Poland: health and care

What is life expectancy in Poland?

Life expectancy at birth in Poland was 75.37 years for men and 82.48 years for women in 2025, according to Statistics Poland's report on the demographic situation up to 2025.

Life expectancy is the average number of years a newborn would live if death rates by age stayed as they were in that year; it is not a forecast. The gap between women and men is about seven years. For international comparison, the World Bank puts Poland's life expectancy for both sexes at 78.4 years in 2024. The full report is available as a PDF, in Polish.

Official sources: GUS: Demographic situation in Poland up to 2025 · GUS: Report (PDF, Polish) · World Bank: Life expectancy, Poland

What is the infant mortality rate in Poland?

Poland's infant mortality rate was 3.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, according to Statistics Poland's demographic report up to 2025. The rate was 3.0 in towns and 3.3 in rural areas.

Infant mortality counts deaths before the first birthday. With just over 238,000 live births in 2025, each death changes the rate noticeably, so small year-to-year movements should be read with care. Deaths by cause are recorded from death certificates and published by GUS; the National Institute of Public Health monitors perinatal health.

Official sources: GUS: Demographic situation in Poland up to 2025 · National Institute of Public Health NIH

How much does Poland spend on health?

Current health expenditure in Poland was 8.06% of GDP in 2024, up from 7.14% in 2023, according to the World Bank, which draws on the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database.

The figure includes public spending, mainly through the National Health Fund, and private spending by households and insurers. It excludes capital investment such as new hospitals. The Ministry of Health publishes health policy and the list of reimbursed medicines.

Official sources: World Bank: Current health expenditure, Poland · National Health Fund · Ministry of Health

How many doctors does Poland have?

Poland had 4.03 physicians per 1,000 people in 2023, according to the World Bank, up from 3.42 in 2022.

The figure is based on doctors as reported to the WHO, and a jump of that size between years should be read with care, as counting methods can change. Statistics Poland reports how health care is used: there were 330.7 million doctor consultations in outpatient care in 2025, 1.8% more than in 2024, at 25,119 outpatient departments.

Official sources: World Bank: Physicians per 1,000 people, Poland · GUS: Out-patient health care in 2025

Is Poland's population falling?

Poland's population was 37,333 thousand at the end of 2025, about 157,000 lower than a year earlier, according to Statistics Poland's demographic report up to 2025. There were about 406,000 deaths and just over 238,000 live births in 2025.

The fall comes mainly from natural decrease, as deaths exceed births; recorded migration for permanent residence added about 10,900 people. The official population count is based on people registered for permanent residence and does not fully include foreigners staying temporarily, such as people from Ukraine under temporary protection. GUS publishes the full report as a PDF, in Polish.

Official sources: GUS: Demographic situation in Poland up to 2025 · GUS: Report (PDF, Polish)

How long do people live in Poland?

In 2024, life expectancy at birth in Poland was 78.4 years, according to the UN Population Division. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 79.5 years; Poland is 29th highest of 52. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 48th highest.

How many babies die in Poland?

3.6 per 1,000: that is the infant mortality rate in Poland for 2024, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 3.4 per 1,000; Poland is 22nd highest of 51. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 158th highest.

What is the maternal mortality rate in Poland?

In 2023, the maternal mortality ratio in Poland was 2.0 per 100,000, according to the WHO. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 49th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 6.0 per 100,000. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 188th highest.

What is Poland's health spending?

8.1% of GDP: that is current health spending in Poland for 2024, according to the WHO. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 9.4% of GDP, and Poland placed 13th highest of 17.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Poland?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2024, is 16.2%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 15.8% (2023) to 27.7% (2005). Europe & Central Asia median: 14.1%; Poland is 6th highest of 17.

How many doctors per person does Poland have?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Poland was 4.0 per 1,000 in 2023. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 4.0 per 1,000; Poland is 8th highest of 17. World rank, highest first: 9th of 58.

How many hospital beds does Poland have?

6.0 per 1,000: that is hospital beds per 1,000 people in Poland for 2022, according to the WHO. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 4.3 per 1,000, and Poland placed 10th highest of 42. World rank, highest first: 14th of 110.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Poland?

WHO and UNICEF puts measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Poland at 92.0% in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2006, at 99.0%; its low point was 2021, at 91.0%. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 94.0%, and Poland placed 30th highest of 51. Worldwide: 84th of 191.