Almost every time I meet a Polish person for the first time, they are curious to know why an Englishman lives in Poland. Recently, I have started to think this will no longer be someone’s first question.
As a foreigner, I see the country from a different perspective. Generally, Poles seem to have a very low estimation of their country despite their fierce patriotism! They prefer to take long drives to Croatia or Italy for their holidays, and Poles ignore places of beauty closer to home. To them, it seems strange that foreigners live in Poland—and it has nothing to do with polar bears roaming the streets.
So much for Brexit Britain!
Various forecasts indicate that the United Kingdom’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita continues to grow at an average of 0.5% annually. If Poland maintains its 3.6% annual growth, it will overtake Britain by 2030, and the Poles consider their country to be poor!
Countries once considered to be ‘poor’ like Romania with 3.8%, and Hungary with 3%, these too will overtake Britain by 2040. This is a regrettable economic situation for a once powerful country which used to be the heart of a world-dominating empire.
But if the UK is no longer an attractive prospect for European migrants or even British people, does Poland offer a more attractive alternative?
Traffic congestion
A typical driver in Warsaw spends 70 hours stuck in traffic, making the Polish capital Europe’s sixth most congested city. There has been a sharp increase in congestion over the past two years, perhaps a sign of greater affluence with an increase in car ownership.
Besides these high traffic volumes, Polish roads are among the EU’s most dangerous, with a high rate of pedestrian and road fatalities. However, significant improvements have been made in recent years with tighter laws particularly related to drink diving.
Air-quality
Poland is one of the most polluted countries in the EU. According to a 2022 World Health Organization database, as many as 23 of the 50 most polluted cities are in Poland. Around 50,000 people die prematurely every year from diseases linked to air pollution, which shortens the life expectancy of the average Polish citizen by 9 months.
Places like Kraków, which is a beautiful city and very popular with tourists, tops the list of polluted cities. Similarly, Wrocław is also high on the list and Warsaw is top five.
Causes of air pollution
Most of the air pollution across Poland comes from coal used to heat homes and power the economy. Antiquated household heating systems are the main sources of particulate matter and other carcinogenic substances.
As the second largest coal-mining country in Europe, the industry remains an important part of the economy and employs many. Despite this, Katowice serves as an example to other industrial cities wanting to move away from fossil fuels. Although unemployment rose to 70%, the city has transformed, replacing lost jobs with those in new technology, the entertainment industry and culture—unemployment is now less than 1%!
As with many other countries, a major source of pollution also comes from the vehicles congesting the cities.
So, is Poland a good place to live?
In a recent EU survey of top European cities for quality living, the Baltic city of Gdańsk came in at number four. It is a place I have visited several times and the honour is well-deserved.
In general, smaller cities are perceived as better places for many reasons, including safety, availability of public spaces, healthcare, housing affordability, and local public administrations. The study found Groningen, Braga, and Gdańsk are among the best European cities for immigrants.
So, annoyingly I am often asked ‘What are you doing in Poland?’
I won’t flatter myself by saying that I predicted this, but it seems that Poland is becoming an increasingly more attractive option for those looking for an alternative place to live—especially those from the wind-swept isles on the Atlantic edge of Europe!
