Warsaw, Poland – Rob Turner, a 43-year-old Australian entrepreneur, describes life in the Polish capital as 'amazing'. He's not alone in his praise – Poland is one of the few European countries to buck the economic trend.

Sitting in a comfortable booth at The Exchange Bar and Grill in central Warsaw on a warm Saturday night, Turner puts his beer on the table and continues, 'It's a beautiful city, it's very safe, it's very clean, it's very modern. I can live here very easily. The lifestyle is great. And there are opportunities here if you're willing to work hard and try to do something above and beyond the norm.'

Turner, who raised in Adelaide, has been in Poland for seven years and expects to stay for many more. Justin Lestal, a 35-year-old Sydney native, is another owner of the bar. He attributes Poland's economic success to its pro-business environment and entrepreneurial culture.

'It's just a country where there's a lot of opportunity,' Lestal says, 'I had no business background when I came to Poland, and it's just something that grew on me.'

Poland's economic rise is evident in its infrastructure, GDP, and cost of living. Unemployment stands at just 3.1%, below the Australian rate of 4.4%. Government debt is about 60% of GDP and is likely to rise to 68% over the next two years, but it is lower than the levels in Britain and France.

The numbers tell the story – and they highlight what growth means for the future. They also hint at the implications for Australia when it seeks out allies in Europe. Poland's per capita GDP expanded by 209% from 1990 to 2023, according to the Polish Economic Institute.

Poland's economic numbers:

* Economic output per person expanded by 209% from 1990 to 2023 * Per capita GDP was 41% of the European Union average in 1990, but is now higher than 81% * GDP growth rate of 3.6% in 2025 * Unemployment rate of 3.1%

The country's past three decades have delivered faster growth than most other countries, except China. Michał Baranowski, undersecretary of state at the country's Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, says, 'If you look at the bigger picture of the last 35 years, we've had faster growth in Poland than in most other countries except China.'

Poland's economic rise has been driven by its stable democracy and membership in the European Union. The country avoided the Moscow model of transferring economic power to oligarchs or centralising political power in a strongman. It also gained access to millions of customers through its EU membership.

The old parlour game of naming the 'sick man of Europe' is easy when there are so many countries in trouble. Poland, however, is in rude health, with a strong economy and a growing reputation as a business destination.