DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OF WARMIA AND MAZURY REGION DURING THE SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION

The aim of this work is to evaluate the changes in population of rural communes in the Warmia and Mazury region. The least positive demographic situation is found in the Eastern and Northern part of the Warmia and Mazury voivodeship. Positive changes in population can be observed in the communes which surround the region biggest cities - Olsztyn and Elblag. The similar situation occurred in the areas being influenced by the group of cities: Ilawa, Ostroda and Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, located in the Western and South-Western part of the voivodeship. It has also resulted from the research that there is an on-going process of depopulation in the communes remote from cities, which are already underdeveloped and characterized by a low population density.