Share of workers in informal employment in Poland
Poland: Share of workers in informal employment was 8.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in informal employment in Poland, 2007–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Poland recorded 8.6% for share of workers in informal employment in 2024.
The figure is up 12.4% on the previous year and down 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Poland peaked at 18.9% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 7.7%, in 2023.
That places Poland 54th out of 82 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Share of workers in informal employment in Poland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 18.9% | — |
| 2008 | 15.9% | -15.4% |
| 2009 | 15.8% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 14.9% | -5.6% |
| 2011 | 14.4% | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 14.4% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 13.9% | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 13.5% | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 13.0% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 10.9% | -16.2% |
| 2018 | 11.1% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | -17.0% |
| 2020 | 9.4% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 10.6% | +12.8% |
| 2022 | 9.8% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 7.7% | -21.6% |
| 2024 | 8.6% | +12.4% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 8.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.4%, 3.6× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Poland's 8.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.8%, 3.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.9% | 15.8% | 18.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 12.9% | 9.2% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.2% | 7.7% | 10.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Poland
- 51 Serbia 17.8% compare
- 52 Bosnia and Herzegovina 16.6% compare
- 53 North Macedonia 11.1% compare
- 55 United Kingdom 6.5% compare
- 56 Portugal 4.7% compare
- 57 Slovakia 4.4% compare
More work & labour data for Poland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.04 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.0452 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 22,799 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 9,591 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 9,786 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,544 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 19,330 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in informal employment in Poland?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Poland was 8.6% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 2007.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.7% in 2023.
- How does Poland rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Poland ranks 54th out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Poland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed people working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.