More than one third of new companies in Ukraine were headed by women in 2025

In total, 12,757 new companies were headed by women in 2025. Currently, women directors account for 34% of all newly created companies, which is almost the same as before the full-scale war.

The largest number of new companies led by women is traditionally registered in the capital — 4,233 businesses. Next come Dnipropetrovsk region (1,071 companies), Lviv region (953), Kyiv region (859), and Odesa region (851).

However, if we look at the share of women among directors of new companies, Mykolaiv region leads: 42% of newly created companies there are headed by women. High shares are also recorded in Chernihiv region (38%), Zaporizhzhia region (37%), Kirovohrad region (37%), and Zakarpattia region (36%).

Meanwhile, the lowest share of women directors is in Lviv region (30%), Ivano-Frankivsk region (30%), Khmelnytskyi region (32%), and Zhytomyr and Rivne regions (33% each).

Despite this, the number of new companies led by women increased significantly over the year in Ivano-Frankivsk region (+27%), Mykolaiv region (+24%), and Volyn region (+20%).

By the number of women directors, the wholesale trade sector leads with 5,429 businesses, or 15% of the total. It is followed by public organizations, real estate, IT, and building construction.

At the same time, the largest gender imbalance among new businesses is in travel agencies: although relatively few new companies were opened in this sector, women account for 61% of directors. Women also prevail among leaders in creative and arts industries, employment services, HoReCa, and public administration and defense.

At the same time, there are industries where women are still minimally represented. Among newly registered security companies, only 7% are led by women. A low share is also observed in financial services and insurance, metallurgy, telecommunications, and engineering construction.

It is worth noting that some of the fastest growth has occurred in sectors traditionally considered male-dominated. The number of women directors has increased in computer manufacturing (+76%), IT (+72%), and machinery manufacturing (+44%).

Overall, out of nearly 1.5 million companies currently registered in Ukraine, 32% are led by women — 455,298 companies.