Map of Ukraine | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Ukraine was the center of the first Slavic state Kievan Rus which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions Kievan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kievan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A new Ukrainian state the Cossack Hetmanate was established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure the Hetmanate managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the 18th century most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917 Ukraine was able to bring about a short-lived period of independence (1917-1920) but was reconquered and forced to endure a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II German and Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although final independence for Ukraine was achieved in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR democracy remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform privatization and civil liberties. A peaceful mass protest 'Orange Revolution' in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorites to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. The new government presents its citizens with hope that the country may at last attain true freedom and prosperity.


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Location: Eastern Europe bordering the Black Sea between Poland Romania and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east

Geographic coordinates: 49 00 N 32 00 E

Map reference: Asia Europe

Area
Total: 603,700 km²
Land: 603,700 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries
Total: 4,663 km
Border countries: (7) Belarus 891 km; , Hungary 103 km; , Moldova 939 km; , Poland 526 km; , Romania (south) 169 km; , Romania (west) 362 km; , Russia 1,576 km; , Slovakia 97 km

Coastline: 2,782 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation

Climate: temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed highest in west and north lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the country hot in the south

Terrain: most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians) and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m

Natural resources: iron ore coal manganese natural gas oil salt sulfur graphite titanium magnesium kaolin nickel mercury timber arable land

Land use
Arable land: 56.21%
Permanent crops: 1.61%
Other: 42.18% (2001)

Irrigated land: 24,540 km² (1998 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe


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Population: 47,732,079 (July 2004 est.)
Growth rate: -0.66% (2004 est.)
Below poverty line: 29% (2003 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Ukrainian
Adjective: Ukrainian

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)

Languages: Ukrainian Russian Romanian Polish Hungarian

Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate 19% Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate 9% Ukrainian Greek Catholic 6% Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 1.7% Protestant Jewish none 38% (2004 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.9% (male 3,883,485; female 3,715,668)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 15,692,388; female 17,096,611)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 2,472,023; female 4,871,904) (2004 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 38.1 years
Male: 34.8 years
Female: 41.1 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.66% (2004 est.)

Birth rate: 10.21 births/1000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate: 16.41 deaths/1000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.39 migrant(s)/1000 population (2004 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male/female
Total population: 0.86 male/female (2004 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 20.61 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 21.87 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 19.28 deaths/1000 live births (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 66.68 years
Male: 61.35 years
Female: 72.27 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.37 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 2% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 250,000 (2001 est.)
Deaths: 11,000 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.7%
Male: 99.8%
Female: 99.6% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Ukraine
Local long form: none
Local short form: Ukrayina
Former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type: republic

Capital: Kiev (Kyyiv)

Administrative divisions
Note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Dependent areas

Independence: 24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day 24 August (1991); the date of 22 January (1918) the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet Russia) is now celebrated as Unity Day

Constitution: adopted 28 June 1996

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Viktor A. YUSHCHENKO (since 23 January 2005)
Head of government: Prime Minister Yuliya TYMOSHENKO (since 4 February 2005); First Deputy Prime Minister - Anatoliy KINAKH (since 4 February 2005)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council
Note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council, but significantly revamped and strengthened under former-President KUCHMA; the NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president; a Presidential Administration that helps draft presidential edicts and provides policy support to the president; and a Council of Regions that serves as an advisory body
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; note - a special repeat runoff presidential election between Viktor YUSHCHENKO and Viktor YANUKOVYCH took place on 26 December 2004 after the earlier 21 November 2004 contest - won by Mr. YANUKOVYCH - was invalidated by the Ukrainian Supreme Court because of widespread and significant violations; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council
Election results: Viktor YUSHCHENKO elected president; percent of vote - Viktor YUSHCHENKO 51.99%, Viktor YANUKOVYCH 44.2%

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 31 March 2002 (next to be held March 2006)
Election results: percent of vote by party/bloc - Our Ukraine 24%, CPU 20%, United Ukraine 12%, SPU 7%, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 7%, United Social Democratic Party 6%, other 24%; seats by party/bloc - Our Ukraine 101, Regions of Ukraine 61, CPU 59, Working Ukraine 14, United Social Democratic Party 33, Agrarian Party 22, SPU 20, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 19, United Ukraine 19, People's Democratic Party-Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs 16, Center Group 15, Democratic Initiatives 14, unaffiliated 57 (December 2004)
Note: following the election, United Ukraine splintered into the Agrarian Party, European Choice, People's Choice, People's Democratic Party, Regions of Ukraine, and Working Ukraine-Industrialists and Entrepreneurs; these factions have since undergone a number of changes

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders
Note: as well as numerous smaller parties; United Ukraine and Center Group are not actual political parties, but rather deputy groups (factions not based on a party)

International organization participation: BSEC CE CEI CIS EAPC EBRD FAO GUUAM IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt (signatory) ICFTU ICRM IDA IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM ISO ITU MIGA MONUC NAM (observer) NSG OAS (observer) OPCW OSCE PCA PFP UN UNAMSIL UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNIFIL UNMEE UNMIK UNMIL UNMOVIC UNOMIG UPU WCL WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTrO (observer) ZC

