Foreigners now make up 15% of Warsaw's population, highest urban concentration
New demographic data shows Poland has experienced massive immigration over the past decade, with foreigners now accounting for nearly 15% of Warsaw's population and reaching 20% in Wrocław, reshaping urban demographics.
Preliminary data released by Poland's Central Statistical Office (GUS) on July 3, 2026, reveals that foreigners now comprise nearly 15% of Warsaw's population and 20% of Wrocław, Poland's third-largest city. The figures highlight the scale of Poland's transformation through immigration over the past decade, which ranks among Europe's highest.
Nationally, around 2.3 million foreign residents were living in Poland at the end of 2025, representing nearly 6% of the population. Ukrainians dominate this cohort, making up 73% of all foreign residents. Some smaller towns show even more dramatic concentrations: in Mikstat in central Poland, over half (53.5%) of the 3,461 residents are foreigners, while in Stryków, 38.8% of the 5,217 population are immigrants.
Regional variation is pronounced. Lower Silesia and Masovia—home to Wrocław and Warsaw—have the highest shares of foreign residents at 9.8% and 9.3% respectively, while southeastern provinces of Subcarpathia and Świętokrzyskie record around 2%. Outside major cities, high concentrations of migrants are typically found in municipalities with large industrial and logistics sectors relying on migrant labour.
The GUS notes that this data is based on experimental methodology and not yet official, but it underscores Poland's emergence as a major destination for Eastern European migration.
For foreigners in Poland: If you're considering settling in Warsaw, Kraków, or Wrocław, be aware that these cities have become significantly more multicultural and international. Wrocław now rivals major Western European cities in foreign-resident concentration. Integration resources, international services, and English-language support are increasingly available in these urban centers, making them more accessible for newcomers.
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