The gmina (Polish pronunciation , plural gminy ) is the principal unit (lowest uniform level) of territorial division in Poland. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas. The word gmina derives from the German word Gemeinde, meaning "commune" or "community."
Since 1972, when it replaced the smaller gromada, the gmina has been the basic unit of administrative division. There are three types of gmina in Poland:
Some rural gminas have their seat in a town which is outside the gmina. For example, the rural Gmina Augustów is administered from the town of Augustów, but does not include this town, as Augustów is an urban gmina in its own right.
An urban gmina is normally referred to by the name of the city or town in question. Other types of gmina are called Gmina Xxx, where Xxx is (in the vast majority of cases) the town or village in which the gmina has its seat. Gmina Xxx is sometimes translated into English as "Xxx Commune".
The legislative and controlling body of each gmina is the elected municipal council (rada gminy, or in a town rada miasta). Executive power is held by the directly elected mayor of the municipality, called wójt in rural gminas, burmistrz in most urban and urban-rural gminas, or prezydent in towns with more than 100,000 inhabitants and some others which traditionally use the title.
A gmina may create auxiliary units (jednostki pomocnicze), which play a subordinate administrative role. In rural areas these are called sołectwos; in towns they may be dzielnicas or osiedles. In an urban-rural gmina, the town itself may be designated as an auxiliary unit.
For a complete listing of all the gminas in Poland, see List of Polish gminas.
Abbreviations used for voivodeships:
LS: Lower Silesian Voivodeship, KP: Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, LBL: Lublin Voivodeship, LBS: Lubusz Voivodeship,
ŁD: Łódź Voivodeship, LP: Lesser Poland Voivodeship, MS: Masovian Voivodeship, OP: Opole Voivodeship,
SK: Subcarpathian Voivodeship, PL: Podlaskie Voivodeship, PM: Pomeranian Voivodeship, SL: Silesian Voivodeship,
ŚWK: Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, WM: Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, GP: Greater Poland Voivodeship, WP: West Pomeranian Voivodeship.
| LARGEST | Population (2006 estimate) | Land area in km² | Population density per km² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban | Warsaw (1,697,596) | Warsaw (517.22) | Świętochłowice (4,156.80) |
| Rural | Gmina Chełmiec (24,344) | Gmina Wałcz (574.89) | Gmina Buczkowice (542.70) |
| Urban-rural | Gmina Piaseczno (61,525) | Gmina Pisz (633.69) | Gmina Wołomin (801.69) |
| Town in urban-rural gmina | Gmina Nysa: Nysa (47,545) | Gmina Szczytna: Szczytna (80.38) | Gmina Swarzędz: Swarzędz (3,469.23) |
| Rural part of urban-rural gmina | Gmina Wieliczka: rural part (28,864) | Gmina Pisz: rural part (623.61) | Gmina Świątniki Górne: rural part (407.86) |
| SMALLEST | Population (2006 estimate) | Land area in km² | Population density per km² |
| Urban | Krynica Morska (1,364) | Górowo Iławeckie (3.32) | Krynica Morska (11.74) |
| Rural | Gmina Cisna (1,663) | Gmina Jejkowice (7.59) | Gmina Lutowiska (4.63) |
| Urban-rural | Gmina Nowe Warpno (1,559) | Gmina Świątniki Górne (20.35) | Gmina Nowe Warpno (7.88) |
| Town in urban-rural gmina | Gmina Wyśmierzyce: Wyśmierzyce (892) | Gmina Stawiszyn: Stawiszyn (0.99) | Gmina Suraż: Suraż (28.94) |
| Rural part of urban-rural gmina | Gmina Nowe Warpno: rural part (363) | Gmina Suchedniów: rural part (15.54) | Gmina Nowe Warpno: rural part (2.09) |
This text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.
