Case study report - Pabianice

Pabianice is located approximately 15km from the centre of Łódź, Poland’s fourth-largest city. In 2024, the city had just under 60,000 inhabitants, while the surrounding county, which also bears the name Pabianice and for which the city serves as the administrative centre, had a population of 118,700. Over recent decades, the city has experienced a persistent population decline. Since 1995, Pabianice have lost around 15,000 residents, primarily due to a long-term negative natural population balance, amounting to a decrease of approximately 11,000 people over the last 30 years. This decline has been partly offset at the county level by population growth in neighbouring municipalities, driven by suburbanisation processes. Since the early 2000s, municipalities within the county have recorded a combined population increase of approximately 12,500 residents, largely due to a stable positive migration balance. New residents are moving in both from the city of Pabianice and, in particular, from Łódź.

Pabianice maintain strong functional linkages with Łódź. The cities are connected by a tram line, as well as frequent rail and bus services. Nearly 5,000 residents commute daily from Pabianice to Łódź, accounting for around 20% of the city’s employed population and nearly 10% of all commuters travelling to Łódź from the wider region. At the same time, Pabianice attract approximately 3,000 workers from surrounding municipalities, representing about 15% of local employment.