Warsaw's 2026 population is now estimated at 1,863,578.In 1980, the population of Warsaw was 1,596,100.Warsaw has grown by 660 in the last year, which represents a 0.04% annual change.These population values and projections come from Poland city series 1980-2023 via CityPopulation official attribution and World Population Review Internal Projections.
Described by many visitors as the Paris of the East due to its remarkable beauty, Warsaw is not your average city. Poland’s capital has a truly rich history of culture and repeated restorations - showing the strength of the city. Through the uprising in the Warsaw ghetto of 1943 and the ravages of WWII, the city fell to ruin for many years. Since brought back to life, Warsaw is now known as Phoenix City due to its reconstruction. The city is now one of the most popular Polish cities for both visitors as well as residents.
The population of Warsaw is quite high as it is one of the largest cities in Poland. There are 1.7 million people who call the area of 517,24 sq. km home. The city, however, is not just about the residents. It is the history and beauty of the city that draws in 8.3 million tourists annually. Of that number, 2.8 million are foreign tourists from countries throughout the world. The city boasts 83 hotels and 54 youth hostels to house the growing number of tourists coming annually to Warsaw. To entertain them all, Warsaw has, apart from the standard historical attractions, 63 museums, 79 parks, 28 cinemas, and 56 theaters and musical venues within the city. That is quite impressive for any city, even one as large as Warsaw.
The city proper of Warsaw covers a surface area of 517.24 km² (199.71 sq mi). The metropolitan area sprawls outward to a total of 6,100.43 km² (2,355.39 sq mi). The population density of the city is approximately 3,372 residents per square kilometer (8,730/sq mi).
For both tourists as well as residents of Warsaw, transportation can be a bit of a challenge. To manage the growing population, the Warsaw government is constantly working to improve public transportation within the city. The streets can be crowded and driving a personal vehicle can be very slow; therefore, the majority of the population uses public transportation. Unlike other cities that simply use a complex system of buses, Warsaw has a wide range of transportation options. There are 251 buses within the city, but riders can also choose from 25 train lines, two metro lines, and even four rapid rail lines to get to their destinations. Apart from public transportation, Warsaw boasts a staggering 446km of biking trails throughout the city.
Every city in the world has something unique about it and Warsaw is certainly no exception. Despite its colorful history of having been invaded numerous times by various nations, Warsaw has kept a truly unique spirit.
One of the most unique aspects of the city stems from the belief that some of the most revolutionary ideas come to children.
It also has the longest bridge in the world: the Siekierkrowski Bridge spans over 826 meters stretching across the Vistula River.
The most notable symbol within Warsaw is the mermaid. It is the symbol represented on the crest of the city that reminds people to look for new possibilities within the most congested city in Europe.
City | 2026 Pop.↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Warsaw | 1,863,578 | 0.04% |
| Krakow | 814,595 | 0.35% |
| Wroclaw | 674,966 | 0.06% |
| Lodz | 625,040 | -1.4% |
| Poznan | 526,051 | -0.77% |
| Gdansk | 489,402 | 0.14% |
| Szczecin | 378,651 | -0.9% |
| Lublin | 322,037 | -0.77% |
| Bydgoszcz | 310,283 | -1.68% |
| Bialystok | 287,899 | -0.43% |
| Katowice | 269,687 | -1.15% |
| Gdynia | 235,264 | -0.83% |
| Rzeszow | 199,382 | 0.36% |
| Czestochowa | 195,708 | -1.69% |
| Torun | 189,634 | -0.89% |
| Radom | 187,901 | -1.4% |
| Sosnowiec | 177,710 | -1.7% |
| Kielce | 175,608 | -1.24% |
| Gliwice | 163,944 | -1.19% |
| Olsztyn | 163,033 | -0.86% |
