More recently, Odessa could be called a million-plus city. Today, however, the city no longer has this status. What is the population of Odessa today? What nationalities settled in South Palmyra and how do they live here?
Population of the city of Odessa and its population
The last population census in Ukraine was conducted, as you know, back in 2001. At that time, one million and 29 thousand people lived in the city of Odessa. Ten years later, South Palmyra, unfortunately, lost its status of a million-plus city. The main reason for this was the general depopulation of the population in the whole country (due, first of all, to low birth rates).
How many people live in the city of Odessa today? The Department of Social Protection of the Population, according to preliminary estimates, gives a figure of 1,029,650 inhabitants (however, this does not take into account the permanent, but the actual population). In other words, the city once again overcame the million mark. Experts suggest that this could happen due to a significant influx of refugees from Eastern Ukraine to Odessa.
It is also worth noting that in the summer the population of Odessa increases markedly due to tourists and vacationers. Odessans even jokingly celebrate in September "the second dayliberation of the city".
What is the gender structure of this city's population? According to available statistics, 53% of women and 47% of men live in Odessa.
How did the inhabitants of Odessa count? History of the first censuses
Odessa, as you know, was founded in 1794. It's hard to believe, but in those days it was quite a difficult task to "lure" people to this city. The first settlers were attracted to the Black Sea coast with the help of various benefits: government houses, cash bonuses of 150 rubles and exemption from military service.
For the first time, the population of Odessa was counted already in 1795. At that time, 2349 people lived in the city. Interestingly, almost 25% of this number were runaway serfs from other regions of the Russian Empire. At the beginning of the 19th century, the construction of a seaport began in Odessa. This event has been a key driver in attracting new residents to the city.
The 1817 census showed that the population of Odessa had already grown to 32 thousand people. And twenty years later, it confidently crossed the 50,000 mark. However, the first serious population census in Odessa took place in 1892. The City Duma allocated more than 30 thousand rubles for its implementation. The census lasted three days! Two weeks after the end of the collection of cards, the city's Statistical Bureau finally announced the total figure: 336,000 people! Moreover, every third inhabitant of the then Odessa was a Jew.
Ethnic composition of the population
It's no secret thatThe population of Odessa is multinational. Today, Ukrainians and Russians, Bulgarians and Moldovans, Jews and Armenians coexist peacefully here.
So, the national composition of the modern Odessa population is as follows: the most numerous ethnic group in the city are Ukrainians (about 62%). They are followed by Russians (29%), Bulgarians (1.3%), Jews (1.2%), Moldovans (about 1%), as well as Belarusians, Poles, Armenians, Greeks and other nationalities.
Jewish community in Odessa and its history
A powerful Jewish diaspora has always existed in Odessa. About 125 thousand Jews were in this city at the end of the century before last. Although they settled in the vicinity of Odessa even before the foundation of the city itself. Thus, scientists discovered a Jewish tombstone dated 1770 in the area of the Turkish fortress Khadzhibey.
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 Bendery. After a large port was built on the seashore, even more Jews arrived in Odessa. They immediately began to take an active part in the life of the city, running for office and even being elected to the magistrate.
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were at least 32% of Jews in Odessa. At their disposal in the city were 7 synagogues, 89 educational institutions and two hundred heders (elementary schools). Then the revolution came, followed by wars and the Nazi occupation, after which the number of this ethnic group decreased by almost 30 times!
Today the Odessa Jewish community hasseveral kindergartens, a school with in-depth study of Hebrew. The Jews of Odessa also have their own women's club, as well as kosher shops and restaurants. The Odessa Jewish community publishes its own newspaper, which is distributed free of charge.
Moldovan community in Odessa and its history
Another numerous people living in Odessa are Moldovans. After all, it is only 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian city to the Moldovan border. And one of the districts of Odessa is called Moldavanka.
Moldovans, and the Ukrainians themselves, often like to remember that over the past 650 years there has not been a single military conflict between these two countries. Moldovans living in Odessa get along well with Ukrainians, calling them peaceful and very hardworking.
According to the latest data, at least 8 thousand Moldovans live in South Palmyra. And in the entire Odessa region there are 125 thousand of them. Odessa Moldovans are mainly engaged in three things in a foreign land - agriculture, business and science. Among the professors and teachers of Odessa universities there are many people from a neighboring state.
Moldovans feel very comfortable and at ease in Odessa. They have no language barrier, as a rule, they are fluent in both Ukrainian and Russian. Representatives of this minority celebrate their traditional folk holidays in Odessa: Mertisor and Malanka. By the way, it is the Odessa community of Moldovans that finances the publication of the all-Ukrainian newspaper "Luce Feru", which is printed onMoldovan for representatives of the diaspora.
Odessa: gas. Tariffs for the population
New tariffs for heating and gas - an issue that greatly worries the inhabitants of Odessa. In May 2015, the local enterprise "Odessagaz" announced new tariffs for residents of the city.
Thus, the monthly payment for gas (for residents of apartments with ordinary gas stoves) has increased 3 times and today is 21.56 hryvnia per person. But owners of gas water heaters must pay 64.69 hryvnia per person.
At the same time, tariffs for heating and hot water have also increased. For one cubic meter of heated water, residents of Odessa now need to pay 42.14 UAH. The new tariff for heating is 16.7 UAH. per meter of area. For reference: one hryvnia is approximately a little more than three Russian rubles.
Conclusion
Odessa is a major port city in southern Ukraine with a population of around one million. Dozens of different nationalities live here. The most numerous of them are Ukrainians, Russians, Jews, Moldavians, Bulgarians, Greeks and Armenians.
