📜 A long story
Poland, 1800 → today
Poland grew from 9 million in 1800 to 38.8 million; a newborn can expect 28.8 more years of life than in 1931, and output per person is 36× its 1800 level, adjusted for inflation.
Told with long-run reconstructions, not the yearly series used elsewhere on the site: each chapter names its source. Scroll to move through the years.
☺ Chapter 1 · Population
How many people live there?
1800
In 1800, about 9 million people lived in Poland.
1900
24.3 million people.
2.7× the 1800 level
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1875.
1950
24.8 million people.
about the same as in 1900
The sharpest fall in the data: down 13% between 1941 and 1949 (28.6 million → 24.9 million).
2023
38.8 million people, the latest year in this series.
1.6× the 1950 level
Long-run series: before 1950, reconstructions by HYDE and Gapminder, filled in between benchmark years by those sources. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
✚ Chapter 2 · Life expectancy
How long do people live?
1931
In 1931, a newborn in Poland could expect to live 49.8 years, on average.
2023
78.6 years, the latest year in this series.
+29 years since 1931
Passed 50 years in 1950 (no data between 1931 and 1950, so it may have happened earlier).
Passed 60 years in 1953.
Passed 70 years in 1972.
Long-run series: before 1950, historical estimates (Riley, Clio Infra, Human Mortality Database), only for years they cover. Dashed stretches are years without data.
◎ Chapter 3 · GDP per person (PPP)
How much is produced per person?
1800
In 1800, Poland produced about Int$902 per person, in 2011 prices.
1900
Int$2,700.
3× the 1800 level
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1879.
1950
Int$3,900.
1.4× the 1900 level
The sharpest fall in the data: down 25% between 1929 and 1933 (Int$3,370 → Int$2,530).
2022
Int$32,500, the latest year in this series.
8.3× the 1950 level
Reached 5 times the 1800 level in 1956.
Reached 10 times the 1800 level in 1975.
Reached 20 times the 1800 level in 2007.
Long-run series (Maddison Project) in 2011 international dollars: adjusted for inflation, so not the same unit as today’s PPP figure. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates. Dashed stretches are years without data.
❦ Chapter 4 · CO₂ per person
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
1800
In 1800, fossil fuels and industry in Poland emitted about 0.045 t of CO₂ per person.
1900
2.6 t.
58× the 1800 level
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1823.
Reached 5 times the 1800 level in 1846.
Reached 10 times the 1800 level in 1857.
Reached 20 times the 1800 level in 1868.
Reached 50 times the 1800 level in 1897.
1950
4.5 t.
1.7× the 1900 level
The sharpest fall in the data: down 98% between 1917 and 1919 (5 t → 0.1 t).
2024
7.1 t, the latest year in this series.
1.6× the 1950 level
Long-run series: fossil CO₂ emitted within each country’s borders (Global Carbon Budget); early estimates are less certain. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
☕ Chapter 5 · Years of schooling
How long do people go to school?
1870
In 1870, people aged 15–64 in Poland had spent 1.4 years in school, on average.
1900
2.1 years.
+0.73 years since 1870
Passed 2 years in 1900.
1950
5.5 years.
+3.4 years since 1900
Passed 4 years in 1935.
2015
11.8 years, the latest year in this series.
+6.3 years since 1950
Passed 6 years in 1960.
Passed 8 years in 1975.
Passed 10 years in 1995.
Long-run series (Lee & Lee, Barro & Lee) for people aged 15–64, every 5 years until 2015: a different age group than today’s figure (25 and older).