10.02.2014
How Ukrainians see their cities?
- According to surveys conducted by Rating Group in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Odesa, an absolute majority of residents are satisfied with living in their cities. The highest levels of satisfaction were recorded in Kharkiv, where 90% of respondents said they like living in their city, as well as in Odesa, Lviv, and Kyiv. The lowest shares were found in Dnipropetrovsk (80%) and Donetsk (78%), where only about one third of residents reported being very satisfied.
- Kyiv is most commonly perceived by its residents as a green city with a large share of young people, a rich history, and many monuments, making it one of the most attractive cities in Ukraine for tourists. Kyiv is also seen as the city offering the greatest opportunities for children’s development and for work and income generation. At the same time, Kyiv residents are the least likely among all surveyed cities to say that people in their city know how to work well.
- Lviv is viewed by most of its residents as an attractive tourist city with a rich history, beautiful architecture, many monuments, and a strong café culture. Compared to other cities, Lviv is most often described as religious and spiritual, quiet, cozy, and safe. However, it is also perceived as providing the fewest opportunities for work and income, as well as for children’s development, which is reflected in the lowest assessment of education quality. Residents are also dissatisfied with the number of shopping and entertainment centers and with the convenience of transportation.
- For Kharkiv residents, their city is a green urban environment with many shopping and entertainment centers and a large share of young people. Many respondents also highlight its architecture, monuments, and numerous cafés. Kharkiv is perceived as quiet, tidy, and environmentally clean, which distinguishes it from other cities. It also receives the highest ratings for education, roads, and healthcare, making it a city of significant opportunities combined with a relatively low cost of living.
- In Dnipropetrovsk, the most distinctive feature for residents is the large number of young people. The city is seen as industrial but with many shopping and entertainment centers, cafés, and restaurants. Dnipropetrovsk is regarded as the most politically active city and one that plays an important role in the country’s development. At the same time, it is not perceived as environmentally clean, quiet, or tidy, nor as attractive for tourists, and residents frequently point to poor roads.
- Donetsk is perceived by its residents as an industrial city with many parks, squares, and shopping and entertainment centers. More than half of respondents highlighted its particularly interesting sports life, making Donetsk a clear leader among Ukrainian cities on this indicator. Cultural life, historical heritage, architecture, spirituality, and respect for traditions are mentioned much less often. Donetsk also scores lowest on education quality and on opportunities for children’s development, work, and income.
- Most residents of Odesa consider their city to have a rich history, beautiful architecture, and many monuments. It is viewed as highly attractive for tourists due to its traditions, the most interesting cultural life, and good food. Odesa also stands out for having friendly and pleasant people who know how to enjoy life. However, it receives the lowest ratings for road and healthcare quality and for affordability of living, and it is perceived as one of the least politically active cities.
- Young people tend to see their hometown primarily as a center of leisure, with many cafés, attractive people, and an interesting sports life. Middle-aged residents are more likely to emphasize cultural life, job opportunities, and affordability. Older respondents place greater importance on spirituality, history, monuments, cleanliness, and coziness.
- Most respondents believe that developments in their own cities are moving in the right direction, especially in Donetsk, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Lviv, while Kyiv residents are the most critical, and a large share of Dnipropetrovsk residents remain undecided. At the national level, however, respondents generally believe that Ukraine is moving in the wrong direction, particularly in Odesa and Kyiv, while Donetsk and Kharkiv show more optimism. Residents of all cities except Kyiv tend to evaluate past changes in their cities positively, with Kharkiv and Lviv being the most optimistic. Nearly one third of Kyiv residents assess past changes negatively. Expectations for the coming year are most positive in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk, while Kyiv shows the highest level of negative expectations, and residents of Odesa and Donetsk generally expect no major changes.
- Most respondents identify Kharkiv and Kyiv as the country’s leading cities. About one in eight respondents classify their city as average compared to other regional centers. Residents of Donetsk, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk are more modest in their assessments, with about one third placing their cities among the average. Lviv residents are the most reserved, with roughly half calling their city a leader and about 40% describing it as average.
Methodology
- Survey population: population of Ukraine aged 18 and over
- Sample size: 2,000 respondents
- Method: face-to-face interviews
- Margin of error (95% confidence):
– near 50%: ≤ 2.2%
– near 30%: ≤ 2%
– near 10%: ≤ 1.3%
– near 5%: ≤ 1% - Fieldwork period: September 26 – October 6, 2013
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