Editing Silesian Voivodeship

{{Short description|Voivodeship of Poland}}
{{For|former provinces with the same name|Silesian Voivodeship (1920–1939)|Administrative division of the People's Republic of Poland}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Silesian Voivodeship
| native_name        = Województwo śląskie
| settlement_type    = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 150px
| image_flag         = POL_województwo_śląskie_flag.svg
| image_shield       = POL_województwo_śląskie_COA.svg
| image_map          = Silesian in Poland (+rivers).svg
| map_caption        = Location within Poland
| image_map1         = Śląskie administracja.svg
| map_caption1       = Division into counties
| coordinates        = {{coord|50|15|N|19|0|E|region:PL|display=inline}}
| coor_pinpoint      = Katowice
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{POL}}
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Katowice]]
| parts_type         = [[Powiat|Counties]]
| parts              = 19 cities, 17 land counties*
| p1                 = [[Bielsko-Biała]]
| total_type         = Total
| area_total_km2     = 12333.09
| population_as_of   = 2019-06-30<ref name=pop>{{cite web |title=Population. Size and structure, and vital statistics in Poland by territorial division in 2019. As of 30th June|url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/population/population/population-size-and-structure-and-vital-statistics-in-poland-by-territorial-division-in-2019-as-of-30th-june,3,26.html|website=stat.gov.pl|publisher=Statistics Poland|date=2019-10-15|access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref>
| population_total   = 4524091
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 3468527
| population_blank1_title = Rural
| population_blank1  = 1055564
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €89.111 billion (2023)
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = €21,000 (2023)
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021)
| blank_info_sec2    = 0.883<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/POL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2021|title=Sub-national HDI - Subnational HDI - Global Data Lab|website=globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2021-12-13|publisher=[[Radboud University Nijmegen]]}}</ref><br/>{{color|#090|very high}} · [[List of Polish voivodeships by Human Development Index|5th]]
| website            = https://www.slaskie.pl/
| footnotes          = <nowiki>*</nowiki> further divided into 167 [[gmina]]s
| p2                 = [[Bytom]]
| p3                 = [[Chorzów]]
| p4                 = [[Częstochowa]]
| p5                 = [[Dąbrowa Górnicza]]
| p6                 = [[Gliwice]]
| p7                 = [[Jastrzębie-Zdrój]]
| p8                 = [[Jaworzno]]
| p9                 = [[Katowice]]
| p10                = [[Mysłowice]]
| p11                = [[Piekary Śląskie]]
| p12                = [[Ruda Śląska]]
| p13                = [[Rybnik]]
| p14                = [[Siemianowice Śląskie]]
| p15                = [[Sosnowiec]]
| p16                = [[Świętochłowice]]
| p17                = [[Tychy]]
| p18                = [[Zabrze]]
| p19                = [[Żory]]
| p20                = [[Będzin County]]
| p21                = [[Bielsko County]]
| p22                = [[Bieruń-Lędziny County]]
| p23                = [[Cieszyn County]]
| p24                = [[Częstochowa County]]
| p25                = [[Gliwice County]]
| p26                = [[Kłobuck County]]
| p27                = [[Lubliniec County]]
| p28                = [[Mikołów County]]
| p29                = [[Myszków County]]
| p30                = [[Pszczyna County]]
| p31                = [[Racibórz County]]
| p32                = [[Rybnik County]]
| p33                = [[Tarnowskie Góry County]]
| p34                = [[Wodzisław County]]
| p35                = [[Zawiercie County]]
| p36                = [[Żywiec County]]
| governing_body     = [[Voivodeship executive board|Executive board]]
| leader_title1      = [[Voivodes of Poland (since 1999)|Voivode]]
| leader_name1       = [[Marek Wójcik]] ([[Civic Platform|PO]])
| leader_title2      = [[Voivodeship marshal|Marshal]]
| leader_name2       = [[Wojciech Saługa]] ([[Civic Platform|PO]])
| leader_title3      = [[European Parliament|EP]]
| leader_name3       = [[Silesian (European Parliament constituency)|Silesian constituency]]
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:PL|PL-24]]
| registration_plate = [[Polish car number plates|S]]
| image_blank_emblem = Śląskie.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
| blank1_name_sec2 = Primary airport
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Katowice Airport]]
| blank2_name_sec2 = [[Highways in Poland|Highways]]
| blank2_info_sec2 = [[File:A1-PL.svg|32px|link=A1 autostrada (Poland)]] [[File:A4-PL.svg|32px|link=A4 autostrada (Poland)]] [[File:S1-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S1 (Poland)]] [[File:S52-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S52 (Poland)]]
}}
'''Silesian Voivodeship''' ({{langx|pl|województwo śląskie}} {{IPA|pl|vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ ˈɕlɔ̃skʲɛ||LL-Q809 (pol)-KaMan-województwo śląskie.wav}}) is an administrative province in southern [[Poland]]. With over 4.2 million residents and an area of 12,300 square kilometers, it is the second-most populous, and the most-densely populated and most-urbanized region of Poland. It generates 11.9% of Polish GDP<ref>{{Cite web |last=GUS |title=Wstępne szacunki produktu krajowego brutto w przekroju regionów w 2023 roku |url=https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/rachunki-narodowe/rachunki-regionalne/wstepne-szacunki-produktu-krajowego-brutto-w-przekroju-regionow-w-2023-roku,8,7.html |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=stat.gov.pl |language=pl}}</ref> and is characterized by a high life satisfaction, low income inequalities, and high wages.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GUS |title=Dochody i warunki życia ludności Polski - raport z badania EU-SILC 2023 |url=https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/warunki-zycia/dochody-wydatki-i-warunki-zycia-ludnosci/dochody-i-warunki-zycia-ludnosci-polski-raport-z-badania-eu-silc-2023,6,17.html |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=stat.gov.pl |language=pl}}</ref>

The region has a diversified geography. The Beskid Mountains cover most of the southern part of the voivodeship, with the highest peak of [[Pilsko]] on the Polish-Slovakian border reaching {{cvt|1534|m}} above sea level. [[Silesian Upland]] dominates the central part of the region, while the hilly, limestone [[Kraków-Częstochowa Upland|Polish Jura]] closes it from the northeast. [[Katowice urban area]], located in the central part of the region, is the second most-populous urban area in Poland after [[Warsaw]], with 2.2 million people, and one of Poland's seven supra-regional metropolises, while [[Rybnik]], [[Bielsko-Biała]] and [[Częstochowa]] and their respective urban areas are classified among the country's 15 regional agglomerations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-19 |title="Hierarchia funkcjonalna miast w Polsce i jej przemiany w latach 1990–2020" – kluczowy raport o polityce rozwoju już dostępny! |url=https://obserwatorium.miasta.pl/hierarchia-funkcjonalna-miast-w-polsce-i-jej-przemiany-w-latach-1990-2020-kluczowy-raport-o-polityce-rozwoju-juz-dostepny/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Obserwatorium Polityki Miejskiej i Regionalnej IRMiR |language=pl-PL}}</ref> 

Despite the voivodeship's name, only the western half of its area is considered to be a part of the historical region of [[Silesia]]. The eastern part of Silesian Voivodeship was historically part of [[Lesser Poland]], while a small part in the north of the region was historically considered a part of [[Greater Poland]].

