Form of Government: Republic
Area: 576 363 sq km
Population: 41 487 960 inhab. (estimate 2021)
Density: 71.98 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 52° - 44° N; long. 22° - 40° E
Capital: Kiev=Kyiv (capital) 2 958 669 inhab. (2021);
Currency: hryvnia (100 kopiyok)
Human development index: 0.779 (rank: 74)
President: Volodymyr Zelensky (Servant of the People), elected 21 April 2019, in office since 20 May 2019
Prime Minister: Denys Shmyhal (independent), since 4 March 2020
Parliament: seats (August 2021 update): Servant of the People (pro-European, anti-corruption), 243; Opposition Platform-For Life (pro-Russian), 44; European Solidarity (Petro Poroshenko movement, pro-European), 27; All-Ukrainian Union “Fatherland” (conservative, pro-European), 25; For the Future (independents), 22; Voice (liberal pro-European), 20; Trust (independents), 20; not affiliated, 20; vacant, 29
Internet: www.ukrstat.gov.ua (State Statistics Service)
Member of Council of Europe, EBRD, OAS observer, OSCE, UN, WTO
Ukraine

International license plate code UA
International dialling code 0038
Travel vaccinations requirement none
Electricity (Voltage) 220
Driving side rigth
Internet code .ua
GMT +2
DST +3
DST duration (start-end) late March-late October
Annual average temperature (°C) Kiev 7.9
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Kiev -7/20
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Kiev 9/1
Annual average precipitation (mm) Kiev 612
Days of rainfall (annual average) Kiev 115

The Ukraine was affected by two new waves of COVID-19 between autumn 2020 and summer 2021, putting the country’s health service under severe strain. After having refused the Sputnik-V vaccine offered by Russia, on 24 February 2021 the vaccination campaign began using doses from the COVAX programme. In July 2021, the US donated 2 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to the Ukraine.
Clashes continue in the eastern Donbass region. In April, Russia deployed tens of thousands of soldiers along the border, which were later withdrawn after causing alarm in the EU and US. On 21 July 2021, the US withdrew its opposition to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will connect Russia and Germany in the Baltic Sea and double Nord Stream capacity. Zelensky’s government has been reassured by the Americans and Germans, who pledged financial aid for the energy transition and support for the Ukraine in negotiations to ensure the passage of Russian gas through the country beyond the 2024 deadline. In 2020, the Ukraine received 2.1 billion dollars from Gazprom to guarantee the passage of gas.
Geography.
Ukraine is bordered by Russia to the east and north-east, by Moldova and Romania to the south-west, by Hungary and Slovakia to the west, by Poland and Belarus to the north-west and to the south by the Black Sea and the Azov Sea. The country includes a vast stretch of the East European Plain, broken up by the Donets Hills to the south-east and by the Podolian Upland to the west. The Carpathian mountains are at the western border. The main rivers are the Donets, the Dnieper, the Dniester and the Danube. The climate is semi-continental inland, with cold winters and hot, humid summers; it is milder in the southern coastal areas.
Government
A former Soviet republic, the Ukraine declared its independence on 24 August 1991. The country’s first president Leonid Kravchuk was followed in the role by another former member of the Soviet Communist Party, Leonid Kuchma. At the presidential elections in 2004, the victory in the ballot (21 November) of the pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovych sparked mass public demonstrations by supporters of the pro-western candidate Viktor Yushchenko (the so-called “Orange Revolution”); on 27 November, Parliament declared that the elections were not valid, and the new elections of 26 December were won by Yushchenko. Following the legislative elections in 2006, which were won by the pro-Russian bloc, Yanukovych was elected Prime Minister, but friction between him and the President led to the calling of new elections (held in 2007), after which a pro-western coalition led by Yulia Tymoshenko took office. Russia’s political and economic pressure led to new presidential elections in 2010, won again by V. Yanukovych. In 2012, Y. Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for abuse of public funds. The European Court of Human Rights overturned the verdict and she was released on 22 February 2014.
In light of the suspension requested by Yanukovich of the procedure for the association agreement of the EU, protests and outbreaks of violence (Euromaidan) began in late 2013, culminating in Yanukovich’s flight on 22 February 2014.
The country’s pro-European turn provoked Russia into intervening in Crimea and backing the Russian-speaking republics in eastern Ukraine, leading to the current armed conflict and to secessionist claims by the eastern regions of Donbass, where general elections were held on 11 November 2018 which were not recognized by Ukraine or the international community. In 2019, Russia therefore granted Russian passports to some 125 000 residents of eastern Ukraine. The Association Agreement with the EU was officially ratified in July 2017 and has been in force since 1 September 2017.
