Ukraine Population

Ukraine is the second largest state in Europe. The country became independent in 1991, following the fall of the Soviet Union. A revolution in 2014 led Ukraine on a collision course with Russia, which annexed the Crimean Peninsula and supported an armed uprising in the east of the country.

Key figures and facts

• Capital: Kiev
• Ethnic groups: Ukrainians 77.8%, Russians 17.3%, Belarusians 0.6%, Moldovans 0.5%, Crimean Tatars 0.5%, Bulgarians 0.4%, Hungarians 0.3%, Romanians 0.3%, Poles 0.3%, Jews 0.2%, others 1.8% (2001)
• Language: Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian 24%, other 9%
• Religion: Ukrainian Orthodox (Kiev Patriarchate) 50.4%, Ukrainian Orthodox (Moscow Patriarchate) 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%, Ukrainian Autocephaly Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Protestants 2.2%, Jews 0.6%, others 3.2 % (2006 estimate)
• Population: 44 009 214
• Control Form: Republic
• Area: 603 550 km2
• Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia
• GNP per capita: 8 270 PPP $
• National Day: August 24th

Population of Ukraine

Ukraine’s population is estimated at 45,490,000 (World Bank 2013). Life expectancy at birth is 76.0 years for women and 66.1 years for men.

The pace of population growth varied greatly in the 20th century. In the latter part of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, population growth was among the highest in Europe. In the 1930s, it is estimated that 3–6 million died as a result of the 1932–33 famine and the many political clean-ups and deportations that took place during this period. In addition to this, the population loss due to the Second World War is estimated at 5.3 million. Ukraine therefore lost over a period of 15 years approximately 25% of the population. After World War II, the population rose steadily, but leveled towards the end of the Soviet period. In 2008, the population was estimated at close to 46 million.

The majority of the population are Ukrainians (78%). The proportion of Russians is 17.3%. In Crimea, the Russians make up the majority of the population (about 70%). Large parts of the Ukrainian population have been linguistically “Russianized”, and estimates of the proportion of the total population who use Russian in everyday speech vary somewhat, but most are just over 50%. In Crimea there is also a considerable Tatar population. Crimean Tatars were expelled from Crimea during World War II, but were allowed to return to their homeland in 1988.

About 67% of the population live in cities (2008). Next to the capital Kiev are the main cities of Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donets. Population density is clearly greatest in the eastern parts of the country.

Population of Ukraine by Year (Historical)

Year	Population	Annual Growth Rate	Population Density	Global Rank
2020	43,733,651	-0.590%	75.4916	35
2019	43,993,527	-0.570%	75.9401	33
2018	44,246,045	-0.540%	76.3760	32
2017	44,487,598	-0.500%	76.7930	31
2016	44,713,591	-0.460%	77.1831	31
2015	44,921,528	-0.380%	77.5420	31
2010	45,791,979	-0.470%	79.0446	28
2005	46,890,661	-0.810%	80.9411	27
2000	48,837,954	-0.830%	84.3024	23
1995	50,903,674	-0.220%	87.8682	23
1990	51,462,994	0.210%	88.8336	22
1985	50,919,164	0.380%	87.8949	19
1980	49,965,763	0.490%	86.2492	17
1975	48,755,554	0.700%	84.1602	16
1970	47,088,746	0.790%	81.2830	16
1965	45,264,437	1.190%	78.1339	15
1960	42,664,541	1.290%	73.6461	15
1955	40,019,380	1.420%	69.0801	15
1950	37,297,537	0.000%	64.3818	15