== History ==

=== Interwar Poland ===
Silesian Voivodeship was first created in 1920 when the newly independent Polish state established an [[Silesian Voivodeship (1920–1939)|autonomous region]] for all historical lands of Upper Silesia that were to end up in Poland. At the time, Upper Silesia was under international control, and a [[1921 Upper Silesia plebiscite|plebiscite]] was to be held in 1921 to divide the region between Germany and Poland following local results. Katowice has been chosen to be the provincial capital. In 1938, following the annexation of [[Trans-Olza]] region by Poland, the voivodeship's area was expanded to include these new territories. 

The interwar region did not include more than half of its current area, which were parts of the [[Kielce Voivodeship (1919–1939)|Kielce voivodeship]] ([[Sosnowiec]] and [[Częstochowa]] areas), [[Kraków Voivodeship (1919–1939)|Kraków voivodeship]] ([[Jaworzno]] and [[Żywiec]] areas) or [[Germany]] (cities of [[Zabrze]] and [[Bytom]] as well as [[Gliwice]] and [[Racibórz]] areas). 

=== German occupation ===
After the [[invasion of Poland]] in 1939, Polish administrative divisions ceased to exist. Nazi Germany annexed most of the current voivodeship's area directly into the German [[Gau Silesia|province of Silesia]] (''Gau Schlesien'') with capital in [[Wrocław]] (''Breslau'') as the governmental district of Katowice (''Regierungsbezirk Kattowitz''). This new district included both historically Silesian areas as well as western parts of Lesser Poland. Northern parts of what is the Silesian Voivodeship today, with Częstochowa, found themselves in the [[General Government]] area. 

In 1941, the province of Silesia was split into Lower Silesia (with a capital in Wrocław) and Upper Silesia (with a capital in Katowice), the latter of which included the governmental district of Opole in addition to the one of Katowice. 

=== Socialist Poland ===
Following [[World War II]], the new communist government of Poland cancelled the autonomous status of the Silesian voivodeship and established a new Silesian-Dabrowa voivodeship (''województwo śląsko-dąbrowskie''), the area of which roughly corresponded to the German province of Upper Silesia. The name of this region reflected both the Silesian part and the [[Dąbrowa Basin]] part. 

In 1950, [[Opole Voivodeship|Opole voivodeship]] was created from the western part of Silesian-Dabrowa voivodeship, and the name of the remaining area changed to Katowice voivodeship. The new region's borders included, for the first time, the Częstochowa area, and roughly resembled the contemporary Silesian Voivodeship. Between 1956–59, the name of the region was changed to Stalinogród voivodeship (''województwo stalinogrodzkie''), reflecting Katowice's forced name change to Stalinogród following the death of [[Joseph Stalin]]. 

In 1975, a new [[Voivodeships of Poland (1975–1998)|administrative reform]] introduced 49 new voivodeships. The area of today's Silesian Voivodeship was divided between [[Częstochowa Voivodeship|Częstochowa voivodeship]] (''województwo częstochowskie'') in the north, [[Katowice Voivodeship|Katowice voivodeship]] (''województwo katowickie'') in the center, and [[Bielsko Voivodeship|Bielsko-Biała voivodeship]] (''województwo bielskie'') in the south. 

=== After 1989 ===
As Poland aimed to join the European Union, European negotiators named administrative reform as one of the conditions for accession. As such, in 1999, a new administrative division was introduced, reducing the number of voivodeships from 49 to 16. A Silesian voivodeship has emerged from the reform, with its capital in Katowice, and consisting of most municipalities of the former Katowice, Częstochowa, and Bielsko-Biała voivodeships. 

== Geography ==
The Silesian Voivodeship borders both the [[Moravian-Silesian Region]] ([[Czech Republic]]), [[Žilina Region]] ([[Slovakia]]) to the south. It is also bordered by four other Polish voivodeships: those of [[Opole Voivodeship|Opole]] (to the west), [[Łódź Voivodeship|Łódź]] (to the north), [[Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship|Świętokrzyskie]] (to the north-east), and [[Lesser Poland Voivodeship|Lesser Poland]] (to the east).

The region includes the Silesian Upland (''{{lang|pl|Wyżyna Śląska}}'') in the centre and north-west, and the Krakowsko-Częstochowska Upland (''{{lang|pl|[[Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska]]}}'') in the north-east. The southern border is formed by the [[Beskidy Mountains]] ([[Beskid Śląski]] and [[Beskid Żywiecki]]).

The current administrative unit of Silesian Voivodeship is just a fraction of the historical [[Silesia]], which is within the borders of today's Poland (there are also fragments of Silesia in the Czech Republic and Germany). Other parts of today's Polish Silesia are administered as the [[Opole Voivodeship|Opole]], the [[Dolny Śląsk|Lower Silesian Voivodeships]] and the [[Lubusz Voivodeship]]. On the other hand, a large part of the current administrative unit of the Silesian Voivodeship is not part of historical Silesia (e.g., [[Częstochowa]], [[Zawiercie]], [[Myszków]], [[Jaworzno]], [[Sosnowiec]], [[Żywiec]], [[Dąbrowa Górnicza]], [[Będzin]] and east part of [[Bielsko-Biała]], which were historically parts of [[Lesser Poland]]).{{cn|date=March 2025}}

== Demography ==
{{historical populations|1988|4907919|2002|4742874|2011|4630366|2021|4402950|align=right|cols=1|source=<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics Poland - National Censuses|url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/podgrup/temat/}}</ref>}}

=== Population ===
More than one out of every nine of Poland's residents live in the Silesian voivodeship. According to the Polish Statistics Office, the region's population was 4.32 million at the end of 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=GUS |title=Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2023 roku |url=https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/ludnosc/ludnosc/powierzchnia-i-ludnosc-w-przekroju-terytorialnym-w-2023-roku,7,20.html |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=stat.gov.pl |language=pl}}</ref> a decrease of 6% from 10 years earlier. 

