Zhytomyr - one of the oldest Ukrainian cities, founded in the IX century. It is located in the northern part of the country, in the natural zone of mixed forests (Polesie). Today it is an important center of the light and food industry of Ukraine. The city is also known as the birthplace of Sergei Korolev - the world famous design engineer and founder of practical cosmonautics.
In this article we will pay attention to the population of Zhytomyr. What is its total strength? What nationalities live in Zhytomyr? And what languages do they speak?
The population of Zhytomyr and the Zhytomyr region: total population
Zhytomyr closes the top twenty largest cities in Ukraine by the number of inhabitants. Demographic statistics have been going on here since 1798. During this time, the population of Zhytomyr grew 43 times. The peak of its number fell in 1994. Then in the city lived almost 303 thousand people.
As of February 1, 2018, the population of Zhytomyr is 267 thousand inhabitants. Since 2012, the city "loses" an average of 600 people per year. The main reasons for the negative population growth are low birth rates and a significant outflow of citizens abroad.
The demographic situation in the region does not look any better. So, only in the first month of 2018, the population in the region decreased by 888 people. Mortality rates are almost twice the birth rate. As of the beginning of 2018, the population of the Zhytomyr region is 1.23 million people.
Sex and age structure of the population. Language situation in the city
In Zhytomyr, women predominate. The gender ratio in the city is as follows: 53.5% to 46.5% in favor of the “weaker sex”. The average age of a resident of Zhytomyr is 35.9 years. At the same time, women live 3.7 years longer than men. The distribution by age groups is as follows:
- from 0 to 14 years old - 14.4%;
- 15-64 years old - 73.3%
- 65 years and older - 12.3%
The last census was conducted in Ukraine in 2001. According to its results, the vast majority of Zhytomyr citizens (83%) consider Ukrainian their native language. Nevertheless, in the streets and squares of modern Zhytomyr one can hear both Ukrainian and Russian speech (approximate ratio, in% - 60/40). Quite widespread in the city is the so-called “surzhik” - colloquial speech, which is a mixture of Russian and Ukrainian words.
Labor Migration in Facts and Figures
The economic collapse, the lack of real reforms in healthcare, education and the law enforcement system are forcing an increasing number of Ukrainians to seek a better life abroad. The city of Zhytomyr does not remain aloof from these sad trends. Many of its residents work temporarily or permanently outside the borders of their state.
A curious fact: Zhytomyr labor migrants still transfer the most money from Russia. However, in recent years, Zhytomyr people are less likely to go to work in the Russian Federation, choosing the countries of the European Union. According to statistics, 48% of labor migrants from Zhytomyr carry out construction and repair work, 23% work in the agricultural sector, another 10% do the work of maintenance personnel.
Zhytomyr people go to work in various countries. The three leaders are Poland, Russia and Hungary.
National composition of the population
According to the latest census, representatives of more than two dozen different ethnic groups live in Zhitomir. The most numerous among them:
- Ukrainians (about 83%);
- Russians (about 10%);
- Poles (4%);
- Jews (0.6%).
Zhytomyr is known for one of the largest Polish diasporas in Ukraine. In total, there are about 50 thousand people from Poland in the region. True, most of the ethnic Zhytomyr Poles have long been Ukrainized or Russified. Only 13% of them today speak their native language. By the way, one of the most famous Zhytomyr Poles is Pavel Zhebrivsky, a well-known Ukrainian politician, leader of the Sobor party.
Before the Second World War, Zhytomyr was the largest Jewish center in Ukraine. At the beginning of the 20th century, the total number of Jews in the city was 45%. It was here that in 1862 the first Jewish craft school in the Russian Empire was founded. By the way, Georgy Babat (a famous inventor), David Shterenberg (an outstanding primitive artist), and also the grandfather of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin were born in Zhitomir. All three persons are Jewish by origin.