Poland Cities by Population 2024

An important link between eastern and western Europe, Poland has a long and fascinating, although at times troubled, history. Its invasion by Germany in 1939 marked the start of World War II, and the impact of the war was devastating, not least for its capital city of Warsaw. The most populous city in in the country, Warsaw has almost 1.8 million residents and a population of over three million in its metropolitan area. The city's historic Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its preservation is all the more impressive given that 85% of Warsaw was destroyed in World War II and the city was almost completely rebuilt. Today, Warsaw is a vibrant and diverse city and a highly popular tourist destination.

Kraków, located in the south of the country on the Vistula River, is the second-largest city in Poland. It is also one of the oldest cities in the country, dating back to the seventh century. Kraków has a population of 760,000, although approximately eight million people live within 100 kilometers of its center. The city is known for its artistic and cultural heritage – it was named European Capital of Culture in 2000, and became a UNESCO City of Literature in 2013. Łódź is the third-largest city in Poland almost 700,000 residents. The city is a former industrial hub, but today is known for its creative output, particularly its National Film School. In 2017, it became part of the the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and was named UNESCO City of Film.