“In 2024, the number of Ukrainians who declared a million and more hryvnias of annual profit a year increased by 63% compared to the previous year. In total, more than 17,000 citizens have reported such income, and their total declared profit amounted to UAH 253.6 billion. That is, last year the number of official millionaires in Ukraine has increased more than in the light. Such are fresh data”, – WRITE ON: ua.news
In 2024, the number of Ukrainians who declared a million and more hryvnias of annual profit a year increased by 63% compared to the previous year. In total, more than 17,000 citizens have reported such income, and their total declared profit amounted to UAH 253.6 billion.
That is, last year the number of official millionaires in Ukraine has increased more than in the light. These are fresh data State Tax Service.
At first glance, this statistics look absurd against Russian aggression, economic crisis and poverty growth. The increase in the number of Ukrainian millionaires in the midst of the war caused a wave of public indignation. However, a detailed analysis allows you to understand that these figures are often not a “betrayal”, but objective economic factors.
But how do you really explain such data? And does this really mean that in the country more and more people are enriched on the mountain of others? UA.news political observer Nikita Trachuk Together with the experts he dealt with the question.
More than millionaires have become in Ukraine: dry figures against sincere emotions
Thus, according to official data of the State Tax Service of Ukraine (SSSU), in 2024 the number of citizens who declared annual income of more than 1 million hryvnias increased by 6.6 thousand people to more than 17 thousand, or by 63%. The total amount of income they declared – UAH 253.6 billion.
This is equivalent to over $ 6 billion at a current rate. Or an average of UAH 14.8 million for each. Most millionaires in Kiev: the capital residents declared UAH 156 billion, which is almost half of all incomes declared by Ukrainians in 2025.
This information has caused widespread resonance in society. Under posts in news publications – hundreds of comments with curses, indignation and misunderstanding of these numbers. Against the background of the war, such statistics seem to be a challenge for public morality and a glove thrown into the face of Ukrainians, many of whom do not live but survive.
However, this is only the first glance. Reality, as always, is somewhat more complex and at the same time much simpler than it may seem.
Where do millionaires come from in Ukraine
The first and most important thing to note: within the Ukrainian tax system, you are considered to be a millionaire for the SPSU if you earn about UAH 84,000 a month. It’s just over $ 2,000. On the one hand, good money for Ukraine. On the other hand, it is not so cosmic as large in domestic or world standards.
Accordingly, one million hryvnias are $ 24,000. The amount is also significant on one side, but on the other-you will not even buy a 1-room apartment in Kiev. If you look closely at which cars ride along the streets of Ukrainian cities, we will realize that millionaires are literally everywhere in the middle of us.
One of the key factors for the increase in the number of millionaires was high salaries in the public sector. Official salaries are growing in Ukraine constantly, despite either war or anything else. Yes, the morality of such a policy and the usefulness/need of the bloated state apparatus generally raise huge issues. However, the fact remains: one of the few areas where the constant growth of salaries is recorded is a state sector.
According to the government’s open reports, in 2024, the average salary in central authorities was in some places 80-90 thousand hryvnias a month, and in some structures-significantly more. In general, last year the salaries of civil servants increased by more than 60%, for data Ministry of Finance. Already in February 2025 the salary of officials increased by another 15%. And then – again has grownalready in March.
And if in some agencies an official can receive an average of 50-60 thousand, then his manager is guaranteed to have more than 100 thousand income. Note: it is about salaries. And they are also added awards, thirteenth salaries, allowances, compensations, holidays, etc.
According to the same Ministry of Finance, 21,890 people received salaries in the central state authorities in March this year. The National Corruption Agency (NACC) is leading the level of salaries, where UAH 115.9 thousand is received on average. In the second place is the National Commission for State Regulation in Energy and Utilities (NERCEP). The apparatus of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the average salary of almost a thousand employees – 81.5 thousand hryvnias, and the Antimonopoly Committee – 81.2 thousand hryvnias.
The average salary of agencies in Ukraine is UAH 124.1 thousand. The highest salaries among more than 500 heads in the following agencies: NERCEP – 305.4 thousand hryvnias, the State Export Control Service – 296.1 thousand hryvnias, NAPC – 276.3 thousand hryvnias, and so on.
It should be noted that in top state companies – Ukrnafta, Ukrzaliznytsia, Naftogaz – annual Prizes It can reach millions of dollars, not hryvnias for management. In view of the above facts, all these civil servants and heads of state -owned enterprises automatically fall into the category of millionaires.
