The 16 voivodships in Poland

There are 16 voivodships in Poland, which are divided into districts or counties (powiats). All the voivodships were established on January 1, 1999, pursuant to the local government reorganisation act.

Województwo Zachodniopomorskie

Western-Pomerania - is situated in the north-west of Poland. This voivodship includes the whole of historic “East Pomerania” and a small part of “West Pomerania”, an area at the west-side of the river Oder, including a part of the island Uznam or “Usedom”. The surface of this province amounts to 22,902 km², land and water, and has 1,69 million inhabitants (2003). It is a rather thinly inhabited area, with Szcezecin as the capital city, a large and important seaport on the Baltic Sea. This voivodship has 18 “powiats”, the so-called counties and three citycounties. Other important cities are Stargard Szczecinski, Świnoujście, Golenoiw en Kolobrzeg.

Województwo Pomorskie

Pomeranian Voivodship - is a fusion of the former voivodships Gdansk en Słupsk, and large parts from Elbląg. This province includes several historic parts of Pomeranian and also parts from “West Prussia”and “East Prussia”. The surface of this voivodship totals 18,293 km², is situated in the north-west of Poland and has approximately 2,19 million inhabitants (2004). The capital city is Gdansk. This province has 16 “powiats”, the so-called counties and four citycounties.

Województwo Warmińsko - Mazurskie

Warmian-Masurian Voivodship - is situated in the north-east of Poland, and is a fusion of the former Olsztyn voivodship and parts of Suwałki and Elbląg. The province lies at the southern border of Russia’s Oblast Kaliningrad, an enclave inside the European Union. The name of this voivodship recalls the region’s two historic lands, Warmia and Masuria. The surface of this province totals 24,193 km² and has about 1,43 million inhabitants (2004). The capital city is Olsztyn with about 177,000 inhabitants (2004). Another important city in this area is Elbląg. This voivodship has 19 “powiats”, the so-called counties and two citycounties.

Województwo Podlaskie

Podlasie Voivodship - is situated in the north-east of Poland, and is a fusion of the former voivodships Białystok, Łomża and a part of Suwałki. It is a rather thinly inhabited area. In this province is also situated the forest of Białowieża, the last primeval forest of Europe. The largest part of this forest lies in Russian territory. The surface of this voivodship amounts to 20,180 km² and has about 1,22 million inhabitants (2003). The major cities are Białystok with approximately 300,000 inhabitants (2003), Łomża and Suwałki.

Województwo Lubuskie

Lubusz Voivodship - amounts to 13,984 km² and is situated in the west of Poland with very important cities such as Zielona Góra and Gorzów Wielkopolski. This voivodship was created out of the former voivodships which have the same names as both towns. The number of inhabitants in this province totals 1,0 million (2004). It is interesting, that the name of this voivodship refers to the “historic land of Lubusz”, a medieval Polish province. This province has 12 “powiats”, the so-called counties and two citycounties.

Województwo Wielkopolskie

Greater Poland Voivodship - is situated in the west of Poland, precisely between seven other voivodships. This voivodship was created by a fusion of the former Poznań, Kalisz, Konin, Piła and Leszno provinces. Greater Poland is seen, with the historic royal cities like Poznan and Gniezno, as the germ-cell from Poland. The surface of this voivodship amounts to 29,826 km² and has about 3,36 million inhabitants (2004). This province has 31 “powiats”, the so-called counties and four citycounties. The most important cities are the capital city Poznań with approximately 574,000 inhabitants (2004), Konin, Leszno and Kalisz.

Województwo Kujawsko-pomorski

Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodship - is a fusion of the former voivodships Bydgoszcz, Turuń en Włocławek and is situated in central-northern Poland. The surface of this province amounts to 17,969 km² and has about 2,06 million inhabitants (2004). The voivodship’s name recalls the two historic regions of “Kujawy” and “Pomorze”. This province has 19 “powiats”, the so-called counties and four citycounties. The most important cities are Bydgoszcz, Grudziądz, Włocławek and Toruń.

Województwo Mazowieckie

Mazowsze Voivodship - is a fusion of the former voivodships Warszawa, Płock, Ciechanów, Ostrołęka, Siedlce and Radom. The capital city of this province is Warsaw, with 1,69 million inhabitants (2003), and is at the same time the greatest voivodship of all the voivodships, the surface amounts to 35,598 km², and has more than 5,13 million inhabitants (2003). From a historical point of view, this voivodship was the starting-point of the long history of Poland with duke Mieszko I, who converted in the year 966 A.D. to Christianity and united the different Slavonic tribes on the low-lying plain between the rivers Oder and Wisła. This province has 37 “powiats”, the so-called counties and five citycounties. These cities have the names of the former voivodships.

