Poland Near Bottom of EU Rankings for Expected Working Lifetime

Poland is projected to have one of the shortest expected working lives in the European Union. A report based on Eurostat data shows that a Polish person who turns 15 in 2025 will work for an average of 36 years, compared with the EU average of 37.5 years. Only Romania, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Belgium and Luxembourg have shorter projected working spans.

The study notes a modest upward trend: from 2015 to 2025 the expected working lifetime in Poland rose by 3.3 years, outpacing the EU average increase of 2.7 years. Hungary and the Netherlands led the region in extending working careers, with gains of about five and four years respectively. Despite relatively high health expectancy, Polish workers retire earlier than many Western counterparts, a paradox that coexists with the country’s strong productivity and economic growth.

Analysts highlight that longer life expectancy does not automatically translate into longer employment, pointing to differences in labour‑market flexibility and retirement practices across Europe.