City profile: Suwałki

Map of Suwałki

Overview of Suwałki

Snapshot of key indicators for Suwałki in the most recent year available.

Population

69,229

people · 2021

Avg. gross salary

7.4 K PLN

2024

Unemployment rate

6.4%

% · 2025

Businesses per 10k

1,147

entities / 10k · 2025

Population density

1,036.2

ppl / km² · 2025

Apartment price / m²

6.7 K PLN / m²

2024

About - Suwałki

Suwałki, with about 69,000 residents in the north-eastern part of Podlaskie Voivodeship, is the centre of the Suwałki Region — the area with the cleanest air in Poland — close to the Lithuanian and Russian borders. Strengths are exceptional: the YOUNGEST population among powiat-status cities (old-age dependency ratio 29.0, 100th percentile), a very dense cycling network of 165.5 km per 100 km² (95th percentile), high police effectiveness of 83.1% (92nd percentile), zero road fatalities in 2024 (91st percentile), strong wage growth of 16.91% YoY (89th percentile) and a high birth rate of 7.26/1,000 (86th percentile). Forest cover of 13.3% and 61 ha of lakes complete the friendly picture. Weaknesses: only 1 cultural centre (8th percentile), low wages of PLN 7,400 gross (86% of the national average, 14th percentile), low business density of 1,137 REGON entities per 10,000 (14th percentile) and limited green-area provision of 34 m² per inhabitant. Unemployment of 6.4% is moderate. Suwałki offers an exceptional combination of young demographics, safety and clean air — ideal for families with children and those who value proximity to the Masurian and Białowieża nature.

Strengths and weaknesses of Suwałki

Strengths and weaknesses of Suwałki based on the city's position across every published Polish-city ranking.

Top 3 rankings of Suwałki

Best ranking positions of Suwałki across Poland.

Strengths

Suwałki breathes some of the cleanest air in Poland - low PM10, PM2.5 and NO₂ levels.
Cleanest air
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants): #1
Rank in Poland: #4
Stable demographic profile in Suwałki - steady population and age-structure indicators.
Most demographically stable cities
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants): #1
Rank in Poland: #6
Parking is relatively easy in Suwałki - modest parking pressure compared with peers.
Cities with the highest parking pressure
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants):

Weaknesses

Weak business conditions in Suwałki - low company density and limited new-registration activity.
Best cities to do business in
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants): #20
Rank in Poland: #63
Weak labour market in Suwałki - low salaries and limited employment opportunities.
Best labour market
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants): #20
Rank in Poland: #63
Tougher career environment for women in Suwałki than in other major Polish cities.
Best cities for women's careers
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants):

Air quality today

Brak indeksuSource: GIOŚ

The result is based on the reading from 1 monitoring station in Suwałki.

PM2.5 now

6.1 µg/m³

PM10 now

10.1 µg/m³

Last updated

05/21/2026, 10:10 PM

Demographics of Suwałki

Gender composition and demographic load on the working-age population of Suwałki based on the latest GUS data.

Gender split in Suwałki

Men33,119 · 47.8%
Women36,110 · 52.2%

Dependency ratios in Suwałki

Non-working-age dependency ratio

ppl / 100 working-age · 2025

72.4

Post- per working-age

ppl / 100 working-age · 2025

40.5

Old-age dependency ratio

% · 2025

30.4%

Population change per 1k residents

ppl / 1k · 2025

-3.9

Vital events in Suwałki

Births, deaths, marriages and natural increase in Suwałki based on GUS data.

Total deaths

627

people · 2025

Marriages

231

marriages · 2025

Births / 1k7.33 per 1k people

Deaths / 1k9.21 per 1k people

Natural increase / 1k-1.88 per 1k people

Labour market in Suwałki

Salaries in Suwałki compared with the voivodeship and national averages, alongside broader employment signals.

Salary benchmark - Suwałki

Voivodeship and Poland baselines derived from BDL ratios (Suwałki vs. voivodeship / Poland).

Registered unemployment in Suwałki

6.4%

% · 2025

Salary growth YoY

16.91%

% · 2024

Job offers at year-end in Suwałki

offers · 2025

Employed per 1k residents

291

ppl / 1k · 2021

Business activity in Suwałki

REGON registrations, deregistrations and net balance in Suwałki.

Registrations vs deregistrations - Suwałki

New businesses

465

entities · 2025

Deregistered

400

entities · 2025

New businessesDeregistered

Net change+65

REGON entities per 10k residents

1,147

entities / 10k · 2025

REGON entities per 1k working-age

197.8

entities / 1k working-age · 2025

Sole props / working-age

14.8%

% · 2025

Foreign-capital companies in Suwałki

entity · 2025

Real estate in Suwałki

Apartment prices, affordability and construction activity in Suwałki.

Apartment price / m² in Suwałki

6.7 K PLN / m²

2024

Housing affordability in Suwałki

0.91

months of salary / m² · 2024

Dwellings completed / 1k residents

3.6

dwellings / 1k people · 2025

Months of gross salary required per 1 m² of apartment in Suwałki.

Education in Suwałki

Higher-education students, graduates and preschool-age children in Suwałki based on GUS BDL data.

Higher-ed students

1,371

people · 2024

Higher-ed graduates

344

people · 2024

Preschool-age children

1,271

people · 2025

Students by gender

Women902
Men469

Transport & infrastructure in Suwałki

Registered vehicles, public roads and road infrastructure in Suwałki based on GUS BDL data.

