EN
The article presents an analysis of the main trends in the changing number of rural population in Poland, the demographic determinants of these trends and changes in the demographic and educational structures of this population in 2006-2009 against the background of respective changes in the earlier years of the present century. Changes observable in the countryside have been compared with those recorded in the urban areas in Poland and in other EU countries. The statistical data for the analysis have been derived mainly from current demographic statistics and Labour Force Surveys (BAEL) conducted by the Central Statistical Office (GUS). For international comparisons the Eurostat data have been used.