![Powódź w gminie Wilków[22.05.2010]](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/s0a9hqrEMPE/0.jpg "Powódź w gminie Wilków[22.05.2010]")
![Słupsk [swupsk] ( listen) (German: Stolp in Pommern[1][2], known also under other names) is a city in Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the northern part of Poland. Before 1 January 1999, it was the capital of the separate Słupsk Voivodeship. It is also a part of the historic region of Pomerania.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/09/90/b17164c50c91bce6ce78da95593b_grande.jpg "Słupsk [swupsk] ( listen) (German: Stolp in Pommern[1][2], known also under other names) is a city in Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the northern part of Poland. Before 1 January 1999, it was the capital of the separate Słupsk Voivodeship. It is also a part of the historic region of Pomerania.")
![Unique Slab of rants, 1175 yr. Wiślica [viˈɕlit ͡sa] is a village in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/02/45/b92fbe4c0f0424b76ec011599f0c_grande.jpg "Unique Slab of rants, 1175 yr. Wiślica [viˈɕlit ͡sa] is a village in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland.")
![Church of Saint Catherine in Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/fe/b9/2eecf1f5dd5f4e117b3f54251509_grande.jpg "Church of Saint Catherine in Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.")
![Shrine to the Virgin Mary in Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivode ship, in south-eastern Poland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/8d/7c/4b31aa13d0cef388999162287df9_grande.jpg "Shrine to the Virgin Mary in Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivode ship, in south-eastern Poland.")
![Kłodzko [ˈkwɔt ͡skɔ] ( listen) (Czech: Kladsko; German: Glatz; Latin: Glacio) is a town in south-western Poland, in the region of Lower Silesia. It is situated in the centre of the Kłodzko Valley, on the Nysa Kłodzka river.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/e8/c8/69ec4521a245652ca5b74a700fa6_grande.jpg "Kłodzko [ˈkwɔt ͡skɔ] ( listen) (Czech: Kladsko; German: Glatz; Latin: Glacio) is a town in south-western Poland, in the region of Lower Silesia. It is situated in the centre of the Kłodzko Valley, on the Nysa Kłodzka river.")
![Góra [ˈgura] (German: Guhrau) is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. From 1975 to 1998 it was in Leszno Voivodeship. It is the seat both of Góra County and of the smaller administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Góra.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/45/e3/8c9cea1b62c7463440194c7f6234_grande.jpg "Góra [ˈgura] (German: Guhrau) is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. From 1975 to 1998 it was in Leszno Voivodeship. It is the seat both of Góra County and of the smaller administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Góra.")
![Chojnów [ˈxɔjnuf] ( listen) (German: Haynau) is a small town (14,389 inhabitants as of 2006) on the Skora river, in Legnica County, (Lower Silesian Voivodeship), in south-western Poland. Its average altitude is 170 meters above sea level. It is the administrative seat of the rural gmina called Gmina Chojnów, although the town is not part of its territory (Chojnów forms a separate urban gmina).](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/d6/89/6b20263dc7a9b32fe240c46c9862_grande.jpg "Chojnów [ˈxɔjnuf] ( listen) (German: Haynau) is a small town (14,389 inhabitants as of 2006) on the Skora river, in Legnica County, (Lower Silesian Voivodeship), in south-western Poland. Its average altitude is 170 meters above sea level. It is the administrative seat of the rural gmina called Gmina Chojnów, although the town is not part of its territory (Chojnów forms a separate urban gmina).")
![Traditional House in Ocieka Village. Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/1c/39/04d7eb06cc4d735abcf8007f5b92_grande.jpg "Traditional House in Ocieka Village. Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.")
![Łasin [ˈwaɕin] (German: Lessen) is a town in Grudziądz County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,271 inhabitants (2004). It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Łasin. It lies approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of Grudziądz and 78 km (48 mi) north-east of Toruń.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/ac/6f/9619cda1c51a491eee4227147da8_grande.jpg "Łasin [ˈwaɕin] (German: Lessen) is a town in Grudziądz County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,271 inhabitants (2004). It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Łasin. It lies approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of Grudziądz and 78 km (48 mi) north-east of Toruń.")