Passenger cars

33,528

vehicles · 2024

Cars / 1k residents: 484.3

Environment and quality of life in Suwałki

Air quality, green areas and public-space quality in Suwałki.

Green areas per capita

m² / person · 2024

Municipal green areas per capita

8.6

m² / person · 2024

Parks & squares per capita

16.7

m² / person · 2024

Green-areas share of total area

3.53%

% · 2024

Air quality

· Monitoring stations: 1

Particulate matter

PM2.5 now

6.1 µg/m³

Fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs.

PM2.5 24h avg

6.18 µg/m³

PM2.5 30d avg

7.51 µg/m³

PM10 now

10.1 µg/m³

Larger airborne particles - dust, traffic and heating.

PM10 24h avg

10.87 µg/m³

PM10 30d avg

14.59 µg/m³

High PM10 days (30d)

Maximum number of days with PM10 above 50 µg/m³ at a single station.

Traffic-related pollution

Last updated: 05/21/2026, 10:10 PMSource: GIOŚ

Suwałki in numbers over time

Multi-year trajectory of the key indicators of Suwałki benchmarked against the voivodeship.

Average gross salary in Suwałki

Registered unemployment rate in Suwałki

REGON entities per 10k inhabitants - Suwałki

Population of Suwałki

Apartment price per m² in Suwałki

Suwałki in rankings

How does Suwałki rank?

Every city score is built from open data: GUS, GIOŚ, and public registries. A 0–100 score compares a city against the rest of Poland and against peers of similar population size.

Best cities to live in Poland

61.8/ 100

Rank in Poland: #3
Rank among small cities: #2

settlement year	Taxpayers (1.5%)	Total 1.5% PIT	OPPs in the city	Avg. per OPP
2025	400	59.2 K PLN	3	19.7 K PLN
2024	400	50.9 K PLN	3	17.0 K PLN
2023	300	45.3 K PLN	3	15.1 K PLN
2022	400	43.2 K PLN	3	14.4 K PLN
2021	500	48.1 K PLN	3	16.0 K PLN
2020	500	47.2 K PLN	3	15.7 K PLN
2019	600	52.8 K PLN	3	17.6 K PLN
2018	600

Indicator	Suwałki	Piotrków Trybunalski	Difference
Population	69,229	68,978	+251 +0.4%
Population density	1,036.2	973.2	+63 +6.5%
Avg. gross salary	7.4 K PLN	7.2 K PLN	+193.64 PLN +2.7%
Unemployment rate	6.4%	6%	+0.4% +6.7%
REGON / 10k	1,147	1,259	−112 −8.9%
Apartment price / m²	6.7 K PLN / m²	6.3 K PLN / m²	+427 PLN / m² +6.8%
Green areas / capita	34	36.1	−2.1 −5.8%
Housing affordability	0.91	0.87	+0.04 +4.6%

City profile: Suwałki

Overview of Suwałki

About - Suwałki

Top 3 rankings of Suwałki

Strengths

Weaknesses

Demographics of Suwałki

Gender split in Suwałki

Dependency ratios in Suwałki

Vital events in Suwałki

Labour market in Suwałki

Salary benchmark - Suwałki

Business activity in Suwałki

Registrations vs deregistrations - Suwałki

Real estate in Suwałki

Education in Suwałki

Students by gender

Transport & infrastructure in Suwałki

Environment and quality of life in Suwałki

Air quality

Particulate matter

Traffic-related pollution

Suwałki in numbers over time

Average gross salary in Suwałki

Registered unemployment rate in Suwałki

REGON entities per 10k inhabitants - Suwałki

Population of Suwałki

Apartment price per m² in Suwałki

Suwałki in rankings

Best cities to live in Poland

Cleanest air

Best cities to do business in

Best labour market

Most affordable housing relative to earnings

Greenest cities

City investment potential

Most demographically stable cities

Best cities for families

Best cities for students and education

Wealthiest cities

Safest cities

Best cities for culture

Best cities for an active lifestyle

Most tourist-attractive cities

Best weekend cities

Best cities for after-work life

Best cities for women's careers

Best cities for women

Best cities for seniors

Most peaceful cities to live in

Most bike-friendly cities

Cities with the highest parking pressure

Most innovative cities

Public-benefit organisations (OPP) and 1.5% PIT - Suwałki

Largest OPP in Suwałki

1.5% PIT history - Suwałki

Comparison - Suwałki vs another city

Percentage difference (Suwałki minus peer)

All indicators - Suwałki

Companies

Komfort Ubezpieczenia Spółka z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością

BK HOME Development Spółka z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością

Ogłodziński Group Spółka z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością

Associations

Stowarzyszenie Wytchnienie

Vojta Polska

Wspólnota Litwinów w Suwałkach

Foundations

Fundacja Ultimate GYM

Fundacja Horyzont Północy

Fundacja Komunikacji i Rozwoju

Cooperatives

Spółdzielnia Energetyczna Pessa Dubowo

Browse other city profiles

Comparison - Suwałki vs another city

Percentage difference (Suwałki minus peer)

Public-benefit organisations (OPP) and 1.5% PIT - Suwałki

Largest OPP in Suwałki

1.5% PIT history - Suwałki

Suwałki in rankings