Abstract

The given article determines the features of ethno­political development of Russia­dependent Ukraine population. It was established at the end of the nineteenth century Ukrainians in their numerical composition were one of the most numerous among the European ones. Especially rapid during the nineteenth century were the rates of growth on the Ukrainian lands that were the part of the Russian Empire. According to the materials of the First General census of the Russian Empire in 1897 and the other data, there were about 26.4 million of Ukrainians in the world. Among them, 22 380,6 thousand of people lived in Russia and 3 814,9 thousand of people lived in Austria­Hungary. Only about 215 thousand resided outside of the borders of both empires. The article deals with the changes in the numerical composition and settlement both of Ukrainians and non­Ukrainians in these countries. Besides, there was given the characteristic of the population of Ukraine with glance of its significant differences due to political and economic factors associated with the spread of mass ethnical identity, the revival and the rise of the national movement, the creation of a new Ukrainian culture, the development of all branches of life. So, according to their territorial distribution and numerical composition, the Ukrainians were the leading nation among the population of the national minorities within the Russian empire. Except for the basic constituents, inherent to every nation, Ukrainians possessed their own literary language, centuries­old traditions, and their own intelligentsia.