2.2.2.1 GROUPS COVERED BY ADMINISTRATIVE DATA
Information provided by the Ministry of Digital Affairs indicates that there are 1,376 (2019)
persons registered in the PESEL register as stateless.39 The Office for Foreigners confirmed that the
data as to persons of unknown nationality and stateless persons for statistical purposes is entered
based on the Eurostat definitions.
Data presented by the Office for Foreigners put the total number of “stateless persons” and of
persons of “unknown nationality” holding a valid residence permit as of 30 June 2016 at 510, out of
which 467 persons were registered as stateless, while 43 persons are of unknown nationality. Out
of this number, 151 persons (nearly 30%) originate from one of the 15 former Soviet Republics,40
while the origin of 90 persons (nearly 18%) is unknown. Interestingly, 60 persons (nearly 12%) are
of Polish origin.41 The below lists the statistics relating to stateless persons and persons of unknown
nationality per year, definition applied and origin, which refers to the potential background of the
individual.
Statistics for 201642
Per definition applied by the authorities
Stateless persons
Persons of unknown nationality
Total
467
43
510
Per origin
Former Soviet Republics
Poland
Unknown
Other
Total
151
60
90
209
510
As of December 2018, statistics published by the Office for Foreigners put the total number of
“stateless persons” and of persons of “unknown nationality” holding a valid residence permit at 435
out of which 390 persons were registered as stateless, while 45 persons are of unknown nationality.
In 2017 these numbers, respectively, were: 391 stateless persons and 41 persons of unknown
nationality, making a total of 432. No information about the origin of these persons is available.
39
Answer to an enquiry of Halina Nieć Legal Aid Center from 7 November 2016 (statistics: 30 June 2016).
40
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine,
Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
41
Polish language distinguishes between three terms: citizenship (obywatelstwo) – understood as a legal concept, a formal
bond between a person and the State; nationality (narodowość) – that could be explained with reference to the Law on
repatriation and the Pole’s Card by descent (Polish ancestors) and cultural affiliation; and, thirdly, origin (pochodzenie)
that may be defined with reference to a place of birth.
42
Information received from the Office for Foreigners.
UNHCR POLAND, SEPTEMBER 2019
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