According to the Constitution of 28 June 1996, amended in 2004 (the amendments were canceled in 2010 and then restored in 2014), the President of the Republic is elected by direct suffrage for a five-year term; the Prime Minister is appointed by the Parliament (the Supreme Council, consisting of 450 members, elected for five years). New presidential and parliamentary elections must take place by 2019.
Defence.
In 1994 the Ukraine ratified the START I Treaty (forcing it to transfer its nuclear weapons to Russia) and signed the Treaty of Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In 2015, following the outbreak of conflict in the eastern provinces, the US sent about 300 extra troops to the Ukraine to train regular forces. The country continues to stay close to NATO with the joint training mission, Sea Breeze, in the Black Sea in June 2021.
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Kiev=Kyiv | 2 958 669 | inhab. | 2021 |
Kharkiv | 1 443 207 | inhab. | 2020 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 8.1 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 14.7 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Ukrainian | 78.1 | % | 2001 |
Russian | 17.3 | % | 2001 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Orthodox | 62.3 | % | 2020 |
nonreligious/atheist | 15.2 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Russian |
Ukrainian (official) |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 16.1 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 15.6 | % | 2020 |
Economy
Economic situation.
In 2020, the GDP fell by 4.2% due to the effects of the pandemic. The country has received support from the IMF since June 2020 (5 billion dollars). The government’s objectives for 2021-22 include reducing the deficit (from 5.1 to 3.5% of the GDP) and lowering inflation (approx. 9% in 2021).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 153.04 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 109.25 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 19 454 894 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 47.7 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 9.5 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 45.7 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 1 075 122.1 | M LCU | 2019 |
Revenues | 998 344.9 | M LCU | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 14.5 | % | 2019 |
industry | 24.6 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 10.476 | % | 2019 |
industry | 26.237 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 558.48 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 29 137.541 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
Primary sector.
The main agricultural products are cereal crops (wheat, barley, maize, rye, oats, millet) which have some international investment; there are also large amounts of potatoes, sugar beet, and various vegetables. Livestock is also important, especially cattle, pigs and sheep, providing meat, dairy products, eggs and wool.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 58.846 | % | 2018 |
forests | 16.874 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 8 916.78 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cereals, total | 74 442.16 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 20 269.19 | 1000 t | 2019 |
roots and tubers, total | 20 269.19 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 1 732.92 | 1000 t | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 869.45 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 64.28 | 1000 t | 2019 |
beans, green | 3.169 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grapes | 366.3 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
rapeseed | 3 280.32 | 1000 t | 2019 |
soybeans | 3 698.71 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mustard seed | 39.53 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
hops | 0.51 | 1000 t | 2019 |
sugar beet | 10 204.53 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
flax fibre and tow | 0.54 | 1000 t | 2019 |
linseed | 15.39 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
hemp tow waste | 0.647 | 1000 t | 2019 |
hempseed | 0.65 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
apples | 1 153.97 | 1000 t | 2019 |
apricots | 83.66 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
almonds | 0$ | 1000 t | 2017 |
hazelnuts | 0.05 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mushrooms | 16.06 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 2 609.2 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
maize | 4 986.9 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 1 308.8 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 65.9 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 43$ | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 42$ | 1000 ha | 2019 |
beans, green | 0.166 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grape | 39.5 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
rapeseed | 1 279.2 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
soybeans | 1 612.8 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mustard seed | 48.3 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
hops | 0.4 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
sugar beet | 221.3 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
flax fibre and tow | 0.8 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
linseed | 16.9 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
hemp tow waste | 1.333 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
hempseed | 1.176 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
apples | 87.7 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
apricots | 7.6 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
almonds | 0$ | 1000 ha | 2017 |
hazelnuts | 0.5 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 17 886 600 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 3 332.9 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 3 332.9 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 6 025.3 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 698.5 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 570.1 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses | 11.889 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
asses and mules | 11.889 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
camels | 0.836 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 209 515 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 69.937 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
butter | 91.6 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cheese | 179.6 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 34 299.23 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 41 864.213 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
Secondary sector
Minerals.
The country has large coal deposits in the Donets basin, as well as iron ore. The reserves of natural gas and crude oil, on the other hand, are largely insufficient to meet the internal consumption needs. Ukraine is a crucial transit country for natural gas moving from Russia to Europe, and it was at the centre of constant tension with the former, exacerbated by the current political crisis. The contract for the transit of gas was renewed for 5 years at the end of 2019, averting the risk of interruptions in the flow to the west. The country is crossed by an extensive network of strategic gas pipelines to Europe, in addition to the Druzhba oil pipeline. Other important mineral resources include manganese, magnesite, ilmenite and rutile, uranium, graphite, sulfur, salt, gypsum and peat.
