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Austria vs Czechia
Germany vs Poland
Side-by-side comparison of Germany and Poland from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Germany
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,183 years
Poland
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,060 years
In short
Germany scores 76.6 in the NationsTree Index (14th in the world) and Poland scores 73.4 (25th), a gap of 3.2 points. Their trees are 53 m and 30 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Germany has 2.3 times the population of Poland. Germany has 14% more land area than Poland. Germany has an economy 3.2 times the size of Poland (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Germany 83.5 million and Poland 36.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $75,407 in Germany and $54,262 in Poland (2025, international dollars). People in Germany live on average 2.4 years longer (80.8 vs 78.4 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Germany ranks higher in the world on 25 and Poland on 12. Germany is clearly stronger in infrastructure & digital, land & people and science & innovation. Poland is clearly stronger in natural resources and military.
As a nation, Germany is the older of the two (statehood since 843, 1,183 years), compared with Poland (since 966). Over the last five years Poland improved faster (direction score 42 vs 26 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Germany and Poland.
Germany
0.2%
192nd of 210
Polandbetter
3.6%
96th of 210
Government budget balanceEconomy
Germanybetter
-2.9%
102nd of 192
Poland
-7.3%
174th of 192
Safely managed drinking waterInfrastructure & digital
Germanybetter
99.9%
14th of 150
Poland
88.7%
64th of 150
Income inequality (Gini)Society & health
Germany
33.7
50th of 108
Polandbetter
28.5
15th of 108
Fixed broadbandInfrastructure & digital
Germanybetter
45.6
12th of 208
Poland
25.4
74th of 208
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Germany overtook Poland in the NationsTree Index in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Germany has been ahead of Poland in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP), life expectancy and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
GermanyPoland All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Germany | Poland |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 357,68064th/216 · 2024 | 313,94070th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 349,43064th/216 · 2024 | 306,07070th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 83.5 m19th/217 · 2025 | 36.4 m44th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.03%170th/217 · 2025 | -0.34%193rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 239.058th/216 · 2024 | 119.491st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 82.1%52nd/217 · 2025 | 60.1%125th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 13.9%199th/217 · 2025 | 14.5%188th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 23.7%8th/217 · 2025 | 20.8%31st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $5.05 trn3rd/210 · 2025 | $1.04 trn21st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $6.30 trn6th/199 · 2025 | $1.98 trn21st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $5.25 trn6th/199 · 2025 | $1.71 trn20th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $60,49623rd/210 · 2025 | $28,42060th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $75,40723rd/199 · 2025 | $54,26246th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $60,20020th/201 · 2025 | $25,52055th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.2%192nd/210 · 2025 | 3.6%96th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.2%64th/180 · 2025 | 3.8%114th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.7%63rd/187 · 2025 | 3.0%39th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 20.9%1990 | 60.5%1994 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 62.7%120th/189 · 2025 | 59.7%113th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.9%102nd/192 · 2025 | -7.3%174th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 0.9%173rd/197 · 2025 | 2.5%141st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.2%84th/200 · 2025 | 25.8%75th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 17.6%31st/192 · 2025 | 15.0%41st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.5%58th/200 · 2025 | 59.7%87th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $2.04 trn3rd/182 · 2025 | $517.23 bn20th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.92 trn3rd/182 · 2025 | $487.51 bn19th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 40.4%80th/183 · 2025 | 50.0%52nd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 38.1%108th/183 · 2025 | 47.1%87th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 78.5%100th/183 · 2025 | 97.0%66th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.9%101st/170 · 2025 | 2.1%99th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 83.3%14th/171 · 2025 | 77.8%26th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 6.6%132nd/171 · 2025 | 15.6%88th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.9%88th/171 · 2025 | 3.2%84th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 18.0%38th/168 · 2024 | 13.5%51st/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 4.5%42nd/191 · 2025 | -1.0%91st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.9%106th/196 · 2025 | 2.0%101st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.1%161st/209 · 2021 | 1.0%117th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.01%101st/197 · 2021 | 0.04%86th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.02%76th/197 · 2021 | 0.10%59th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.01%48th/195 · 2021 | 