Ukraine has the 5th largest population in Europe (after Germany, Italy, UK, France) and is the 21st most populous country in the world. It accounts for 7.3% of European and 1% of the global population.   For centuries, Ukraine had been divided between its neighboring countries, each of them pursuing a policy of denationalization and complete assimilation. However, with the establishment of independence in 1991, a basis was created for the consolidation of the Ukrainian people, the development of their ethnical self-consciousness, and the union of the Ukrainian nation around its historic motherland.   Demographic dynamics   The systematic population census, carried out during the XXth century allows us to accurately track the changes in population number.   In 1913, 35.2 million people lived on the territory of modern Ukraine. However, about 20 million people from Ukraine were killed in World War I & II, Civil War, the collectivization of agriculture, repressions, the artificial Famine of 1932-1933.   After the war, Ukraine experienced a massive inflow of population from other republics of the former USSR, though it was smaller than the concurrent mass migration of Ukrainians to build constructions in Siberia, Far East, virgin lands of Kazakhstan. The population reached the pre-war level of 40.6 million people only in 1956.   The population gradually rose in the second half of the XXth century due to the increase in birth rate. The population increase peaked at the beginning of 1993, when it reached 52.2 million  people.   The crisis of 1990s negatively influenced the demographic situation in Ukraine. Massive migration, stimulated by the opportunities for free travel inside and outside the country, the decrease in the birth rate and increase in the death rate, caused by economic and sociopsychological factors, resulted in dramatic decline in Ukrainian population. Only in 2003 due to stabilization processes and steady economic growth, certain positive trends have developed, that could in time reverse the situation.   Ukrainian national population census   The first Ukrainian national population census was held on December, 5th, 2001 (the previous one took place in 1989 when Ukraine was part of the USSR).   According to the data of that census, the population of Ukraine amounted to 48.457 million people - substantially lower compared to 1989.   Density and allocation of the population on the territory of Ukraine   Like most European countries, Ukraine has a high density of population – 80 persons per sq. km. The lowest ratio is in the North, in Chernihiv region – 39 persons per sq. km. while the highest – in Donetsk region – 183 persons per sq. km. Eastern regions are populated comparatively densely – 90 persons per sq. km.   Ukraine is a predominately urban country, with an urban population of 32 million. The lowest rate of rural population is in such regions as Donetsk (10%), Luhansk (14%), Dnipropetrovsk (17%), Kharkiv (21%), Zaporizhzhya (24%). The rural regions are Ternopil and Zakarpattya (59% countryside), Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivsti – 58%, Vinnytsia – 56% and Rivne – 55%. At the same time the most urbanized regions are Donetsk (90%), Luhansk (86%) and Dnipropetrovsk (83%).   There are 454 cities in Ukraine, 37 of these have a population between 100 and 500 thousand. There are nine cities with populations of over 500 thousand, and there are 5 with over 1 milion people.    Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, has over 2.6 million inhabitants.   Gender composition of the population   In Ukraine the female population outnumbers the male: 25, 16 000 women (53.7%) against 22, 441 000 men (46.3%). Although, compared to the 1989 census, the disproportion between the two sexes has decreased due to the certain balance in rural sector; in cities, though, the number of women has risen (however, it’s characteristic for mostly older age groups, while the correlation in the younger age is almost the same). The highest percentage of women (55%) is in Chernihiv region, the lowest (52%) in Zakarpattya, the rest of the territory has a ration of between 53-54%.   Age composition   At the time of 2001 census Ukraine was “aging”. The number of people of pension age (23.9%) was increasing while the number of children (18.1%)  was decreasing. The average life term is 68 years - 73 for females and 63 for males. The aging of the general population is a process typical for all European states.   Citizenship, ethnical composition of the population   Ukrainian citizens amount 47, 950 000 of the population, 168 000 inhabitants are foreigners, of which 151, 000 are citizens of CIS).   The highest concentration of foreigners is in Sevastopol (3.4%). The two largest ethnic communities are Ukrainians (37.5 million or 77.8%) and Russians (8.3 million or 17.3%). During the period between the censuses, the percentage of Ukrainians has grown, while the number of ethnical Russians has dropped 25%.   For the first time since WWII, the share of people who speak has Ukrainian increased. Only 4 out of 27 regions of the country are predominantly Russian-speaking (Sevastopol, Crimea, Donets and Luhansk), in three other regions the share of people speaking Ukrainian or Russian is more-less the same, and over 2/3 inhabitants of 20 regions name Ukrainian as their mother tongue.   Today, Ukrainians recognize their native ethnicity in an independent Ukraine.   Education   The Ukrainian National Census revealed the number of people with higher and general education is growing (28.9 million people, which is 17.6% more than at the time of 1989 census). The level of education in Ukraine is viewed as one of the best in Central Europe. Only the Baltic states and Hungary have a higher number of students among 15-18 year-olds.   The number of college graduates has also risen at 26%, a positive sign for the future. The urban sector has a slightly higher educational level, and the migration of young people from rural areas during or after the studies also adds to this tendency.   Modern trends   According to the Ministry of labor and social policy, on March 1, 2004 approximately 47.5 million people reside in Ukraine on March 1, 2004. Although the tendency for decrease of population still continues, certain positive trends have appeared.   Since 2001, the average life span in Ukraine has increased. Compared to 2003, the rate of the natural population reduction has slowed down at 7.1% due to both increase of birth rate and decrease of death rate.   During January – February 2004, the number of newborn increased by 2.5 thousand (3.8%), and the number of deceased decreased by 3.1 thousand (2.2%) compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. The death rate among the newborn children is also dropping.   The migration rate is also dropping. Its level in January – February, 2004 turned out to be 3 times lower than at the same period in 2003 – decreasing from 9,300 to 6, 000. Although it’s considered that labor emigrants are mostly representatives of the poorest groups of the population, research proves that 58% of those traveling abroad have a job in Ukraine. This means that the migration processes in Ukraine do not differ from other Central European countries, where people go to work in Western Europe because they can get better pay.   Useful links Population of Ukraine All-Ukrainian census of 2001 Population situation: current problems and perspectives