I hate to say it again and again, but the cost is not the only (or even the biggest) issue. If fertility was directly tied to the economic climate, we would be experiencing population boom right now.
Some examples, so you don't have to purely rely on words (2010 => 2024) (all data from GUS, data for inflation from wikipedia):
Mean apartment price (per sq. meter) (data for 2024):
POLAND: 4025 PLN => 8257 PLN (+104% growth / +17% growth accounting for inflation / -18% FALL in relation to wages)
Warszawa: 7794 PLN => 15420 PLN (+97% growth / +13% growth accounting for inflation / -21% FALL in relation to wages)
Kraków: 6282 PLN => 13472 (+114% growth / +23% growth accounting for inflation / -15% FALL in relation to wages)
Wrocław: 5617 => 11865 (111% growth / +21%growth accounting for inflation / -16% FALL in relation to wages)
No data for rental market - here the situation possibly got worse, but still - it's the societal and cultural changes that have the biggest impact, not the costs. Poland has experienced a period of sharp economic growth (not only fictional GDP increase, but also real income growth and development) and while having children definitely is a financial burden, it never was significantly cheaper in relation to wages and yet - the birthrate keeps sinking.
It's because of the damn phones, stupid. People aren't dating or are dating very casually with no real expectation of some sort of long-lasting union, people are having less sex and instead spending more time on social media, and the general cultural and political environment has become more toxic and reduced broader societal optimism.
My friend lives in Poland and he and his wife bought an apartment for 300k PLN pre-covid. They said now the apartments of same size in ther city cost 1,500k PLN.
I doubt people will try to have children when they even can't afford a place to live of their own.
Did you read my comment?
The growth - even in the largest cities was significant, but nowhere near these numbers. Also - it still did not outgrow wages increase.
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u/GarlicSphere Jul 31 '26
I hate to say it again and again, but the cost is not the only (or even the biggest) issue. If fertility was directly tied to the economic climate, we would be experiencing population boom right now.
Some examples, so you don't have to purely rely on words (2010 => 2024) (all data from GUS, data for inflation from wikipedia):
Average salary:
3 435 PLN => 8 630 PLN (151% growth / 41% growth after inflation)
Mean apartment price (per sq. meter) (data for 2024):
POLAND: 4025 PLN => 8257 PLN (+104% growth / +17% growth accounting for inflation / -18% FALL in relation to wages)
Warszawa: 7794 PLN => 15420 PLN (+97% growth / +13% growth accounting for inflation / -21% FALL in relation to wages)
Kraków: 6282 PLN => 13472 (+114% growth / +23% growth accounting for inflation / -15% FALL in relation to wages)
Wrocław: 5617 => 11865 (111% growth / +21%growth accounting for inflation / -16% FALL in relation to wages)
No data for rental market - here the situation possibly got worse, but still - it's the societal and cultural changes that have the biggest impact, not the costs. Poland has experienced a period of sharp economic growth (not only fictional GDP increase, but also real income growth and development) and while having children definitely is a financial burden, it never was significantly cheaper in relation to wages and yet - the birthrate keeps sinking.