The Story Why are so many Poles returning home?
Dec 5, 2025
Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent for The Times, shares insights on Poland's economic transformation that rivals Japan's growth. He discusses important topics like household purchasing power, educational advancements, and Poland's new role as a hub for entrepreneurs. Agnes Uba, a Polish returnee, offers her personal journey of moving back and finding opportunities in a modernising Poland. Together, they explore corporate success stories and the impact of the Solidarity movement, highlighting the country's resilience and ambitions for the future.
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Poland's Living Standards Have Caught Up
- Poland's average household buying power now matches much of the UK outside London.
- IMF forecasts Poland's GDP per capita (PPP) will surpass Japan this year, then Spain and Israel soon after.
Returnee Story: From London Back To Warsaw
- Agnes Uba moved from Warsaw to London for education and work, then returned to Poland in 2018.
- She cites Brexit-driven uncertainty, cheaper housing, rising salaries, and slick digital services as reasons she came back.
Homegrown Firms Have Global Reach
- Poland now hosts globally recognised tech and logistics firms that scaled from local ideas.
- Examples include CD Projekt Red (The Witcher) and InPost, which expanded into the UK market.
