Ukraine - statistics & facts
Over the past decade, Ukraine has actively pursued accession to the European Union and NATO, and it became an EU candidate country in June 2022. Almost seven in ten Ukrainians approve of the actions of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been the country's president since 2019.
Geography and demography
Based on area, Ukraine is the largest country located entirely within Europe, sharing borders with Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the northwest, Poland and Slovakia to the west, and Hungary, Romania, and Moldova to the southwest. The country's total agricultural land area stood at 41.5 million hectares, of which roughly a half belonged to agricultural enterprises.Ukraine's population has been steadily decreasing due to the war, emigration, as well as a decreasing birth rate. In 2025, the total population was estimated to amount to around 33 million inhabitants. The capital and the largest city, Kyiv, was home to almost three million people in 2022.
Key industries
Given its richness of its soil, the advantageous climate, and its strategic location near to the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, Ukraine is a significant region for global agriculture and industry. It is a major supplier of grains, especially wheat and corn, as well as other agri-foods, such as sunflower seeds, of which Ukraine produces nearly a quarter of the global total. However, the country's agricultural exports have declined since the Russian invasion due to crop damage and limited trade routes.Moreover, the country has the largest titanium mineral reserves in Europe and the fifth-largest iron ore reserves worldwide. Metals constitute Ukraine's second-leading export commodity group after agricultural products, though their exports also shrank in recent years.
Ukraine is also among the leading producers of natural gas in Europe, following Russia, Norway, and the United Kingdom (UK). Until 2025, Ukraine had an agreement with Russia to transit Russian gas to EU countries and Moldova. The main entry point was Sudzha, while the transit via Sokhranivka was suspended in May 2022.
The economic and business environment in Ukraine is dependent on the political situation and the developments in the Russia-Ukraine war. The country remains an essential exporter of agricultural and metal commodities.