Country Overview

Population

The State Statistics Committee of Ukraine reported as of 1 November 2003 that the population of Ukraine was 47,690,360 people, declining from 48,003,500 people at the beginning of the year. The natural decline rate for 2003 was 0.73%. The general mortality rate was 15.9 per 1,000 population, and the general birth rate was 8.6 per 1,000 population. The above figures have been quite static for the recent 2-3 years.

The country experiences depopulation, but not only this adds to the demographic crisis in Ukraine. The population quality also deteriorates, which, along with depopulation, causes failure in population reproduction. The net population reproduction rate in Ukraine equals to half a level necessary for a simple replacement of generations. Crisis in health and social care, along with the economic problems, are the most important drivers of the severe demographic situation observed in the country.

Reproductive Health

Major reproductive health indicators continued improving in 2003. According to the preliminary data of the Ministry of Health based on the statistics for 11 months of 2003, the following reproductive health indicators improved compared to 2002: maternal mortality rate decreased from 21.8 to 17.2 per 100,000 livebirths; infant mortality rate decreased from 10.3 to 9.8 per 1,000 livebirths; abortion rate decreased from 84 to 78 per 100 livebirths (projection).

Common STI incidences monitored by the Ministry of Health (gonorrhea and syphilis) were also decreasing, though only the 2002 data are available. Gonorrhea incidence decreased from 31.6 per 100,000 women in 2001 to 29.1 in 2002. Syphilis incidence decreased from 74.7 per 100,000 women in 2001 to 62.3 in 2002. However, HIV infection incidence continued to grow, increasing from 637 officially registered cases in January 2003 to 922 cases in October 2003.

Modern contraceptive prevalence increased in 2003. Oral contraceptive usage grew from 108.3 (2002) to 115.1 per 1,000 women of reproductive age, and IUD usage increased from 149.2 (2002) to 156.8 per 1,000 women of reproductive age.

Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment

Traditionally in Ukraine, women's rights are equal to men's rights, legally and socially. However, it should be noted that the de jure equality of men and women sometimes de facto does not exist. The legal framework ensuring gender equality has very insufficient economic grounds. The issues of women's empowerment are not high on the society's agenda, because the issues of mere survival are much more urgent for the majority of population.

National Frameworks Addressing Population and Development Issues

There is no comprehensive policy document addressing the population issues in Ukraine as a whole. The Government addresses various aspects of the current situation in the population and development sector with separate policy documents – Laws, Decrees, Orders and specific National Programs. These are the Long-term Program of Support to Women and Families, National Family Policy, National Program "Reproductive Health" (2001-2005) as a sequel to the National Program "Family Planning" (1995-2000), intersectoral complex National Programs "Nation’s Health 2002-2011" and "HIV/AIDS Prevention" (1992-1994, 1995-1997, 1999-2000, 2002-2003) and other documents adopted by the President, the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers.

A more detailed review of Ukrainian national policy documents related to the implementation of the ICPD Program of Action is presented in the analytical report "Ukraine at the Threshold of the 10th Anniversary of the ICPD" supported by UNFPA Country Office in Ukraine.