Emigrants from Poland. We know what attracts Poles abroad

According to the Central Statistical Office, the largest increase in the number of long-term temporary emigrants from Poland in 2019-2024 occurred in the Netherlands and Switzerland. Ph.D. Paweł Strzelecki, prof. SGH, assessed that Poles are attracted to these countries by, among others, high purchasing power of wages.

The Central Statistical Office recently presented information on the size and directions of temporary emigration from Poland in 2019-2024. Residents of Poland temporarily staying abroad for 12 months or longer in 2019-2024 were taken into account..

The Office's data shows that in 2019, the number of Polish citizens staying temporarily (12 months and longer) abroad was slightly over 1.6 million. In 2020, this number decreased, and in the years 2020-2024 it fluctuated around 1.5 million.

The largest increase in the number of long-term temporary emigrants from Poland in 2019-2024 occurred in the Netherlands and Switzerland – respectively by 28 thousand (26.6%) and 8 thousand (39.1%). In turn, the largest decline was recorded in Great Britain, Germany and Italy – by 132,000 respectively. (24.1%), 10 thousand (2.4%) and 8 thousand (14.2%).

“It can be assumed that these data do not include seasonal migration, and 12 months is long enough to stop being an official resident of Poland and become one in another country. These data show that compared to the last year before COVID-19, i.e. 2019, the number of such emigrants is over 100,000. smaller, which was mainly due to the decrease in people staying long-term in Great Britain. This change can be associated with the country's exit from the European Union (deterioration of the economic situation, difficulties in traveling and legalization of work)” – told PAP Dr. Paweł Strzelecki, professor at the Warsaw School of Economics, deputy director of the Institute of Statistics and Demography at the Collegium of Economic Analysis of the Warsaw School of Economics.

The expert emphasized that since 2020, the number of Poles who have become residents of other countries has fluctuated around 1.5 million, but there are countries with a clear upward trend..

“Switzerland is such a country, with a relatively small but growing number of immigrants and the purchasing power of the average salary twice as high as in Poland.. Another example is the Netherlands, which in the past was often chosen by seasonal migrants, but thanks to the continuing higher purchasing power of wages than in Germany and low unemployment, it also attracts long-term migrants from Poland,” he emphasized.

He added that changes in other countries are relatively minor. The quite deep percentage drop in Italy – according to the expert – may be due to the fact that the purchasing power of the average salary in this country is only slightly higher than in Poland. He explained that in 2024, according to Eurostat, it was 106%. purchasing power of the average salary in Poland, with the unemployment rate twice as high.

“According to the Central Statistical Office, after 2022 there was a relatively small percentage (2.4%), but significant in absolute numbers (10,000) decline in the number of emigrants in Germany. It resulted from the Central Statistical Office correcting data from 2022-2023 using previously unavailable information,” Strzelecki said.

The Central Statistical Office reported that at the end of 2024, approximately 1,499,000 people were temporarily staying outside Poland. Polish citizens, i.e. by 22 thousand more than in 2023 European countries are the most common (approx. 94%) choice of country of residence for long-term temporary immigrants from Poland. (PAP)

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