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Austria vs Czechia
Poland vs Ukraine
Side-by-side comparison of Poland and Ukraine from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Poland
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,060 years
Ukraine
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,144 years
In short
Poland scores 73.4 in the NationsTree Index (25th in the world) and Ukraine scores 52.5 (78th), a gap of 21.0 points. Their trees are 30 m and 16 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Poland and Ukraine have a similar population. Ukraine has 92% more land area than Poland. Poland has an economy 2.9 times the size of Ukraine (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Poland 36.4 million and Ukraine 39.0 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $54,262 in Poland and $18,905 in Ukraine (2025, international dollars). People in Poland live on average 3.7 years longer (78.4 vs 74.7 years).
Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Poland ranks higher in the world on 31 and Ukraine on 4. Poland is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, economy and tourism. Ukraine is clearly stronger in land & people, natural resources and military.
As a nation, Ukraine is the older of the two (statehood since 882, 1,144 years), compared with Poland (since 966). Over the last five years Poland improved faster (direction score 42 vs 5 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Poland and Ukraine.
Polandbetter
3.0%
39th of 187
Ukraine
9.8%
149th of 187
Secondary enrolmentSociety & health
Polandbetter
107.9%
31st of 173
Ukraine
86.2%
116th of 173
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Polandbetter
65.2
45th of 207
Ukraine
34.1
145th of 207
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Polandbetter
68.6
51st of 205
Ukraine
40.1
149th of 205
R&D spendingScience & innovation
Polandbetter
1.56%
27th of 110
Ukraine
0.37%
70th of 110
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Poland overtook Ukraine in GDP (PPP) in 1994 and has stayed ahead since.
Poland overtook Ukraine in GDP per person (PPP) in 1993 and has stayed ahead since.
Poland has been ahead of Ukraine in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Poland has been ahead of Ukraine in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Ukraine has been ahead of Poland 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
PolandUkraine 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 | Poland | Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 313,94070th/216 · 2024 | 603,55046th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 306,07070th/216 · 2024 | 579,40046th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 36.4 m44th/217 · 2025 | 39.0 m40th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.34%193rd/217 · 2025 | 2.92%13th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 119.491st/216 · 2024 | 65.3141st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 60.1%125th/217 · 2025 | 69.6%93rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 14.5%188th/217 · 2025 | 13.7%203rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 20.8%31st/217 · 2025 | 19.0%43rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $1.04 trn21st/210 · 2025 | $214.23 bn57th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.98 trn21st/199 · 2025 | $690.45 bn44th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.71 trn20th/199 · 2025 | $590.01 bn43rd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $28,42060th/210 · 2025 | $5,866132nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $54,26246th/199 · 2025 | $18,905110th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $25,52055th/201 · 2025 | $5,510125th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.6%96th/210 · 2025 | 1.8%151st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.8%114th/180 · 2025 | 12.7%163rd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.0%39th/187 · 2025 | 9.8%149th/187 · 2021 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 60.5%1994 | 58.7%30th/55 · 2020 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 59.7%113th/189 · 2025 | 107.1%173rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -7.3%174th/192 · 2025 | -17.6%189th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 2.5%141st/197 · 2025 | 7.6%87th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.8%75th/200 · 2025 | 17.9%141st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 15.0%41st/192 · 2025 | 8.3%119th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 59.7%87th/200 · 2025 | 61.0%77th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $517.23 bn20th/182 · 2025 | $54.27 bn63rd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $487.51 bn19th/182 · 2025 | $111.07 bn47th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 50.0%52nd/183 · 2025 | 25.3%124th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 47.1%87th/183 · 2025 | 51.8%76th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 97.0%66th/183 · 2025 | 77.2%102nd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 2.1%99th/170 · 2025 | 0.5%129th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 77.8%26th/171 · 2025 | 30.5%90th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 15.6%88th/171 · 2025 | 58.7%21st/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.2%84th/171 · 2025 | 8.2%45th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 13.5%51st/168 · 2024 | 6.4%87th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -1.0%91st/191 · 2025 | -16.0%179th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.0%101st/196 · 2025 | 0.8%153rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.0%117th/209 · 2021 | 7.5%56th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.04%86th/197 · 2021 | 0.28%67th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.10%59th/197 · 2021 | 1.36%28th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.25%21st/195 · 2021 | 0.34%17th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.48%56th/209 · 2021 | 5.32%21st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.16%99th/209 · 2021 | 0.21%92nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 36.6%17th/206 · 2024 | 56.8%4th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,456112th/183 · 2022 | 1,342116th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 88.5 m2nd/194 · 2019 | 3.4 m51st/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $8.38 bn23rd/175 · 2020 | $687.0 m85th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.6%117th/168 · 2020 | 1.1%150th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 50.6 m3rd/107 · 2019 | 11.3 m17th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 78.462nd/217 · 2024 | 74.7110th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 4.234th/196 · 2024 | 7.958th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 4.0330th/174 · 2023 | 3.5345th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 6.015th/145 · 2022 | 6.114th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 94%66th/193 · 2024 | 88%117th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 88.2%55th/153 · 2021 | 99.3%2019 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 107.9%31st/173 · 2024 | 86.2%116th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 79.2%11th/55 · 2019 | 61.8%22nd/55 · 2020 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 32.0%32nd/217 · 2025 | 28.2%47th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 8.1%61st/193 · 2024 | 8.2%58th/193 · 2021 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 99.4%2001 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 80.9%24th/150 · 2024 | 87.2%16th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.90635th/193 · 2023 | 0.77987th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 28.515th/108 · 2023 | 25.62020 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.2%18th/108 · 2023 | 0.0%2020 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 88.7%64th/150 · 2024 | 87.9%66th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 97.8%14th/144 · 2024 | 92.4%32nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 88.6%67th/186 · 2024 | 82.5%92nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 13846th/210 · 2024 | 13350th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 25.474th/208 · 2024 | 21.785th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.5038th/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 18,62010th/82 · 2021 | 21,6268th/82 · 2020 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 8.8 m50th/161 · 2023 | 452,344115th/161 · 2022 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 7.55174th/203 · 2024 | 3.13112th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 15.2%122nd/212 · 2021 | 8.9%151st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 16.594th/200 · 2023 | 14.980th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 31.0%110th/214 · 2024 | 17.3%139th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,62240th/149 · 2024 | 1,64269th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 68.651st/205 · 2025 | 40.1149th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 65.245th/207 · 2025 | 34.1145th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 68.066th/207 · 2025 | 45.6151st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 77.866th/207 · 2025 | 59.8140th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 69.142nd/205 · 2025 | 50.6118th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 72.752nd/205 · 2025 | 56.2107th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.830th/145 · 2023 | 3.888th/145 · 2021 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $46.76 bn14th/156 · 2025 | $84.11 bn7th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 4.5%13th/156 · 2025 | 39.6%1st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 9.0%34th/154 · 2025 | 62.9%1st/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 189,00034th/170 · 2020 | 298,00024th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.04%62nd/168 · 2020 | 1.43%43rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.2 bn4th/163 · 2025 | 2.3 bn3rd/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 59.0 m31st/65 · 2025 | 120.0 m23rd/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.56%27th/110 · 2023 | 0.37%70th/110 · 2024 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 3,36316th/137 · 2024 | 96932nd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 31,21819th/197 · 2023 | 15,49832nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Poland or Ukraine?
Ukraine has the larger population: 39.0 m (2025) compared with 36.4 m for Poland (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Poland or Ukraine?
Ukraine is larger: 603,550 km² (2024) compared with 313,940 km² for Poland (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Poland or Ukraine?
Poland has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $1.98 trn intl. (2025) compared with $690.45 bn intl. for Ukraine (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Poland or Ukraine?
Poland has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $54,262 intl. (2025) compared with $18,905 intl. for Ukraine (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Poland or Ukraine?
Poland has the higher life expectancy at birth: 78.4 years (2024) compared with 74.7 years for Ukraine (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Poland or Ukraine?
Ukraine spends more on the military: $84.11 bn (2025) compared with $46.76 bn for Poland (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Poland or Ukraine?
Poland: 73.4 points (25th in the world); Ukraine: 52.5 points (78th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Italy
Netherlands
Türkiye
Norway
SwedenSources
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). Poland vs Ukraine — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/poland-vs-ukraine. Data as of 26 October 2026.