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Quick answerKharkiv is a city in Ukraine, with 1,421,125 people inside the city limits in 2022. The wider metropolitan area had about 1.7 million people in 2022. It is best known for the Freedom Square, the Derzhprom and the Annunciation Cathedral. Its official language is Ukrainian, and its currency is the Ukrainian hryvnia.
Kharkiv is Ukraine's second-largest city, with about 1.42 million people in the last pre-war estimate (1,421,125 in January 2022). It stands in north-eastern Ukraine, near the Russian border, and was the first capital of Soviet Ukraine.
Key facts
| Country | Ukraine |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,421,125 (2022) |
| Population (metro) | 1,729,049 (2022) · Kharkiv metropolitan area |
| Elevation | 152 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Europe/Kyiv |
| Language | Ukrainian |
| Currency | Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH, ₴) |
| Coordinates | 49.9925° N, 36.23111° E |
Overview
Kharkiv is the second-largest city of Ukraine, in the north-east of the country, about 40 kilometres from the Russian border. The city proper had 1,421,125 residents in January 2022, the last pre-war estimate, while the metropolitan area held about 1.73 million people, and the city sits 152 metres above sea level. It is the centre of Kharkiv Oblast and one of Ukraine's main industrial, scientific and educational centres.
Kharkiv was founded in 1654 as a Cossack fortress and grew into a major industrial city in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was the capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from December 1919 to January 1934. Its landmarks include Freedom Square, one of the largest city squares in Europe, with the constructivist Derzhprom building, completed in 1928 as the first Soviet skyscraper, the Annunciation and Dormition cathedrals, and the National University, one of Ukraine's oldest universities.
Since February 2022 Kharkiv has been one of the cities most heavily shelled in Russia's full-scale invasion, because of its closeness to the border. Freedom Square was hit by missiles on 1 March 2022, and Derzhprom was damaged by a Russian bomb in October 2024. By early 2026 about a quarter of the city had reportedly been destroyed, and the population had fallen sharply, though many residents have stayed or returned.
What Kharkiv is known for
- Freedom Square
- Derzhprom
- Annunciation Cathedral
- National University
- Industrial and scientific centre
- First capital of Soviet Ukraine
Landmarks
- Freedom Square
- Derzhprom
- Annunciation Cathedral
- Dormition Cathedral
- National University
- Kharkiv railway station
- Mirror Stream fountain
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kharkiv?
About 1.42 million people lived in Kharkiv in the last pre-war estimate (1,421,125 in January 2022). The wider metropolitan area had about 1.73 million people. The war since 2022 has displaced many residents, and later estimates differ widely, so the current population is uncertain.
What is Kharkiv famous for?
Kharkiv is famous as the first capital of Soviet Ukraine and for Freedom Square, one of the largest squares in Europe, with the Derzhprom building, a landmark of constructivist architecture completed in 1928. It is also known as a major industrial, scientific and university city.
Where is Kharkiv located?
Kharkiv is in north-eastern Ukraine, about 40 kilometres from the Russian border. It is the centre of Kharkiv Oblast. Its coordinates are 49.99° N, 36.23° E, and its time zone is Eastern European Time.
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Keep exploring
- Ukraine — the country Kharkiv is in
- Kyiv — another city in Ukraine
- Odesa — another city in Ukraine
- Dnipro — another city in Ukraine
- All cities in Ukraine
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Kharkiv
- State Statistics Service of Ukraine (Ukrstat), population January 2022 (via Wikipedia — Kharkiv)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.