In 2025, 225 thousand individual entrepreneurs were opened in Ukraine: who leads among businesses.

According to inkorr.com: Over the nine months of 2025, 225 thousand new individual entrepreneurs (IE) were registered in Ukraine – this is practically in line with last year, despite the military situation and economic difficulties. The number of closures increased by 11% to 213 thousand, resulting in a positive balance: an increase of 12 thousand businesses. This is reported by .

The lifespan of small businesses after opening

The registration rates have notably recovered after the decline in January: from 21.4 thousand in January to a record 29.6 thousand in September. Closures mainly involved new startups – over 45 thousand IEs registered in 2024 ceased operations. This indicates

the vulnerability of newcomers in an unstable economy

, where inflation and logistical problems create additional difficulties for businesses.

Regions where IEs are most often opened in Ukraine

Regional distribution shows that businesses are primarily opened in large cities and industrial centers. Here are the main indicators:

• Kyiv: 30.5 thousand new, 27.5 thousand closed;

• Dnipropetrovsk region: 22.2 thousand new, 19.1 thousand closed;

• Lviv region: 17.2 thousand new;

• Kyiv region: 16.7 thousand new;

• Odesa region: 16.4 thousand new;

• Kharkiv region: 17.7 thousand closed.

Popular business areas among new IEs

The activities of IEs

are mainly concentrated in trading: 29% of new IEs are engaged in retail trade, followed by wholesale trade, IT sector, HoReCa, and informational services. These fields have also noted the highest bankruptcies due to fierce competition and seasonality, which reduce margins. Women register 60% of new businesses, with a maximum of 63% in Sumy region – they choose services, education, medicine, and tailoring. Men predominantly choose logistics, construction, and repairs.

Current information about foreign IEs in Ukraine

The number of foreign IEs is growing: 1648 new businesses have been registered by non-residents, among which Azerbaijanis, Russians, Uzbeks, Moldovans, and Armenians lead. This reflects migration trends and the search for safe opportunities in the Ukrainian economy.

Experts recommend that new IEs focus on diversification and obtaining government grants to avoid bankruptcy. If current trends continue, by the end of the year, the number of new IEs may reach 300 thousand.