The first-wave interview included questions on: time of moving to Sweden and Stockholm respectively; places of living; language spoken by the respondent, and language spoken by partner and children; newspaper read (Swedish and from native country) and news listened to (Swedish and from other countries); how the respondent would act in a situation when there is a risk of unemployment; circle of friends; organizational membership and activities; knowledge of who to address in Stockholm in different situations; contacts with authorities; important problems in society; interest in Swedish politics; participation in elections in native country and in Sweden; comparison of the personal situation in a number of areas at present and when living in native country; own situation compared with other immigrants and with Swedes respectively; present and earlier occupation; placement in a ´pyramid of society´ in native country and in Sweden; organizational activities of parents; religiosity, own and parents´. In connection with this interview the respondent had to fill in a questionnaire, in which she/he had to state if she/he agreed or not with a number of general statements and a number of statements concerning her/his own nationality. The election survey included questions about election programs in radio and television, study circles discussing the election, information pamphlets, political meetings, knowledge of candidates, voting, important issues in the election campaign, political parties with special interest in issues concerning immigrants, attempts to influence other people how to vote, comparison between Swedish political parties and parties in the native country, interest in election turn-out, and when the respondent decided to vote/not to vote.

Graph and download economic data for Net migration for Poland (SMPOPNETMPOL) from 1962 to 2017 about migration, Poland, Net, 5-year, and population.

Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: Urban: Male: International: Immigration data was reported at 6,025.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,511.000 Person for 2022. Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: Urban: Male: International: Immigration data is updated yearly, averaging 5,555.000 Person from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2023, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6,336.000 Person in 2019 and a record low of 4,718.000 Person in 2020. Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: Urban: Male: International: Immigration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Poland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.G008: Migration.

Norway Immigration: Europe: Poland data was reported at 5,163.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,976.000 Person for 2016. Norway Immigration: Europe: Poland data is updated yearly, averaging 305.000 Person from Dec 1967 (Median) to 2017, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14,309.000 Person in 2008 and a record low of 52.000 Person in 1968. Norway Immigration: Europe: Poland data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Norway. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.G006: Immigration: by Country.

Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: Urban: International: Emigration data was reported at 6,630.000 Person in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9,146.000 Person for 2022. Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: Urban: International: Emigration data is updated yearly, averaging 8,454.000 Person from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2023, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22,840.000 Person in 2013 and a record low of 5,895.000 Person in 2020. Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: Urban: International: Emigration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Poland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.G008: Migration.

Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: International: Immigration data was reported at 16,707.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 15,572.000 Person for 2022. Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: International: Immigration data is updated yearly, averaging 10,150.000 Person from Dec 1989 (Median) to 2023, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17,400.000 Person in 2009 and a record low of 2,200.000 Person in 1989. Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: International: Immigration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Poland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.G008: Migration.

Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: Rural: Male: International: Immigration data was reported at 2,743.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,711.000 Person for 2022. Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: Rural: Male: International: Immigration data is updated yearly, averaging 2,548.000 Person from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2023, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,881.000 Person in 2019 and a record low of 1,852.000 Person in 2013. Poland Migration for Permanent Residence: Rural: Male: International: Immigration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Poland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.G008: Migration.

As a result of the crisis between Belarus and the European Union, Polish border services recorded approximately *** illegal attempts to cross the Polish-Belarusian border in December 2024. Around ****** immigrants, mainly from Middle Eastern and African countries, attempted to cross the border illegally in 2024. It was nearly ***** more than in the previous year. The latest data from July 2025 indicates a significant increase in illegal crossings, with more than ***** recorded attempts.In 2021, due to the actions of Alexander Lukashenko's government, a migration crisis was initiated on Belarus's border with the European Union. The Belarusian authorities contributed by organizing the transfer of refugees and immigrants from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries of the Middle East and Africa across the Belarusian-Lithuanian and Belarusian-Polish-Latvian borders. These actions were meant to respond to EU sanctions against Belarus caused by the rigged presidential election in 2020 and the repression of oppositionists.

Historical dataset showing Poland net migration by year from 1960 to 2024.

Poland - Foreign-born population was 935897.00 in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Poland - Foreign-born population - last updated from the EUROSTAT on September of 2025. Historically, Poland - Foreign-born population reached a record high of 935897.00 in December of 2024 and a record low of 611855.00 in December of 2015.

Graph and download economic data for International Migrant Stock, Total for Poland (SMPOPTOTLPOL) from 1960 to 2015 about migration, Poland, and 5-year.

In 2023, the vast majority of immigrants in Poland were children under ten and people between ** and **. Those who most often emigrated from Poland were between ** and **, with the largest group being between ** and **.