Major Cities in Ukraine by Population

Rank	City	Population
1	Kyiv	2,797,442
2	Kharkiv	1,430,774
3	Dnipro	1,032,711
4	Donetsk	1,024,589
5	Odessa	1,001,447
6	Zaporizhia	796,106
7	Lviv	717,692
8	Kryvyi Rih	652,269
9	Mykolayiv	510,729
10	Mariupol	481,515
11	Luhansk	451,889
12	Sevastopol	416,152
13	Khmelnytskyi	398,235
14	Makiyivka	376,499
15	Vinnytsia	352,004
16	Simferopol	336,349
17	Kherson	320,366
18	Poltava	317,736
19	Chernihiv	307,573
20	Cherkasy	297,457
21	Sumy	294,345
22	Zhytomyr	282,081
23	Horlivka	278,439
24	Rivne	254,995
25	Kropyvnytskyi	249,343
26	Kamianske	248,464
27	Chernivtsi	236,139
28	Ternopil	235,565
29	Kremenchuk	227,383
30	Lutsk	213,550
31	Ivano-Frankivsk	204,089
32	Bila Tserkva	199,052
33	Kramators’k	173,589
34	Melitopol	157,889
35	Kerch	148,821
36	Nikopol	130,389
37	Syevyerodonets’k	129,889
38	Sloviansk	124,689
39	Berdyansk	118,173
40	Uzhgorod	117,767
41	Alchevs’k	115,889
42	Pavlohrad	115,821
43	Lysychans’k	111,489
44	Yevpatoriya	106,091
45	Yenakiyeve	103,990
46	Oleksandriya	102,889
47	Kamianets-Podilskyi	99,889
48	Konotop	91,687
49	Kostyantynivka	91,148
50	Krasnyy Luch	89,894
51	Brovary	88,395
52	Uman	87,547
53	Berdychiv	86,139
54	Shostka	85,321
55	Kadiyivka	84,314
56	Chervonohrad	82,889
57	Izmayil	82,374
58	Mukacheve	81,522
59	Bakhmut	80,389
60	Drohobych	79,295
61	Yalta	76,892
62	Nizhyn	75,388
63	Novomoskovs’k	72,989
64	Shakhtars’k	71,589
65	Pervomays’k	70,635
66	Feodosiya	68,451
67	Pokrovsk	68,152
68	Chystyakove	67,926
69	Sverdlovs’k	67,889
70	Kalush	67,587
71	Smila	67,419
72	Kovel	66,289
73	Korosten’	64,889
74	Khartsyz’k	63,889
75	Rubizhne	62,882
76	Pryluky	62,712
77	Druzhkivka	62,204
78	Lozova	62,200
79	Kolomyia	61,670
80	Antratsyt	61,489
81	Stryi	61,293
82	Novovolyns’k	57,689
83	Novohrad-Volynskyi	55,814
84	Energodar	55,689
85	Snizhne	55,476
86	Boryspil’	54,889
87	Chornomors’k	53,991
88	Izyum	53,667
89	Roven’ky	53,489
90	Lubny	52,489
91	Bryanka	51,810
92	Horishni Plavni	51,629
93	Zhovti Vody	51,448
94	Fastiv	51,032
95	Nova Kakhovka	50,561
96	Marhanets’	50,332
97	Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi	50,090
98	Okhtyrka	49,707
99	Myrnohrad	49,535
100	Sorokyne	49,241
101	Romny	48,459
102	Svitlovods’k	47,835
103	Shepetivka	46,308
104	Bucha	42,168
105	Voznesensk	42,137
106	Varash	41,889
107	Toretsk	41,647
108	Dzhankoy	41,620
109	Pervomays’k	41,369
110	Myrhorod	41,266
111	Irpin	40,678
112	Podil’s’k	40,553
113	Kirovs’k	39,889
114	Vasylkiv	39,589
115	Yuzhnoukrains’k	39,319
116	Volodymyr-Volynskyi	38,145
117	Dubno	37,579
118	Yasynuvata	37,489
119	Kakhovka	36,705
120	Boryslav	36,593
121	Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi	36,416
122	Chuhuyiv	36,408
123	Dobropillya	35,866
124	Zhmerynka	35,849
125	Avdiyivka	35,715
126	Hlukhiv	35,276
127	Sambir	35,086
128	Tokmak	34,815
129	Boyarka	34,520
130	Dolyns’ka	34,156
131	Starokostiantyniv	33,786
132	Vyshneve	33,072
133	Slavuta	32,969
134	Netishyn	32,952
135	Mohyliv-Podilskyi	32,389
136	Kupjansk	32,338