Similarly to Poland, the Silesian voivodeship has suffered extremely low fertility and an intensifying natural population decrease. In 2023, the total fertility rate was only 1.10, well below the 2.1 required to sustain a population size and slightly below the Polish average of 1.11. 27,641 people were born while 51,723 died, a natural decrease of -24,082. In 2023, 19.1% of the population was under 20, 32.2% was 20–44 years old, 27.4% was 45–64, while 21.3% were 65 or older.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GUS |title=Rocznik Demograficzny 2024 |url=https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/roczniki-statystyczne/roczniki-statystyczne/rocznik-demograficzny-2024,3,18.html |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=stat.gov.pl |language=pl}}</ref> 

Silesian voivodeship is the most densely populated and most urbanized region of Poland. More than three-fourths of residents live in urban areas, compared to less than 60% on average in Poland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wskaźnik urbanizacji w Polsce wg województw - Zintegrowana Platforma Edukacyjna |url=https://zpe.gov.pl/a/wskaznik-urbanizacji-w-polsce-wg-wojewodztw/DALbXxW5y |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=zpe.gov.pl}}</ref> Population density is nearly three times the average, with more than 350 people per square kilometer (nearly 1,000 per square mile).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rozmieszczenie ludności Polski - Zintegrowana Platforma Edukacyjna |url=https://zpe.gov.pl/a/rozmieszczenie-ludnosci-polski/D1GoKYG9R |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=zpe.gov.pl}}</ref> Population density is particularly high in the central part of the region where the polycentric Katowice urban area is located. 
[[File:Population density in the Silesian voivodeship.png|thumb|Population density in the region]]
Aside from Polish citizens, a large immigrant population resides in the region and is not counted towards official population statistics in Poland. As of November 2024, 99,542 foreigners living in the region paid into social security,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ubezpieczenia emerytalne i rentowe - Portal Statystyczny ZUS - zus.pl |url=https://psz.zus.pl/kategorie/ubezpieczeni/ubezpieczenia-emerytalne-i-rentowe |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241127105516/https://psz.zus.pl/kategorie/ubezpieczeni/ubezpieczenia-emerytalne-i-rentowe |archive-date=2024-11-27 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Portal Statystyczny ZUS |language=pl-PL}}</ref> and in the 2023/24 academic year, 31,111 foreign students attended primary and secondary schools in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Otwarte Dane |url=https://dane.gov.pl/pl/dataset/1426,liczba-uczniow-cudzoziemcow-wedug-gmin/resource/62744/table?page=1&per_page=20&q=&sort= |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=dane.gov.pl}}</ref> In addition, following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the region has attracted many refugees. As of January 2025, 99,545 Ukrainian refugees settled in the Silesian voivodeship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Otwarte Dane |url=https://dane.gov.pl/pl/dataset/2715,zarejestrowane-wnioski-o-nadanie-statusu-ukr/resource/63597/table |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=dane.gov.pl}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
Silesian voivodeship is the most religiously diverse region of Poland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GUS |title=Tablice z ostatecznymi danymi w zakresie przynależności narodowo-etnicznej, języka używanego w domu oraz przynależności do wyznania religijnego |url=https://stat.gov.pl/spisy-powszechne/nsp-2021/nsp-2021-wyniki-ostateczne/tablice-z-ostatecznymi-danymi-w-zakresie-przynaleznosci-narodowo-etnicznej-jezyka-uzywanego-w-domu-oraz-przynaleznosci-do-wyznania-religijnego,10,1.html |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=stat.gov.pl |language=pl}}</ref> In the 2021 census, 71.39% of residents declared they have belonged to a religion, of which [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] was the largest denomination with 3.063 million adherents (69.57% of total). The region is divided into five ecclesial provinces: 

* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Katowice|Archdiocese of Katowice]] with its suffragan [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Gliwice|Diocese of Gliwice]] covers all of the former [[Prussia|Prussian]] lands in the voivodeship
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bielsko–Żywiec|Diocese of Bielsko-Żywiec]] covers all of the former [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian]] lands in the voivodeship and is a suffragan to the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kraków|Archdiocese of Kraków]]
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Częstochowa|Archdiocese of Częstochowa]] with its suffragan [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Sosnowiec|Diocese of Sosnowiec]] covers all of the former [[Russian Empire|Russian]] lands in the voivodeship 

[[Jasna Góra Monastery|Jasna Góra]] in Częstochowa, located in the northern part of the voivodeship, is the most-visited shrine in Poland and features the [[Black Madonna]] icon. 

Silesian voivodeship is also the center of [[Protestantism]], in particular [[Lutheranism]], in Poland. [[Wisła]] and [[Gmina Goleszów|Goleszów]] are the only municipalities in Poland where Lutheranism is the plurality religion, at 46.7% and 37.47% of the total population, respectively. In total, there are 53,980 Protestants in the region (1.23% of the region's population and 42.7% of all protestants in Poland). 

=== Origins ===
In terms of nationality and ethnicity, the 2021 Polish census allowed responders to select up to two nationalities and ethnicities. [[Polish people|Polish]] nationality was selected by 95.49% of residents, while 13.08% indicated other nationalities; in addition to the Polish one or separately. [[Silesians|Silesian]] and [[Germans|German]] nationalities were the largest, declared by 517,100 and 27,923 residents, respectively.

The 2021 census did not count most of recent immigrants towards the resident population but instead considered them as temporary residents. According to the census, 119,594 of such temporary residents lived in the Silesian voivodeship, and the majority of them were Ukrainians.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GUS |title=Migracje zagraniczne na pobyt czasowy - wyniki NSP 2021 |url=https://stat.gov.pl/spisy-powszechne/nsp-2021/nsp-2021-wyniki-ostateczne/migracje-zagraniczne-na-pobyt-czasowy-wyniki-nsp-2021,4,1.html |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=stat.gov.pl |language=pl}}</ref>

== Tourism ==
[[File:Kolej linowa na Szyndzielnie z widokiem na Bielsko-Białą.jpg|thumb|left|[[:pl:Kolej_gondolowa_na_Szyndzielnię|"Szyndzielnia" gondola lift]] in [[Bielsko-Biała]], north part of [[Silesian Beskids|Beskid Śląski]]]]
Both the northern and southern parts of the voivodeship are surrounded by a [[green belt]]. [[Bielsko-Biała]] is enveloped by the [[Beskidy Mountains]] which are popular with winter sports fans. It offers over 150 ski lifts and 200 kilometres of ski routes. More and more slopes are illuminated and equipped with artificial snow generators. [[Szczyrk]], [[Brenna, Poland|Brenna]], [[Wisła]] and [[Ustroń]] are the most popular winter mountain resorts. Rock climbing sites can be found in [[Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska]]. In the south-western part of the voivodeship are parks and old monasteries ([[Rudy Raciborskie]], [[Wodzisław Śląski]]). Along the [[Oder|Oder River]] are interesting natural reserves and places for swimming during the summer.

