Poland vs United Kingdom
Poland vs United Kingdom: Military share of state spending
Military share of state spending in 2025: 9% of government spending in Poland and 5.4% of government spending in United Kingdom, by SIPRI estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Poland, by 3.6 percentage points, or 1.66 times that in United Kingdom.
% of government spending · SIPRI
What the numbers say
- Poland has been higher since 2020, when it overtook United Kingdom.
- In 2025, Poland ranked 31 and United Kingdom ranked 69 of 150 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
% of government spending · SIPRI
| Year | Poland | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 5.4 |
| 2024 | 7.6 | 5.6 |
| 2023 | 6.9 | 4.9 |
| 2022 | 5.1 | 4.7 |
| 2021 | 5.1 | 4.5 |
| 2020 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| 2019 | 4.7 | 5.1 |
| 2018 | 4.9 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4.6 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4.7 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| 2014 | 4.5 | 5.3 |
| 2013 | 4.1 | 5.5 |
| 2012 | 4.2 | 5.6 |
| 2011 | 4.1 | 5.7 |
| 2010 | 4 | 5.8 |
| 2009 | 4 | 5.9 |
| 2008 | 4 | 6.1 |
| 2007 | 4.7 | 6.2 |
| 2006 | 4.3 | 6.2 |
| 2005 | 4.4 | 6.3 |
| 2004 | 4.3 | 6.5 |
| 2003 | 4.2 | 6.8 |
| 2002 | 4.2 | 6.9 |
| 2001 | 4.2 | 6.9 |
| 2000 | 4.2 | 7 |
| 1999 | 4.5 | 7.1 |
| 1998 | 4.6 | 7.2 |
| 1997 | 4.4 | 7.3 |
| 1996 | 3.9 | 7.6 |
| 1995 | 4.1 | 7.6 |
| 1994 | – | 8.3 |
| 1993 | – | 8.7 |
| 1992 | – | 9.4 |
| 1991 | – | 10.5 |
| 1990 | – | 10.4 |
| 1989 | – | 11 |
| 1988 | – | 11.3 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The part of everything the government spends that goes on its armed forces and defence, by SIPRI’s count.
- Source: Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Military Expenditure Database, https://doi.org/10.55163/CQGC9685.
- Ranks count the 150 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Poland vs United Kingdom
Health
- Life expectancyPoland: 78.6 years in 2023United Kingdom: 81.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalityPoland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024United Kingdom: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityPoland: 3.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Kingdom: 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterPoland: 88.9% in 2022United Kingdom: 99.8% in 2022
- DepressionPoland: 2.25% in 2017United Kingdom: 4.12% in 2017
- Suicide ratePoland: 14 per 100,000 people in 2017United Kingdom: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationPoland: 38.8 million people in 2023United Kingdom: 68.7 million people in 2023
- Population growthPoland: -0.26% a year in 2023United Kingdom: 0.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility ratePoland: 1.3 births per woman in 2023United Kingdom: 1.56 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationPoland: 60.1% in 2025United Kingdom: 83.3% in 2025
- Median agePoland: 41.3 years in 2023United Kingdom: 39.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overPoland: 19.6% in 2023United Kingdom: 19.2% in 2023
- Net migration ratePoland: -0.2 per 1,000 people in 2023United Kingdom: 6.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingPoland: 4.5% of GDP in 2025United Kingdom: 2.35% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsPoland: $42.5B in 2025United Kingdom: $88B in 2025
- Military spending per personPoland: $1,219 in 2025United Kingdom: $1,283 in 2025
- Armed forces personnelPoland: 189,000 people in 2020United Kingdom: 153,000 people in 2020
- National powerPoland: 0.52% of world capability in 2022United Kingdom: 1.25% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersPoland: 1.04% of the labour force in 2020United Kingdom: 0.45% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsPoland: 2.17 billion TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 609 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsPoland: 59 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 702 million TIV in 2025