Ukrainian Civil Service Shrinks by 5,000 as Average Pay Rises to 59,700 Hryvnias

Financial Data for Ukraine's Civil Servants in 2025

According to ХВИЛЯ: The Ukrainian Ministry of Finance has released final figures on the headcount and salaries of state employees (excluding the security and defense sector) for 2025. The report indicates the actual number of government workers fell by approximately 5,100 people, a reduction of about 3%. By the start of 2026, the system retained 164,700 specialists, down from 169,800 a year earlier.

This reduction affected all levels of government institutions, including central ministries, local administrations, and courts. Despite the smaller workforce, the average annual salary in 2025 increased to 59,700 hryvnias, up from 54,400 hryvnias in 2024. The overall annual salary growth rate was 9.7%.

Salary Levels and Increases

In December 2025, the average salary in central government offices was 81,630 hryvnias. The year-on-year salary increase for December 2025 compared to December 2024 was 2.3%. The higher December figures are attributed to one-time payments, such as compensation for unused vacation, material aid, and severance pay.

The most significant salary growth at the end of 2025 was recorded in the following institutions:

• Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA)
• National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities (NEURC)
• State Management of Affairs

The decrease in the number of civil servants may signal an optimization of the state apparatus, a key step in Ukraine's public administration reform agenda. The concurrent rise in average pay, despite the headcount reduction, could result from higher qualification requirements for remaining staff and the need to attract skilled personnel for complex tasks amid ongoing economic challenges. These changes are part of broader efforts to modernize governance and could impact the future efficiency of state institutions.