Ukraine

Summary

Official Name

Ukraine

International Conventions

CDE (1962), CPPDCE (2010), CSICH (2008), ECRML (2005), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1973), UNCRPD (2010), UNDRIP (2014)

Population

43,994,000

Principal Languages

Ukrainian

Literacy Rate

100% (2015 World Factbook)

General References

Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Ukraine is 23. All are living languages. Of these, 10 are indigenous and 13 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 11 are developing, 2 are vigorous, 5 are in trouble, and 2 are dying. Also listed are 21 unestablished languages.

Languages

Albanian, Tosk als: Users: 1,740 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 3,310 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk
Arabic ara: Users: 4,070 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 6,580 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished.
Armenian, Western hyw: Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Kharkiv regions; Krym, autonomous republic. Users: 50,400 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 99,900 (2001 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Azerbaijani, North azj: Users: 25,000 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 45,200 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani
Belarusian bel: Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kiev, Luhansk, Odessa, Rivne, and Zaporizhia regions; Krym, autonomous republic; Kiev City, Sevastopol City. Users: 56,200 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 276,000 (2001 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. Alternate Names: Belarusan Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Bulgarian bul: Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Odessa, and Zaporizhia regions. Users: 131,000 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 205,000 (2001 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Chechen che: Users: 1,580 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 2,880 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Nakh, Chechen-Ingush
Chinese zho: Users: 1,820 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 2,210 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished.
Chuvash chv: Users: 2,270 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 10,600 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Bolgar
Crimean Tatar crh: Krym, autonomous republic. Users: 228,000 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 248,000 (2001 census). Total users in all countries: 581,340. Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2009, No. 1167-VI, Autonomous Republic Crimea Republic Constitution (amended), Articles 11-13), protected language. Alternate Names: Crimean, Crimean Turkish, Qırım Türkçesi, Qırımca, Qirim, Qirim tili, Qirimtatar Autonym: Къырымтатар тили‎ (Qırımtatar tili), Къырымтатарджа‎ (Qırımtatarca), къырым тили‎ (Qırım tili) Classification: Turkic, Southern
Czech ces: Users: 1,190 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 5,920 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
Erzya myv: Users: 1,470 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 9,330 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Mordvinian Classification: Uralic, Mordvin
French fra: Users: 52,800 in Ukraine (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Gagauz gag: Odessa region: Izmail’s’kyj district. Users: 22,800 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 31,900 (2001 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Georgian kat: Users: 12,500 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 34,200 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian
German, Standard deu: Users: 4,060 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 33,300 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Deutsch, Nimetsʹkyy Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell: Donetsk region: Mariupol town, 18 villages. Users: 5,830 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 91,500 (2001 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Hretsʹkyy, Urum Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Hungarian hun: Zakarpattia region. Users: 162,000 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 157,000 (2001 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)). Alternate Names: Magyar, Uhorsʹkyy Classification: Uralic
Karaim kdr: Lviv region: Luts’k town; Chernivtsi region: Halych town. Users: 6 in Ukraine (Salminen 2007). Ethnic population: 1,200 (2001 census). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)). Alternate Names: Karaite Classification: Turkic, Western, Ponto-Caspian
Kazakh kaz: Users: 1,040 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 5,530 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Korean kor: Users: 2,220 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 12,700 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Krimchak jct: Krym, autonomous republic. Users: 200 in Ukraine (Salminen 2007). Ethnic population: 1,800 (Salminen 2007). 1,200 ethnic Krimchak in the Crimea, 600 elsewhere (Salminen 2007). Total users in all countries: 202. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Judeo-Crimean Tatar, Judeo-Crimean Turkish Autonym: Кърымчах тыльы‎ (Krymchakh Tilyi) Classification: Turkic, Western, Ponto-Caspian
Kurdish, Northern kmr: Users: 1,170 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 2,090 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Lezgi lez: Users: 1,510 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 4,350 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Nakh-Daghestanian, Lezgic, Nuclear Lezgic, East Lezgic
Lithuanian lit: Users: 1,930 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 7,210 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Ossetic oss: Users: 1,150 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 4,830 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Alternate Names: Ossetian Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Northeastern
Polish pol: Lviv region: 3 small interior enclaves. Users: 18,700 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 144,000 (2001 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Romani, Balkan rmn: Kharkiv region. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Balkan
Romani, Carpathian rmc: Zakarpattia region: 2 border strips near Tisa river. Users: 21,300 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 47,600 (2001 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Romanes, Romani, Ungrike Romá Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Romani, Vlax rmy: Odessa and Zakarpattia regions. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Rom Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax
Romanian ron: Chernivtsi region, at northern Romania border; Odessa region, south of Moldova, Renijs’kyj district, 2 enclaves near border. Users: 328,000 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 410,000 (2001 census). 151,000 ethnic Moldovians, 257,000 ethnic Romanians. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)). Alternate Names: Daco-Romanian, Moldavian, Română, Rumanian Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus: Widespread, particularly in east and south. Users: 39,100,000 in Ukraine, all users. L1 users: 14,300,000 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD). L2 users: 24,800,000 (Arefyev 2012). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Autonomous Republic of Crimea (2009, Autonomous Republic of Crimea Constitution (amended), No. 1167-VI, Articles 10–13). Alternate Names: Rosiysʹkyy Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Rusyn rue: Zakarpattia region. Users: 6,730 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 10,200 (2001 census). Total users in all countries: 82,960. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Carpathian, Carpatho-Rusyn, Ruthenian Autonym: русиньскый язык‎ (Rusynska mova) Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Slovak slk: Zakarpattia region. Users: 2,770 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 6,400 (2001 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. Alternate Names: Slovenčina, Slovenský Jazyk Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
Tajik tgk: Users: 1,520 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 4,260 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Tatar tat: Users: 25,800 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 73,300 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
Thai tha: Users: 3,640 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 3,850 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern
Turkish tur: Users: 7,920 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 8,840 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Ukrainian ukr: Users: 30,800,000 in Ukraine (2016), all users. L1 users: 25,000,000 (2016). Ethnic population: 34,400,000 (2016). Total users in all countries: 33,228,930 (as L1: 27,428,930; as L2: 5,800,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 10). Autonym: українська мова‎ (Ukrayins’ka mova) Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Ukrainian Sign Language ukl: Scattered. Users: 54,500 (2008 WFD). Approximately 0.1% of total population. Other estimates: 43,000 registered Ukrainian nationals with hearing impairments (2015 Ukrainian Society of the Deaf); 223,000 deaf (2016 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2005, Law No. 2961–IV (06.10.2005)), for use in education (2008 WFD). Alternate Names: USL, Ukrayinska Mova Zhestiv, Ukrayinska Zhestova Mova Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Urum uum: Donetsk region: 10 villages. Users: 95,000 in Ukraine (2000). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Turkic
Uzbek, Northern uzn: Users: 3,600 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 12,400 (2001 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Eastern
Yiddish, Eastern ydd: Scattered. Users: 11,500 in Ukraine (2017). Status: 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Ukrainian

