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Austria vs Czechia
Netherlands vs Poland
Side-by-side comparison of Netherlands and Poland from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Netherlands
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 445 years
Poland
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,060 years
In short
Netherlands scores 76.7 in the NationsTree Index (12th in the world) and Poland scores 73.4 (25th), a gap of 3.3 points. Their trees are 26 m and 30 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Poland has 2.0 times the population of Netherlands. Poland is 7.6 times larger than Netherlands by land area. The economy of Poland is 25% larger than that of Netherlands (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Netherlands 18.1 million and Poland 36.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $87,320 in Netherlands and $54,262 in Poland (2025, international dollars). People in Netherlands live on average 3.6 years longer (82.0 vs 78.4 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Netherlands ranks higher in the world on 28 and Poland on 9. Netherlands is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, economy and trade. Poland is clearly stronger in military, natural resources and main industries.
As a nation, Poland is the older of the two (statehood since 966, 1,060 years), compared with Netherlands (since 1581). Over the last five years Poland improved faster (direction score 42 vs 12 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Netherlands and Poland.
Netherlandsbetter
-1.6%
66th of 192
Poland
-7.3%
174th of 192
Hospital bedsSociety & health
Netherlands
2.4
75th of 145
Polandbetter
6.0
15th of 145
Safely managed drinking waterInfrastructure & digital
Netherlandsbetter
100.0%
12th of 150
Poland
88.7%
64th of 150
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Netherlandsbetter
8.6
36th of 200
Poland
16.5
94th of 200
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Netherlandsbetter
86.2
8th of 207
Poland
68.0
66th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Poland overtook Netherlands in GDP (PPP) in 2010 and has stayed ahead since.
Netherlands has been ahead of Poland in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Netherlands has been ahead of Poland in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Poland has been ahead of Netherlands in 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
NetherlandsPoland 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 | Netherlands | Poland |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 41,540132nd/216 · 2024 | 313,94070th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 33,670134th/216 · 2024 | 306,07070th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 18.1 m71st/217 · 2025 | 36.4 m44th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.52%135th/217 · 2025 | -0.34%193rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 534.422nd/216 · 2024 | 119.491st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 95.9%15th/217 · 2025 | 60.1%125th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 14.9%181st/217 · 2025 | 14.5%188th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 20.9%30th/217 · 2025 | 20.8%31st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $1.33 trn18th/210 · 2025 | $1.04 trn21st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.58 trn27th/199 · 2025 | $1.98 trn21st/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.29 trn27th/199 · 2025 | $1.71 trn20th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $73,68417th/210 · 2025 | $28,42060th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $87,32013th/199 · 2025 | $54,26246th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $68,53015th/201 · 2025 | $25,52055th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.8%154th/210 · 2025 | 3.6%96th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.2%91st/180 · 2025 | 3.8%114th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.9%67th/187 · 2025 | 3.0%39th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 54.2%1994 | 60.5%1994 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 44.7%73rd/189 · 2025 | 59.7%113th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.6%66th/192 · 2025 | -7.3%174th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.7%150th/197 · 2025 | 2.5%141st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 17.7%143rd/200 · 2025 | 25.8%75th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 10.1%98th/192 · 2025 | 15.0%41st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 70.4%33rd/200 · 2025 | 59.7%87th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.08 trn6th/182 · 2025 | $517.23 bn20th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $925.62 bn8th/182 · 2025 | $487.51 bn19th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 80.7%16th/183 · 2025 | 50.0%52nd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 69.5%35th/183 · 2025 | 47.1%87th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 150.1%22nd/183 · 2025 | 97.0%66th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 10.8%47th/170 · 2025 | 2.1%99th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 63.6%50th/171 · 2025 | 77.8%26th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 17.4%83rd/171 · 2025 | 15.6%88th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.4%100th/171 · 2025 | 3.2%84th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 23.5%25th/168 · 2024 | 13.5%51st/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 7.6%25th/191 · 2025 | -1.0%91st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.3%166th/196 · 2025 | 2.0%101st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.3%140th/209 · 2021 | 1.0%117th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.02%95th/197 · 2021 | 0.04%86th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.31%46th/197 · 2021 | 0.10%59th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/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 | 0.00%160th/209 · 2021 | 0.16%99th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 29.8%29th/206 · 2024 | 36.6%17th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 621149th/183 · 2022 | 1,456112th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 7.3 m29th/194 · 2020 | 88.5 m2nd/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $10.93 bn18th/175 · 2020 | $8.38 bn23rd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.4%141st/168 · 2020 | 2.6%117th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 22.0 m9th/107 · 2019 | 50.6 m3rd/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 82.037th/217 · 2024 | 78.462nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 3.930th/196 · 2024 | 4.234th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.8834th/174 · 2022 | 4.0330th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.475th/145 · 2022 | 6.015th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 90.3%48th/153 · 2023 | 88.2%55th/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 137.5%4th/173 · 2023 | 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 | 32.5%31st/217 · 2025 | 32.0%32nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.0%29th/193 · 2024 | 8.1%61st/193 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 86.6%17th/150 · 2023 | 80.9%24th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.9558th/193 · 2023 | 0.90635th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 25.75th/108 · 2021 | 28.515th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.1%10th/108 · 2021 | 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 | 100.0%12th/150 · 2024 | 88.7%64th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 97.5%15th/144 · 2024 | 97.8%14th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 97.0%17th/186 · 2024 | 88.6%67th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12963rd/210 · 2024 | 13846th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 43.020th/208 · 2024 | 25.474th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 | 3.5038th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 3,04141st/82 · 2021 | 18,62010th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 41.4 m28th/161 · 2023 | 8.8 m50th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 6.60167th/203 · 2024 | 7.55174th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 12.2%131st/212 · 2021 | 15.2%122nd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 8.636th/200 · 2023 | 16.594th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 11.0%166th/214 · 2024 | 31.0%110th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3,41926th/149 · 2024 | 2,62240th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 88.012th/205 · 2025 | 68.651st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 85.99th/207 · 2025 | 65.245th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 86.28th/207 · 2025 | 68.066th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 75.078th/207 · 2025 | 77.866th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 80.216th/205 · 2025 | 69.142nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 86.88th/205 · 2025 | 72.752nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.722nd/145 · 2023 | 0.830th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $28.94 bn19th/156 · 2025 | $46.76 bn14th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.2%52nd/156 · 2025 | 4.5%13th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.8%83rd/154 · 2025 | 9.0%34th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 41,00079th/170 · 2020 | 189,00034th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.42%124th/168 · 2020 | 1.04%62nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 824.0 m12th/163 · 2025 | 2.2 bn4th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 601.0 m10th/65 · 2025 | 59.0 m31st/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 2.27%16th/110 · 2023 | 1.56%27th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1,78122nd/137 · 2024 | 3,36316th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 32,20718th/197 · 2023 | 31,21819th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Netherlands or Poland?
Poland has the larger population: 36.4 m (2025) compared with 18.1 m for Netherlands (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Netherlands or Poland?
Poland is larger: 313,940 km² (2024) compared with 41,540 km² for Netherlands (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Netherlands or Poland?
Poland has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.98 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.58 trn intl. for Netherlands (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Netherlands or Poland?
Netherlands has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $87,320 intl. (2025) compared with $54,262 intl. for Poland (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Netherlands or Poland?
Netherlands has the higher life expectancy at birth: 82.0 years (2024) compared with 78.4 years for Poland (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Netherlands or Poland?
Poland spends more on the military: $46.76 bn (2025) compared with $28.94 bn for Netherlands (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Netherlands or Poland?
Netherlands: 76.7 points (12th 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.
Belgium
Kazakhstan
Romania
Switzerland
Italy
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). Netherlands vs Poland — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/netherlands-vs-poland. Data as of 26 October 2026.