ANALYSIS OF NUN MEMBERSHIP IN FEMALE ORDERS IN POLAND

Religious congregations in Poland date back to the Middle Ages. Poland currently has more than 106 religious congregations with an active membership of over 17,000 nuns. For some time, the number of religious vocations has recently been on a decline; hence, this article examines the number of nuns in female religious orders in Poland. This study consists of two parts: a literature review that discusses the history and the current state of female religious congregations in Poland and an analysis of statistical data on nun membership in these congregations. This research was based on secondary information and statistical data. It sought to answer the following research questions: (1) How did the number of nuns change in Poland in 2000⁠-2020?; (2) What are the most popular women’s jobs in Poland? The results provide important information about the number of nuns in Polish religious congregations and thus indicate that in the last four years, these congregations have witnessed a significant decrease in the number of sisters serving in them.