Poland’s armed forces reached 217,075 soldiers on January 1, 2026, despite high attrition rates among younger personnel.
Personnel Strength and Growth
As of January 1, 2026, the personnel strength of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland totaled exactly 217,075 soldiers. This includes professional soldiers, territorial defense soldiers, and individuals performing other forms of military service. This high level of strength is directly related to the accelerated development of the army after the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the implementation of the Homeland Defense Act, which assumes increasing the personnel potential to up to 300,000 soldiers in the coming years.
Record Retention Rates
A key indicator of army stability is the retention level, which reached 94.53% in 2025, the highest since 2000. This confirms the effectiveness of recent reforms including salary increases, motivational allowances, and expanded social benefits. In recent years, the Ministry of Defense has increased allowances for long service, introduced new housing benefits, and simplified promotion procedures.
Average Age and Operational Readiness
The average age of a Polish soldier is currently 35 years, meaning a significant portion of the force is in its most effective service age, which is crucial for the country’s operational readiness and defensive capabilities.
Young Soldier Attrition
Despite the record retention levels, 46% of soldiers leaving professional military service in 2025 did not yet have pension entitlements. Nearly half of these departures occur within the first five years of service, representing a loss of trained personnel in which the state has invested significant resources.
International Comparison
This attrition challenge is not unique to Poland, as similar patterns are observed in other NATO countries where young soldiers often move to civilian security, logistics, or technology sectors. However, Poland sees a relatively high percentage of resignations at the very early stages of military careers.
Officer Shortage
Officers currently constitute only 12.6% of Poland’s military personnel, compared to approximately 20% in most NATO countries. This shortage directly impacts the command system, training, and development of military units, as officers are responsible for strategic planning, personnel management, and technology implementation.
Modernization Efforts
To address these challenges, Poland has increased places in military academies and expanded training programs for non-commissioned officers seeking officer commissions. The country is also implementing one of Europe’s largest arms programs, including Abrams and K2 tanks, Patriot systems, HIMARS launchers, F-35 aircraft, and Apache helicopters.
Social Structure and Support
Nearly half of Polish soldiers are married, and 44% have at least one child, with a total of 168,701 children growing up in military families. Family stability is considered crucial for retention, prompting the military to develop support systems including psychological help, social assistance, and relocation benefits, along with increased availability of service housing.
Regional Security Context
Poland’s military expansion is directly tied to growing security threats in the region. As a key player on NATO’s eastern flank responsible for deterring potential aggression, Poland must maintain high-quality personnel through strengthened motivation systems, career development paths, and improved service conditions, especially for younger soldiers.
