Largest cities in Poland, 1975 to 2050

Warsaw leads Poland with 1.88 million people in 2025, ahead of Katowice at 0.87 million in the UN city ranking.

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What the data shows

In 2025, Warsaw ranks #1 with 1.88M, ahead of Katowice (0.87M) and Krakow (0.70M).
By 2050, on the UN's projections, Warsaw is projected to rank #1 with 1.78M, ahead of Katowice (0.70M) and Krakow (0.65M).
Warsaw holds #1 for the whole period, 1975 to 2025.

About this chart

Warsaw and Katowice head the 2025 ranking for Poland, at 1.88 million and 0.87 million people. Warsaw also appears first in 1975, at 1.40 million, so the top position is unchanged between those two endpoints. Krakow occupies third place in 2025 at 0.70 million. These are populations of urban areas defined consistently by the UN, rather than administrative city limits.

The UN projects Warsaw to lead in 2050 at 1.78 million people. The figures after 2025 are projections. The Degree of Urbanization identifies contiguous dense settlements, so these totals can differ from municipal and metropolitan statistics. The historical ranking is useful for comparing positions; changing settlement boundaries mean it should not be treated as a measure of growth within fixed city limits.

The data

Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision (File 21), city population, millions, 1975–2050 (projected after 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Cities as defined by the Degree of Urbanization (contiguous dense areas), so figures differ from city-proper or metro counts. Blank cells indicate that the source supplies no city value for that year, not zero population.

