Delimitacja gmin i MOF oraz wybrane dane jakościowe i statystyczne : tabela

Śleszyński, Przemysław

doi:0033-2143 (print)

Planned object

Title: Delimitacja gmin i MOF oraz wybrane dane jakościowe i statystyczne : tabela

Abstract:

The article presents the delimitation and classification of areas where population declines and excessive population outflow were recorded between 2004 and 2023. In particular, the main objectives of this article are as follows: • to create the conceptual and methodological basis for the development of the above-mentioned delimitation and classification of depopulation; • to conduct a formal empirical analysis, which will result in a model delimitation and classification that can be universally applied in scientific and practical research;• to spatially identify communes and areas experiencing depopulation, along with their quantitative and qualitative socio-economic characteristics. The article briefly discusses the status and development of research on the delimitation of depopulating and related areas in Poland in the context of foreign solutions. Next, a delimitation and classification procedure is proposed. In the next step, the relevant areas were identified and basic socio-economic statistics were compiled for them. The last two sections are discussion of the results, emphasizing, among other things, their applications, and a summary of the most important findings. Two indicators were used in the delimitation related to the regularity and extent of the population decline: a permanent decline in birth rates and a negative internal migration balance. The analyses were carried out for two types of territorial units: 2,477 communes and 314 functional urban areas (FUA). The result is the delimitation and classification of 1,297 communes and 239 FUAs affected by depopulation and emigration, covering approx. 80% of the country’s area. It can be used as a basis for monitoring demographic and socio-economic processes. The results of the analyses indicate that currently, the most common process in the redistribution of the population in Poland is depopulation, which already affects approximately 80% of the area of communes and a similar percentage of cities and rural statistical localities. In the last two decades, this process has intensified. In 2024, the population declined in 1,949 communes (out of 2,477). These figures are probably underestimated, as most of the “suspended” foreign emigration and a significant part of internal migration are not registered through deregistration. This is not offset by similarly unreported foreign immigration, as it is mainly concentrated outside areas of depopulation. The spread of depopulation in Poland is the result of a demographic shift that occurred after the political and socio-economic breakthrough of 1989. This reversal consisted of a change from absolute population growth to population decline and was due to two reasons: foreign emigration and a decline in fertility. In 2025, Poland is a country undergoing permanent depopulation, with the prospect of this process deepening unless there is stronger foreign immigration. In summary, over the last decade, Poland has entered a new phase of population redistribution, which will have a strong impact on socio-economic processes on various territorial scales. This requires specific measures on the part of state policy, including the recognition of depopulation as a major barrier and threat to development, especially at the local and regional levels. The delimitation presented in this article, which is the result of one of the government projects aimed at reducing the outflow of young people from villages, towns, and cities, is intended to highlight the territorial scale of the problem and provide a useful tool for monitoring depopulation.