Population of Odessa: number and composition

Until quite recently Odessa could be called a millionaire city. However, today the city has no such status. What is the population of Odessa today? What nationalities have settled in South Palmyra and how do they live here?

The population of Odessa and its population

The last census of the population in Ukraine was conducted, as you know, back in 2001. At that time in the city of Odessa lived one million and 29 thousand people. Ten years later, the Southern Palmyra, unfortunately, lost its status of a millionaire city. The main reason for this was the general depopulation of the population as a whole across the country (due, above all, to low birth rates).

How many people live in Odessa today? The Department of Social Protection of the Population, according to preliminary estimates, gives a figure of 1,029,650 residents (although it does not take into account the permanent population, but the population). In other words, the city once again overcame a million mark. Experts suggest that this could have happened due to a significant influx of refugees from Odessa to Eastern Ukraine.

It should also be noted that in summer the population of Odessa visibly increases due to tourists and holidaymakers. Odessites even jokingly note in September "the second day of the liberation of the city."

What is the gender structure of the population of this city? According to available statistics, 53% of women and 47% of men live in Odessa.

How did Odessa think? The history of the first censuses

Odessa, as is known, was founded in 1794. This is not easy to believe, but in those days "lure" people to this city was quite a difficult task. The first settlers were attracted to the Black Sea coast with the help of various benefits: state homes, cash bonuses of 150 rubles and exemption from military service.

For the first time the population of Odessa was counted as early as 1795. At that time in the city lived 2349 people. Interestingly, almost 25% of this number were fugitive serfs from other regions of the Russian Empire. At the beginning of the 19th century, the construction of a sea port began in Odessa. This event was a key stimulus in attracting new residents to the city.

The census of 1817 showed that the population of Odessa had grown to 32 thousand people. And in twenty years it confidently crossed the 50-thousand mark. However, the first serious population census in Odessa took place in 1892. The City Duma allocated more than 30 thousand rubles for it. The census lasted three days! Two weeks after the end of the collection of cards, the city's Statburo finally announced a total figure of 336,000! At the same time, every third inhabitant of Odessa at that time was Jewish.

Ethnic composition of the population

It's no secret that the population of Odessa is multinational. Today Ukrainians and Russians, Bulgarians and Moldovans, Jews and Armenians peacefully coexist here.

So, the national composition of the modern Odessa population is as follows: Ukrainians are the most numerous ethnos in the city (about 62%). Behind them go Russian (29%), Bulgarians (1.3%), Jews (1.2%), Moldovans (about 1%), as well as Byelorussians, Poles, Armenians, Greeks and other nationalities.

Jewish community in Odessa and its history

A powerful Jewish diaspora in Odessa has always existed. About 125 thousand Jews were in this city at the end of the century before last. Although they settled in the environs of Odessa even before the founding of the city itself. Thus, scientists discovered a Jewish gravestone dating from 1770 in the area of the Turkish fortress Hadzhibey.

Already at the end of the 18th century, the city built the first synagogue and a school for Jewish children. In 1809, the first Rabbi Yitzhak Rabinovich arrived in Odessa from the Moldovan Bender. After the construction of a large port on the seashore, more Jews arrived in Odessa. They immediately began to actively participate in the life of the city, ran for election and even were elected to the magistrate.

At the beginning of the 20th century Jews in Odessa were at least 32%. At their disposal in the city there were 7 synagogues, 89 educational institutions and two hundred headers (primary schools). Then came the revolution, and after it - the war and the Nazi occupation, after which the number of this ethnic group was reduced by almost 30 times!

Today the Odessa Jewish community has several kindergartens, a school with in-depth study of Hebrew. There are Jews of Odessa and their own women's club, as well as kosher shops and restaurants. The Odessa Jewish community issues its own newspaper, which is distributed free of charge.

The Moldavian community in Odessa and its history

Another numerous people living in Odessa are Moldovans. After all, the Moldovan border from the Ukrainian city is within easy reach - only 50 kilometers. And one of the districts of Odessa is called - Moldavanka.

Moldovans, and even the Ukrainians themselves, often like to remember that in the past 650 years there has not been a single military conflict between the two countries. Moldovans living in Odessa, get on well with Ukrainians, calling them peaceful and very hardworking.

According to the latest data, at least 8,000 Moldovans live in South Palmira. And in the entire Odessa region there are 125 thousand. Odessa Moldovans are engaged in a foreign country mainly with three things - agriculture, business and science. Among professors and teachers of Odessa universities there are many immigrants from the neighboring state.

Moldovans in Odessa feel very easy and cozy. They have no language barrier, as a rule, they are fluent in both Ukrainian and Russian. Representatives of this minority celebrate their traditional folk festivals in Odessa: Merzishor and Malanku. By the way, it is the Odessa Moldovan community that finances the publication of the all-Ukrainian newspaper "Luche Feru", which is printed in Moldovan for representatives of the diaspora.

Odessa: gas. Tariffs for the population

New tariffs for heating and gas - a question that is very much worried about the people of Odessa. In May 2015, the local enterprise Odessagaz announced new tariffs for residents of the city.

So, the monthly payment for gas (for tenants of apartments with usual gas cookers) has increased in 3 times and makes today 21,56 grivnas from the person. But the owners of gas columns should pay 64.69 hryvnia per person.

At the same time, tariffs for heating and hot water also increased. For one cubic meter of heated water, Odessa citizens now have to pay 42.14 UAH. The new tariff for heating is 16.7 UAH. For one "meter" of the area. For reference: one hryvnia is about a little more than three Russian rubles.

Conclusion

Odessa is a major port city in the south of Ukraine, whose population varies within one million people. Dozens of different nationalities live here. The most numerous of them are Ukrainians, Russians, Jews, Moldovans, Bulgarians, Greeks and Armenians.