As of 2024, no one can accurately determine the population of Ukraine, as it is difficult to calculate. It is estimated that there are slightly over 34 million people.
This statement was made by Alexander Gladun, the deputy director for research at the Institute of Demography and Social Studies. In an interview with "Ukrainian Radio", he noted that normal statistical accounting has been disrupted.
"We do not receive information from the State Statistics Service because they claim it is unreliable and incomplete. Therefore, we rely on migration data from the Border Guard Service and the Ministry of Justice, which registers birth and death data in the country. However, they only register on the controlled territory. Thus, ensuring maximum accuracy is impossible. By the end of this year, the population of Ukraine is estimated to be slightly more than 34 million if evaluated within the borders of 1991. If considering only the controlled territory, the number would be around 28-29 million," the expert explained.
According to the demographer, at the end of 1991, the population of Ukraine was estimated at 52 million. The historical maximum was recorded in 1993, with a population of 52.2 million.
"In 2014, part of the territories was occupied, and by the beginning of 2022, the population within the 1991 borders was 42 million. This means that over the past 30 years, the population has decreased by 10 million," Gladun stated.
Demographic Situation in Ukraine: Other News
Each additional month of war signifies demographic losses for Ukraine. This does not only refer to those who have died but also to millions who will not return from abroad, says Ella Libanova, director of the Institute of Demography and Social Research named after Ptukh. According to her, more and more Ukrainian refugees are adapting to life abroad and do not wish to return.
Previously, the government forecasted that by 2040, the population of Ukraine would decrease to 25 million. Leading researcher at the Institute of Demography and Quality of Life of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Svitlana Aksenova, stated that this scenario is pessimistic but not the worst:
"I always say that 25 million is quite a pessimistic but not the most pessimistic scenario. We should be prepared for the possibility that our population may be significantly less than 25 million," she said.
Meanwhile, Russian occupiers continue to alter the demographic landscape in the occupied territories. During the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula, Moscow has "replaced" over 35% of its residents.