In May of this year, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding People’s Power at the Level of Local Self-Government”. According to this document, 14-year-old residents of communities acquire the right to take part in solving issues at the local level.
“The young generation of Ukrainians will now have all the tools of people’s power that adult citizens have”, – said the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on the Organization of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, Olena Shulyak.
Shulyak also emphasized the importance of implementing the main priorities of the National Youth Strategy of 2030. This strategy was developed by the state with the aim of creating favorable conditions for the comprehensive development and occupation of a full-fledged life position by young people in Ukraine. After all, it is young people who are ambitious and enterprising, and therefore can act as drivers of important processes in the life of the state.
According to the strategy, it is at the age of 14-18 that the desire to declare oneself and try to interact with the structures of society arises. In the period from 18 to 24 years, there is a search for ways of self-realization and active integration into society. At the age of 24-29, the building of family relationships, the birth of a child, and consolidation in the labor market are carried out. At the age of 29, the sphere of preferences and interests is clearly formed.
The strategy is guided by the following priorities:
- security – creation of a safe environment and promotion of increasing the level of vitality of young people;
- health – formation of healthy lifestyle skills;
- ability – formation of civic competences among young people;
- integration – social and cultural integration of youth into the public life of both Ukraine and the whole world.
Regarding the participation of youth in the people’s government, as stated by Shuliak, the issue is controversial, as well as the creation of favorable conditions for its comprehensive development. Take at least the fact that there are no free sports or creative activities for young people in the country. For everything, you have to pay a lot of money, which is unaffordable for those young Ukrainians who do not have financial support from their parents.
Demographic trends
As you know, in recent years there are no official data on demographic indicators in our country. There are only estimates based on indirect indicators and indicators. This is currently done using a number of techniques that rely on indirect information – big data from mobile operators, data on bank cards and their operation. It is almost impossible to conduct normal accounting. The statistics are suspended because the population census was conducted in Ukraine in 2001. According to these data:
In 2022, the population aged 15 to 24 was about 6.5 million. The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the outbreak of full-scale war in February 2022, has had a significant impact on young people’s mobility and future decisions.
In 2023, the number of young people in Ukraine decreased to 6.3 million. This was due to both natural population decline and migration processes. The war forced many young people to seek safer places to live and study abroad.
As of mid-2024, the population aged 15 to 24 in Ukraine was approximately 6.1 million. The war continues to affect demographic trends, particularly birth rates and migration.
The structure of the population shows that the generation of youth is less numerous than the generation of middle-aged people, due to the low birth rate in the first years of Independence. The war has extremely difficult demographic consequences for Ukraine. The number of future generations depends on the number of young people and their willingness to build families. There are very few people aged 25-35 (at this age people mostly become parents) in Ukraine. It is obvious that they all together will not be able to give birth to the same number of children as the generation born in the 1980s, even if the pre-war birth rate is maintained. War is also superimposed on this inevitable effect. That is, those who can give birth to children are few, and they have serious obstacles and warnings to give birth to children.
Is there a risk that young people will not return to Ukraine
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, approximately 1.2 million young Ukrainians aged 15 to 24 are currently abroad. The main destination countries are Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Canada. This migration is explained by the desire of young people to get a quality education, find a job and ensure security.
On the one hand, the longer the war lasts, the more infrastructure and economy will be destroyed. Young people will have nowhere to return to, there will be no work, there will be no housing. On the other hand, young people who have moved abroad often integrate into a new society and begin to build new social ties. This creates a sense of belonging to a new place, which reduces the desire to return to Ukraine. In addition, many countries have simplified the recognition of Ukrainian diplomas, their governments are interested in attracting our youth to stay and live in places of temporary stay. Foreign countries desperately need young workers and talented specialists, and this is a very bad signal for our country.
Youth in Ukraine face numerous challenges in the field of education and employment. The war and economic difficulties led to reduced opportunities for education and work. In 2024, the unemployment rate among young people is about 20%. Many young specialists cannot find a job in their specialty, which forces them to look for opportunities abroad, where there is both work and a high salary.
Ukrainian youth face numerous challenges due to the long-term war and socio-economic difficulties. Her main problems include psychological stress, instability of life and uncertainty about the future. In addition, war has a negative impact on mental health, in particular, depression and anxiety are common among young people.
Military actions create a dangerous environment where there are no guarantees of security. This especially affects the decisions of young people who seek stability and peace for their lives and development. Also, many young Ukrainians believe that education and professional opportunities abroad are more attractive. They strive to get a quality education and find a decent job that will provide them with better living conditions and career development.
Therefore, there is a considerable risk that a large proportion of young people will not return to Ukraine.
Young people’s attitude towards the future in Ukraine
According to a survey conducted in 2024 by the Razumkov Center, about 55% of young people aged 15 to 24 associate their future with Ukraine. Surveys show that a significant proportion of young refugees and internally displaced people plan to return, although there is uncertainty about when and under what conditions this might happen.
In 2024, 42% of young people were involved in volunteering. Compared to 2022, this figure was 30%. The increase in the activity of young people against the background of hostilities indicates an increase in the level of their public activity. At the same time, none of the respondents said that he is “out of politics”. On the contrary, the full-scale invasion significantly raised the level of consciousness of young Ukrainians.
Despite the problems mentioned above, many young Ukrainians remain active and determined in their aspirations to improve the country’s future. For example, UNICEF’s UPSHIFT program supports young people in implementing their innovative projects aimed at developing STEM skills and rebuilding damaged infrastructure. Young leaders are involved in rebuilding the country through educational programs and infrastructure projects.
Young Ukrainians are actively involved in public activities and support each other through various initiatives. For example, youth clubs have been created in Kharkiv, where young people can discuss issues important to them, exchange experiences and maintain contact with their culture and city, even if they are temporarily abroad.
Youth is an important component of the future of any country. In the case of Ukraine, the question of the prospects of young people becomes especially important in the conditions of war and economic instability. However, many of them believe in the possibility of recovery and development of the country after the war, and also hope for positive changes in the economic and social spheres of our country.