There are numerous castles and palaces in the voivodeship, including the medieval castles of the [[Piast dynasty]] in [[Będzin Castle|Będzin]], [[Gliwice Castle|Gliwice]], [[Racibórz Castle|Racibórz]], and the castles forming the [[Trail of the Eagle's Nests]], including at [[Bobolice Castle|Bobolice]], [[Mirów Castle|Mirów]], [[Ogrodzieniec Castle|Ogrodzieniec]] and [[Olsztyn Castle (Silesian Voivodeship)|Olsztyn]]. The best-preserved palaces include those at [[Brynek]], [[Kłobuck]], [[Koniecpol]], [[Kończyce Wielkie]], [[Pławniowice]], [[Sosnowiec]] and [[Złoty Potok, Silesian Voivodeship|Złoty Potok]].

Often visited is the [[Black Madonna]]'s [[Jasna Góra]] Sanctuary in [[Częstochowa]] – the annual destination of over 4 million pilgrims from all over the world. Another local pilgrimage destination is the [[Basilica of St. Mary and St. Bartholomew]] in [[Piekary Śląskie]]. Other notable historic churches include the St. Nicholas' Chapel in [[Cieszyn]], a [[Romanesque architecture in Poland|Romanesque]] rotunda, depicted on the [[20 złotych note]], and the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Cieszyn, which contains several sarcophagi of Polish dukes from the [[Piast dynasty]].

There are three [[spa town]]s in the voivodeship: [[Goczałkowice-Zdrój]], [[Jastrzębie-Zdrój]], and [[Ustroń]].

With its more than two centuries of industrial history, the region has many technical heritage memorials. These include narrow and standard gauge railways, coal and silver mines, and shafts and their equipment from the 19th and 20th centuries. The historic coal mine complex in [[Zabrze]] is listed as a [[Historic Monument (Poland)|Historic Monument of Poland]],<ref>{{Cite Polish law|title=Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 14 lipca 2020 r. w sprawie uznania za pomnik historii "Zabrze - zespół zabytkowych kopalni węgla kamiennego"|year=2020|number=1288}}</ref> and the [[Historic Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry]] is listed as both a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] and Historic Monument of Poland.

There are numerous memorials to Polish uprisings against foreign rule, including the [[January Uprising]] of 1863–1864 and [[Silesian Uprisings]] of 1919–1921, and [[Świętochłowice]] hosts the Silesian Uprisings Museum.

There are numerous [[World War II]] memorials in the voivodeship, including at the sites of Nazi massacres of Poles and Jews, and the sites of former Nazi German [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|forced labour]] camps and prisons. The [[Gliwice Radio Tower]] and [[Parachute Tower in Katowice|Katowice Parachute Tower]] are local symbols of German provocation and Polish resistance during the war, respectively.

<gallery mode="packed" widths="150px" heights="130px">
2012 Powiat cieszyński, Cieszyn, Rynek, Ratusz i dawny hotel Pod Brunatnym Jeleniem.jpg|Cieszyn Old Town
20140619 Zamek Bobolice 3914.jpg|[[Bobolice Castle|Bobolice Royal Castle]]
Pałac w Pszczynie 38.JPG|[[Pszczyna Castle]] in [[Pszczyna]]
Częstochowa, Jasna Góra, wieża bazyliki , brama Lubomirskich - DSCF7204.jpg|[[Jasna Góra Monastery]]
SZTOLNIA GŁĘBOKA FRYDERYK - część trasy turystycznej pn. Sztolnia Czarnego Pastrąga.jpg|[[Historic Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry]]
</gallery>

== Cities and towns ==
[[File:Katowice Rynek.jpg|right|thumb|[[Katowice]] is the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship]]
[[File:CzestochowaAlejaSienkiewicza.jpg|right|thumb|[[Jasna Góra]] in [[Częstochowa]] is the holiest Roman Catholic shrine in Poland]]
[[File:6588vik Gliwice. Foto Barbara Maliszewska.jpg|thumb|alt=Gliwice|[[Gliwice]], one of the oldest cities in [[Upper Silesia|Silesia]]]]
[[File:Ratusz Bielsko-Biała.JPG|thumb|[[Bielsko-Biała]] is a major industrial, transport and touristic hub]]
Due to its industrial and urban nature, the voivodeship has many cities and large towns. Of Poland's 40 most populous cities, 12 are in Silesian Voivodeship. 19 of the cities in the voivodeship have the legal status of ''city-county'' (see [[powiat]]). In all, it has 24 cities and 47 towns, listed below in descending order of population (as of 2019):<ref name=pop/>
{{Columns-list|colwidth=15em|
'''Cities (governed by a city mayor or ''prezydent miasta''):'''
# [[Katowice]] (293,636)
# [[Częstochowa]] (221,252)
# [[Sosnowiec]] (201,121)
# [[Gliwice]] (179,154)
# [[Zabrze]] (172,806)
# [[Bielsko-Biała]] (170,953)
# [[Bytom]] (165,975)
# [[Rybnik]] (138,319)
# [[Ruda Śląska]] (137,624)
# [[Tychy]] (127,664)
# [[Dąbrowa Górnicza]] (119,800)
# [[Chorzów]] (107,963)
# [[Jaworzno]] (91,263)
# [[Jastrzębie-Zdrój]] (88,808)
# [[Mysłowice]] (74,515)
# [[Siemianowice Śląskie]] (66,963)
# [[Żory]] (62,462)
# [[Będzin]] (56,624)
# [[Piekary Śląskie]] (55,088)
# [[Racibórz]] (54,778)
# [[Świętochłowice]] (49,762)
# [[Zawiercie]] (49,334)
# [[Wodzisław Śląski]] (47,992)
# [[Knurów]] (38,310)

