Map Of Polish Descendants & Diaspora Worldwide

Map created by Maps.InterludeThe map above shows the number of people who can claim Polish ancestry worldwide by country, plus Poles who have more recently emigrated from Poland.

There are around 20 million people of Polish ancestry living outside Poland today, compared to Poland’s current population of around 38 million.

Here are some estimates by country (note estimates differ somewhat from the map above)

Country	Population
United States	9,569,207
Germany	3,000,000
Argentina	2,000,000
Brazil	1,800,000
Canada	1,010,705
France	1,000,000
United Kingdom	815,000
Belarus	300,000
Netherlands	215,000
Australia	209,284
Lithuania	200,317
Ukraine	144,130
Ireland	122,585
Norway	119,000
Sweden	110,212
Belgium	98,000
Italy	87,000
Russia	73,000
Spain	69,353
Austria	65,000
Latvia	51,548
Chile	45,000
Switzerland	39,000
Czech Republic	38,218
Czechia	38,000
South Africa	25,000
Ghana	24,999
Serbia	23,000
Iceland	18,508
Greece	16,000
Mexico	15,000
Hungary	6,900
Slovakia	6,400
Denmark	5,000
Kazakhstan	5,000
Lebanon	5,000
Cyprus	5,000
Venezuela	4,500
Finland	3,800
Azerbaijan	3,700
Uzbekistan	3,600
Uruguay	3,400
New Zealand	2,871
Paraguay	2,700
Romania	2,100
Estonia	1,700
Moldova	1,400
Georgia	1,300
Turkmenistan	900
Bulgaria	700
Croatia	600

Here’s more about the 8 largest groups:

1. United States

Historical waves:
- Late 19th–early 20th century: Economic hardships under partitions (by Russia, Prussia, Austria-Hungary) led to mass immigration, settling primarily in industrial cities such as Chicago, Detroit, New York, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.
- Post-World War II: Immigration from displaced persons fleeing communist rule.
- 1980s and later: Smaller waves fleeing martial law and later economic migrants post-1989.
Culture: Vibrant cultural life with Polish-American communities preserving customs, language, churches, cuisine, festivals, notably Pulaski Day and celebrations of Polish Constitution Day.

2. Germany

Historical context:
- Long-standing historical presence due to shared borders, partitions, and shifting territories, especially Silesia, Pomerania, and East Prussia.
- Significant influx occurred after Poland joined the EU in 2004, with many younger Poles migrating for economic opportunities.
Characteristics: Poles in Germany maintain strong economic and cultural ties with Poland, frequently traveling back and forth.

3. Brazil

Historical waves:
- Primarily late 19th and early 20th centuries, encouraged by the Brazilian government to colonize the southern states (Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul).
Culture: Strong cultural preservation in southern Brazil, particularly in Curitiba, with festivals, Polish folk dance groups, Polish cuisine, and traditional villages like Nova Polônia.

4. Argentina

Historical context:
- Major immigration waves between 1890–1939, settling primarily in Buenos Aires, Misiones, and Córdoba.
- Many were economic migrants and political refugees fleeing Europe.
Culture: Polish clubs, associations, Catholic parishes, and cultural festivals remain active, though assimilation has diluted Polish language usage over generations.

5. Canada

Historical waves:
- Early settlement began in the late 19th century, mainly agricultural communities in Western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta).
- Post-WWII immigrants included Polish veterans and displaced persons escaping communist rule.
- Immigration continued steadily through the late 20th century and early 21st century.
Culture: Rich cultural heritage preserved through Polish community centers, bilingual schools, Catholic churches, newspapers, and events in Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver.

6. France

Historical context:
- Major influx during the interwar period (1920–1939), as Poles migrated to industrial and mining regions in northern France, notably Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Lorraine.
- Post-WWII waves included refugees from communism.
Characteristics: Polish heritage still visible in French cities through Polish associations, cultural festivals, churches, and traditional organizations; however, many descendants have fully assimilated into French culture.

7. United Kingdom

Historical context:
- World War II-era migrants included soldiers and refugees.
- Major recent wave occurred post-2004 when Poland joined the EU, especially between 2004–2010, seeking economic opportunities.
Characteristics: Polish community is prominent, especially in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Northern Ireland. Active Polish-language media, churches, stores, cultural events, and significant impact on local economy and culture.

8. Belarus

Historical context:
- Belarus historically contained significant Polish populations due to shared history in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
- Post-WWII borders left substantial Polish communities in the Grodno region.
Culture: Despite challenges (political tensions, limitations on Polish schools and institutions), Poles in Belarus maintain strong cultural identity through the Catholic Church, education in Polish language, and traditional celebrations. However, cultural activities are often subject to political constraints from the Belarusian government.

Also see:

Other Diaspora Maps in the series: