Poland is experiencing a marked rise in negative attitudes toward Jews, according to new national survey data. The latest annual poll shows that 40% of Poles now express dislike toward Jews — the highest level recorded in years — while positive sentiment has fallen to its lowest point since 2006, reports The Jerusalem Post.
The findings come from Poland’s Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS), which has conducted the survey annually since 1993. The poll asks respondents whether they like or dislike 21 different national and ethnic groups, offering a long-term measure of social attitudes.
This year’s results show that the proportion of Poles expressing dislike toward Jews has increased by eight percentage points compared to last year, reaching 40%. This represents the sharpest rise recorded among all surveyed groups, alongside Americans, whose negative ratings also increased by eight points to 18%.
At the same time, positive attitudes toward Jews have dropped to just 22%, the lowest figure recorded in nearly two decades. The data indicate that pro-Jewish sentiment in Poland is now at its weakest level since 2006.
While Jews are not the most disliked group overall — that position is still held by Russians (74% expressing dislike), followed by Belarusians and Roma people — the upward trend in antisemitic sentiment is significant. Ukrainians also saw an increase in negative attitudes, rising by five points to 43%.
CBOS noted that attitudes toward nations perceived to have gained influence following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine — including Americans, English, and Ukrainians — have been deteriorating for the third consecutive year. However, the rise in negative attitudes toward Jews stands out because it does not directly correlate with geopolitical shifts in the same way.
Polish media commenting on the findings have suggested that public opinion is becoming increasingly volatile and influenced by current political narratives. The report states that “national sympathies of Poles are no longer lasting and obvious,” and are “increasingly becoming dependent on current political events and narratives present in the public debate.”
The survey results raise concerns about the broader climate of antisemitism in Poland. Although Poland today has a relatively small Jewish population compared to its pre-war history, attitudes toward Jews remain a sensitive indicator of societal tensions. Antisemitic stereotypes and conspiracy narratives — often disconnected from the reality of Jewish life in the country — continue to shape perceptions.
The data underscores a wider European pattern in which attitudes toward minority communities can shift rapidly in response to political developments and public discourse. As social cohesion becomes more fragile, hostility toward Jews often re-emerges as a barometer of deeper social and democratic challenges.
The CBOS findings will likely intensify discussion in Poland about the need for stronger education, public awareness, and monitoring efforts to counter antisemitism and prevent further deterioration of intercommunal relations.
Photo credit: KACPER PEMPEL/REUTERS
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