With the outset of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the share of those who consider themselves believers increased to 74% (in 2021 it was 68%). But already in 2023 it fell to 70.5%, and in 2024 – to 68%. Regionally, 85% of residents of the western part of Ukraine consider themselves believers, and in the east it’s 55%.
Such data from a new study by the Razumkov Center were presented today during the round table “Ukrainian society, state and church during the war. Church and religious situation in Ukraine 2024”, hosted by Ukrinform.
As sociologists note, after 2021 changes in the level of religiosity occurred at the expense of the Central and Eastern regions. In the Central region, the share of believers among the adult population increased from 63.5% in 2021 to 76% in 2022, but in 2024 this indicator decreased from 76% to 65%, in the Eastern region – 59%, 63% and 55%, respectively. In the Western and Southern regions, there have been no statistically significant changes throughout this period.
Traditionally, the level of religiosity is higher in older age groups compared to younger ones (in 2024, the lowest number of believers was among 18-24-year-olds – 52%, while in other age groups – from 61% to 76%).
There are more believers among women compared to men (76% and 58%, respectively). The share of believers is higher among rural residents (76.5%) than among urban dwellers (63.5%).
Some 22% of respondents stated that after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine (after February 2022), according to their self-assessment, they became more religious than they were before, 4% – less religious, and 69% said there were no changes in their attitude toward religion and faith.
The face-to-face survey was conducted from October 25 to 31, 2024 in all regions of Ukraine controlled by the Ukrainian government, with no active hostilities in progress. A total of 2,017 respondents aged 18 and over were surveyed. The theoretical sampling error is within 2.3%. However, additional systematic sample biases may be due to the consequences of Russian aggression, in particular, the forced displacement of millions of citizens.
