Where do the most Poles live abroad? New data from Poland’s Stats Office

1.5 million Polish citizens were estimated to be temporarily living abroad at the end of 2024, according to the latest data released by Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS) on 12 December 2025.

At the end of 2024, an estimated 1.5 million Polish citizens were temporarily living abroad – mostly in Europe, with the largest communities in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Ireland – according to the latest data from Poland’s Stats Office released on 12 December 2025. Photo: PAP/Bartłomiej Zborowski

These figures reflect the stock of Polish residents living abroad for at least 12 months and should not be interpreted as migration flows.

The majority of these temporary residents were in Europe, with roughly 869,000 living in European Union member states.

The largest Polish communities were reported in the United Kingdom (415,000), Germany (407,000), the Netherlands (132,000), Norway (78,000) and Ireland (69,000).

GUS noted that the figures for 2019–2023 represent revised estimates previously published in 2024, while the 2024 numbers are projected values.

These statistics highlight the continuing trend of Poles seeking work, study, or other opportunities abroad, particularly within the EU, reflecting both historical migration patterns and economic ties across the continent.

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Source: GUS/X/@StatPoland

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