WARSAW, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Poland's population fell below 37.5 million last year, with the number of births reaching the lowest level since the end of World War II, according to a report released by the Central Statistical Office (GUS) on Thursday.

As of Dec. 31, 2024, Poland's population stood at 37.49 million, the report says, marking a decline of approximately 147,000 compared to the previous year. Only 252,000 live births were registered in 2024 -- over 20,000 fewer than in 2023 -- setting a record low for the post-war era. Meanwhile, the number of deaths exceeded 409,000, further contributing to the country's population decline.

The data underscores the ongoing demographic challenges Poland faces, and improvements that could ensure stable demographic growth are not expected in the near future. A persistently low fertility rate is expected to further reduce future birth rates, due to the shrinking number of women of reproductive age.

The combination of low fertility rates and declining birth rates, alongside increasing life expectancy, is accelerating the aging of Poland's population. This is reflected in the growing proportion of elderly citizens within the total population.

According to GUS data, in 2023 the number of people aged 80 and over surpassed 1.6 million, accounting for nearly 5 percent of the population. In 2010, this figure stood at 1.3 million, accounting for just over 3 percent, while in 2000, it was 770,000, or 2 percent. This trend indicates a steadily aging population, which poses significant economic and social challenges for the country in the years to come. Enditem

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