Total permanent migration in Poland at the turn of the 21st century was influenced by the political and economic events (economic transformation and the change of the political system in 1989, and accession to the European Union). Among the types of international migration, temporary emigration prevailed. Emigrants were usually aged between 18 and 39,and came mostly from urban areas. Until the year 2000, the prevailing direction in internal migration was the movement from rural to urban areas, and since then, a reversal of this trend has been observed. Positive net migration was recorded mainly in the suburbs of large cities and suburban municipalities. As a result of this trend, suburbanization and metropolization processes intensified in Poland. On the other hand, agricultural and peripheral areas, as well as smaller towns, have begun to lose their importance and are often characterized by a negative migration balance, as opposed to the suburban areas of the biggest cities in Poland.