How Many People Live in Ukraine?

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s official statistics service has suspended the publication of population data. Expert assessments vary widely — from 28 million to 37.9 million people (including temporarily occupied territories). So what is the country’s actual population today?

According to the latest estimates by Forbes Ukraine, approximately 30.5 million people currently reside in the government-controlled territory of Ukraine. This figure was derived using four alternative assessment methods, with the key indicator being the analysis of water consumption levels.

The total population within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders is estimated at 35–35.5 million. This is roughly equivalent to the population living in this territory in the 1920s, and only about 2 million more than immediately after World War II.

The last nationwide census in Ukraine was conducted in 2001, when the population stood at 48.46 million. In 2019, the government carried out an alternative population estimation using a combined methodology — mobile-operator data, information from state registries and social surveys. As of 1 December 2019, the population living in government-controlled areas was assessed at 37.29 million.

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