The survey was conducted on February 13-16, 2026 using the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) method by UCE Research for Onet on a sample of 1,021 Poles aged 18-80.
With a view of Poland. Neighbors, Stalin's thumb, Czech debt and the KGBOnet
The undisputed leader in the sympathy ranking is the Czech Republic. When asked which of Poland's neighbors they like the most, as many as 33.6 percent respondents chose this country. This result confirms a trend among Poles that has been going on for years.
Interestingly, this sympathy is largely reciprocated in our perception, because 25.7 percent respondents believe that it is in the Czech Republic that Poles are perceived most positively. The Czech Republic is a symbol of good neighborly relations for us.
In second place was Slovakia, favored by 15.6 percent. respondents. A similar percentage, 15.8 percent. believes that this is where Poles enjoy the best reputation. These results show that relations with our southern neighbors are stable and based on mutual sympathy.
Which neighbor do Poles like the most?
What percentage of Poles indicated the Czech Republic as their favorite neighbor?
What are Poles' relations with Ukraine?
What do respondents think about the image of Poles in neighboring countries?
Complicated relations with Germany and Ukraine
Germany, as one of Poland's largest neighbors, is liked by 10.6 percent. subjects. However, only 6.6 percent respondents believe that Poles are perceived positively there. There is a certain distance and lack of full trust in relations with our western neighbor.
In the case of Ukraine, the situation is the opposite. Only 6.3 percent Poles indicated this country as their favorite neighbor, but as many as 11.8 percent respondents believe that this is where Poles are perceived best.
Less visible sympathy for eastern neighbors
At the bottom of the ranking were Belarus and Russia. Sympathy for these countries is marginal – 1.1% and 1.1% respectively. and 1.4 percent respondents indicated them as closest to Poles. Expectations regarding the positive perception of Poles in these countries are equally low: 1.6 percent. for Belarus and only 1 percent. for Russia.
As much as 20.8 percent respondents cannot name a country where Poles are perceived positively. Additionally, 11.6 percent they don't know which neighbor they like the most, and 11 percent declares no sympathy for any of its neighbors.
Poles are looking for confirmation of sympathy
The results of the UCE Research show that Poles are most likely to like countries where they feel accepted. The exception is the Czech Republic, which – as the authors of the study note – Poles like Poland slightly more than they are convinced of the reciprocity of this sympathy (the difference is 8 percentage points).
We also asked respondents whether the image of Poles among their closest neighbors bordering Poland has changed in recent years. The majority of respondents (33%) believe that it has improved, and 14%. he thinks he has improved significantly.
11.6% have the opposite opinion. respondents who believe that our image has deteriorated. However, 24.3 percent indicates that it has not changed much in recent years.