Województwo Dolnośląskie

Lower Silesia Voivodship - is a fusion of the former voivodships Legnica, Wałbrzych and Jelenia Góra, and is situated in the southwest of Poland. The surface of this voivodship amounts to 19,948 km² and has approximately 2,9 million inhabitants (2003). This voivodship is at the northwestern part of the historic and geographic region of “Silesia”. The capital city of Lower Silesia is Wrocław (Breslau) with about 638,000 inhabitants (2003). Other important cities are Wałbrzych, Legnica, Jelenia Góra, Lubin, Głogów and Świdnica. The province has 26 “powiats”, the so-called counties and three citycounties.

Województwo Łódzkie

Lódź Voivodship - is a fusion of the former voivodships Lódź, Siradz, Piotrków- Trybunalski, Skierniewice and a part of Płock. The surface of this province amounts to 18,219 km² and is situated in the centre of Poland. The number of inhabitants totals 2,59 million (2003). The voivodship is named after the capital city Lódź with about 778,000 inhabitants (2003). Further important cities are Piotrków Trybunalski, Pabianice, Tomaszów Mazowiecki and Bełchatów. The province has 24 “powiats”, the so-called counties and three citycounties.

Województwo Lubelskie

Lublin Voivodship - this province amounts to 25,114 km² surface and is situated in the south-east of Poland with Lublin as the capital city. The number of inhabitants in this province totals 2,19 million (2003). Further important cities are Chełm, Biała Podlaskie, Zamość, Puławy, Kraśnik and Świdnik. The province has 20 “powiats”, the so-called counties and four citycounties.

Województwo Opolskie

Opole Voivodship - was created out of the former voivodships Opole and large parts of Czestochowa. The surface of this province amounts to 9,412 km², and has 1,04 million inhabitants (2005) and lies in the south-western part of Poland. The name “Opole” has the same name as the capital city with about 135,000 inhabitants (2005). Further important cities are Kędzierzyn-Koźle with 103,000 and Nysa with 147,000 inhabitants (2005). Not forgotten are the cities Brzeg, Prudnik, Strzele Opolskie, Kluczbork and Krapkowice.This voivodship has 11 “powiats”, the so-called counties and one citycounty.

Województwo Śląskie

Silesia Voivodship - lies in the south of Poland, bordering the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The surface of this province amounts to 12,294 km² and has 4,83 million inhabitants (2004). It is a densely populated, industrial area. The capital city of this region is Katowice with about 321,000 inhabitants (2004). Moreover there are many important cities in this area with between 40,000 and 250,000 inhabitants. This voivodship has 17 “powiats”, the so-called counties and nineteen citicounties.

Województwo Świętokrzyskie

Holy Cross Voivodship - lies in the centre of Poland. The surface of this province amounts to 11,691 km² and has approximately 1,29 inhabitants (2003). The name of this voivodship is called after the mountainregion Góry Świętokrzyskie and means literally “Holy Cross”. The capital city is Kielce with 213,000 inhabitants (2003). Further important cities are Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, Starachowice and Skarżysko-Kamienna. This voivodship has 13 “powiats”, the so-called counties and one citicounty.

Województwo Małopolskie

Lesser Poland Voivodship - was created out of the former voivodships of Kraków, Tarnów, Nowy Sącz and parts from Bielsko-Biała and Katowice. The surface of this province totals 15,108 km² and has about 3,25 million inhabitants (2003). This voivodship lies in the south-east of Poland. The most important city is Kraków with about 745,000 inhabitants (2003). Further big cities are Tarnów with a population of 125,000 and Nowy Sącz with 82,000 inhabitants. This voivodship has 19 “powiats”, the so-called counties and three citicounties.

Województwo Podkarpackie

Subcarpathian Voivodship - is a fusion of the former voivodships Rzeszow, Przemysl, Krosno, parts of Tarnow and Tarnobrzeg. The surface of this province amounts to 17,926 km² and has 2,09 million inhabitants (2004). This voivodship lies in the farthest south-eastern part of Poland. The name is a reference to the geographic location of the voivodship adjoining the Carpathian Mountains. The capital city is Rzeszόw with a population of 165,000 (2004). Large cities in this area are Stalowa Wola with 72,000, Przemyśl with 69,000 and Mieliec with 64,000 inhabitants (2004). The province is divided into 21 “powiats”, the so-called counties an four citicounties. At the same time there are 159 “gmima”, the so-called municipalities.