What is the capital of Ukraine?
Kyiv straddles both banks of the Dnieper river in the north-central part of Ukraine.
Kyiv is the capital and seat of government of Ukraine, a role it has held since 1991. Ukraine itself has an estimated population of 38,980,376 (2025).
Kyiv is also the largest city in Ukraine, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Kyiv at a glance
| City population | 2,952,301 (2022 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | 3,475,000 (2022 estimate) |
| Country | 🇺🇦 Ukraine |
| Founded | 482 |
| Capital since | 1991 |
| Largest city in Ukraine | Kyiv |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
| Currency | Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) |
About Kyiv
A traditional founding date of 482 AD is often cited, though archaeological evidence points to the 6th or 7th century; Kyiv is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe.
Kyiv has been the capital of Ukraine since 1991, Kyiv is the capital of independent Ukraine, restored in 1991; over a thousand years earlier it was the capital of Kievan Rus', the first major East Slavic state.
Kyiv is Ukraine's largest city and its political, economic and cultural centre.
As the capital of Kievan Rus', it is often described as the historic cradle of the East Slavic peoples.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Kyiv.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Ukraine?
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Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Ukraine on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.