This year, the Council of Ministers adopted a joint for the Małopolskie and Śląskie Voivodships "Development Strategy for Southern Poland till 2020". The prepared statistical elaboration is an attempt to describe the socio-economic development of the Southern Region taking into account the following areas: population and demographic processes, labour market, households, municipal infrastructure, communication, housing, education, health care and social assistance, culture and tourism, science and technology, economy, the environment. Presented categories are shown in dynamic terms (2005, 2011, 2012), and also in relation to the country and other regions.