Population change and the settlement system transformation in Poland, as revealed by the 2021 census

This article aims to analyse current geodemographic changes in Poland, based on the data of 2021 National Population and Housing Census. Methods, traditional for socioeconomic geography, such as zoning, were employed. Poland’s population decreased during inter-­census period (2011—2021), with urban declining faster than its rural counterpart. The large voivodeships aligned along Vistula ‘axis’ — Mazowiecka, Lesser Poland Pomerania outperform other Polish regions terms. situation is relatively favourable Greater where country’s main motorways converge. Districts more vulnerable can be divided into two groups: depressed backward. first one includes traditionally industrial Southern Central Poland; second mainly consists eastern voivodeships. decline Eastern gathering pace: census shows, a or less observed only cities their environs. state affairs largely due government deliberately halting cooperation Russia Belarus, including cross-­border collaborations. Yet, this decision seems create problems neighbours. If trends persist, voivodeships, stronghold right-wing conservatives power, may not rapidly lose but also face reduction level development.