The Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and the Congress of Business Circles of Ukraine promotes the commercial and business activities of the country to the rest of the world. Many of Ukraine's trade unions belong to the umbrella organization called the Federation of Independent Trade Unions. There is an active Ukrainian Consumers' Association.

National cultural organizations include the Ukrainian Cultural Educational Organization and Flamenko, which promotes cultural exchange programs. National youth organizations include the Council of Ukrainian Students, the Ukrainian Fund of International Youth Cooperation, Ukrainian Girl Guides and Girls Scouts Association, the Compass Club, and YMCA/YWCA.

National social action organizations include the Ukrainian Center for Human Rights, the Ukrainian Environmental Association, the Ukrainian Legal Foundation, Freedom House (advocating the development of democratic institutions), The Children's Fund, and Zhinocha Hromada, an organization focused on encouraging women to be active in economic and community development. International organizations with national chapters include Caritas and the Red Cross.

Ukraine, which inherited part of the former USSR system, had about 9.4 million telephone lines in 1999. Cellular phone service is available in at least 100 cities and there were an estimated 236,000 subscribers in 1998. The State Committee for Radio and Television controls broadcasting. There are four radio networks headquartered in Kiev, including one for foreign broadcasts and one solely for news. Ukrainian TV also broadcasts from Kiev. As of 1999 there were at least 25 local radio stations and 33 television stations. In 2000, there were 889 radios and 456 television sets for every 1,000 people. In 2001, 260 Internet service providers were serving 750,000 users.

Among the leading daily newspapers (with 2002 circulation) are: Holos Ukrainy ( Voice of Ukraine , 768,000); Pravda Ukrainy (358,300); Demokratychna Ukraine ( Democratic Ukraine , 311,300), Nezavisimost ( Independence , 228,000); and Uryadoviy Kuryer ( Official Courier , 200,000).

The constitution and a 1991 law provide for free speech and a free press. Criticism of the government is said to be tolerated, though some journalists practice self-censorship because of occasional pressures from the government.

At last estimate, average housing space per capita totaled 18 sqm. The housing and municipal services sector employed more than 880,000 workers in the mid-1990s.

Before 1994, most housing and utility costs were covered by the government through a policy which was causing major federal debt. Through an IMF approved program of economic reforms put in place in October 1994, residents were asked to contribute a much greater amount toward there own rent and utilities. Unfortunately, many households were unable to do so. An average three-person household, living in a three-room flat of about 500 square meters was charged expenses of about $30 per month. The average monthly income of such a family was $50. In 1995, the government put in place a subsidy program to assist low-income families in meeting rising housing costs, but funding for housing continues to be a problem.

Ukraine has virtually a 100% literacy rate with nearly 15% of the adult population having completed higher education. Of the remaining 85%, 7% have completed only elementary school, and 78% have completed secondary education.

While Ukrainian is the most commonly taught language and medium of instruction, other languages, such as Russian, Hungarian, Polish, Moldovan, or Crimean-Tatar, are offered based on the ethnic composition of the particular school district. Most schools are state run. In the 21,720 general primary schools, there were 2,658,800 students enrolled in 1994. There were 4,731,200 students enrolled in secondary schools in the same year. The pupil-teacher ratio at the primary level was estimated at 21 to 1 in 1999. In 1996, institutions of higher learning enrolled 1,541,000 students. As of 1999, public expenditure on education was estimated at 4.4% of GDP.

The National Parliamentary Library of Ukraine in Kiev holds 3.9 million volumes. Other large collections include the V.G. Korolenko State Scientific Library with 6.7 million volumes and the libraries at Lviv Polytechnic University (three million), Franko State University in Lviv (2.5 million), Shevchenko Kiev University(2.7 million), and Kiev Polytechnic Institute (2.5 million). In 1995, there were reported to be 21,857 public libraries operating in Ukraine with an overall stock of 336.7 million books.

