Ukraine is a multi-religious country where representatives of different religious communities coexist. But which religion is the most widespread in Ukraine? According to official statistics, the majority of the population professes Christianity, especially Orthodoxy. The largest religious organizations are the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP).
It is worth noting that on August 20, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada supported a draft law banning the activities of religious organizations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. And on August 24, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law banning the Russian Church in Ukraine. Currently, most religious communities in Ukraine that were part of the UOC-MP are moving to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
There are also Greek Catholics in Ukraine who belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. This denomination retains the Eastern rite but recognizes the supremacy of the Pope. Greek Catholics make up a significant portion of the population of western Ukraine, particularly in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Ternopil regions. The Roman Catholic Church, although less numerous, is also present in Ukraine, especially in the southwestern regions.
In addition to Christians, there are numerous Protestant communities in Ukraine, including Baptists, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, and others. The Muslim community is mainly represented by Crimean Tatars living in Crimea and other regions. There are also small Jewish and Buddhist communities in Ukraine.
According to 2022 data, about 63% of Ukrainians identify themselves as Orthodox, 10.2% as Greek Catholics, and about 3.7% as Protestants. Despite the dominance of Christianity, about 11.7% of the population consider themselves non-believers or atheists.
So, what is the religion in Ukraine? Christianity, especially Orthodoxy, is the most widespread religion, but there are representatives of different faiths in the country, which emphasizes religious diversity.