137	Synel’nykove	31,789
138	Obukhiv	31,446
139	Balakliya	31,045
140	Krasnoperekops’k	30,589
141	Kostopil’	30,389
142	Debal’tseve	30,089
143	Pervomays’kyy	29,889
144	Alushta	29,475
145	Pereval’s’k	29,109
146	Chortkiv	28,744
147	Novoyavorivs’k	28,696
148	Tsyurupyns’k	28,689
149	Saki	28,211
150	Znomenka	28,207
151	Lyman	28,089
152	Khmilnyk	28,025
153	Khust	27,888
154	Zolotonosha	27,611
155	Lebedyn	27,584
156	Vynohradiv	27,489
157	Bakhchysarai	27,240
158	Sarny	26,986
159	Malyn	26,957
160	Truskavets’	26,489
161	Berehove	25,630
162	Kaniv	25,555
163	Molodohvardiys’k	25,543
164	Kozyatyn	25,534
165	Popasna	25,331
166	Korostyshiv	24,988
167	Slavutych	24,889
168	Yuzhne	24,889
169	Haisyn	24,576
170	Armyansk	24,331
171	Selydove	24,158
172	Krolevets’	24,004
173	Dokuchayevs’k	23,789
174	Volnovakha	23,620
175	Zdolbuniv	23,586
176	Merefa	23,568
177	Kreminna	23,427
178	Bakhmach	23,268
179	Brody	23,128
180	Yahotyn	22,668
181	Hadyach	22,556
182	Zolochiv	22,497
183	Lyubotyn	22,434
184	Polonne	22,237
185	Vyshhorod	21,969
186	Starobil’s’k	21,889
187	Kiliya	21,643
188	Heniches’k	21,552
189	Sokal’	21,340
190	Krasnohrad	21,315
191	Ladyzhyn	21,282
192	Polohy	21,269
193	Amvrosiyivka	21,196
194	Kremenets	20,889
195	Kurakhovo	20,589
196	Dolyna	20,585
197	Piatykhatky	20,348
198	Dniprorudne	20,160
199	Nadvirna	20,043
200	Stebnyk	19,976
201	Putyvl’	19,889
202	Krasyliv	19,704
203	Kivsharivka	19,627
204	Reni	19,608
205	Vovchans’k	19,375
206	Vatutine	19,296
207	Skadovs’k	19,293
208	Derhachi	19,211
209	Kalynivka	19,204
210	Balta	19,109
211	Zvenihorodka	19,050
212	Zuhres	19,010
213	Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi	18,889
214	Lutuhyne	18,719
215	Svatove	18,659
216	Shpola	18,578
217	Balaklava	18,538
218	Novoukrayinka	18,522
219	Bilopillya	17,713
220	Bohodukhiv	17,707
221	Izyaslav	17,647
222	Ilovays’k	17,510
223	Rozdil’na	17,504
224	Chervonopartyzans’k	17,415
225	Skvyra	17,341
226	Orikhiv	17,176
227	Karlivka	17,115
228	Pidhorodne	16,992
229	Horodok	16,975
230	Berezhani	16,851
231	Bar	16,530
232	Sudak	16,486
233	Kivertsi	16,398
234	Svalyava	16,396
235	Bohuslav	16,387
236	Hulyaypole	16,331
237	Bilohirsk	16,317
238	Ovruch	16,287
239	Talne	16,277
240	Ochakiv	16,189
241	Tulchyn	16,025
242	Hola Prystan’	15,991
243	Zmiyiv	15,984
244	Pyryatyn	15,978
245	Horodok	15,882
246	Dunaivtsi	15,725
247	Apostolove	15,717
248	Slobozhans’ke	15,714
249	Artsyz	15,650
250	Novyy Buh	15,535
251	Hayvoron	15,415
252	Bolhrad	15,163
253	Zhashkiv	15,153
254	Radomyshl	15,141
255	Nosivka	15,053
256	Horodyshche	14,952
257	Vasylivka	14,901
258	Beryslav	14,769
259	Snihurivka	14,762
260	Burshtyn	14,618
261	Rakhiv	14,563
262	Kamianka	14,436
263	Novhorod-Sivers’kyy	14,289
264	Tetiiv	14,277
265	Chasiv Yar	14,249
266	Nyzhnya Krynka	14,142
267	Mykolaiv	14,140
268	Ostroh	14,140
269	Koryukivka	14,104
270	Khorol	14,006
271	Khrystynivka	13,945
272	Kotsyubyns’ke	13,823
273	Prymors’k	13,789
274	Sivers’k	13,789
275	Shchastya	13,689
276	Bilyayivka	13,651
277	Ukrainka	13,525
