Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Total usually resident population for the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council.
3.2. Classification system
Not applicable.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Total usually resident population at national level.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Usually resident population is prepared for the reference date - end of the reference period (31 December). Usually Resident Population according to the definition in Regulation (EC) 1260/2013 - Polish residents are all personswho reside or intend to reside in Poland for 12 months and more. It means that:
persons (registered for permanent residence in Poland) staying or intend to stay abroad for a period 12 months andmore are excluded,
immigrants staying or intend to stay in Poland for a period 12 months and more are included.
3.5. Statistical unit
Person.
3.6. Statistical population
Not applicable.
3.7. Reference area
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The usually resident population is available starting with 31 December 2010.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Person.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Not applicable.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Not applicable.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable.
8.1. Release calendar
The usually resident population is available in Poland in June.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable.
Annual.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not applicable.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not applicable.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
For more information, see the annex sheet 10.6.1.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not applicable.
11.1. Quality assurance
Set of data on population do not include duplicated and inconsistent records. Correctness of data on births, deaths, andmigration is guaranteed by Civil Status Offices and registration offices in gminas. Additionally it is controlled by Statistics Poland.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
1. Nationals
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with national citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
2. EEA Citizens
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with EEA citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
3. NON-EEA Citizens
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with non-EEA foreign citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Data requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable.
12.3. Completeness
Data transmitted as requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Usually resident population data are preparing according to Regulation 1260/2013. Number of usual residence populations smaller than number of population established according to national definition - used so far (37484 and 37489 respectively).
Persons under temporary protection from Ukraine were added to the usual resident population.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
For the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data on the total population at national level at the reference time, in accordance with Article 2 ( c ), within eight months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The total usual residence population transmitted by the national statistical offices to Eurostat in the framework of the Usual Residence Population data collection may differ from those available in National Accounts, Labour Force Survey or in the survey on Income and Living Conditions. The difference is given by the population coverage (see metadata specific to each domain).
15.4. Coherence - internal
The total usual residence population transmitted by the national statistical offices to Eurostat in the framework of the Usual Residence Population data collection may differ from those available in the rest of the Demographic domain. The difference is given by the population definition (see metadata specific to each domain).
Not applicable.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
Source data: Results of the 2021 Population Census, Vital and Migration Statistics - official administrative data.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Population Census - every 10 years; Migrations statistics - semiannually; Vital statistics (births and deaths) – semiannually.
18.3. Data collection
Data are collected in electronic form from: census data, PESEL Register, local registered offices in gminas and Civil Status Offices (USC). Individual data on vital and migration facts are collected. Obligation to transfer data to Statistics Poland is regulated by annual programme of statistical surveys of official statistics - passed by the Council of Ministers.
18.4. Data validation
Data are based on census and updated by vital and migration statistics. Checks on duplication of records and inconsistentrecord are implemented.
18.5. Data compilation
Sets of individual data on births, deaths, migration for permanent residence, migration for temporary stay for 12 monthsand more are processing separately. Migration for 12 months and more are obtained from the survey on migration fortemporary stay on the basis of declared period of stay (data are provided by gminas). The balance method uses numbers offacts in pointed above sets of data.
18.6. Adjustment
Basic differences between population established according to national definition and usual resident definition is that forusual residents the long term migrants (12 months and more) not only migrants for permanent residence were taken intoaccount. Taking into consideration this migration affects the number of population. Number of usual residence populationis smaller than number of population calculated by national definition.
Calculation of the population estimate according to national definition is as follow: Size of population at the beginning of period + live births - deaths + registrations for permanent residence from abroad - de-registrations from permanent residence abroad = size of population at the end of period
Number of Polish population according to national definition as of December 31, 2024 amounted to 37.5 million.
According to the usual resident population definition: Size of population at the beginning of period + live births - deaths + registrations for permanent residence from abroad - de-registrations from permanent residence abroad + registrations for temporary stay for 12 months and more from abroad - departures for temporary stay abroad for the period of 12 months and more + persons from Ukraine granted temporary protection = size of population at the end of period
Number of Polish usual residents as of December 31, 2024 amounted to 36.5 milion.
Total usually resident population for the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council.
25 August 2025
Usually resident population is prepared for the reference date - end of the reference period (31 December). Usually Resident Population according to the definition in Regulation (EC) 1260/2013 - Polish residents are all personswho reside or intend to reside in Poland for 12 months and more. It means that:
persons (registered for permanent residence in Poland) staying or intend to stay abroad for a period 12 months andmore are excluded,
immigrants staying or intend to stay in Poland for a period 12 months and more are included.
Person.
Not applicable.
Data are available at national level of geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
Usually resident population data are preparing according to Regulation 1260/2013. Number of usual residence populations smaller than number of population established according to national definition - used so far (37484 and 37489 respectively).
Persons under temporary protection from Ukraine were added to the usual resident population.
Person.
Sets of individual data on births, deaths, migration for permanent residence, migration for temporary stay for 12 monthsand more are processing separately. Migration for 12 months and more are obtained from the survey on migration fortemporary stay on the basis of declared period of stay (data are provided by gminas). The balance method uses numbers offacts in pointed above sets of data.
Source data: Results of the 2021 Population Census, Vital and Migration Statistics - official administrative data.
Annual.
For the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data on the total population at national level at the reference time, in accordance with Article 2 ( c ), within eight months of the end of the reference year.