[ukr] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 10). 30,800,000 in Ukraine (2016), all users. L1 users: 25,000,000 (2016). Ethnic population: 34,400,000 (2016). Total users in all countries: 33,228,930 (as L1: 27,428,930; as L2: 5,800,000).

2 (Provincial)

Russian

[rus] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial working language in Autonomous Republic of Crimea (2009, Autonomous Republic of Crimea Constitution (amended), No. 1167-VI, Articles 10–13). 39,100,000 in Ukraine, all users. L1 users: 14,300,000 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD). L2 users: 24,800,000 (Arefyev 2012).

5 (Dispersed)

Bulgarian

[bul] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. 131,000 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 205,000 (2001 census).

Greek

[ell] 5* (Dispersed). 5,830 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 91,500 (2001 census).

Hungarian

[hun] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)). 162,000 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 157,000 (2001 census).

Armenian, Western

[hyw] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)). 50,400 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 99,900 (2001 census).

Romanian

[ron] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)). 328,000 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 410,000 (2001 census). 151,000 ethnic Moldovians, 257,000 ethnic Romanians.

Slovak

[slk] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. 2,770 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 6,400 (2001 census).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 52,800 in Ukraine (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

5 (Developing)

Belarusian

[bel] 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. 56,200 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 276,000 (2001 census).

Crimean Tatar

[crh] 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2009, No. 1167-VI, Autonomous Republic Crimea Republic Constitution (amended), Articles 11-13), protected language. 228,000 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 248,000 (2001 census). Total users in all countries: 581,340.

Gagauz

[gag] 5* (Developing). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. 22,800 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 31,900 (2001 census).

Ukrainian Sign Language

[ukl] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2005, Law No. 2961–IV (06.10.2005)), for use in education (2008 WFD). 54,500 (2008 WFD). Approximately 0.1% of total population. Other estimates: 43,000 registered Ukrainian nationals with hearing impairments (2015 Ukrainian Society of the Deaf); 223,000 deaf (2016 IMB).

6a (Vigorous)

Romani, Balkan

[rmn] 6a* (Vigorous).

Rusyn

[rue] 6a* (Vigorous). 6,730 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 10,200 (2001 census). Total users in all countries: 82,960.

6b (Threatened)

Romani, Carpathian

[rmc] 6b (Threatened). 21,300 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 47,600 (2001 census).

Romani, Vlax

[rmy] 6b* (Threatened).

7 (Shifting)

Polish

[pol] 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. 18,700 in Ukraine (2001 census). Ethnic population: 144,000 (2001 census).

Urum

[uum] 7 (Shifting). 95,000 in Ukraine (2000).

Yiddish, Eastern

[ydd] 7 (Shifting). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)), protected language. 11,500 in Ukraine (2017).