The aim of this article is to show spatial disparities in the level of poverty and other selected social problems in Poland. The level of absolute, relative and statutory poverty by provinces and by localization was presented as well as differentiation of statutory poverty in urban, rural and urban-rural communes. The period of investigation covers the year 2012. In this paper, the data of the Central Statistical Office (CSO) Local Data Bank were used. Differentiation of the share of social security beneficiaries was analysed, mean, median and coefficient of variation was calculated. The share of gminas with a low, medium and high level of social problems was presented. It appeared that the scope of statutory poverty was larger in rural communities than in others. The analysis confirmed that in gminas with city (regardless its size) inhibitants were less affected by social problems than inhibitants of rural gminas.