Poland vs Russia
Every indicator for Poland and Russia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Poland | Russia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 36,435,861 | 143,513,328 | −74.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,035 | 2,561 | −59.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 28,420 | 17,547 | +62.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.4 | 73.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 313,930 | 17,125,190 | −98.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 116 | 8 | +1,285.0% |
| Median age (years) | 42.1 | 40.3 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 88.6 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.0 | 2.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.8 | 8.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 60.1 | 75.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 38,001 | 148,967 | −74.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 4.15 | 7.05 | −41.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 8.47 | 18.90 | −55.2% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,043 | 1,038 | +0.5% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 189,000 | 1,454,000 | −87.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 5.2 | 10.1 | −48.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.04 | 1.98 | −47.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Poland relative to Russia; a positive value favors Poland. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Russia is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Poland leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in area, about 55 times; they are closest on military expenditure per capita.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 17,125,190 against Poland's 313,930 — roughly 55 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Poland stands at 116 against Russia's 8 — roughly 14 times as much.
- Russia's armed forces personnel (2020) (1,454,000) is about 7.7 times Poland's (189,000).
- Russia's population (2025) (143,513,328) is about 3.9 times Poland's (36,435,861).
- Russia's military expenditure (2024) (148,967) is about 3.9 times Poland's (38,001).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Poland and Russia differ most?
In area. Russia records 17,125,190 against Poland's 313,930 — a ratio of roughly 55 to one.
Where are Poland and Russia most alike?
In military expenditure per capita, at 1,043 and 1,038 — a gap of only %0.5.
On how many indicators is Poland ahead of Russia?
Poland is higher on 3 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Russia on 9. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
PolandRussia
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 Poland or Russia.
Poland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Russia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI