Region Passport
Region Characteristics
| Established | February 27, 1932 |
|---|---|
| KOATUU Code | 5100000000 |
| Population | 2,381,971 |
| Area | 33,310 km² |
| Population density | 71.59 people/km² |
| Phone codes | +380-48 |
| Regional center | Odesa |
| Districts | 26 |
| Cities of regional significance | 9 |
| Cities of district significance | 10 |
| Urban-type settlements | 33 |
| Villages | 1101 |
| Settlements | 23 |
| Settlement councils | 32 |
| Village councils | 439 |
| Vehicle registration plates | BH |
| Internet domains | odessa.ua; od.ua |
Geographic and Geopolitical Position of Odesa Region
Odesa region is a coastal and border region of Ukraine, located in the extreme southwest of the country.
The state borders of Ukraine with Romania and Moldova run through the region's territory. In the south, the Odesa region extends to the Black Sea. The length of sea and estuary coastlines from the Danube River mouth to the Tylihul Estuary reaches 300 km.
The Odesa region is located at the intersection of international waterways:
- The Danube waterway, after the completion of the Rhine-Main-Danube canal in 1992, provides the shortest access for European countries to the Black Sea, and further to the Transcaucasus, Central Asia, and the Middle East;
- The Dniester River connects the region with Moldova, while the Dnipro connects it with Central Ukraine and Belarus, and after the reconstruction of the Dnipro-Bug and Dnipro-Neman canals - with Poland and the Baltic countries;
- The Volga-Don system connects the Azov-Black Sea basin with Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran, providing access to the Caspian, Baltic, and White Seas.
The geopolitical position of Odesa region is determined by both its advantageous transport-geographical location and its increasing participation in major European interregional organizations - the Assembly of European Regions and the Working Community of Danube Countries. Being part of the country's maritime facade, the Odesa region significantly contributes to Ukraine's participation in the work of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) member states.
Natural Resource Potential of the Region
Along with its very advantageous transport-geographical location, Odesa region has favorable conditions that generally form the region's high natural resource potential.
The main natural wealth of the region is its land resources, predominantly represented by black soil with high natural fertility. Together with the warm steppe climate, they form the region's high agro-industrial potential.
The warm sea, therapeutic mud, mineral waters, and sea beaches create an exceptionally high recreational potential of Odesa region. In the lower reaches of large rivers (Danube, Dniester) and estuaries, on sea coasts and in the shelf zone, there are valuable unique natural complexes, wetlands, and ecosystems that form the region's high biosphere potential of national and international significance.
Odesa Region in Ukraine's Economic Complex
- Odesa region is the country's main maritime foreign trade gateway;
- Services international transit cargo and passenger flows, performs crucial transport and distribution functions at national and international levels;
- Is Ukraine's leading region in terms of maritime complex development and industries related to the use of sea and world ocean resources;
- Is one of Ukraine's most promising regions for foreign economic activity development, joint entrepreneurship, and formation of special (free) economic zones;
- Has significant scientific-technical and design potential, is a center for personnel training, and implementation of scientific-technical, information, innovation, and investment activities of regional and national scale;
- Is one of the most promising recreational areas of the coastal type;
- Stands out as an important region of intensive agriculture with a high share of irrigated farming and agricultural products processing industry;
- Is one of the centers of mechanical engineering, light and chemical industry of regional and national scale;
- Stands out due to the presence of large nature reserve fund objects of regional, national, and international scale.
Archives of previous years' passports
Odesa Region Passport for 2022
Odesa Region Passport for 2021
Odesa Region Passport for 2020
Odesa Region Passport for 2019