Urbanization Growth in Ukraine from 1990 to 2023

From 1990 to 2023, Ukraine’s urbanization rate grew gradually from 66.8% to 70.1%, showing a slow yet steady increase. Ukraine’s urban landscape was well-developed by 1990, with urbanization rates already high due to the Soviet Union’s focus on industrial and infrastructure development in cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa. The slow growth during the 1990s and early 2000s reflects limited migration from rural to urban areas due to economic hardships following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. However, Ukraine’s urbanization rate continued to inch upward, particularly from the mid-2000s, as urban areas developed with more modern amenities and employment opportunities, attracting some rural populations. By 2023, 70.1% of Ukrainians resided in urban areas.