Largest cities in Poland, Population in millions, 1975–2050; projected after 2025, 1975–2050
Date	🇵🇱 Warsaw	🇵🇱 Katowice	🇵🇱 Lodz	🇵🇱 Krakow	🇵🇱 Wrocław	🇵🇱 Poznan	🇵🇱 Gdansk	🇵🇱 Sosnowiec	🇵🇱 Szczecin	🇵🇱 Bydgoszcz	🇵🇱 Lublin	🇵🇱 Białystok
1975	1.40M	1.10M	0.76M	0.60M	0.49M	0.44M	0.39M	0.30M	0.29M	0.25M	0.25M	0.19M
1976	1.43M	1.11M	0.77M	0.62M	0.50M	0.45M	0.41M	0.31M	0.30M	0.26M	0.26M	0.20M
1977	1.46M	1.11M	0.77M	0.63M	0.51M	0.46M	0.42M	0.32M	0.30M	0.27M	0.26M	0.20M
1978	1.49M	1.12M	0.78M	0.64M	0.52M	0.46M	0.43M	0.33M	0.30M	0.27M	0.27M	0.21M
1979	1.52M	1.13M	0.78M	0.65M	0.53M	0.47M	0.44M	0.34M	0.31M	0.28M	0.28M	0.21M
1980	1.55M	1.13M	0.78M	0.66M	0.54M	0.48M	0.45M	0.35M	0.31M	0.29M	0.28M	0.22M
1981	1.56M	1.14M	0.78M	0.66M	0.54M	0.49M	0.45M	0.36M	0.31M	0.29M	0.28M	0.22M
1982	1.56M	1.14M	0.78M	0.67M	0.54M	0.50M	0.45M	0.36M	0.31M	0.29M	0.29M	0.23M
1983	1.57M	1.14M	0.78M	0.67M	0.54M	0.51M	0.45M	0.37M	0.31M	0.29M	0.29M	0.23M
1984	1.57M	1.14M	0.78M	0.67M	0.54M	0.52M	0.45M	0.37M	0.32M	0.30M	0.29M	0.23M
1985	1.58M	1.14M	0.79M	0.67M	0.54M	0.52M	0.45M	0.38M	0.32M	0.30M	0.30M	0.24M
1986	1.59M	1.14M	0.78M	0.67M	0.54M	0.53M	0.44M	0.39M	0.32M	0.30M	0.30M	0.24M
1987	1.60M	1.14M	0.78M	0.68M	0.54M	0.53M	0.44M	0.39M	0.32M	0.30M	0.30M	0.25M
1988	1.60M	1.13M	0.78M	0.68M	0.55M	0.54M	0.43M	0.40M	0.32M	0.31M	0.31M	0.25M
1989	1.61M	1.13M	0.78M	0.68M	0.55M	0.54M	0.43M	0.41M	0.32M	0.31M	0.31M	0.25M
1990	1.62M	1.13M	0.78M	0.68M	0.55M	0.55M	0.42M	0.42M	0.32M	0.31M	0.31M	0.26M
1991	1.62M	1.13M	0.78M	0.68M	0.55M	0.55M	0.42M	0.42M	0.32M	0.31M	0.32M	0.26M
1992	1.63M	1.12M	0.77M	0.69M	0.55M	0.55M	0.42M	0.42M	0.32M	0.32M	0.32M	0.27M
1993	1.63M	1.11M	0.77M	0.69M	0.55M	0.55M	0.42M	0.42M	0.32M	0.32M	0.32M	0.27M
1994	1.63M	1.10M	0.76M	0.69M	0.55M	0.56M	0.42M	0.42M	0.32M	0.32M	0.32M	0.27M
1995	1.64M	1.10M	0.76M	0.69M	0.55M	0.56M	0.42M	0.43M	0.32M	0.32M	0.32M	0.28M
1996	1.65M	1.08M	0.75M	0.69M	0.54M	0.56M	0.42M	0.42M	0.32M	0.32M	0.32M	0.28M
1997	1.66M	1.07M	0.75M	0.69M	0.54M	0.56M	0.41M	0.41M	0.32M	0.32M	0.32M	0.28M
1998	1.68M	1.05M	0.74M	0.69M	0.54M	0.55M	0.41M	0.40M	0.32M	0.32M	0.32M	0.28M
1999	1.69M	1.04M	0.73M	0.69M	0.54M	0.55M	0.41M	0.39M	0.32M	0.31M	0.32M	0.28M
2000	1.70M	1.03M	0.72M	0.69M	0.54M	0.55M	0.41M	0.38M	0.32M	0.31M	0.32M	0.28M
2001	1.71M	1.01M	0.71M	0.69M	0.53M	0.54M	0.40M	0.38M	0.32M	0.31M	0.32M	0.28M
2002	1.71M	1.00M	0.71M	0.69M	0.53M	0.54M	0.40M	0.38M	0.32M	0.31M	0.32M	0.28M
2003	1.71M	0.99M	0.70M	0.69M	0.53M	0.53M	0.40M	0.37M	0.31M	0.30M	0.32M	0.28M
2004	1.71M	0.98M	0.69M	0.69M	0.52M	0.52M	0.40M	0.37M	0.31M	0.30M	0.32M	0.29M
2005	1.71M	0.97M	0.68M	0.68M	0.52M	0.52M	0.39M	0.37M	0.31M	0.30M	0.32M	0.29M
2006	1.71M	0.96M	0.67M	0.68M	0.52M	0.52M	0.39M	0.36M	0.31M	0.30M	0.32M	0.29M
2007	1.72M	0.96M	0.66M	0.68M	0.52M	0.51M	0.39M	0.36M	0.31M	0.30M	0.32M	0.28M
2008	1.72M	0.95M	0.66M	0.68M	0.51M	0.51M	0.39M	0.36M	0.31M	0.29M	0.32M	0.28M
2009	1.73M	0.94M	0.65M	0.67M	0.51M	0.51M	0.39M	0.35M	0.31M	0.29M	0.31M	0.28M
2010	1.74M	0.93M	0.64M	0.67M	0.51M	0.51M	0.39M	0.35M	0.31M	0.29M	0.31M	0.28M
2011	1.75M	0.93M	0.64M	0.67M	0.51M	0.51M	0.39M	0.35M	0.31M	0.29M	0.31M	0.28M
2012	1.76M	0.92M	0.63M	0.67M	0.51M	0.50M	0.39M	0.34M	0.31M	0.29M	0.31M	0.28M
2013	1.77M	0.92M	0.62M	0.67M	0.50M	0.50M	0.39M	0.34M	0.31M	0.29M	0.31M	0.28M
2014	1.78M	0.91M	0.62M	0.67M	0.50M	0.50M	0.39M	0.34M	0.31M	0.28M	0.31M	0.28M
2015	1.79M	0.91M	0.61M	0.68M	0.50M	0.50M	0.38M	0.33M	0.31M	0.28M	0.31M	0.28M
2016	1.81M	0.90M	0.61M	0.68M	0.50M	0.50M	0.38M	0.33M	0.30M	0.28M	0.31M	0.28M
2017	1.82M	0.89M	0.60M	0.68M	0.50M	0.50M	0.38M	0.33M	0.30M	0.28M	0.30M	0.28M
2018	1.83M	0.89M	0.59M	0.68M	0.50M	0.49M	0.38M	0.33M	0.30M	0.27M	0.30M	0.28M
2019	1.85M	0.88M	0.59M	0.69M	0.50M	0.49M	0.38M	0.32M	0.30M	0.27M	0.30M	0.28M
2020	1.86M	0.87M	0.58M	0.69M	0.50M	0.49M	0.38M	0.32M	0.30M	0.26M	0.30M	0.28M
2021	1.87M	0.87M	0.58M	0.69M	0.50M	0.49M	0.38M	0.32M	0.30M	0.26M	0.30M	0.29M
