Quick answerKyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, with 2,952,301 people inside the city limits in 2022. The wider metropolitan area had about 3.5 million people in 2022. It is best known for the St Sophia Cathedral, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and the Maidan Nezalezhnosti. Its official language is Ukrainian, and its currency is the Ukrainian hryvnia.
Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, with about 2.95 million people in the last pre-war estimate (2,952,301 on 1 January 2022). It stands on the Dnipro River in north-central Ukraine.
Key facts
| Country | Ukraine |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 2,952,301 (2022) |
| Population (metro) | 3,475,000 (2022) · Kyiv metropolitan area |
| Elevation | 179 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Europe/Kyiv |
| Language | Ukrainian |
| Currency | Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH, ₴) |
| Coordinates | 50.45° N, 30.52333° E |
Overview
Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, on the Dnipro River in the north-central part of the country. The city proper had 2,952,301 residents on 1 January 2022, the last pre-war estimate, while the metropolitan area held about 3.48 million people, and the city sits 179 metres above sea level. It is the seat of Ukraine's government, parliament and president.
Kyiv is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, founded in the 5th century and the centre of the medieval Kyivan Rus' state. Its landmarks include St Sophia Cathedral and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, the Monastery of the Caves, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, the golden-domed St Michael's Monastery, and Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Independence Square, the centre of the 2004 Orange Revolution and the 2014 Revolution of Dignity. The city was the capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1934 and of independent Ukraine since 1991.
Since February 2022 Kyiv has been under attack in Russia's full-scale invasion, and many residents left the city in the first months of the war, though many later returned. Today it remains Ukraine's political, economic and cultural centre, known for its golden-domed churches, its chestnut-lined boulevards and its museums, and for its resilience during the war.
What Kyiv is known for
- St Sophia Cathedral
- Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
- Maidan Nezalezhnosti
- Golden-domed churches
- Dnipro riverfront
- Chestnut trees
Landmarks
- St Sophia Cathedral
- Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
- St Michael's Monastery
- Maidan Nezalezhnosti
- Golden Gate
- Andriyivskyy Descent
- Motherland Monument
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kyiv?
About 2.95 million people lived in Kyiv in the last pre-war estimate (2,952,301 on 1 January 2022). The wider metropolitan area had about 3.48 million people. The war since 2022 has displaced many residents, so the current population is lower and uncertain.
What is Kyiv famous for?
Kyiv is famous as one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe and the centre of the medieval Kyivan Rus' state, and for St Sophia Cathedral and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is also known for Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the square at the heart of the 2004 and 2014 revolutions.
Where is Kyiv located?
Kyiv is in north-central Ukraine, on the Dnipro River. It is the capital of Ukraine and a city with special status, separate from Kyiv Oblast. Its coordinates are 50.45° N, 30.52° E, and its time zone is Eastern European Time.
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Keep exploring
- Ukraine — the country Kyiv is in
- Kharkiv — 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 — Kyiv
- State Statistics Service of Ukraine (Ukrstat), population 1 January 2022 (via Wikipedia — Kyiv)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.