Almost half of Poles claim to be familiar with poor people: 21% know one or two such individuals (families), and 27% know a larger number of such persons. Moreover, three in one hundred respondents (3%) define themselves as poor. Compared to the previous measurement from 2017, there has been a clear decrease in the percentage of respondents knowing poor individuals or families (from 62% to 48%). Currently, this indicator is at its lowest point in the history of our research.

Do you know, e.g. in your neighbourhood, or by sight, a really poor person or family?

We were also interested in Poles' views on the scale of poverty in Poland. We asked them to estimate how many poor people there are per one hundred residents of Poland. The largest part believe they constitute no more than 10% of the population (33% of respondents think so). One in five respondents (20%) believe they make up 11% to 25%, and a similar group (21%) think they make up 26% to 50%. Very few (4%) express the view that over half of Poles can be classified as poor. Compared to 2017, these estimates are more optimistic and consistent with the responses to the previously discussed question, confirming a decrease in the perceived scale of poverty in society.

How do you estimate, how many poor people are per 100 residents of Poland?*

More than half of respondents (53%) believe that in the next few years, there will be more truly poor people in Poland, and only 11% believe there will be fewer. Compared to the previous measurement, which was the most optimistic to date, we have noted significantly more concerns regarding the increase in the number of poor people in the coming years (from 29% to 53%). Such a large increase in pessimism in 2025 can be explained by opinions about the economic situation in Poland, which in 2017—both in terms of assessments and forecasts—were better than now, as well as the memory of high inflation, which in 2022 and 2023 reached its highest level since the late 1990s.

Do you think that in the next few years, there will be:

Currently, for the first time in the history of our research, Poles recognize life ineptitude and helplessness in dealing with matters (56%) as the main factor leading to poverty, followed by laziness and reluctance to work (51%). In 2017, the order of these indications was reversed. In all previous measurements, unemployment and lack of work took the top position. With improvements in the labour market and declining unemployment, this factor has lost significance and is currently indicated by less than one in four respondents (24%). Poles attribute greater importance to alcoholism (48%) and illness and disability (48%) in perpetuating poverty. According to one in five respondents, low pensions and allowances contribute to the inability to escape poverty (21%), while a smaller group believes that lack of education or professional qualifications (15%) play a role. Much less frequent among the indicated causes leading to poverty were: lack of support from the state (8%), family (6%), and least of all, lack of luck and blind fate (3%).