The results of the Krakow Barometer have been announced

The social survey on the quality of life and public services in Krakow has been implemented every two years since 2014. Its main aims are to learn what residents think about the development and functioning of the city in particular areas of governance, to monitor opinions on the quality of services provided, and to respond to expectations.

The previous local authorities were evaluated

The survey is carried out on a sample of at least 1,100 adult residents, and participation in the survey entails answering the questions in the survey during a meeting with the interviewer. The participant selection is random, ensuring that the results of the survey are representative of the opinions and attitudes of residents across the city, with a maximum estimation error of 3 percent. All the information obtained is anonymous and is summarised in the survey report in the form of summary statistics.

This year’s edition took place from 15 April to 10 June, with questions traditionally referring to the last 12 months of local government. Following the April local elections and the consequent change in local government, respondents assessed the state of the city in the final year of the past term. The survey was conducted on a group of 1,130 people.

Cracovians satisfied with life

Around 91 percent of Cracovians say they are satisfied with life in Krakow, with 87 percent agreeing with the statement that Krakow enables them to achieve their life goals.

When asked about specific aspects of life in the city, they declare themselves most satisfied with the attractiveness of the city centre, the cultural and entertainment offer, the quality of green spaces, and education.

“This research is part of the dialogue with residents, on a par with the bench of dialogue and public consultation, which I have been focusing on since the beginning of the new term in May. I am very pleased to see that the trends are positive and that the majority of residents are satisfied with life in Krakow,” says Mayor Aleksander Miszalski.

Expectations: more car parks, further improvement in air quality

Residents are least satisfied with the availability of parking spaces in Krakow (56 percent are dissatisfied), the cost of living (49 percent are dissatisfied) and air quality, although in the case of air quality, satisfaction has been rising steadily over the years, with a 7-percentage-point increase from 2022.

Respondents indicated that measures taken to combat noise also need to be intensified, with only 44 percent of respondents satisfied with noise levels in the city.

Residents also notice an improvement in the quality and accessibility of green space in the city, with 90 percent of respondents reporting that there are areas within a 15-minute walk of where they live for leisure or recreation.

“Since the pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in the satisfaction of Cracovians with green spaces. Air cleanliness is still a priority, which, in the opinion of those surveyed, requires further action by the local government,” points out Michał Chrzanowski, an external expert from Inquisio, which prepared the statistical analysis of the Barometer results on behalf of the authority.

Priorities for the coming years

In each edition of the survey, respondents are asked to select three aspects that should be given priority in city government activities. In this year’s edition, the cost of living, the availability of parking spaces in the city, and security concerns received the most indications. Improving air quality is also among the priorities, and although Cracovians do recognise the efforts made in caring for air purity, its quality is continually highlighted as one of the key measures for the city authorities.

Around 87 percent of respondents are satisfied with public transport. Particular aspects of the management of public transport (e.g. the location of stops, reliability, travel comfort or commuting time) are rated highly, but only 50% of Cracovians declare themselves satisfied with the level of ticket prices.

A high level of safety, although lower after dark

A very high percentage of Cracovians, an impressive 98 percent, declare a feeling of safety in the city. Safety in Krakow has been at a high level for years, although the feeling of safety at night has slightly decreased.

There is also a high level of satisfaction with the functioning of educational facilities and leisure activities in the city, with 93 percent of respondents expressing satisfaction in this regard.