![Słupsk [swupsk] ( listen) (German: Stolp in Pommern[1][2], known also under other names) is a city in Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the northern part of Poland. Before 1 January 1999, it was the capital of the separate Słupsk Voivodeship. It is also a part of the historic region of Pomerania.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/09/90/b17164c50c91bce6ce78da95593b_thumb.jpg "Słupsk [swupsk] ( listen) (German: Stolp in Pommern[1][2], known also under other names) is a city in Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the northern part of Poland. Before 1 January 1999, it was the capital of the separate Słupsk Voivodeship. It is also a part of the historic region of Pomerania.")
![Unique Slab of rants, 1175 yr. Wiślica [viˈɕlit ͡sa] is a village in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/02/45/b92fbe4c0f0424b76ec011599f0c_thumb.jpg "Unique Slab of rants, 1175 yr. Wiślica [viˈɕlit ͡sa] is a village in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland.")
![Church of Saint Catherine in Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/fe/b9/2eecf1f5dd5f4e117b3f54251509_thumb.jpg "Church of Saint Catherine in Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.")
![Shrine to the Virgin Mary in Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivode ship, in south-eastern Poland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/8d/7c/4b31aa13d0cef388999162287df9_thumb.jpg "Shrine to the Virgin Mary in Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivode ship, in south-eastern Poland.")
![Kłodzko [ˈkwɔt ͡skɔ] ( listen) (Czech: Kladsko; German: Glatz; Latin: Glacio) is a town in south-western Poland, in the region of Lower Silesia. It is situated in the centre of the Kłodzko Valley, on the Nysa Kłodzka river.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/e8/c8/69ec4521a245652ca5b74a700fa6_thumb.jpg "Kłodzko [ˈkwɔt ͡skɔ] ( listen) (Czech: Kladsko; German: Glatz; Latin: Glacio) is a town in south-western Poland, in the region of Lower Silesia. It is situated in the centre of the Kłodzko Valley, on the Nysa Kłodzka river.")
![Góra [ˈgura] (German: Guhrau) is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. From 1975 to 1998 it was in Leszno Voivodeship. It is the seat both of Góra County and of the smaller administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Góra.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/45/e3/8c9cea1b62c7463440194c7f6234_thumb.jpg "Góra [ˈgura] (German: Guhrau) is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. From 1975 to 1998 it was in Leszno Voivodeship. It is the seat both of Góra County and of the smaller administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Góra.")
![Chojnów [ˈxɔjnuf] ( listen) (German: Haynau) is a small town (14,389 inhabitants as of 2006) on the Skora river, in Legnica County, (Lower Silesian Voivodeship), in south-western Poland. Its average altitude is 170 meters above sea level. It is the administrative seat of the rural gmina called Gmina Chojnów, although the town is not part of its territory (Chojnów forms a separate urban gmina).](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/d6/89/6b20263dc7a9b32fe240c46c9862_thumb.jpg "Chojnów [ˈxɔjnuf] ( listen) (German: Haynau) is a small town (14,389 inhabitants as of 2006) on the Skora river, in Legnica County, (Lower Silesian Voivodeship), in south-western Poland. Its average altitude is 170 meters above sea level. It is the administrative seat of the rural gmina called Gmina Chojnów, although the town is not part of its territory (Chojnów forms a separate urban gmina).")
![Traditional House in Ocieka Village. Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/1c/39/04d7eb06cc4d735abcf8007f5b92_thumb.jpg "Traditional House in Ocieka Village. Ocieka [ɔˈt ͡ɕeka] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ostrów, within Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland.")
![Łasin [ˈwaɕin] (German: Lessen) is a town in Grudziądz County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,271 inhabitants (2004). It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Łasin. It lies approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of Grudziądz and 78 km (48 mi) north-east of Toruń.](http://web.archive.org./web/20110323115333im_/http://cdn.wn.com/pd/ac/6f/9619cda1c51a491eee4227147da8_thumb.jpg "Łasin [ˈwaɕin] (German: Lessen) is a town in Grudziądz County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,271 inhabitants (2004). It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Łasin. It lies approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of Grudziądz and 78 km (48 mi) north-east of Toruń.")