278	Horodnya	13,490
279	Nova Odesa	13,436
280	Rozhyshche	13,169
281	Kaharlyk	13,134
282	Mykhaylivka	13,105
283	Terebovlya	13,042
284	Nova Vodolaha	13,001
285	Yavoriv	12,897
286	Zhovkva	12,862
287	Tarashcha	12,841
288	Myronivka	12,760
289	Mena	12,655
290	Stanytsya Luhans’ka	12,654
291	Zbarazh	12,625
292	Novomyrhorod	12,617
293	Uzyn	12,615
294	Soledar	12,551
295	Kotel’va	12,549
296	Bashtanka	12,546
297	Mala Vyska	12,533
298	Hvardiiske	12,478
299	Primorskiy	12,449
300	Hlobyne	12,433
301	Hostomel	12,339
302	Ichnya	12,306
303	Solonytsivka	12,267
304	Yakymivka	12,242
305	Barvinkove	12,233
306	Svetlodarsk	12,162
307	Baranivka	12,109
308	Novoazovs’k	12,089
309	Buchach	11,971
310	Borodianka	11,958
311	Lokhvytsya	11,839
312	Shchors	11,746
313	Ovidiopol	11,707
314	Rokytne	11,615
315	Kobelyaky	11,581
316	Nemyriv	11,522
317	Makariv	11,483
318	Rodyns’ke	11,439
319	Bobrovytsya	11,433
320	Kostyantynivka	11,429
321	Chyhyryn	11,404
322	Buryn’	11,289
323	Borzna	11,252
324	Mospyne	11,189
325	Zolochiv	11,049
326	Krasnogvardeyskoye	11,023
327	Hirs’ke	10,935
328	Kamin-Kashyrskyi	10,931
329	Chernomorskoye	10,928
330	Hrebinka	10,906
331	Mostys’ka	10,889
332	Vysokyy	10,877
333	Borshchiv	10,848
334	Shyroke	10,809
335	Khotyn	10,688
336	Illintsi	10,659
337	Novodnistrovs’k	10,659
338	Baryshivka	10,651
339	Oleksandrivka	10,576
340	Vesele	10,572
341	Kalanchak	10,562
342	Letychiv	10,558
343	Shchyolkino	10,482
344	Bolekhiv	10,479
345	Sartana	10,432
346	Pomichna	10,428
347	Sovetskiy	10,299
348	Tatarbunary	10,285
349	Zin’kiv	10,282
350	Pohrebyshche	10,243
351	Gaspra	10,199
352	Oktyabr’skoye	10,133
353	Chaplynka	10,113
354	Inkerman	10,093
355	Khodoriv	10,061
356	Ivankiv	10,059
357	Valky	9,988
358	Sniatyn	9,978
359	Cherniakhiv	9,971
360	Derazhnya	9,947
361	Liuboml	9,889
362	Mizhhirya	9,889
363	Pokotylivka	9,851
364	Radyvyliv	9,817
365	Vuhlehirs’k	9,815
366	Mar’yinka	9,789
367	Sokyryany	9,766
368	Novooleksiyivka	9,741
369	Gresovskiy	9,724
370	Zymohiria	9,696
371	Zalishchyky	9,638
372	Novopskov	9,628
373	Bilyts’ke	9,607
374	Velyka Dymerka	9,495
375	Vradiyivka	9,467
376	Andrushivka	9,411
377	Velyka Lepetykha	9,400
378	Novyy Svit	9,377
379	Pustomyty	9,323
380	Horodenka	9,319
381	Lyubashivka	9,315
382	Tysmenytsya	9,315
383	Tyachiv	9,311
384	Uspenka	9,289
385	Stary Krym	9,259
386	Bilozerka	9,237
387	Reshetylivka	9,225
388	Chervona Sloboda	9,222
389	Semenivka	9,209
390	Bezlyudivka	9,183
391	Dubrovytsya	9,174
392	Mirnoye	9,173
393	Kodyma	9,165
394	Irshava	9,050
395	Berezivka	9,017
396	Monastyryshche	9,000
397	Ratne	8,970
398	Kryzhopil’	8,913
399	Kozova	8,908
400	Chornobayivka	8,843

Language

The official language is Ukrainian, which is the mother tongue for approximately 75% of the population. The largest language minority are the Russian speakers, who make up approximately 20%. However, many more use Russian in everyday speech. Other minority languages ​​are Belarusian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Polish.