The population of Kiev - historical and contemporary facts

Kiev is by right considered the oldest city and one of the most beautiful among European capitals. Excavations of archaeologists show that on its territory the settlements existed about twenty thousand years ago.

The historian Ilovaisky DI In the late nineteenth century, first published the population of Kiev in the era of Ancient Rus. According to historical records, in the 12th century, 100,000 people lived in Kiev. This figure is confirmed by other researchers. Modern historians believe that the population of Kiev at that time reached 120,000 people. This discrepancy in figures shows the undeveloped methods of research. After all, concrete facts can be found in the chronicles, where it is said about the plagues, fires, the number of troops that went out to fight the enemy. Do not stand aside and the evidence of foreign travelers who point to the extensive at the time of the size of the city and the number of its inhabitants.

According to historical facts, in Novgorod in the XIII century there were 30 thousand people, in London in the XI century - 20 thousand people (in the XIV century - about 35 thousand), Gdansk and Hamburg numbered in the XII century, 20 thousand people. If we compare the population of Kiev with the number of Slavic and West European cities of that time, we can conclude that Kiev greatly exceeded them. It was the largest trade and craft center.

Much later, scientists learned more accurate statistics from archaeological sources. In the XVII century, Old Russian cities differed little from the major cities of the ancient world. At that time, there were 100-150 people per hectare of terrestrial territory. The average population density of ancient Kiev was 125 people. On 1 hectare. Consequently, 47.5 thousand people lived on 380 hectares. By the population, Kiev at this time was considered a rival of Constantinople. And the data of the late eighteenth century indicate that the population of Kiev at this time was about 30 thousand people.

In the post-Soviet period, the capital of Ukraine was the only region in the country where the number of residents remained stable for a decade.

Modern Kiev, whose population is 2.9 million people according to 2010, is constantly growing. Annually, the number of Kyivans increases due to the arrival of migrants from rural and small urban regions of Ukraine. Only for the first two quarters of 2010 the population of Kiev due to migration increased by 880 people. These are official facts of the Main Kyiv Statistics Department. Also, the number of newborns affected the increase in the number of inhabitants. The official figure is 810 kids. The natural growth of Kiev has long been negative.

The bulk of the population of the city is Ukrainians. The rest of the national composition of Kiev is formed by Belarusians, Jews, Russians, Crimean Tatars, Poles and Moldovans. According to the Constitution, the state language is Ukrainian. But many residents of the capital are fluent in Russian and communicate on it.

The main part of Kiev profess Orthodoxy. This is due to the historical past of Kiev. The religion of some inhabitants (Poles, natives of Western Ukraine and Belarus) is Catholicism.