34% of young people in Ukraine are atheists or agnostics, survey shows
A survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) revealed that among young Ukrainians aged 18-29, 34% identify as atheists or agnostics. Overall, half of Ukrainians associate themselves with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).
The study, conducted in September-October 2025 among 2015 respondents, showed that 63% of respondents identify as Orthodox. Of these, 50% belong to the OCU, 9% consider themselves as “simple Orthodox,” and 3% are affiliated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP).
Interestingly, the number of atheists increased to 16% during this period, with the highest proportion being among the youth. At the same time, more than 2000 religious communities have transitioned to the OCU since the beginning of the full-scale war. The sampling error does not exceed 2.9%, and for specific sub-samples, it is 5.8%.
Sociologists note that the share of OCU believers increased after receiving the tomos in 2019. However, a significant portion of the population cannot distinguish between the OCU and the UOC MP. The UOC MP’s connection to Russia is commonly mentioned, whereas differences in rites or subordination are referenced less often.
Western regions of Ukraine predominantly have believers of the Greek Catholic Church, while the youth are increasingly detached from a specific religious identity. Experts add that religious issues in Ukraine remain markers of Moscow’s influence.
| Denomination | Share of believers, % |
|---|---|
| Orthodox Church of Ukraine | 50% |
| Simple Orthodox | 9% |
| Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate | 3% |
| Atheists | 16% |
