Results of the "Listening to Ukraine" Study

By the end of 2025, the poverty rate in Ukraine reached a critical level of 41.6%. These figures were published by the World Bank as part of the analytical study "Listening to Ukraine." It is important to note that the calculation was based on a model assessment where the threshold value is the actual subsistence minimum — 8,312 hryvnias per adult per month. This value differs significantly from the officially approved state budget norm, making the report a more realistic reflection of citizens' lives.

Growth Dynamics and Social Inequality

The situation in the country is deteriorating at a rapid pace. If the poverty rate was 22% in 2021, by 2024 it rose to 37%, and over the last year there was another sharp jump to 41.6%. An analysis of the income structure indicates a deep crisis of social stratification. The Gini coefficient, reflecting inequality in income distribution, increased from 0.41 to 0.50. For the most vulnerable layers of the population, real incomes from labor activities have fallen by more than a third, which is directly linked to the decline in the purchasing power of pensions and social benefits.

Factors Driving the Cost of Living

The main driver of the deterioration of the material situation was the sharp increase in the cost of the basic basket of goods. The cumulative price increase for food was 70–80%, and in some regions reached 90%. Utility services also became a critical factor: housing maintenance costs have increased by 50–70% since 2020. The financial stability of households is at a minimum: only 20% of families were able to form savings in the last month, while 17% were forced to take out loans to cover basic needs.

Impact of the Labor Market and Demographics

A significant influence on the statistics is exerted by the transformation of the labor market and the growing share of the population with limited ability to work. Families with children demonstrate particular vulnerability. Among households with children under the age of six, about 30% belong to the least affluent group of the population. This points to a systemic crisis in support for families with children under current economic conditions.