Energy.
Over half of the electricity produced in Ukraine comes from nuclear power plants (15 reactors located in four nuclear power plants in Yuzhnoukrainsk, Rivne, Khmel’nyts’kyi and Zaporizhzhia); the Chernobyl plant (the site of the accident in 1986) ceased production in 2000; in 2020, widespread fires near the plant caused concern.
Industry.
The ongoing crisis and armed conflict have reduced industrial production significantly. Heavy industry, especially steel and metal-working, is well developed. Steel production, in particular, is very high. The chemical and pharmaceutical industry, and the synthetic fibre production industry are also noteworthy. At Lysychans’k, Kremenchuk, Kherson, Drohobych, Nadvirna and Odessa there are oil refineries. There is some mechanical industry: cars, tractors, agricultural machinery, locomotives, and bicycles. Ship-building is concentrated at Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kiev and Kherson. Also of note are the electrical engineering industry and the manufacturing of cement. Other important industries include textiles, timber, paper, tobacco, rubber and tanneries. Another important and developing industrial area is found at Kharkiv, where machinery, pharmaceuticals and food products are all produced.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coal | 24 060.9 | 1000 t | 2020 |
coal, total | 24 060.9 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
ilmenite | 470 | 1000 t | 2020 |
iron ore | 62 000 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bentonite | 180 | 1000 t | 2020 |
feldspar | 35$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
kaolin | 1 800 | 1000 t | 2020 |
silicates | 60$ | 1000 t | 2020 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- nuclear | 78 144 | M kWh | 2019 |
- thermal | 54 274.66 | M kWh | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 29 753 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- nuclear | 13 107 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 142 851.01 | M kWh | 2019 |
total installed capacity | 51 758.62 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
alumina | 1 690 | 1000 t | 2019 |
aluminium | 25$ | 1000 t | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bikes | 128 000 | no. | 2019 |
cars | 4 202 | no. | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
watches and clocks | 18 707 | no. | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
air conditioners | 159 291 | no. | 2019 |
computers | 5 741 | no. | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bitumen | 23.1 | 1000 t | 2019 |
petrol | 829.9 | 1000 t | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
ammonia | 1 500 | 1000 t | 2020 |
caustic soda | 62.9 | 1000 t | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
carpets | 5 881 | 1000 m² | 2019 |
cotton fabrics | 7.9 | M m² | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
footwear | 23 600 000 | pairs | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 1 818.52 | 1000 t | 2018 |
fish, frozen | 11.2 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cigarettes | 68 500 | M units | 2019 |
cigars and cigarettes | 68 500 | M units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
newsprint | 1$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
other paper | 978 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 9 200 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 946.342 | M US$ | 2018 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 4 487.715 | M US$ | 2018 |
Trade
Tertiary sector
Foreign trade.
Due to trade restrictions with Russia and new agreements with the EU, the EU has become the country’s largest trading partner.
Main exports (M US$ - 2017) iron and steel 9 562, cereals 6 502, vegetable oils 4 514, iron ores 2 589, electrical and electronic equipment 2 548, oil seeds 2 060, machinery 1 693, timber 1 205, residues and wastes of food industry 1 052, chemicals 1 028, furniture and accessories 543, meat 532, apparel and accessories 501, plastics 466, paper 451, fruit and vegetables 432
Finance and banking.
Financial services are particularly important; there is an active stock exchange in Kiev.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
manufactures | 47.242 | % of goods exports | 2018 |
food products | 39.126 | % of goods exports | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
China | 7 117 | M US$ | 2020 |
Poland | 3 275 | M US$ | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
China | 8 254 | M US$ | 2020 |
Germany | 5 332 | M US$ | 2020 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 8 907 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 13 438 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Civil aviation, km flown | 54 400 000 | km flown | 2004 |
Civil aviation, passengers carried | 7 604.5 | 1000 units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Broadband subscribers | 161.591 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Computers | 45.3 | per 1000 pop. | 2008 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 14.9 | years | 2014 |
Graduates | 438 771 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 1 724 664 | units | 2019 |
Students, secondary level | 2 444 548 | units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Social protection spending | 36.427 | % of total expenses | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 7.3 | per 1000 pop. | 2017 |
Physicians | 4.4 | per 1000 pop. | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | 1$ | % of adults | 2019 |
HIV, total | 0.1 | % | 2005 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Museums | 574 | units | 2017 |
Museums, visitors | 16 400 000 | units | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.43 | % of GDP | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 95.2 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clothing, footwear | 5.5 | % | 2019 |
education | 1.1 | % | 2019 |