OCENA POZIOMU ROZWOJU POTENCJAŁU DEMOGRAFICZNEGO W GMINACH GÓRSKICH W POLSCE

The paper presents an analysis of the demographic characteristics of potential changes in mountainous communes in Poland between 2002 and 2012. Using Hellwig’s taxonomic measure, 94 communes were divided into three classes regarding a level of demographic potential development. Communes in the class of a relatively high level of demographic development were concentrated in the southern part of Małopolskie Voivodship. On the other hand, mountainous communes of Podkarpackie Voivodship and of the north-eastern Dolnośląskie Voivodship can be described as problematic in terms of the demographic situation