Ukraine

World Book Index

Introduction

Ukraine, a nation steeped in history, was once the heart of Kyivan Rus, the largest and most influential state in Europe during the 10th and 11th centuries. Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Ukraine emerged as an independent state, embarking on a challenging journey towards economic reform and the establishment of civil liberties. However, the legacy of extensive state control has posed significant hurdles in these areas. In recent years, Ukraine has faced unprecedented challenges, particularly with the ongoing Russian invasion that began in 2022, which has led to widespread destruction of infrastructure and a severe humanitarian crisis, testing the resilience and unity of its people.

Neighboring countries

Belarus - Hungary - Moldova - Poland - Romania - Russia - Slovakia

Geography

Area
Total: 603,550 sq km
Land: 579,330 sq km
Water: 24,220 sq km

Climate
Ukraine experiences a temperate continental climate, with a Mediterranean climate present only along the southern coast of Crimea. Precipitation is unevenly distributed, with the highest amounts occurring in the western and northern regions, while the eastern and southeastern areas receive significantly less. Winters can vary from cool along the Black Sea to much colder conditions further inland, while summers are generally warm throughout most of the country, becoming hot in the southern regions.

Natural resources
The country is endowed with a wealth of natural resources, including iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, and extensive arable land, which play a crucial role in its economy and development.

People and Society

Population
Total: 35,661,826 (2024 estimated)

Ethnic groups
Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 estimated)

Languages
Ukrainian (official) 67.5%, Russian (regional language) 29.6%, other (includes Crimean Tatar, Moldovan/Romanian, and Hungarian) 2.9% (2001 estimated)

Religions
The religious landscape of Ukraine is diverse, with the majority adhering to Orthodox Christianity, which includes the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), and the Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). Other significant religious groups include the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Roman Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and Jews (2013 estimated).

Population growth rate
2.38% (2024 estimated)

Government

Government type
Ukraine operates as a semi-presidential republic, a system that combines elements of presidential and parliamentary governance.

Capital
Name: Kyiv (Kiev is the transliteration from Russian)

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Volodymyr ZELENSKYY (since 20 May 2019)
Head of government: Prime Minister Yulia SVYRYDENKO (since 17 July 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission: Ambassador Olha STEFANISHYNA (since 19 September 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Julie S. DAVIS (since 5 May 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
Ukraine's economy is classified as a lower-middle-income, non-EU, Eastern European economy, with a significant role as a key exporter of wheat and corn. Following a staggering 30% contraction in GDP at the onset of the war, the country has shown signs of gradual recovery. The extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture has been somewhat mitigated by the resilience of consumers and businesses, particularly in western Ukraine. International aid has played a crucial role in stabilizing foreign exchange reserves, enabling a managed currency float. Additionally, there has been continued progress on anti-corruption reforms, which are vital for the country's economic stability and growth.

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$577.583 billion (2024 estimated)
$561.23 billion (2023 estimated)
$531.796 billion (2022 estimated)

Real GDP per capita
$16,300 (2024 estimated)
$15,900 (2023 estimated)
$13,800 (2022 estimated)

Exports
$56.114 billion (2024 estimated)
$51.28 billion (2023 estimated)
$57.517 billion (2022 estimated)

Exports - partners
Poland 12%, Romania 9%, Turkey 7%, China 6%, Spain 6% (2023)

Exports - commodities
Corn, seed oils, wheat, iron ore, soybeans (2023)

Imports
$92.025 billion (2024 estimated)
$89.159 billion (2023 estimated)
$83.254 billion (2022 estimated)

Imports - partners
China 16%, Poland 14%, Germany 8%, Turkey 6%, USA 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities
Refined petroleum, cars, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.779, ranking it 87th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 86th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 5.463. (more information)