'''Towns:'''
# [[Tarnowskie Góry]] (61,422)
# [[Mikołów]] (40,898)
# [[Czechowice-Dziedzice]] (35,926)
# [[Cieszyn]] (34,513)
# [[Myszków]] (31,650)
# [[Czeladź]] (31,545)
# [[Żywiec]] (31,194)
# [[Czerwionka-Leszczyny]] (28,156)
# [[Pszczyna]] (26,804)
# [[Lubliniec]] (23,784)
# [[Łaziska Górne]] (22,298)
# [[Rydułtowy]] (21,616)
# [[Orzesze]] (21,043)
# [[Bieruń]] (19,539)
# [[Pyskowice]] (18,432)
# [[Radlin, Silesian Voivodeship|Radlin]] (17,776)
# [[Radzionków]] (16,826)
# [[Lędziny]] (16,776)
# [[Ustroń]] (16,073)
# [[Skoczów]] (14,385)
# [[Pszów]] (13,896)
# [[Kłobuck]] (12,934)
# [[Wisła]] (11,132)
# [[Blachownia]] (9,545)
# [[Imielin]] (9,175)
# [[Wojkowice]] (8,927)
# [[Kalety]] (8,607)
# [[Poręba]] (8,525)
# [[Miasteczko Śląskie]] (7,437)
# [[Sławków]] (7,017)
# [[Łazy]] (6,811)
# [[Koniecpol]] (5,910)
# [[Szczyrk]] (5,734)
# [[Siewierz]] (5,581)
# [[Kuźnia Raciborska]] (5,359)
# [[Żarki]] (4,556)
# [[Krzepice]] (4,456)
# [[Woźniki]] (4,305)
# [[Ogrodzieniec]] (4,282)
# [[Strumień]] (3,718)
# [[Szczekociny]] (3,612)
# [[Toszek]] (3,600)
# [[Wilamowice]] (3,100)
# [[Olsztyn, Silesian Voivodeship|Olsztyn]]
# [[Koziegłowy, Silesian Voivodeship|Koziegłowy]] (2,245)
# [[Krzanowice]] (2,157)
# [[Pilica, Silesian Voivodeship|Pilica]] (1,936)
# [[Sośnicowice]] (1,919)
# [[Przyrów]]
# [[Włodowice, Silesian Voivodeship|Włodowice]]
}}

== Economy ==
The [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the province was 61 billion € in 2018, accounting for 12.3% of the Polish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 22,200 € or 74% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 83% of the EU average. Silesia Voivodeship is the province with the fourth-highest GDP per capita in Poland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat}}</ref>

The Silesian voivodeship is predominantly an industrial region. Most of the
mining is derived from one of the world's largest bituminous [[coal]]fields of the Upper Silesian Industrial District (''{{lang|pl|Górnośląski Okręg Przemysłowy}}'') and the [[Rybnik]] Coal District (''{{lang|pl|Rybnicki Okręg Węglowy}}'') with its major cities [[Rybnik]], [[Jastrzębie-Zdrój]], [[Żory]] and [[Wodzisław Śląski]]. [[Lead]] and [[zinc]] can be found near [[Bytom]], [[Zawiercie]] and [[Tarnowskie Góry]]; [[iron ore]] and raw materials for building – near [[Częstochowa]]. The most important regional industries are: mining, iron, lead, and zinc metallurgy, power industry, engineering, automobile, chemical, building materials, and textile. In the past, the Silesian economy was determined by coal mining. Now, considering the investment volume, car manufacturing is becoming more and more important. The most profitable company in the region is [[Fiat]] Auto-Poland S.A. in Bielsko-Biała with a revenue of [[Polish złoty|PLN]] 6.2 billion in 1997. Recently a new car factory has been opened by [[General Motors Corporation|GM]] [[Opel]] in Gliwice. There are two [[Special Economic Zone]]s in the area: Katowice and Częstochowa. The voivodeship's economy consists of about 323,000, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, employing over 3 million people. The biggest Polish steelworks, "Huta Katowice", is situated in [[Dąbrowa Górnicza]].

The unemployment rate stood at 3.9% in 2017 and was lower than the national average.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=de&pcode=tgs00010&plugin=1|title=Regional Unemployment by NUTS2 Region|website=Eurostat}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!2006
!2007
!2008
!2009
!2010
!2011
!2012
!2013
!2014
!2015
!2016
!2017
|-
|'''Unemployment rate'''<br/>(in %)
|14.2 
|8.1
|6.6
|6.7
|9.2
|9.2
|9.4
|9.7
|8.6
|7.2
|5.4
|3.9
|}

== Transport ==
[[File:Terminal A outside.jpg|thumb|Terminal A at [[Katowice International Airport]]]]
[[Katowice International Airport]] (in [[Tarnowskie Góry County]]) is used for domestic and international flights, with the other nearby airports being [[John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice]]. The Silesian agglomeration railway network has the largest concentration in the country. 

The voivodship capital enjoys good railway and road connections with [[Gdańsk]] ([[A1 autostrada (Poland)|motorway A1]]) and [[Ostrava]] (motorway A1), [[Kraków]] ([[Autostrada A4 (Poland)|motorway A4]]), [[Wrocław]] (motorway A4), [[Łódź]] (motorway A1) and [[Warsaw]]. It is also the crossing point for many international routes like [[European route E40|E40]] connecting [[Calais]], [[Brussels]], [[Cologne]], [[Dresden]], [[Wrocław]], [[Kraków]] and [[Kyiv]] and [[European route E75|E75]] from [[Scandinavia]] to the [[Balkans]]. A relatively short distance to [[Vienna]] facilitates cross-border co-operation and may positively influence the process of European integration.

[[Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line|Linia Hutnicza Szerokotorowa]] (known by its acronym ''LHS'', English: ''Broad gauge metallurgy line'') in [[Sławków]] is the longest [[broad gauge]] [[Rail tracks|railway line]] in Poland. The line runs on a single track for almost 400&nbsp;km from the Polish-[[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] border, crossing it just east of [[Hrubieszów]]. It is the westernmost broad-gauge railway line in Europe that is connected to the broad-gauge rail system of the countries of the former Soviet Union.

A large part of the Upper Silesia conurbation features the [[Silesian Interurbans]], the longest tram network in Poland, and one of the largest in the world. Bus and tram transport in and around Katowice and surrounding cities has been managed by the Metropolitan Transport Authority (ZTM) since 2019.

