Poland will catch up with the UK within 5-6 years in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański said on February 18.

Domański thus reacted to the words of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who, speaking shortly before the minister in the Warsaw Stock Exchange building, said the country is closing the economic gap with Japan, New Zealand, Israel and Spain and argued there is no reason not to pursue even higher ambitions, now that Poland is part of the G20. 

“I am taking on the challenge of catching up with the United Kingdom within 5-6 years in GDP per capita adjusted for price levels,” Domański said.

Investment will serve as the main engine of growth in 2026 and beyond, Domański also said, setting out a wide-ranging agenda to meet the challenge.

“In the past, GDP growth in Poland relied mainly on consumption. This year we also expect consumption to remain an important driver of growth due to persistently low unemployment, rising wages and low inflation, but it is investment that will be the engine powering the Polish economy in 2026,” Domański said.

“Investment growth this year will be at least twice as high as in 2025. I believe that the estimate of over 9% ... is understated. Investment growth of around 10%, perhaps 11%, is entirely achievable this year,” Domański also said.

The minister said key investment endeavours in 2026 will include PLN200bn (€47.4bn) for defence, PLN25.2bn for roads, PLN15bn for environmental protection, including energy-saving upgrades to buildings nationwide, and PLN7.5bn for the next phase of Port Polska, a new central airport.

Domański also outlined spending PLN14bn on rail infrastructure, PLN2.4bn on the maritime economy, PLN16.2bn that local governments in 15 largest cities will spend, and PLN8bn to kick-start the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant.

Poland’s economy expanded 3.6% in 2025, accelerating from 3% growth a year earlier, preliminary data showed in early February. An expansion of similar range is widely expected in 2026.