The Sunday Times Reports: Poland’s GDP Growth Brings It Close to the UK
The Sunday Times Reports: Poland’s GDP Growth Brings It Close to the UK
October 20, 2025
The latest article from The Sunday Times, “Poland is nearly as rich as the UK. How has it caught up so fast?” reports that Poland has almost closed the economic gap with the United Kingdom. The country’s GDP per capita has reached around 81% of Britain’s, up from just 36% in 1995 — a remarkable transformation for a nation once viewed as the archetype of post-communist “catch-up growth.”
Since 2019, Poland’s real GDP per capita has grown by nearly 18%, while the UK’s has increased by less than 1% over the same period. That surge has pushed Poland into the world’s top 20 economies, surpassing Switzerland in nominal GDP earlier this year.
Poland’s Regions Overtaking Parts of Britain
The author of the article, Tom Calver, highlights that several Polish regions are now wealthier than some parts of the UK. Warsaw’s metropolitan area boasts a GDP per capita of around €67,000, second only to Central London, while Poland’s southern region of Lower Silesia has overtaken Greater Manchester.
According to EU data cited by The Sunday Times, 12 of Poland’s 17 regions are now richer than West Wales.
How Did Poland Catch Up So Quickly?
Experts point to a mix of economic reform, EU integration, and long-term investment vision:
Post-communist market reforms laid the foundation for rapid growth through privatization and foreign investment.
EU membership, while keeping the national currency (the złoty), allowed Poland to access European markets and structural funds while maintaining monetary flexibility.
Public investment in infrastructure and technology has paid off: Poland now enjoys faster mobile internet, cheaper electricity, and more high-speed rail than the UK.
Targeted policies for young workers, including lower taxes for those under 26, have helped reverse the brain drain that once sent Poland’s best talent westward.
Strong manufacturing and tech sectors have made Poland a European innovation hub rather than just an outsourcing destination.
A Role Reversal for Britain?
The newspaper analysis suggests that while Poland has spent three decades catching up, it may now be the UK’s turn to learn from its eastern neighbor.
They also cited Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, who said during a party conference last week: “Fifteen years ago, Polish workers came here to find opportunity. Now Poland is growing twice as fast as we are.”
Poland’s Talent and Tech
As Tom Calver concludes in The Sunday Times, it’s Britain that now needs to catch up with Poland. Especially in how we think about tech talent. Poland now has over 40,000 IT professionals, and its major cities — Kraków, Wrocław, and Warsaw — have become vibrant hubs for startups and tech scale-ups, no longer merely centers for outsourced development.
Following the publication of Calver’s article, entrepreneurs and executives across Europe weighed in to share their experiences:
“When I left Poland, the pattern was clear: brightest graduates headed West. Now? Many stay, and some return. The tech talent advantage is real.”.
One of the UK-based CTOs added:
“I’ve been working with Polish colleagues for 8 years now and I fully agree the gap has closed massively. I regularly interact with excellent engineers, developers and subject matter experts who are keen to proactively engage and own issues with keen insight into technology.”
“It’s time global companies recognised Poland for what it is – a mature, high-growth European market not an emerging one. The pace of transformation, talent quality and economic resilience are remarkable.”
A Turning Point in Europe
Poland’s story is no longer one of catching up; it’s one of leadership in certain areas of innovation and growth. While the UK continues to benefit from London’s financial ecosystem, world-class universities, and deep capital markets, the momentum is shifting.
Poland’s combination of agility, affordability, and strategic long-term vision demonstrates how quickly an economy once considered emerging can reshape the balance of prosperity across Europe.
The Sunday Times Reports: Poland’s GDP Growth Brings It Close to the UK
The latest article from The Sunday Times, “Poland is nearly as rich as the UK. How has it caught up so fast?” reports that Poland has almost closed the economic gap with the United Kingdom. The country’s GDP per capita has reached around 81% of Britain’s, up from just 36% in 1995 — a remarkable transformation for a nation once viewed as the archetype of post-communist “catch-up growth.”
Since 2019, Poland’s real GDP per capita has grown by nearly 18%, while the UK’s has increased by less than 1% over the same period. That surge has pushed Poland into the world’s top 20 economies, surpassing Switzerland in nominal GDP earlier this year.
Poland’s Regions Overtaking Parts of Britain
The author of the article, Tom Calver, highlights that several Polish regions are now wealthier than some parts of the UK. Warsaw’s metropolitan area boasts a GDP per capita of around €67,000, second only to Central London, while Poland’s southern region of Lower Silesia has overtaken Greater Manchester.
According to EU data cited by The Sunday Times, 12 of Poland’s 17 regions are now richer than West Wales.
How Did Poland Catch Up So Quickly?
Experts point to a mix of economic reform, EU integration, and long-term investment vision:
A Role Reversal for Britain?
The newspaper analysis suggests that while Poland has spent three decades catching up, it may now be the UK’s turn to learn from its eastern neighbor.
They also cited Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, who said during a party conference last week: “Fifteen years ago, Polish workers came here to find opportunity. Now Poland is growing twice as fast as we are.”
Poland’s Talent and Tech
As Tom Calver concludes in The Sunday Times, it’s Britain that now needs to catch up with Poland. Especially in how we think about tech talent. Poland now has over 40,000 IT professionals, and its major cities — Kraków, Wrocław, and Warsaw — have become vibrant hubs for startups and tech scale-ups, no longer merely centers for outsourced development.
Following the publication of Calver’s article, entrepreneurs and executives across Europe weighed in to share their experiences:
One of the UK-based CTOs added:
As another reader summed it up perfectly:
A Turning Point in Europe
Poland’s story is no longer one of catching up; it’s one of leadership in certain areas of innovation and growth. While the UK continues to benefit from London’s financial ecosystem, world-class universities, and deep capital markets, the momentum is shifting.
Poland’s combination of agility, affordability, and strategic long-term vision demonstrates how quickly an economy once considered emerging can reshape the balance of prosperity across Europe.
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Read a Full Article: wwwthetimes.com
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