== Education ==
[[File:Gliwice Strzody Czerwona Chemia 04 09 2011 P9049533.jpg|thumb|[[Silesian University of Technology]] in [[Gliwice]], Faculty of Chemistry]]
There are eleven public universities in the voivodeship. The biggest university is the [[University of Silesia]] in [[Katowice]], with 43,000 students. The region's capital boasts the [[Medical University of Silesia|Medical University]], the Karol Adamiecki [[University of Economics in Katowice]], the [[University of Music in Katowice]], the Physical Education Academy, and the Academy of Fine Arts. [[Częstochowa]] is the seat of the [[Częstochowa University of Technology]] and Pedagogic University. The [[Silesian University of Technology]] in [[Gliwice]] is nationally renowned. [[Bielsko-Biała]] is home of the Technical-Humanistic Academy. In addition, 17 new private schools have been established in the region.

There are over 300,000 people currently studying in the Voivodeship. The biggest universities<ref>[http://firmstrony.pl/uniwersytet/wojewodztwo-slaskie Lista uczelni i szkół w Województwie śląskim].</ref> (for day 30.11.2016 r.) are:

# [[University of Silesia in Katowice|Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach]] (23 133 students),
# [[Silesian University of Technology|Politechnika Śląska]] w Gliwicach (21 366 students),
# [[University of Economics in Katowice|Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach]] (10 345 students),
# [[Medical University of Silesia|Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach]] (9 870 students),
# [[Częstochowa University of Technology|Politechnika Częstochowska]] (7 881 students),
# [[University of Bielsko-Biała|Akademia Techniczno-Humanistyczna w Bielsku-Białej]] (5 482 students),
# [[:pl:Akademia_Wychowania_Fizycznego_im._Jerzego_Kukuczki_w_Katowicach|Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego im. Jerzego Kukuczki w Katowicach]] (4 727 students),
# [[Jan Długosz University|Uniwersytet Humanistyczno-Przyrodniczy im. Jana Długosza w Częstochowie]] (4 525 students).

== Politics ==
[[File:Sejm Śląski ul. Lompy, Ligonia Katowice (2).jpg|thumb|Silesian Regional Assembly]]
{{Main|Silesian Regional Assembly}}
The Silesian voivodeship's government is headed by the province's ''{{lang|pl|voivode}}'' ([[Voivodes of Poland (since 1999)|governor]]) who is appointed by the [[Polish Prime Minister]]. The ''{{lang|pl|voivode}}'' is then assisted in performing his duties by the voivodeship's marshal, who is the appointed speaker for the voivodeship's executive and is elected by the ''{{lang|pl|sejmik}}'' (provincial assembly). The current ''{{lang|pl|voivode}}'' of Silesia is Jarosław Wieczorek, whilst the present marshal is Wojciech Saługa.

The Sejmik of Silesia consists of 48 members.

=== 2024 election ===
{| class="wikitable"
! width=5 |
! Political groups<ref>{{cite web| url = https://wybory2018.pkw.gov.pl/pl/geografia/240000#results_elect_council| title = Serwis PKW – Wybory 2018}}</ref>
! Mandates
|-
| style="background:{{party color|KO}}"|
| '''[[Koalicja Obywatelska]]'''
| align="center" | 20
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Law and Justice}}"|
| '''[[Law and Justice (Poland)|Prawo i Sprawiedliwość]]'''
| align="center" | 18
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Third Way (Poland)}}"|
| '''[[Trzecia Droga]]'''
| align="center" | 5
|-
| style="background:{{party color|The Left (Poland)}}"|
| '''[[Lewica]]'''
| align="center" | 2
|- bgcolor="#ececec"
!
! | Total
! align="center" | 45
|}

== Administrative division ==
Silesian Voivodeship is divided into 36 counties ([[powiat]]s). These include 19 city counties (far more than any other voivodeship) and 17 land counties. The counties are further divided into 167 [[gmina]]s.