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Mykhailo B. REZNIK
In the us chancery: 3,350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 349-2,920
In the us fax: [1] (202) 333-0817
In the us consulates general: Chicago and New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador John E. HERBST
From the us embassy: 10 Yuriia Kotsiubynskoho Street, 4,053 Kiev
From the us mailing address: 5,850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20,521-5,850
From the us telephone: [380] (44) 490-4,000
From the us fax: [380] (44) 490-4,085

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grainfields under a blue sky

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: After Russia the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat milk grain and vegetables to other republics. Likewise its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for example large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy especially natural gas to meet some 85% of its annual energy requirements. Shortly after independence in December 1991 the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. President KUCHMA had pledged to reduce the number of government agencies streamline the regulatory process create a legal environment to encourage entrepreneurs and enact a comprehensive tax overhaul. Reforms in the more politically sensitive areas of structural reform and land privatization are still lagging. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms. GDP in 2000 showed strong export-based growth of 6% - the first growth since independence - and industrial production grew 12.9%. The economy continued to expand in 2001 as real GDP rose 9% and industrial output grew by over 14%. Growth of 4.6% in 2002 was more moderate in part a reflection of faltering growth in the developed world. In general growth has been undergirded by strong domestic demand low inflation and solid consumer and investor confidence. Growth was a sturdy 9.3% in 2003 and a remarkable 12% in 2004 despite a loss of momentum in needed economic reforms.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 9.4% (2003 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2003 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 18.8%
Industry: 44.8%
Services: 36.4% (2003 est.)

Agriculture products: grain sugar beets sunflower seeds vegetables; beef milk

Industries: coal electric power ferrous and nonferrous metals machinery and transport equipment chemicals food processing (especially sugar)

Industrial production growth rate: 15.8% (2003 est.)

Labor force: 21.29 million (2003)
By occupation agriculture: 24%
By occupation industry: 32%
By occupation services: 44% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 3.7% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers (2003)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 29% (2003 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.7%
Highest 10: 23.2% (1999)

Distribution of family income gini index: 29 (1999)

Budget
Revenues: $14.1 billion
Expenditures: $14.19 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 28.7% of GDP (2003)

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 5.2% (2003 est.)

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $2.891 billion (2003)

Exports: $23.63 billion (2003 est.)
Commodities: ferrous and nonferrous metals fuel and petroleum products chemicals machinery and transport equipment food products
Partners: Russia 17.8% Germany 5.9% Italy 5.3% China 4.1% (2003)

Imports: $23.58 billion (2003 est.)
Commodities: energy machinery and equipment chemicals
Partners: Russia 35.9% Germany 9.4% Turkmenistan 7.2% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $16.13 billion (2003)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: hryvnia per US dollar - 5.3327 (2003) 5.3266 (2002) 5.3722 (2001) 5.4402 (2000) 4.1304 (1999)


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Electricity
Production: 164.7 billion kWh (2001)
Consumption: 152.4 billion kWh (2001)
Exports: 800 million kWh (2001)
Imports: 0 kWh (2001)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 18.2 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Consumption: 74.1 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Imports: 55.9 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Proven reserves: 560.7 billion m³ (1 January 2002)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 10,833,300 (2002)
Mobile cellular: 4.2 million (2002)

Telephone system
General assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan, running through 2005, emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international connections, and the mobile cellular system
Domestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair; more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not be satisfied; telephone density is now rising slowly and the domestic trunk system is being improved; the mobile cellular telephone system is expanding at a high rate
International: country code - 380; two new domestic trunk lines are a part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and three Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic Trans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries; additional international service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and by earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .ua
Hosts: 94,345 (2004)
Users: 900,000 (2002)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $617.9 million (FY02)
Percent of gdp: 1.4% (FY02)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 702 (2003 est.)
With paved runways total: 174
With paved runways over 3047 m: 13
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 57
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 30
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With paved runways under 914 m: 70 (2003 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 528
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 4
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 17
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 35
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 469 (2003 est.)

Heliports: 8 (2003 est.)

Pipelines: gas 20,069 km; oil 4,540 km; refined products 4,169 km (2004)

Railways
Total: 22,473 km
Broad gauge: 22,473 km 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified) (2003)

Roadways

Waterways: 1672 km (most on Dnieper River) (2004)

Merchant marine
Total: 140 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 675,904 GRT/709,802 DWT
By type: bulk 7, cargo 92, container 7, liquefied gas 2, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 10, rail car carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 3, short-sea/passenger 1
Foreign owned: Belize 2, Canada 1, Cyprus 1, Hungary 2, Italy 1, Russia 4, Turkey 3
Registered in other countries: 87 (2004 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: 1997 boundary treaty with Belarus remains unratified due to unresolved financial claims preventing demarcation and reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia is complete but boundary through the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait remains unresolved despite a December 2003 framework agreement and on-going expert-level discussions; Ukraine protests Russia's construction of a causeway in the direction of Ukrainian-administered Tuzla Island in the Kerch Strait; difficulties with Moldova's Transnistria region complicate controlling border crossing and customs regimes despite concordance on the 2003 delimitation and customs protocols and OSCE assistance; has not resolved Romanian claims to Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary despite ongoing talks based on 1997 friendship treaty to find a solution in two years; ongoing dispute between Ukraine and Romania over the Danube River delta

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy mostly for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa Latin America and Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improved anti-money-laundering controls resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in February 2004; Ukraine's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF