Despite rising wages and a declining number of unreliable debtors, the latest survey from BIG InfoMonitor shows that many Poles remain financially vulnerable. While 83% of adults report having some level of savings, for one in three respondents, these funds would last no more than one month in the event of sudden income loss.
At the same time, 17% of Poles say they have no savings at all—a figure nearly unchanged from last year. Only 26% of respondents reported savings sufficient to cover more than six months of living expenses without income. Younger adults under 25 are particularly exposed, with many lacking a financial cushion.
According to Dr. Waldemar Rogowski, Chief Analyst at BIG InfoMonitor, financial security is often defined as having six months’ worth of net income saved. Based on the median Polish salary—PLN 4,645 net per month—this buffer would amount to approximately PLN 27,870. Survey results indicate that only about 40% of Poles have achieved this level of savings.
The survey also reveals significant disparities in savings levels. Approximately 28% of Poles have reserves under PLN 5,000. The largest proportion of savers—18%—report savings between PLN 10,000 and PLN 30,000. Meanwhile, 15% of respondents have accumulated more than PLN 100,000. Overall, the percentage of people with over PLN 50,000 in savings has risen from 22% in 2023 to 28% this year, while those with less than PLN 5,000 fell from 39% to 28% in the same period.
There are also notable gender differences: 46% of women hold savings between PLN 1,000 and PLN 10,000, compared to 40% of men. Men are more likely to have larger reserves, with 44% reporting savings of PLN 30,000 or more, versus 35% of women.
Despite some signs of improvement, financial strain remains for many households. Over the past six months, one in three Poles has had to use savings to cover basic living expenses. While rising incomes and falling inflation support savings growth, high costs of living and existing debts continue to limit financial flexibility.
As of May 2025, the number of unreliable debtors in Poland has decreased by more than 116,000 compared to a year earlier, and the total value of unpaid debt dropped by over PLN 194 million. However, 2.5 million consumers still owe a combined PLN 86.5 billion—an average of PLN 34,644 per person. For many with limited savings, repaying debt remains a challenge, increasing the risk of deeper financial problems.
Dr. Rogowski concluded that while the trend in savings is modestly positive, greater financial resilience will require continued progress in both income stability and household budgeting.
