The level of religiosity in Ukraine is declining: Razumkov Center data for 2024
According to a new study by the Razumkov Center, the level of religiosity in Ukraine, which rose sharply at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, has fallen back to pre-war levels. In 2024, only 68% of Ukrainians consider themselves believers, compared to 74% in 2022 and 70.5% in 2023.
Source: razumkov
The highest level of religiosity is recorded among residents of the western regions of Ukraine – 85%, while in the east this figure is only 55%. In the central part of Ukraine, the share of believers increased sharply in 2022 (from 63.5% to 76%), but by 2024 it had fallen to 65%. In the south and west of the country, there were virtually no changes.
Demographic profile
Traditionally, religiosity is higher among older age groups: only 52% of young people aged 18-24 consider themselves believers, while among older age groups this figure varies between 61% and 76%.
Women are more religious than men (76% vs. 58%), and rural residents are much more likely to call themselves believers (76.5%) than urban residents (63.5%).
How has the war affected faith?
22% of respondents admitted that they have become more religious since the outbreak of full-scale war, while only 4% feel less religious. The remaining 69% said that their attitude to faith has not changed.
The survey was conducted face-to-face from October 25 to 31, 2024, among 2,017 respondents in the regions controlled by the Ukrainian government and where no hostilities are taking place.
These results were presented during a professional discussion “Ukrainian Society, State and Church in Wartime” at Ukrinform with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
The gradual return to the pre-war level of religiosity may indicate the stabilization of the spiritual state of society, but it also demonstrates the challenges that churches face in the context of maintaining spiritual influence in times of crisis.
