Poland is no longer a country of emigration, but a magnet for its expatriates

For years, Polish workers left their country in search of higher wages and better opportunities. Now, with Poland growing and Germany retreating, many are turning around and coming home.

Justyna is one of them. After studying in Poland, she moved to Werne in North Rhine-Westphalia, drawn in particular by the prospect of “a higher salary.” Around two decades ago, she and her family had a house built in the Polish countryside for holidays. Today, she says they are preparing to move there to live.

Her story reflects a broader reversal. Hundreds of thousands of young Poles left post-communist Poland around the turn of the century, seeking better lives abroad. They are now returning to a country experiencing strong economic growth.

The latest public figures point in the same direction. In 2025, for the second consecutive year, Germany recorded a negative migration balance with Poland. The United Kingdom showed the same pattern, as Poland increasingly became a destination for its own diaspora.

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A higher salary