The proportion of nobles in the population varied across regions. In the 16th century, the highest proportion of nobles lived in the Płock Voivodeship (24,6%) and in Podlachia (26,7%), while Galicia had numerically the largest szlachta population. In districts, such as Wizna and Łomża, the szlachta constituted nearly half of the population. Regions with the lowest percentage of nobles were the Kraków Voivodeship with (1,7%), Royal Prussia with (3%) and the Sieradz Voivodeship with 4,6%. Before the Union of Lublin, inequality among nobles in terms of wealth and power was far greater in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania than in the Polish Kingdom. The further south and east one went, the more the territory was dominated by magnate families and other nobles. In the Lithuanian and Ruthenian palatinates, poor nobles were more likely to rent smallholdings from magnates than to own land themselves.
the proportion of nobles in the population varied across regions in the 16th century the highest proportion of nobles lived in the płock voivodeship (246%) and in podlachia (267%) while galicia had numerically the largest szlachta population in districts such as wizna and łomża the szlachta constituted nearly half of the population regions with the lowest percentage of nobles were the kraków voivodeship with (17%) royal prussia with (3%) and the sieradz voivodeship with 46% before the union of lublin inequality among nobles in terms of wealth and power was far greater in the grand duchy of lithuania than in the polish kingdom the further south and east one went the more the territory was dominated by magnate families and other nobles in the lithuanian and ruthenian palatinates poor nobles were more likely to rent smallholdings from magnates than to own land themselves