Ukrainian is the most widely spoken language in Ukraine. In some regions and places of compact residence of national communities, Russian, Belarusian, Romanian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Polish, Crimean Tatar and other languages are also common.
The Sociological Group “Rating” conducted a survey on the language issue. In particular, Ukrainians were asked what language they usually speak at home, Suspilne reports.
What language is spoken in Ukraine?
According to the survey, 56% of Ukrainians speak only Ukrainian at home. Only 12% continue to speak Russian.
Also, according to the survey, 28% of Ukrainians use both languages in everyday life.
The survey data indicate that 9% of those who speak only Ukrainian have deliberately switched to it only recently.
In the western regions, the highest share of those who speak Ukrainian exclusively is 93%. At the same time, in the east, the number is only 23%, and in the south – 31%.
The share of those who speak only Russian in the east reaches 25%, and 22% in the south.
According to the survey, there are also a lot of bilingual people in Ukraine: 3% in the western regions, 51% in the east, and 46% in the south.
In the central regions, 67% of respondents speak Ukrainian only, 7% speak Russian only, and 25% of respondents use both languages in everyday life.
In August 2023, the Rating Sociological Group also conducted a similar survey.
Back then, the data showed that more than 60% of Ukrainians speak only the state language. But there are still 9% of citizens who use only Russian.
What is the official language in Ukraine?
The only state (official) language in Ukraine is Ukrainian.
The status of the Ukrainian language as the only state language implies that it is mandatory to use it throughout Ukraine in the exercise of powers by state authorities and local self-government bodies, as well as in other public spheres of public life, as defined by the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language”.
