There are significant differences in plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure, prevalence of cigarette smoking, obesity, education level and alcohol consumption found between the rural and industrial populations in Poland. It was found that the differences in plasma lipids and lipoproteins concentration are related to the differences in age, sex, education level, alcohol consumption, obesity, cigarette smoking and blood pressure. Increase of education level was related to increase in plasma concentration of total cholesterol. LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides but it was related to decrease of HDL-cholesterol. After the adjustment to all above factors the differences in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol between the studied populations appeared insignificant. The differences in HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides remained significant.