Kiev has the Kiev Museum of Western and Oriental Art, the Kiev State Museum of Russian Art, the Kiev State Museum of Ukrainian Art, and the State Historical Museum. There is a Museum of Fine Arts in Lugansk. Lviv houses the State Museum of Ethnography and Arts and Crafts and the Literary Museum of Ivan Franko. Odesa is home to the Odesa State Museum of European and Oriental Art, the Odesa Art Museum, and the Odesa Archaeological Museum.

Ukraine's health care system is undergoing a complicated transition period. In 1992, there was a fixed level of expenses for health services (an estimated 10% of the national income). As of 1999 total health care expenditure was estimated at 4.4% of GDP. The deterioration of the economy and declining living standards have had a negative impact on birth and mortality rates and women's and children's health standards need much improvement. Although safe water was available to 96.5%, proper sanitation was available to only 70% of the urban population and 8% of the rural population in the mid-1990s. Poor nutrition is another major problem in the Ukraine, and a shortage of basic supplies exacerbates the health care situation.

The country has established 156 independent children's hospitals. As of the mid-1990s, there were over 400 pediatric departments functioning in central district hospitals, with 92,102 pediatric beds (84 per 10,000 children). There were 22,000 pediatricians (two per 1,000 children) in 1993. In the same year, there were 29 regional adult hospitals; 25 regional infant hospitals; 485 central district hospitals; 1,500 rural hospitals; and specialized dispensaries and clinics. Altogether there were a total of 700,000 hospital beds. In addition, there were 6,500 outpatient polyclinical institutions. Medical personnel in the mid-1990s included 220,000 physicians and more than 500,000 physician's assistants. As of 1999, there were an estimated 3 physicians and 11.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people.

Infant mortality was reported at 21 per 1,000 live births in 2000. There were 477,366 births in 1999; life expectancy was 68 years in 2000. As of 2002, the crude birth rate and overall mortality rate were estimated at, respectively, 10 and 16 per 1,000 people. Immunization rates for 1997 for children up to one year old were: tuberculosis, 95%; diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, 96%; polio, 97%; and measles, 97%.

The leading causes of death were cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, traumas, and accidents. The vulnerability of this country to HIV spread is reflected in the tenfold increase in syphilis cases active in 1991–95. As of 1999, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS was estimated to be about 240,000 and deaths from AIDS that year were estimated at 4,000. HIV prevalence was 0.96 per 100 adults. In 1994 there were 8,471 tuberculosis cases and 1,416 measles cases. The incidence of tuberculosis was 73 per 100,000 people in 1999.

The likelihood of dying after age 65 of heart disease in Ukraine was below the average for medium human development as defined by the World Bank. In the mid-1990s, that rate exceeded 300 per 1,000 for men and 295 per 1,000 for women. On the other hand, cancer rates for men were higher. Death after age 65 from cancer was 133 per 1,000 people in the mid-1990s.

The social security system provides all employees with old age, disability, and survivor's pensions. A 1% contribution by employees supplements a 37% contribution from employers. Retirement is normally at age 60 for men and 55 for women, although this is reduced by five years for those engaged in arduous work and mothers with five or more children. There is a dual system of medical benefits. Cash benefits for sickness are provided for employed persons, while a universal medical care system exists for all residents. Maternity benefits of 100% of wages for 70 days before and 56 days after the expected date of childbirth are payable to all employed women. Family allowances are provided to families with large numbers of children. Special provisions exist for Chernobyl victims. Workers' compensation and unemployment benefits are also provided.

The law provides women with the same employment rights as men, although they rarely attain high-level managerial or political positions. Women have been disproportionately affected by the country's economic crisis. Estimates suggest that they may account for as many as 70% of the unemployed. Women who are employed mostly work in low-paying jobs or in industries that have trouble paying their employees on time. Women generally have high levels of education and are fairly well represented in politics, although they have a greater presence in local government positions. Violence against women, domestic abuse, and sexual harassment in the workplace are pervasive.

Harassment of racial minorities and religious intolerance are increasing problems. Anti-Semitic incidents and societal discrimination of ethnic minorities are commonplace. The Roma population is subject to abuse by police and general intolerance by the public. Human rights violations continue despite a decline in some areas over recent years. Prisoners are mistreated by authorities and live in substandard conditions. The government interferes with freedom of the press and with the electoral process.