Ukraine is a country found in Eastern Europe that has a population of about 45 million people. It is the second largest country in Europe by land area, after Russia. About 70% of Ukraine’s population lives in urbanized areas, the largest part of which will be outlined below.
The largest cities in Ukraine
4. Dnipro – 993, 094
Dnipro, short for Dnipropetrovsk, is the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of just under one million. The city boasts steel, aerospace construction, weapons, metallurgy and machinery and is located on the Dnieper River, southeast of Kiev. Dnipropetrovsk boasts a modern transport system such as the Metro System and the Dnipro International Airport that links it with several countries. The city is also an agricultural center, due to its strategic location on the banks of the Dnieper River. Medieval architecture in the city includes the Preobrazhensky Cathedral, the Monument of Glory, and the History Museum. The city also has many theaters and academic institutions.
3. Odessa – 1,017,022
Odessa is Ukraine’s third largest city with a population of 1.02 million. Odessa is a city located on the shores of the Black Sea and it is sometimes called the ‘Pearl of the Black Sea’. Odessa is a port city and the main center for Ukraine’s maritime trade. Shipbuilding has emerged as a major industry in Odessa along with food processing, chemical manufacturing, metallurgy and oil refining.
Odessa is a major tourist hub, with sprawling beaches, a booming hospitality industry, and stunning medieval architecture. Some of the buildings in Odessa are noted for having Italian and French influences while some were built in the Art Nouveau Style. Merchant trade boomed in Odessa during the 18th and 19th centuries leaving behind magnificent castles and well-planned streets that still attest to Odessa’s earlier prominence. Russians and Ukrainians are widely spoken by the inhabitants of Odessa. Odessa also has a world-renowned Opera House showcasing acclaimed performances. The city has a modern transport system while Odessa International Airport connects Odessa to the world.
2. Kharkov – 1,451,132
Kharkov is the second largest city in Ukraine, with a population of 1.45 million. The city is also known as Charkiv or Kharkov. Charkiv is a geographical center, located in Northeastern Ukraine with valleys and ravines. This city is famous as an education city. It is the home of several well-known Ukrainian Universities such as Kharkov State University, Kharkov National Medical University, and Kharkov State Aerospace University among other institutions of Higher Learning. Educational institutions organize local and international students, who make up a significant portion of the total population. Part of the city’s population is made up of workers in many industrial plants and businesses. Charkiv also has the largest market in Ukraine, called the Barabashov market.
As a cultural hub, the city is home to Liberty Squares that host various festivals and fairs. Charkiv is also home to ancient monuments such as Pokrovsky Monastery, History Museum, Gosprom, Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Ozeryanskaya Church.
1. Kiev – 2,868,702
Kiev is the largest city in Ukraine with a population of nearly 3 million. It is a major cultural, economic, industrial and educational center in the country as well as Eastern Europe as a whole. Located on the banks of the Dnieper River, the city has 2.89 million inhabitants making it the most populous city in Ukraine. Known as Kievan Rus in ancient history, this was a focal trade center between the Baltic Sea ad the Mediterranean. Monuments such as the Church of St. Sophia, the Baroque Church of Ukraine, Saint Andrew, Kievo-Percherskaya Lavra with several crypts, bell towers and museum collections and the Golden Gate are relics of Kiev’s ancient glory.
Parallel to the ancient ruins is a modern Kiev, complete with housing developments and industries. Industries in Kiev include machinery manufacturing, food processing and chemical production, metallurgy and textiles. Kiev consists of working neighborhoods, with a great business culture in the population. Kiev is considered a center of education and science, with many universities and scientific academies. True to its cultural reputation, Kiev is brimming with theatres, art galleries and museums. The city is also home to the Kiev Opera House, which boasts acclaimed performances. Almost half of the City consists of eco-parks and gardens making it one of the most environmentally conscious cities in Europe. Kiev boasts an efficient transport system complete with airport, railway, road and metro.
The future of Ukraine’s population
Other major cities in Ukraine by population are: Donetsk (0.94 million), Zaporizhia (0.76 million), Lviv (0.73 million), Kryvyi Rih (0.65 million), Mykolaiv (0.49 million), million) and Mariupol (0.46 million). Ukraine’s population has been steadily declining and is attributed to low birth rates, migration, high mortality rates, especially among men, and low life expectancies. The population of Ukrainian cities is expected to continue to decrease. Migrants from Ukraine to other countries in the European Union, mostly, Poland, Germany, Italy, Israel, Canada and the US. The top country of immigration to Ukraine is Russia, followed by Azerbaijan, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Georgia.
The largest cities in Ukraine
| Grant | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| first | Kiev | 2,868,702 |
| 2 | Kharkiv | 1,451,132 |
| 3 | City | 1.017.022 |
| 4 | Dnipro | 993, 094 |
| 5 | Donetsk | 949,825 |
| 6 | Illness | 766,268 |
| 7 | Lviv | 729, 038 |
| 8 | Kryvyi Rih | 652, 137 |
| 9 | Mykolaiv | 494,922 |
| ten | Mariupol | 458, 533 |