City profile: Żory

Map of Żory

Overview of Żory

Snapshot of key indicators for Żory in the most recent year available.

Population

61,823

people · 2021

Avg. gross salary

7.5 K PLN

2024

Unemployment rate

4.5%

% · 2025

Businesses per 10k

1,132

entities / 10k · 2024

Population density

958.1

ppl / km² · 2024

Apartment price / m²

6.4 K PLN / m²

2024

About - Żory

Żory, with about 62,000 residents in Silesian Voivodeship, is a historic Silesian city in the eastern part of the Rybnik Coal District, known for the Water Park (one of Poland's largest) and industrial heritage (the Krupiński Mine — now inactive). Strengths: a very large lake area of 187 ha (98th percentile, including Pniowiec and post-gravel lakes), high police effectiveness of 84.1% (97th percentile), a healthy business balance (292 deregistered entities, 88th percentile), a favourable demographic structure (old-age dependency 33.2, 80th percentile) and a moderate natural increase of -3.03/1,000 (80th percentile). Gross wages of PLN 7,487 (87% of the national average) and unemployment of 4.5% are typical for the region, with accessible housing prices of PLN 6,379/m². Weaknesses: THE HIGHEST OVERALL CRIME among mid-sized cities — 53.5/1,000 (2nd percentile) — driven by a large volume of minor incidents, a sparse bike network (23.6 km, 3rd percentile), low business density of 1,132 REGON entities per 10,000 (12th percentile) and low investment outlays of PLN 265 million (14th percentile). Only 5 hotels. Żory offers a unique combination of lakes, a water park and a safe demographic, but needs decisive improvements in crime and cycling infrastructure.

Strengths and weaknesses of Żory

Strengths and weaknesses of Żory based on the city's position across every published Polish-city ranking.

Top 3 rankings of Żory

Best ranking positions of Żory across Poland.

Strengths

Stable demographic profile in Żory - steady population and age-structure indicators.
Most demographically stable cities
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants): #2
Rank in Poland: #7
Rich cultural scene in Żory - theatres, museums and events on a national scale.
Best cities for culture
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants): #3
Rank in Poland: #19
Żory ranks among the greenest cities in Poland - high green-area per resident.
Greenest cities
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants): #4

Weaknesses

Underdeveloped cycling infrastructure in Żory - short bike-path network and few car alternatives.
Most bike-friendly cities
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants): #22
Rank in Poland: #66
Poor conditions for an active lifestyle in Żory - few sports and recreation spaces.
Best cities for an active lifestyle
Rank among small cities (50–100 thousand inhabitants): #18
Rank in Poland: #54
Weak academic base in Żory - few students and limited university offer.
Best cities for students and education

Air quality today

nullSource: GIOŚ

The result is based on the reading from 1 monitoring station in Żory.

Last updated

05/21/2026, 08:17 PM

Demographics of Żory

Gender composition and demographic load on the working-age population of Żory based on the latest GUS data.

Gender split in Żory

Men30,231 · 48.9%
Women31,592 · 51.1%

Dependency ratios in Żory

Non-working-age dependency ratio

ppl / 100 working-age · 2024

74.8

Post- per working-age

ppl / 100 working-age · 2024

41.7

Old-age dependency ratio

% · 2024

33.2%

Population change per 1k residents

ppl / 1k · 2024

2.4

Vital events in Żory

Births, deaths, marriages and natural increase in Żory based on GUS data.

Total deaths

591

people · 2024

Marriages

228

marriages · 2024

Births / 1k6.54 per 1k people

Deaths / 1k9.56 per 1k people

Natural increase / 1k-3.03 per 1k people

Labour market in Żory

Salaries in Żory compared with the voivodeship and national averages, alongside broader employment signals.

Salary benchmark - Żory

Voivodeship and Poland baselines derived from BDL ratios (Żory vs. voivodeship / Poland).

Registered unemployment in Żory

4.5%

% · 2025

Salary growth YoY

14.12%

% · 2024

Job offers at year-end in Żory

offers · 2025

Employed per 1k residents

251

ppl / 1k · 2021

Business activity in Żory

REGON registrations, deregistrations and net balance in Żory.

Registrations vs deregistrations - Żory

New businesses

500

entities · 2025

Deregistered

292

entities · 2025

New businessesDeregistered

Net change+208

REGON entities per 10k residents

1,132

entities / 10k · 2024

REGON entities per 1k working-age

197.8

entities / 1k working-age · 2024

Sole props / working-age

14.9%

% · 2024

Foreign-capital companies in Żory

entities · 2025

Real estate in Żory

Apartment prices, affordability and construction activity in Żory.

Apartment price / m² in Żory

6.4 K PLN / m²

2024

Housing affordability in Żory

0.85

months of salary / m² · 2024

Dwellings completed / 1k residents

6.6

dwellings / 1k people · 2025

Months of gross salary required per 1 m² of apartment in Żory.

Education in Żory

Higher-education students, graduates and preschool-age children in Żory based on GUS BDL data.

Higher-ed students

237

people · 2024

Higher-ed graduates

101

people · 2024

Preschool-age children

1,127

people · 2024

Students by gender

Women187
Men50

Transport & infrastructure in Żory

Registered vehicles, public roads and road infrastructure in Żory based on GUS BDL data.

Passenger cars

34,853

vehicles · 2024

Cars / 1k residents: 563.8

Environment and quality of life in Żory

Air quality, green areas and public-space quality in Żory.

Green areas per capita

m² / person · 2024

Municipal green areas per capita

24.2

m² / person · 2024

Parks & squares per capita

34.2

m² / person · 2024

Green-areas share of total area

5.07%

% · 2024

Air quality

· Monitoring stations: 1

Particulate matter

PM2.5 24h avg

20.95 µg/m³

PM2.5 30d avg

16.38 µg/m³

PM10 24h avg

28.75 µg/m³

PM10 30d avg

22.52 µg/m³

High PM10 days (30d)

Maximum number of days with PM10 above 50 µg/m³ at a single station.

Traffic-related pollution

Last updated: 05/21/2026, 08:17 PMSource: GIOŚ

Żory in numbers over time

Multi-year trajectory of the key indicators of Żory benchmarked against the voivodeship.

Average gross salary in Żory

Registered unemployment rate in Żory

REGON entities per 10k inhabitants - Żory

Population of Żory

Apartment price per m² in Żory

Żory in rankings

How does Żory rank?

Every city score is built from open data: GUS, GIOŚ, and public registries. A 0–100 score compares a city against the rest of Poland and against peers of similar population size.

Best cities to live in Poland

56.3/ 100

Rank in Poland: #12
Rank among small cities: #8

settlement year	Taxpayers (1.5%)	Total 1.5% PIT	OPPs in the city	Avg. per OPP
2025	14.4 K	1.5 M PLN	5	292.7 K PLN
2024	12.7 K	1.4 M PLN	5	275.1 K PLN
2023	10.9 K	816.5 K PLN	3	272.2 K PLN
2022	11.8 K	605.9 K PLN	4	151.5 K PLN
2021	11.6 K	974.9 K PLN	3	325.0 K PLN
2020	10.8 K	536.9 K PLN	3	179.0 K PLN
2019	11.3 K	519.5 K PLN	4	129.9 K PLN
2018	11.4 K

Indicator	Żory	Leszno	Difference
Population	61,823	61,791	+32 +0.1%
Population density	958.1	1,868.2	−910.1 −48.7%
Avg. gross salary	7.5 K PLN	7.8 K PLN	−337.13 PLN −4.3%
Unemployment rate	4.5%	3.7%	+0.8% +21.6%
REGON / 10k	1,132	1,660	−528 −31.8%
Apartment price / m²	6.4 K PLN / m²	6.2 K PLN / m²	+226 PLN / m² +3.7%
Green areas / capita	53	48.1	+4.9 +10.2%
Housing affordability	0.85	0.79	+0.06 +7.6%

City profile: Żory

Overview of Żory

About - Żory

Top 3 rankings of Żory

Strengths

Weaknesses

Demographics of Żory

Gender split in Żory

Dependency ratios in Żory

Vital events in Żory

Labour market in Żory

Salary benchmark - Żory

Business activity in Żory

Registrations vs deregistrations - Żory

Real estate in Żory

Education in Żory

Students by gender

Transport & infrastructure in Żory

Environment and quality of life in Żory

Air quality

Particulate matter

Traffic-related pollution

Żory in numbers over time

Average gross salary in Żory

Registered unemployment rate in Żory

REGON entities per 10k inhabitants - Żory

Population of Żory

Apartment price per m² in Żory

Żory in rankings

Best cities to live in Poland

Best cities to do business in

Best labour market

Most affordable housing relative to earnings

Greenest cities

City investment potential

Most demographically stable cities

Best cities for families

Best cities for students and education

Wealthiest cities

Safest cities

Best cities for culture

Best cities for an active lifestyle

Most tourist-attractive cities

Best weekend cities

Best cities for after-work life

Best cities for women's careers

Best cities for women

Best cities for seniors

Most peaceful cities to live in

Most bike-friendly cities

Cities with the highest parking pressure

Most innovative cities

Public-benefit organisations (OPP) and 1.5% PIT - Żory

Largest OPP in Żory

1.5% PIT history - Żory

Comparison - Żory vs another city

Percentage difference (Żory minus peer)

All indicators - Żory

Companies

Canivara Spółka z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością

Alara Naturals Spółka z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością

Kozackie Jadło Spółka z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością

Associations

Akademia Smyka SARI

Ogólnopolskie Stowarzyszenie Niepublicznych Żłobków, Klubów Dziecięcych i Dziennych Opiekunów Dialog

Równowaga dla ŻOR

Foundations

Fundacja Przestrzeń dla Rozwoju

Fundacja AJNA Serca

Browse other city profiles

Żory in rankings

Best cities to live in Poland

Best cities to do business in

Best labour market

Most affordable housing relative to earnings

Greenest cities

City investment potential

Most demographically stable cities

Best cities for families

Best cities for students and education