2022	1.87M	0.87M	0.58M	0.69M	0.50M	0.49M	0.38M	0.32M	0.30M	0.27M	0.30M	0.29M
2023	1.87M	0.87M	0.58M	0.70M	0.51M	0.49M	0.38M	0.32M	0.30M	0.27M	0.30M	0.29M
2024	1.88M	0.87M	0.58M	0.70M	0.51M	0.49M	0.38M	0.32M	0.30M	0.27M	0.30M	0.29M
2025	1.88M	0.87M	0.58M	0.70M	0.51M	0.49M	0.38M	0.32M	0.30M	0.27M	0.30M	0.29M
2026	1.88M	0.86M	0.58M	0.70M	0.51M	0.49M	0.38M	0.32M	0.30M	0.27M	0.30M	0.29M
2027	1.87M	0.85M	0.58M	0.69M	0.50M	0.49M	0.38M	0.32M	0.30M	0.27M	0.30M	0.29M
2028	1.87M	0.85M	0.58M	0.69M	0.50M	0.49M	0.38M	0.31M	0.30M	0.26M	0.30M	0.29M
2029	1.86M	0.84M	0.57M	0.69M	0.50M	0.49M	0.38M	0.31M	0.30M	0.26M	0.30M	0.29M
2030	1.85M	0.84M	0.57M	0.68M	0.50M	0.49M	0.38M	0.31M	0.30M	0.26M	0.30M	0.28M
2031	1.85M	0.83M	0.57M	0.68M	0.50M	0.49M	0.38M	0.30M	0.30M	0.26M	0.30M	0.28M
2032	1.85M	0.83M	0.57M	0.68M	0.50M	0.48M	0.38M	0.30M	0.30M	0.26M	0.30M	0.28M
2033	1.85M	0.82M	0.56M	0.68M	0.50M	0.48M	0.38M	0.29M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2034	1.84M	0.82M	0.56M	0.68M	0.50M	0.48M	0.38M	0.29M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2035	1.84M	0.81M	0.56M	0.68M	0.50M	0.48M	0.38M	0.28M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2036	1.84M	0.81M	0.56M	0.68M	0.49M	0.48M	0.38M	0.28M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2037	1.84M	0.80M	0.56M	0.67M	0.49M	0.48M	0.38M	0.28M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2038	1.83M	0.80M	0.55M	0.67M	0.49M	0.48M	0.38M	0.28M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2039	1.83M	0.79M	0.55M	0.67M	0.49M	0.47M	0.38M	0.28M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2040	1.83M	0.79M	0.55M	0.67M	0.49M	0.47M	0.37M	0.27M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2041	1.82M	0.78M	0.55M	0.67M	0.49M	0.47M	0.37M	0.27M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2042	1.82M	0.77M	0.54M	0.67M	0.49M	0.47M	0.37M	0.27M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2043	1.81M	0.77M	0.54M	0.67M	0.49M	0.47M	0.37M	0.27M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2044	1.81M	0.76M	0.54M	0.66M	0.48M	0.47M	0.37M	0.27M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2045	1.81M	0.75M	0.54M	0.66M	0.48M	0.47M	0.37M	0.26M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.28M
2046	1.80M	0.74M	0.54M	0.66M	0.48M	0.46M	0.37M	0.26M	0.29M	0.26M	0.29M	0.27M
2047	1.80M	0.73M	0.54M	0.66M	0.48M	0.46M	0.37M	0.26M	0.29M	0.25M	0.29M	0.27M
2048	1.79M	0.72M	0.53M	0.66M	0.48M	0.46M	0.37M	0.26M	0.28M	0.25M	0.29M	0.27M
2049	1.79M	0.71M	0.53M	0.65M	0.48M	0.46M	0.37M	0.26M	0.28M	0.25M	0.28M	0.27M
2050	1.78M	0.70M	0.53M	0.65M	0.48M	0.45M	0.37M	0.25M	0.28M	0.25M	0.28M	0.27M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Poland?

Warsaw is the largest city in Poland in the UN 2025 series, with about 1.88 million people. Katowice follows at 0.87 million. These figures use the UN Degree of Urbanization definition, not municipal boundaries.

Which city is projected to be largest in Poland in 2050?

The UN projects Warsaw to rank first in 2050, with about 1.78 million people. This is a projection, not an observed population count.

Was Warsaw also the largest city in 1975?

The 1975 ranking was led by Warsaw, with 1.40 million people. The table preserves every city that reached the top ten in any year shown, including cities outside the top ten today.

Where does this data come from?

UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision (File 21), city population, millions, 1975–2050 (projected after 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Cities as defined by the Degree of Urbanization (contiguous dense areas), so figures differ from city-proper or metro counts. Blank cells indicate that the source supplies no city value for that year, not zero population. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

Can I turn this chart into a video?

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