The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
|-bgcolor="D0D8DD"
|
| align="center"|'''English and<br /> Polish names'''
| align="center"|'''Area<br /> <small>(km<sup>2</sup>)</small>'''
| align="center"|'''Population<br /> <small>(2019)</small>'''
| align="center"|'''Seat'''
| width="30%" align="center"|'''Other towns'''
| align="center"|'''Total<br /> [[gmina]]s'''
|-bgcolor="F0F8FF"
|
|colspan=6|'''City counties'''
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:Katowice Herb.svg|20px]]
| [[Katowice]]
| align="right"|165
| align="right"|293,636
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Częstochowa COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Częstochowa]]
| align="right"|160
| align="right"|221,252
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| <!-- [[File:Sosnowiec Herb.svg|20px]] -->
| [[Sosnowiec]]
| align="right"|91
| align="right"|201,121
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Gliwice COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Gliwice]]
| align="right"|134
| align="right"|179,154
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Zabrze COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Zabrze]]
| align="right"|80
| align="right"|172,806
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Bielsko-Biała COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Bielsko-Biała]]
| align="right"|125
| align="right"|170,953
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Bytom COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Bytom]]
| align="right"|69
| align="right"|165,975
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Rybnik COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Rybnik]]
| align="right"|148
| align="right"|138,319
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Ruda Śląska COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Ruda Śląska]]
| align="right"|78
| align="right"|137,624
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Tychy COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Tychy]]
| align="right"|82
| align="right"|127,664
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Dąbrowa Górnicza COA 1.svg|20px]]
| [[Dąbrowa Górnicza]]
| align="right"|188
| align="right"|119,800
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Chorzów COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Chorzów]]
| align="right"|33
| align="right"|107,963
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Jaworzno COA alt.svg|20px]]
| [[Jaworzno]]
| align="right"|154
| align="right"|91,263
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Jastrzębie-Zdrój COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Jastrzębie-Zdrój]]
| align="right"|85
| align="right"|88,808
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Mysłowice COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Mysłowice]]
| align="right"|66
| align="right"|74,515
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
|style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Siemianowice COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Siemianowice Śląskie]]
| align="right"|25
| align="right"|66,963
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Żory COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Żory]]
| align="right"|65
| align="right"|62,462
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Piekary Śląskie COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Piekary Śląskie]]
| align="right"|40
| align="right"|55,088
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| style="text-align:center"| [[File:POL Świętochłowice COA.svg|20px]]
| [[Świętochłowice]]
| align="right"|13
| align="right"|49,762
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-bgcolor="F0F8FF"
|
|colspan=6|'''Land counties'''
|-
|
|[[Cieszyn County]]<br /> powiat cieszyński
| align="right"| 730
| align="right"|178,145
|[[Cieszyn]]
|[[Ustroń]], [[Skoczów]], [[Wisła]], [[Strumień]]
| align="center"|12
|-
|
|[[Bielsko County]]<br /> powiat bielski
| align="right"| 457
| align="right"|165,374
|[[Bielsko-Biała]]*
|[[Czechowice-Dziedzice]], [[Szczyrk]], [[Wilamowice]]
| align="center"|10
|-
|
|[[Wodzisław County]]<br /> powiat wodzisławski
| align="right"| 287
| align="right"|157,346
|[[Wodzisław Śląski]]
|[[Rydułtowy]], [[Radlin, Silesian Voivodeship|Radlin]], [[Pszów]]
| align="center"|9
|-
|
|[[Żywiec County]]<br /> powiat żywiecki
| align="right"| 1,040
| align="right"|152,877
|[[Żywiec]]
|
| align="center"|15
|-
|
|[[Będzin County]]<br /> powiat będziński
| align="right"| 368
| align="right"|148,516
|[[Będzin]]
|[[Czeladź]], [[Wojkowice]], [[Sławków]], [[Siewierz]]
| align="center"|8
|-
|
|[[Tarnowskie Góry County]]<br /> powiat tarnogórski
| align="right"| 643
| align="right"|140,022
|[[Tarnowskie Góry]]
|[[Radzionków]], [[Kalety]], [[Miasteczko Śląskie]]
| align="center"|9
|-
|
|[[Częstochowa County]]<br /> powiat częstochowski
| align="right"| 1,519
| align="right"|134,637
|[[Częstochowa]]*
|[[Blachownia]], [[Koniecpol]], [[Olsztyn, Silesian Voivodeship|Olsztyn]], [[Przyrów]]
| align="center"|16
|-
|
|[[Zawiercie County]]<br /> powiat zawierciański
| align="right"| 1,003
| align="right"|118,020
|[[Zawiercie]]
|[[Poręba]], [[Łazy]], [[Ogrodzieniec]], [[Szczekociny]], [[Pilica, Silesian Voivodeship|Pilica]], [[Włodowice, Silesian Voivodeship|Włodowice]]
| align="center"|10
|-
|
|[[Gliwice County]]<br /> powiat gliwicki
| align="right"| 663
| align="right"|115,571
|[[Gliwice]]*
|[[Knurów]], [[Pyskowice]], [[Toszek]], [[Sośnicowice]]
| align="center"|8
|-
|
|[[Pszczyna County]]<br /> powiat pszczyński
| align="right"| 473
| align="right"|111,324
|[[Pszczyna]]
|
| align="center"|6
|-
|
|[[Racibórz County]]<br /> powiat raciborski
| align="right"| 544
| align="right"|108,388
|[[Racibórz]]
|[[Kuźnia Raciborska]], [[Krzanowice]]
| align="center"|8
|-
|
|[[Mikołów County]]<br /> powiat mikołowski
| align="right"| 232
| align="right"|98,689
|[[Mikołów]]
|[[Łaziska Górne]], [[Orzesze]]
| align="center"|5
|-
|
|[[Kłobuck County]]<br /> powiat kłobucki
| align="right"| 889
| align="right"|84,762
|[[Kłobuck]]
|[[Krzepice]]
| align="center"|9
|-
|
|[[Rybnik County]]<br /> powiat rybnicki
| align="right"| 225
| align="right"|78,148
|[[Rybnik]]*
|[[Czerwionka-Leszczyny]]
| align="center"|5
|-
|
|[[Lubliniec County]]<br /> powiat lubliniecki
| align="right"| 822
| align="right"|76,470
|[[Lubliniec]]
|[[Woźniki]]
| align="center"|8
|-
|
|[[Myszków County]]<br /> powiat myszkowski
| align="right"| 479
| align="right"|70,959
|[[Myszków]]
|[[Żarki]], [[Koziegłowy, Silesian Voivodeship|Koziegłowy]]
| align="center"|5
|-
|
|[[Bieruń-Lędziny County]]<br /> powiat bieruńsko-lędziński
| align="right"| 157
| align="right"|59,715
|[[Bieruń]]
|[[Lędziny]], [[Imielin]]
| align="center"|5
|-bgcolor="F0F8FF"
|
|colspan=6 style="text-align:center;font-size:90%"|* seat not part of the county
|-
|}

== Protected areas ==
[[File:Beskid Mały Mountains (PL).jpg|thumb|Little Beskids Landscape Park]]
[[Protected area]]s in Silesian Voivodeship include eight areas designated as [[Landscape Park (Poland)|Landscape Parks]]:
* [[Eagle Nests Landscape Park]] (partly in [[Lesser Poland Voivodeship]])
* [[Little Beskids Landscape Park]] (partly in Lesser Poland Voivodeship)
* [[Rudy Landscape Park]]
* [[Silesian Beskids Landscape Park]]
* [[Stawki Landscape Park]]
* [[Upper Liswarta Forests Landscape Park]]
* [[Załęcze Landscape Park]] (partly in [[Łódź Voivodeship]])
* [[Żywiec Landscape Park]]

== Sports ==
{{multiple image|align=right|direction=vertical|caption_align=center|perrow=2|width=210
|image1=Spodek03.jpg
|image2=Hala-gliwice-20170620 (cropped).jpg
|footer=[[Spodek]] in Katowice and [[Gliwice Arena]] in Gliwice, the largest indoor arenas in the voivodeship}}
{{multiple image|align=right|direction=vertical|caption_align=center|perrow=2|width=210
|image1=Silesian Stadium - Flickr - radkuch.13.jpg
|image2=Ernest Pohl Stadium - Zabrze 2.jpg
|footer=[[Silesian Stadium]] in Chorzów and [[Arena Zabrze]] in Zabrze, the largest stadiums in the voivodeship}}
[[Association football|Football]], [[motorcycle speedway]], [[handball]], [[ice hockey]], and [[volleyball]] enjoy the largest following in the voivodeship, with several successful teams. Most accomplished clubs include men's football clubs [[Górnik Zabrze]] and [[Ruch Chorzów]], women's football club [[Czarni Sosnowiec]], speedway team [[KS ROW Rybnik]], ice hockey team [[GKS Katowice (ice hockey)|GKS Katowice]], men's volleyball team [[Jastrzębski Węgiel]] and women's volleyball team [[BKS Bielsko-Biała]].