0.25%21st/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.48%56th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.03%136th/209 · 2021 | 0.16%99th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 33.4%22nd/206 · 2024 | 36.6%17th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,286118th/183 · 2022 | 1,456112th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 12.4 m20th/194 · 2020 | 88.5 m2nd/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $58.37 bn2nd/175 · 2019 | $8.38 bn23rd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.5%98th/168 · 2019 | 2.6%117th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 99.5 m1st/107 · 2019 | 50.6 m3rd/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 80.848th/217 · 2024 | 78.462nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 3.726th/196 · 2024 | 4.234th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 4.5315th/174 · 2022 | 4.0330th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 7.66th/145 · 2023 | 6.015th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 89%110th/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 94.8%29th/153 · 2023 | 88.2%55th/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 100.2%62nd/173 · 2024 | 107.9%31st/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 79.2%11th/55 · 2019 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 38.0%9th/217 · 2025 | 32.0%32nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 12.3%9th/193 · 2024 | 8.1%61st/193 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 76.7%37th/150 · 2024 | 80.9%24th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.9595th/193 · 2023 | 0.90635th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 33.750th/108 · 2022 | 28.515th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.7%40th/108 · 2022 | 0.2%18th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 99.9%14th/150 · 2024 | 88.7%64th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 96.8%18th/144 · 2024 | 97.8%14th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 93.5%38th/186 · 2024 | 88.6%67th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12961st/210 · 2024 | 13846th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 45.612th/208 · 2024 | 25.474th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.303rd/164 · 2022 | 3.5038th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 33,4016th/82 · 2021 | 18,62010th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 80.2 m14th/161 · 2023 | 8.8 m50th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 6.94169th/203 · 2024 | 7.55174th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 17.6%115th/212 · 2021 | 15.2%122nd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 8.838th/200 · 2023 | 16.594th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 32.8%107th/214 · 2024 | 31.0%110th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,87439th/149 · 2024 | 2,62240th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 82.821st/205 · 2025 | 68.651st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 81.913th/207 · 2025 | 65.245th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 85.113th/207 · 2025 | 68.066th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 69.397th/207 · 2025 | 77.866th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 76.421st/205 · 2025 | 69.142nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 86.09th/205 · 2025 | 72.752nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.938th/145 · 2023 | 0.830th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $113.59 bn4th/156 · 2025 | $46.76 bn14th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.3%50th/156 · 2025 | 4.5%13th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.5%91st/154 · 2025 | 9.0%34th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 183,00035th/170 · 2020 | 189,00034th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.42%123rd/168 · 2020 | 1.04%62nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.6 bn6th/163 · 2025 | 2.2 bn4th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.7 bn7th/65 · 2025 | 59.0 m31st/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 3.15%10th/110 · 2023 | 1.56%27th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 40,0856th/137 · 2024 | 3,36316th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 108,7824th/197 · 2023 | 31,21819th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Germany or Poland?
Germany has the larger population: 83.5 m (2025) compared with 36.4 m for Poland (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Germany or Poland?
Germany is larger: 357,680 km² (2024) compared with 313,940 km² for Poland (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Germany or Poland?
Germany has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $6.30 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.98 trn intl. for Poland (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Germany or Poland?
Germany has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $75,407 intl. (2025) compared with $54,262 intl. for Poland (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Germany or Poland?
Germany has the higher life expectancy at birth: 80.8 years (2024) compared with 78.4 years for Poland (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Germany or Poland?
Germany spends more on the military: $113.59 bn (2025) compared with $46.76 bn for Poland (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Germany or Poland?
Germany: 76.6 points (14th in the world); Poland: 73.4 points (25th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
Netherlands
Türkiye
UkraineSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Germany vs Poland — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/germany-vs-poland. Data as of 26 October 2026.