DEPOPULATION OF RURAL AREAS AS PERIPHERAL AREAS IN THE WARMIAN-MAZURY VOIVODESHIP IN COMPARISON WITH THE COUNTRY

The aim of the study was to diagnose the situation demographic situation in rural areas in Poland, with particular emphasis on Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship as a peripheral region. John W. Webb’s method of classifying territorial units was used. Rural areas in the Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship were among the most depopulated areas in this category compared to Poland. Given the dynamics and direction of changes demographic situation in rural areas of the Warminsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship in the last 10 years, it can be expected that the future demographic situation in the area will worsen. Not without significance is also the fact that out of the 12 largest cities in Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship almost all of them are qualified as cities losing socio-economic functions. In addition, more than half of rural and urban-rural communities in Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship is threatened with permanent marginalisation. Consequently, the prospect of stopping negative demographic trends is a difficult undertaking to realise.