Italians remain the most popular nationality among Poles, according to a recent public opinion survey, with Czechs and Slovaks following closely behind. The poll also indicated a decline in favorability towards Americans, potentially linked to the policies of Donald Trump, but also reflecting Poland’s own economic growth – the United States no longer holds the same aspirational appeal for many Poles.
Antipathy towards Ukrainians has been steadily increasing for three years, but Russians remain the least liked nation by those surveyed.
The survey was conducted by CBOS, one of Poland’s leading public opinion research centers. CBOS has been carrying out these types of surveys regularly for many years, using a consistent methodology that allows for trend comparisons. The current survey was carried out in January 2026.
Italians top the list with 58% positive ratings and 7% negative. Czechs came in second (55% positive), followed by Slovaks (52%, a 2 percentage point increase from last year), the English (49%), Americans (47%), and Croats (45%). Sweden, France, and the Netherlands each received 45% positive ratings. Lithuanians followed with 43%, ahead of Hungarians (41%).
What accounts for the high ranking of the Czech Republic and Slovakia
The high third-place ranking of Slovaks among nations Poles view most favorably is encouraging, as is the second-place ranking of Czechs. Notably, these sentiments are mutual. In a similar survey conducted in Slovakia in 2025 by Infostat (the Institute of Informatics and Statistics), Poland ranked third among positively perceived countries, behind the Czech Republic and Austria, and ahead of Hungary.
Contributing to these positive assessments is
