Ukraine Basics

• Capital:  Kyiv
• Location:  Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east
• Ethnic Groups:  Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%
• Languages: Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian 24%
• Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Protestant 2.2%, Jewish 0.6%, other 3.2%
• Population:  44,573,205
• Life Expectancy: 68.74 years
• Education Expenditures: 5.3% of GDP
• Government Type: Republic
• Independence: 24 August 1991
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $344.7 billion
• Unemployment Rate:  8.5%

(CIA-The World Factbook:  Ukraine)