Another factor that has significantly affected the increase in the number of millionaires is investments in the domestic government bond (T -bills). In the context of a limited currency market and devaluation expectations, Ukrainian businessmen invested funds in the T -bills that provided guaranteed income at least 17-19% per annum.
According to information NBUin the first half of 2024 alone, individuals purchased government bonds for over UAH 40 billion. For part of the participants of this “pyramid”, the profit amounted to millions of hryvnias – officially, through open accounts, with the following declaration.
Finally, a separate category of “new millionaires” consists of representatives of “creative class”: bloggers, instagrants, YouTubers. Almost any Ukrainian audience influent can earn hundreds of thousands, if not millions of hryvnias: on advertising, integrations, sales of digital products. And many of them, when conducting activities legally, declare these income.
Declared money is not shadowy
It is important to be objective: yes, many in Ukraine have become a millionaire not honest. There is a whole layer of people who earn huge money in the war. From the unclean to the hand of officials and the heads of the shopping center in which find Millions of cache dollars, to pseudo -pseudo pseudorators who deceive the trusting and empathic Ukrainians. Such people are valid O exist.
However, the key point to be aware is the declared income is inherently predominantly legal or at least almost legal. These are officially received funds for which tax reporting is submitted. Shadow revenues – for example, corruption income of officials or commanders of the shopping center, bribes or “discard” of people’s deputies – in declarations usually NOT They appear.
But despite economic logic, such statistics are still perceived by society as injustice. Many Ukrainians live on the verge of survival. According to data UNmore than 14 million people in Ukraine need humanitarian assistance. Although the average salary in the country is growing, but often it is nominal, which does not have time for prices in shops and pharmacies, the cost of renting housing, etc.
Against this background, information about “new millionaires” is perceived by irritated and injured historical troubles as a challenge.
Although it is possible to understand people purely emotionally, it is still worth analyzing the reality and separating the “grain from the half”. And the government, in turn, needs to pay attention to such radical sentiment of Ukrainians, to understand their cause – poverty and social injustice – and to finally think in the direction of increasing social standards and the welfare of the general public.
Expert opinions
Economic Expert WIP with 10 years of experience in the NBU Vadim Orphan It draws attention to the structure of declared incomes of citizens. According to the economist, there is not so much directly earned money.
“The first thing I am caught in my eye is we have three blocks of taxes. There is a large category of Ukrainians who have less than 1 million income. There is a conditional middle class – millionaires who have become the main characters of the news. And there are conditional oligarchs – rich people with huge businesses and savings. In general, this is a rather absurd situation where the number of millionaires increases during the war. If we look at the sources of income, then there is often no salary. Almost 50% are foreign income. That is, income is not from wages or creative activity. It’s investment of money in assets abroad and receiving income from them, ” – the orphan notes.
That is, the source of taxation is foreign assets, not the economy of Ukraine. This is a rather strange situation, says the expert.
“The second source of income is a legacy. It’s not income from what is earned. The heritage and sale of property is more than 25% of income. That is not income earned in the truest sense, it is simply a redistribution of already acquired property. How much do these funds work for Ukraine is a big question. This is often a kind of “parasitic capital”. In general, we have a very polarized society in terms of income. We have a huge social inequality. And income is concentrated in a small number of people. An unresolved issue of social justice is a threat to the national security of the state after the war, ” – says Vadim Orphan.
Economic expert Yuri Gavrilechko I am sure that the sharp increase in the number of millionaires is due to the public sector. There are no “underground millionaires of Koreico” who would decide to get out of the shadows in Ukraine.
“It is about objective factors. The salaries in the public sector have almost doubled throughout the year, in addition. They also increased from the heads of local self -government bodies. However, this did not greatly affect the average salary of ordinary officials. Therefore, the main reason is most likely that. Because there is no significant increase in wages in other industries.
If we take the largest job search sites, then the average salaries that they offer there have not actually increased during the year. They remain within 21-23 thousand hryvnias a month. I will finally note that the hryvnia millionaire is one who receives just over UAH 80 thousand a month. Somehow so. We have no “underground millionaires of Koreico”, which suddenly decided to declare their wealth, so we do not have the key to the public sector as a key reason, “ – said Yuri Gavrilechko.
Summarizing: the increase in the number of millionaires in war is, on the one hand, a logical consequence of some economic processes. On the other hand, it is a social trigger that exposes the problem of serious social inequality, lack of economic justice and a deep break between the poor majority and a rich minority. It is at these moments of the government that you need to pay attention first.