Ukraine is a multi-confessional state, where, as of January 1, 2000, 23 543 religious community organizations, monasteries, missions, fraternities, educational establishments belonging to 90 denominations, branches, churches are officially registered. (For comparison, at the beginning of 1991, the following organizations were registered in Ukraine: 9994, 1992 - 12962, 1993 - 15017, 1994 - 14962, 1995 - 16984, 1996 - 18 111, 1997 - 19110, 1998 - 20 406, 1999 - 21 843 organizations). In their property or use, there are over 16 637 religious buildings. Confessions have opened 250 convents, 184 missions, 49 brotherhoods, 121 religious schools, 7,165 Sunday schools and catechesis offices, and 194 periodicals. Religious needs of believers are satisfied by 21 281 priests, of whom 650 are foreigners.
