Statistics Poland wrote in its report ‘Population. Size and structure and vital statistics in Poland by territorial division in 2023. As of 31 December’ that there were 34 fewer people per 10,000 inhabitants at the end of last year than at the close of 2022, as the “annual population loss rate in the past year amounted to -0.34%.”

The statistical service highlighted that Poland’s population has been declining since 2012 apart from a slight increase of almost 1,000 people in 2017.

“In 2023, the number of births was lower than the number of deaths by almost 137,000,” Statistics Poland wrote in the report. “The rate of natural increase (per 1,000 population) was -3.6 and decreased by 0.2 percentage points compared to the last year.

“The situation in 2023 was most influenced by a very low number of births and, at the same time, a high intensity of deaths,” the report continued. “…The increased mortality of the Polish population in 2023 affected both sexes similarly.”

Last year saw 272,000 babies born in Poland, almost 33,000 fewer than a year earlier, and “the lowest number of births recorded in the entire post-war period,” Statistic Poland said.

Poland’s population is also aging. According to the report, the number of people aged over 65 grew in 2023 by 197,000 to 7.5 million. This represents more than 20% of the population compared to just 10% in 1990.

“As a result of increasing life expectancy, as well as changes in the age structure of the population, the median age grows from year to year – since 2000 [it] has increased by more than 7 years, and since the early 90s of the last century by more than 10 years,” the report explained, adding that in 2022 the median age in Poland was almost 43.