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
|-
|+ Professional sports teams
|-
!Club
!Sport
!League
!Trophies<!--Major international trophies or domestic championships and cups.-->
|-
|[[Górnik Zabrze]]
|Football (men's)
|[[Ekstraklasa]]
|14 Polish Championships<br>6 [[Polish Cup]]s
|-
|[[Raków Częstochowa]]
|Football (men's)
|[[Ekstraklasa]]
|1 Polish Championship ([[2022–23 Ekstraklasa|2023]])<br>2 [[Polish Cup]]s ([[2020–21 Polish Cup|2021]], [[2021–22 Polish Cup|2022]])
|-
|[[GKS Katowice]]
|Football (men's)
|[[Ekstraklasa]]
|3 [[Polish Cup]]s (1986, 1991, 1993)
|-
|[[Piast Gliwice]]
|Football (men's)
|[[Ekstraklasa]]
|1 Polish Championship ([[2018–19 Ekstraklasa|2019]])
|-
|[[Ruch Chorzów]]
|Football (men's)
|[[I liga]]
|14 Polish Championships<br>3 [[Polish Cup]]s (1951, 1974, 1996)
|-
|[[GKS Tychy]]
|Football (men's)
|[[I liga]]
|0
|-
|[[Polonia Bytom]]
|Football (men's)
|[[II liga]]
|2 Polish Championships ([[1954 Ekstraklasa|1954]], [[1962 Ekstraklasa|1962]])
|-
|[[Zagłębie Sosnowiec]]
|Football (men's)
|[[II liga]]
|4 [[Polish Cup]]s
|-
|[[Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała]]
|Football (men's)
|[[II liga]]
|0
|-
|[[Rekord Bielsko-Biała (football)|Rekord Bielsko-Biała]]
|Football (men's)
|[[II liga]]
|0
|-
|[[GKS Jastrzębie]]
|Football (men's)
|[[II liga]]
|0
|-
|[[Czarni Sosnowiec]]
|Football (women's)
|[[Ekstraliga (women's football)|Ekstraliga]]
|13 Polish Championships<br>13 Polish Cups
|-
|[[GKS Katowice (women)|GKS Katowice]]
|Football (women's)
|[[Ekstraliga (women's football)|Ekstraliga]]
|2 Polish Championships (2023, 2025)
|-
|[[GKS Tychy (ice hockey)|GKS Tychy]]
|Ice hockey
|[[Polska Hokej Liga]]
|6 Polish Championships<br>11 [[Polish Cup (ice hockey)|Polish Cups]]
|-
|[[GKS Katowice (ice hockey)|GKS Katowice]]
|Ice hockey
|[[Polska Hokej Liga]]
|8 Polish Championships<br>1 [[Polish Cup (ice hockey)|Polish Cup]] (1970)
|-
|[[KH Zagłębie Sosnowiec]]
|Ice hockey
|[[Polska Hokej Liga]]
|5 Polish Championships
|-
|[[JKH GKS Jastrzębie]]
|Ice hockey
|[[Polska Hokej Liga]]
|1 Polish Championship (2021)<br>4 [[Polish Cup (ice hockey)|Polish Cups]]
|-
|[[Jastrzębski Węgiel]]
|Volleyball (men's)
|[[PlusLiga]]
|4 Polish Championships<br>2 [[Polish Men's Volleyball Cup|Polish Cups]] (2010, 2025)
|-
|[[Warta Zawiercie (volleyball)|Warta Zawiercie]]
|Volleyball (men's)
|[[PlusLiga]]
|1 [[Polish Men's Volleyball Cup|Polish Cup]] ([[2023–24 Polish Men's Volleyball Cup|2024]])
|-
|[[GKS Katowice (volleyball)|GKS Katowice]]
|Volleyball (men's)
|[[PlusLiga]]
|0
|-
|[[MKS Będzin]]
|Volleyball (men's)
|[[PlusLiga]]
|0
|-
|[[KS Norwid Częstochowa]]
|Volleyball (men's)
|[[PlusLiga]]
|0
|-
|[[BBTS Bielsko-Biała]]
|Volleyball (men's)
|I liga
|1 [[Polish Men's Volleyball Cup|Polish Cup]] (1994)
|-
|[[BKS Bielsko-Biała]]
|Volleyball (women's)
|[[Polish Women's Volleyball League|Tauron Liga]]
|8 Polish Championships<br>8 [[Polish Women's Volleyball Cup|Polish Cups]]
|-
|[[Włókniarz Częstochowa]]
|Speedway
|[[Ekstraliga (speedway)|Ekstraliga]]
|4 Polish Championships
|-
|[[KS ROW Rybnik]]
|Speedway
|[[Ekstraliga (speedway)|Ekstraliga]]
|12 Polish Championships
|-
|[[Górnik Zabrze (handball)|Górnik Zabrze]]
|Handball (men's)
|[[Polish Superliga]]
|2 Polish Championships (1989, 1990)<br>3 [[Polish Handball Cup|Polish Cups]] (1984, 1988, 1990)
|-
|[[Ruch Chorzów (women's handball)|Ruch Chorzów]]
|Handball (women's)
|[[Polish Women's Superliga (women's handball)|Superliga]]
|9 Polish Championships<br>5 Polish Cups
|-
|[[GTK Gliwice]]
|Basketball (men's)
|[[Polish Basketball League]]
|0
|-
|[[MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza (basketball)|MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza]]
|Basketball (men's)
|[[Polish Basketball League]]
|0
|-
|[[Zagłębie Sosnowiec (women's basketball)|Zagłębie Sosnowiec]]
|Basketball (women's)
|[[Basket Liga Kobiet]]
|0
|}

Since the establishment of the province, several major international sports competitions were co-hosted by the province, including the [[EuroBasket 2009]], [[2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship]], [[2016 European Men's Handball Championship]], [[2017 Men's European Volleyball Championship]], [[2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship]], [[2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup]], [[2021 Men's European Volleyball Championship]], [[2023 World Men's Handball Championship]].

== Curiosities ==
*[[Bytom]], [[Cieszyn]], [[Racibórz]] and [[Siewierz]] are former medieval ducal seats of the [[Piast dynasty]].
*One of the three parish churches of the [[Armenian Catholic Church]] in Poland is located in [[Gliwice]] (see also: ''[[Armenians in Poland]]'').

== See also ==
* [[History of Silesia]]
* [[Silesian Uprisings]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.slaskie.pl Województwo Śląskie] Official website

{{Silesian Voivodeship}}
{{Voivodeships of Poland}}
{{Silesia topics}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|50|20|00|N|19|00|01|E|region:PL-SL_type:adm1st|display=title}}

[[Category:Silesian Voivodeship| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1999]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Poland]]