Finland vs Poland
Every indicator for Finland and Poland side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Finland | Poland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 5,646,436 | 36,435,861 | −84.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 317 | 1,035 | −69.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 56,149 | 28,420 | +97.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 78.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 338,480 | 313,930 | +7.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 17 | 116 | −85.6% |
| Median age (years) | 43.4 | 42.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 93.7 | 88.6 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 9.5 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.3 | 3.8 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 74.5 | 60.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 6,988 | 38,001 | −81.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.30 | 4.15 | −44.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.05 | 8.47 | −52.2% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,238 | 1,043 | +18.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 22,000 | 189,000 | −88.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 3.9 | 5.2 | −24.9% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.80 | 1.04 | −23.1% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Finland relative to Poland; a positive value favors Finland. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Poland is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Finland leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 8.6 times; they are closest on area.
Key differences
- Poland's armed forces personnel (2020) (189,000) is about 8.6 times Finland's (22,000).
- Poland's population density (116) is about 7.0 times Finland's (17).
- Poland's population (2025) (36,435,861) is about 6.5 times Finland's (5,646,436).
- Poland's military expenditure (2024) (38,001) is about 5.4 times Finland's (6,988).
- Poland's gdp (nominal) (1,035) is about 3.3 times Finland's (317).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Finland and Poland differ most?
In armed forces personnel (2020). Poland records 189,000 against Finland's 22,000 — a ratio of roughly 8.6 to one.
Where are Finland and Poland most alike?
In area, at 338,480 and 313,930 — a gap of only %7.8.
On how many indicators is Finland ahead of Poland?
Finland is higher on 3 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Poland on 9. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
FinlandPoland
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Finland or Poland.
Finland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Poland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI