The central Polish city of Łódź has earned an unexpected global distinction — ranking as the fourth most congested city in the world, according to the latest Traffic Index published by TomTom. The report, which analyzes traffic patterns in 500 cities worldwide, paints a challenging picture for commuters in Poland’s major urban centers.
With a congestion level of 72.8%, travel times in Łódź during peak hours are nearly three-quarters longer than they would be under free-flow conditions. For the average commuter, this translates into 135 hours lost annually in rush-hour gridlock — the equivalent of more than five full days spent behind the wheel.
This places Łódź just behind Dublin (72.9%) and ahead of global megacities such as Bogotá, Manila, and Lima.
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Poland Dominates Europe’s Top 10
The report highlights a broader trend: Polish cities are among the most congested in Europe. Six of them appear in the continent’s top ten:
Łódź – 2nd in Europe
Lublin – 3rd
Poznań – 4th
Wrocław – 8th
Bydgoszcz – 9th
Kraków – 10th
This concentration underscores the rapid urban growth and increasing mobility demands across Poland.
Łódź missed a spot in the global top three by just 0.1 percentage point.
The Traffic Index also reveals that traffic conditions deteriorated in most major Polish cities in 2025. The sharpest increase occurred in Szczecin, where congestion jumped by 5.5 percentage points, reaching nearly 50%. Similar rises were recorded in Bydgoszcz, Warsaw, and Katowice.
Where Travel Takes the Longest
When measuring travel time per 10 kilometers, the slowest cities in Poland are:
- Wrocław – 30 minutes
- Poznań – just over 28 minutes
- Łódź – around 26 minutes
These figures highlight the growing strain on urban infrastructure and the need for long-term mobility solutions.
Time Lost in Traffic
The report also calculates how much time drivers lose annually due to rush-hour congestion:
- Poznań – 5 days 19 hours
- Wrocław – 5 days 18 hours
- Łódź – 5 days 15 hours
For many commuters, these numbers reflect not just inconvenience but also economic and environmental costs.
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