Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Poland is a treasure trove of interesting data about Poland that is bound to surprise everyone. Did you know that Poles have the most cars per capita in Europe? Or maybe you are interested in why our seaports are developing at a dizzying pace? In the latest report you will also find surprising information about rising energy costs or the increasing number of crimes. If you want to find out what is really shaping our economy, these statistics are a must!
Table of contents
- These crimes are gaining ground in Poland
- Poland is a dying civilisation
- Poles work mainly in factories and in the automotive industry
- Poles are going on strike less and less
- The most popular fields of study are administration and medicine
- Polish hotels are bursting at the seams
- Poland is spending more and more on research and development
- Polish industry as an engine for the economy
- Electricity costs are killing Polish industry
- Dynamically developing seaports in Poland
- Poles have the most cars per capita in Europe
- Poland's roads are getting safer
- Germany remains the largest business partner
- Polish companies' margins are still low
- The economy is growing as the stock market is sagging
These crimes are gaining ground in Poland
Most comparative analyses are based on data from 2015, almost a decade ago. Looking at the changes in the structure of offences, we notice that although the total number of offences has remained at a similar level, their nature has changed significantly. The number of drug offences increased by 32 percent, making it one of the most frequently committed offences in Poland. As a consolation, it is worth mentioning that the number of fights, beatings and proven cases of corruption has halved over the past few years.
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
According to statistics, thieves are stealing less and less in Poland, because we ourselves.. ‘give’ them money (eg. spoofing). There has been a 41 percent increase in the number of recorded cases of fraud, which has become the most common type of crime in Poland - as many as 165,000 such cases were recorded in 2023. On the other hand, the number of property thefts fell by 19 percent and burglary by 47 percent.
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
Poland is a dying civilisation
The Polish economic miracle is repeatedly cited in public debates. However, further, equally dynamic development of the Polish GDP will become increasingly difficult as the number of Poles decreases year by year. The situation is so serious that for a dozen years or so, more people have died each year than have been born. The 2020 pandemic has further exacerbated this problem, as the number of deaths is rising and the number of births is falling. Can any country thrive for decades to come with such demographics?
Source: GUS
Birth statistics are mainly the end result, but why are birth rates so low? It turns out that men and women are finding it increasingly difficult to form long-term relationships. The number of marriages fell by as much as 22.7 percent, while the number of divorces remained stable. This means that the total number of marriages in Poland has decreased by 3.6 percent over the last decade.
Source: GUS
Poles work mainly in factories and in the automotive industry
In Poland, as many as 2.5 million people, or 23 percent of all workers, are employed in industrial factories. The second most popular industry is trade and repair of motor vehicles, which employs 15.7 percent of workers. In third place are teachers and education workers, who account for 10 percent of the total number of employees.
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
Poles are going on strike less and less
In the media, especially in a political context, there is often talk about the deteriorating situation of particular professional groups. However, looking at the data, it is clear that Poles are taking part in strikes less and less frequently. The number taking part in such events has fallen by 92 percent since 2015! One could even say that strikes have become rare in Poland.
Source: GUS
The most popular fields of study are administration and medicine
In Poland, more and more people are studying to become accountants, doctors and psychologists. In the academic year 2023/24, the most popular field of study at Polish universities was ‘business and administration’, with as many as 21 percent of students attending. Medical faculties were studied by 12.5 percent, and 12 percent chose sociology and psychology. Thus, it can be seen that there is a growing demand for financial specialists, while at the same time more and more people are struggling with health problems - both physical and mental.
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
Polish hotels are bursting at the seams
Poland is becoming an increasingly attractive tourist destination. The number of nights provided has increased by 30 percent since 2015, even though the number of accommodation facilities has remained virtually unchanged. This situation favours landlords, as it leads to an increase in prices for accommodation.
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
Poland is spending more and more on research and development
In the context of the innovativeness of the economy, much is said about the importance of R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP. Although Poland is developing dynamically, it is still lagging behind the European average - our R&D expenditure is 1.5 percent of GDP, while the European average is 2.2 percent. However, the future may bring positive changes, as the number of entities investing in R&D has increased by as much as 67 percent since 2015!
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
The structure of R&D expenditure has also changed significantly. Whereas previously the majority of these funds came from the state budget, up to 55 percent of funding is now provided by private companies. This is a trend characteristic of the developed Western economies, which is indicative of the private sector's increasing involvement in innovation.
Source: GUS
Polish industry as an engine for the economy
The main driver of the Polish economy is industry, which benefits from competitive advantages such as a favourable location, relatively low labour costs compared to Western standards and a well-qualified workforce. Since 2015, Polish industry has been growing at an impressive rate, recording almost 50 percent growth and becoming the second fastest-growing industrial sector in Europe.
Source: GUS
Electricity costs are killing Polish industry
In order to maintain the momentum of an industry, it is crucial to understand its economic underpinnings. Industrial products are typically characterised by lower demand and price volatility, which makes cost efficiency and economies of scale play a key role. At present, almost every manufacturing plant in Poland is affected by soaring energy costs, which have increased by as much as 115 percent in the period under review. This situation adversely affects the competitiveness of Polish industry and poses a serious challenge for the coming years.
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
Dynamically developing seaports in Poland
Although Poland cannot boast a long history of maritime transport, it has achieved impressive results in this field in recent years. The amount of goods handled in Polish ports has almost doubled, which is evidence of the dynamic development of trade and the growing importance of this sector for the country's economy.
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
Poles have the most cars per capita in Europe
This is a real sensation! Poles have the most passenger cars in Europe - as many as 761 per 1 000 inhabitants. What is more, in terms of the number of vehicles per capita, they are among the world leaders. However, most of these cars are not straight from the showroom, as the average age of a passenger car in Poland is as much as 14.9 years.
Source: VisualsCapitalism
Poland's roads are getting safer
Despite the increasing availability of cars in Poland, the number of road accidents has fallen by as much as 36 percent since 2015. This demonstrates a significant improvement in road safety.
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
Germany remains the largest business partner
The Poles have a complicated history of relations with their neighbours, particularly Germany and Russia. Today, however, the Polish economy relies heavily on cooperation with its western neighbour. Germany is Poland's largest trading partner, accounting for as much as 27.9 percent of Polish exports. Therefore, the current economic turmoil in Germany may negatively affect Poland's economic situation. Therefore, the stability and development of the German economy are also in the interest of our country.
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
Polish companies' margins are still low
Polish companies lack one key feature - globally recognisable brands and products. This makes it impossible for domestic companies to offer their products at higher prices, confident that they will find loyal buyers for them. As a result, the average net profit margin in Poland is only 4.3 percent. This compares with 7.3 percent in the United States and 5.5 percent in Europe.
Source: Conotoxia own study, GUS data
The economy is growing as the stock market is sagging
It would seem that the growth of the economy goes hand in hand with the growth of the stock market. However, in the case of Poland, the situation is different - the capitalisation of domestic companies as a percentage of GDP has fallen from 37 percent in 2013 to just 22 percent in 2023. Can such a decline therefore be considered an investment opportunity?
Source: GUS
Grzegorz Dróżdż, CIIA, Market Analyst of Conotoxia Ltd. (Conotoxia investment service)
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