Poland is far from perfect, but we can always learn from other countries, where they are succeeding. Poland does get lots right, and in the past few decades it has become a powerhouse in the European Union while the rest of Europe is mostly stagnating. Here are some facts from Poland:

* Poland's success, 3-3.5% 2026 GDP growth projected, is due to a combination of robust private domestic consumption, massive injections of EU development funds, low tariffs, and a highly educated, cost competitive workforce.

* With a $1 trillion+ GDP it's become a dominant economic powerhouse of Central Europe. Unlike smaller regional export-reliant neighbors, Poland has a huge internal market of 37-40 million people.

* Rising real wages, high consumer confidence and a low unemployment rate (around 2.8%) fuel high retail spending, insulating Poland from external global downturns and supply-chain shocks.

* Since joining the EU in 2004, Poland has been a beneficiary of European financing, investing billions into tangible foundational upgrades, building modern highway networks, improving rail systems and completely reshaping its logistics landscape with notable investments in digital and green energy transitions, becoming a high-tech service and engineering nucleus.

* Polish professionals are highly educated. Nearly double the OECD average for master's degrees among young adults, yet labor costs remain more attractive than in Western Europe, turning Warsaw, Kraków, and Poznań into major nearshore hubs for global tech, finance, and engineering companies. The largest sector of the economy is services (60%+ of GDP) but its leading industrial and manufacturing sectors include machinery and automotive production, food processing, chemicals, furniture manufacturing, and information technology. (IT)

* Poland's workforce has received major, high-utility talent injections, enticing many professionals to return home with valuable Western experience.

* Millions of Ukrainian refugees and regional migrants have successfully integrated into the formal labor market, alleviating labor shortages and boosting the overall tax base.

* Nearly 100% of Poland's population is legally eligible for public health insurance and medical care.

* 97-98% speak Polish.

* During its post-communist transition in the 1990s, Poland adopted strict regulatory frame policies and independent court oversight, rejected chaotic privatization models thereby preventing its domestic wealth from being captured by corrupt oligarchs, ensuring an open and fair environment for entrepreneurial risk-taking.

* During 1945-1989's communist regime, mostly Polish people migrated or returned to Poland.

* Poland has one of the lowest rates of crime, violence, and vandalism in the EU with homicide rates staying well below one per 100,000 people.

* Warsaw is the most expensive rental market at roughly $1,300/month, while major regional hubs like Kraków, Wrocław, and Gdańsk range between $800 to $870/month, and Łódź remains more affordable at about $615/month.

* The median price for a luxury home in Warsaw typically ranges $950,000 to $1.6 million, depending heavily on the exact building and district. For premium detached villas and larger high-end estates in the metropolitan area, prices frequently stretch between $3 million to $5 million.

* Poland has a long-standing housing shortage, with historical estimates putting the national deficit between 600,000 and 1.5 million units. The country deals with some of the highest overcrowding rates in the EU, averaging only 1.1 rooms per person, alongside surging property and rental prices in major urban centers.

* Approximately 60% of the population lives in urban and city areas, while about 40% lives in rural areas.

* Inflation now is around 3%. Wage growth is around 5.9% in corporate and 5.5% on average.

* Full-time employees get 20 or 26 days of paid annual leave based on their total work experience and school history, plus about 13 paid public holidays each year.

* 26% of its energy comes from solar and wind.

* And yes, Compass International Holdings has affiliates in Warsaw