Europe

Ukraine

Last reviewed: 21 August 2009

Country information

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Map of Ukraine

Area: 603,700sq km
Population: 46.2 million (est.)
Capital city: Kyiv - population: 2.6 million (Dec 2001 census)
People: Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, other 5% (Dec 2001 census)
Languages: Ukrainian is the official language, but Russian is widely spoken, particularly in the East and South. There are small numbers of Romanian, Polish and Hungarian speakers, and about 250,000 Crimean Tatars.
Religion(s): Ukrainian Orthodox (Moscow Patriarchate) (10-12 million), Ukrainian Orthodox (Kyiv Patriarchate) (2-3 million), Ukrainian Greek-Catholic (Uniate) (850,000), Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox (800,000), Jewish (70,000), Muslim.
Currency: 1 hryvnia=100 kopiykas
Major political groupings: Our Ukraine - People's Self-Defence, Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc (both pro-market economy, pro-reform, pro-EU membership), Party of the Regions (favours close relations with Russia, but also favours EU membership, most support in the East), Lytvyn Bloc (centrist alliance), Communist and various other parties and blocs.
Constitutional form: Parliamentary-Presidential Republic
Head of State: President Viktor Yushchenko
Prime Minister/Premier: Yuliya Tymoshenko
Acting Foreign Minister: Volodymyr Khandohiy