Demography

For more than two centuries a unique multinational community had been forming in Kherson. Mild climate, fertile soils, a network of big and small rivers with the main water artery – an ancient merchant way – the river of Dnipro, proximity to the sea, as well as government policy in development of the South including preferences for artisans and merchants, providing both Russian and foreign colonists with land lots on profitable terms, encouraging Orthodox people to settle on borders, created unique conditions for populating these land with a multinational society.

People of more than 115 nationalities occupy these lands: the Ukrainians - 76%, the Russians - 20%, as well as the Byelorussians, the Jews, the Moldavians, the Tatars, the Gypsies, the Polish, the Germans, the Bulgarians, the Greeks, etc.

There are 62,9% of people capable of working; 14,2% of people having not reached their working ability age; 22,9% of aged people.

36,6% of people have got higher education (full, basic, entry level or not finished), 53,6% have got secondary education, 9,8% (including 6,1% of them under 8 years) have got no general entry level education. Among those citizens of City Council capable of working 45% have and are getting higher education, 54% secondary education.

Quantity of Kherson City Council regular population on 01.01.08 comprised 347,0 thousand people, including 10,4 thousand people of rural area. 305,2 thousand people lived in the city of Kherson at the beginning of 2008.

Demographic situation over Kherson City Council meets general tendencies over Ukraine.

Quantity of people who died over the year has been reducing since 2002: in 2002 it reduced by 133 people in comparison with 2001, in 2003 – by 6 people, in 2004 – by 138 people. In 2005 there died 165 people more in comparison with 2004. In 2006 there died 19 people fewer than in 2005, in 2007 - 54 people fewer.

The period starting at the beginning of 2002 is characterized by birth rate increase: in 2002 there were 166 more babies born than in 2001, in 2003 - 267 babies more, in 2004 – 97 babies more. In 2005 this process had a reverse effect – there were born 107 babies fewer than in 2004. In 2006 the birth rate increased by 279 babies in comparison with 2005, and in 2007 – by 10 babies.

Quantity of married couples increased dramatically, quantity of divorces decreased.