A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Wrocław reveals a significant disparity in population data for Wrocław, a city in western Poland. Contrary to official statistics from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) and the national census, the study suggests that over 893,000 people reside in Wrocław, surpassing GUS estimates by over 200,000.
Professor Robert Szmytkie, Head of the Department of Socio-Economic Geography at the University of Wrocław, emphasized that traditional statistics based on resident registration, PESEL numbers, or census results may not accurately capture the dynamic population shifts. Increasing mobility poses challenges to conventional data collection methods.
The research team utilized 11 data sources, including housing data, school enrollment figures, and estimates of the Ukrainian population. By considering various datasets and minimizing errors, the researchers estimated that Wrocław’s population at the turn of 2022 and 2023 was 893,506.