Ukrainian hryvnia

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Short description: Currency of Ukraine
Ukrainian hryvnia
українська гривня (Ukrainian)
1000 hryvnias banknote1 hryvnia coin
ISO 4217
CodeUAH (numeric: 980)
Subunit0.01
Unit
Pluralhryvnias (see also: declension of гривня in Ukrainian)
Symbol or грн
Denominations
Subunit
 ​1100kopiyka (копійка)
Plural
 kopiyka (копійка)kopiykas (see also: declension of копійка in Ukrainian)
Banknotes₴20, ₴50, ₴100, ₴200, ₴500, ₴1,000
Coins50 kopiykas, ₴1, ₴2, ₴5, ₴10
Demographics
User(s) Ukraine
Issuance
Central bankNational Bank of Ukraine
 Websitehttps://bank.gov.ua/en/
PrinterNational Bank of Ukraine
MintNational Bank of Ukraine
Valuation
Inflation9.52% (2021 y-o-y)[1]
 SourceNBU, 2019, May[2]
 MethodCPI

The hryvnia (/(hə)ˈrɪvniə/ (hə-)RIV-nee-ə; Ukrainian: гривня uk, Template:Abbr.грн hrn; sign: ; code: UAH) has been the national currency of Ukraine since 2 September 1996. The hryvnia is divided into 100 kopiykas (Ukrainian: копійка). It is named after a measure of weight used in Kievan Rus'.[3]

Etymology

The currency of Kievan Rus' in the 11th century was the grivna. The word is thought to derive from the Slavic griva; which compares with the Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian, Croatian, and Serbian word грива (griva, meaning 'mane'). It might have indicated something valuable to be worn around the neck, that was usually made of silver or gold, and may be related to the Bulgarian and Serbian term grivna (гривна, 'bracelet').

Following Ukraine's declared secession from Russia in 1917, the Ukrainian People's Republic named its currency hryvnia after the grivna of Kievan Rus'; these were designed by Heorhiy Narbut.


Currency sign

Hryvnia currency sign
Hryvnia currency sign

The hryvnia sign is a cursive Ukrainian letter He (г), with a double horizontal stroke (₴), symbolizing stability, similar to that used in other currency symbols such as the yen and Chinese yuan (¥, a symbol the currencies share), euro (€), and Indian rupee (₹). The sign was encoded as U+20B4 in Unicode 4.1 and released in 2005.[4] It is now supported by most systems. In Ukraine, if the hryvnia sign is unavailable, the Cyrillic abbreviation "грн" is used (which can be transliterated as "hrn").

History

11th–12th century Kyiv hryvnia, as reproduced by the National Bank of Ukraine
100 hryvnias note of the Ukrainian People's Republic (1918)

On 22 December 1917, the Central Rada established Ukraine's state bank. The karbovanets became first currency of the Ukrainian People's Republic. On 5 January 1918, the first official 100 karbovanets banknote was issued, signed by Mykhailo Kryvetskyi, the first director of the state bank.

On 1 March 1918, the Central Council introduced a new currency, the hryvnia, consisting of 100 shahs and equaled to 1/2 of the previously issued karbovanets banknote.

In April 1918, Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky reintroduced the karbovanets as the main currency of Ukraine. It consisted of 200 shahs, and denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 1,000 karbovanets were issued.

During the Nazi occupation of Ukraine in World War II, the German occupying government (Reichskommissariat Ukraine) issued banknotes denominated in karbovanets (karbowanez in German).

The third version of the karbovanets replaced rubles at par in 1992. The karbovanets was subject to hyperinflation in the early 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.[5] The karbovanets was replaced by the hryvnia in September 1996, at a rate of 1 hryvnia to 100,000 karbovanets.[6]

The introduction of the hryvnia was done in a covert fashion.[7] It was introduced according to the Presidential Decree of 26 August 1996, published three days later. During the transition period, 2–16 September, both hryvnias and karbovanets could be used, but change could only be given in hryvnias. All bank accounts were converted to hryvnias automatically. During the transition period, 97% of karbovanets were taken out of circulation, with 56% being removed in the first five days of the currency reform.[7] After 16 September 1996, any remaining karbovanets in circulation could be exchanged for hryvnias in banks.

On 18 March 2014, following the Russian annexation of Crimea, the interim administration of the Republic of Crimea announced that the hryvnia was to be dropped as the region's currency the following month.[8] It was replaced by the Russian ruble on 21 March 2014;[9] the hryvnia was allowed to be used for cash payments until 1 June.[9] Because of a lack of low-denomination Russian rubles in those raions of the Donbas under the control of the pro-Russian separatist states of Donetsk and Luhansk, the hryvnia remained the predominant currency until 2022.[10]

Coinage

Coins were first struck for the new currency in 1992, but were not introduced until September 1996. Initially, coins valued between 1 and 50 kopiyky were issued. In March 1997, ₴1 coins were added. Since 2004, commemorative ₴1 coins have been struck.

In October 2012, the National Bank of Ukraine announced that it was examining the possibility of withdrawing the 1 and 2 kopiyky coins from circulation,[11] as they had become too expensive to produce. After 2013, 1 and 2 kopiyky coins were not produced, but remained in circulation until 1 October 2019.[12] On 26 October 2012, the National Bank of Ukraine announced it was considering the introduction of a ₴2 coin.[13] Officially, as of 1 July 2016, 12.4 billion coins, with a face value of ₴1.4 billion were in circulation.[14] On 1 October 2019, 1, 2 and 5 kopiyky coins ceased to be legal tender. They can be still changed at banks.[15]

Coins of the Ukrainian Hryvnia (1992–present)[16]
Image Value Technical parameters Description Date of
Obverse Reverse Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse minting issue withdrawal
75px 75px 1 kopiyka 16 mm 1.5 g Stainless steel Plain Value,
Ornaments
Ukrainian Trident 1992–2016 2 September 1996 Not issued since 1 July 2018.[17] 1, 2, and 5-kopiyka coins withdrew from general circulation on 1 October 2019.[12]
75px 75px 2 kopiykas 17.30 mm 0.64 g (1992~1996)
1.8 g (2001–)
aluminium (1992–1996),
stainless steel (2001–)
1992–2014
75px 75px 5 kopiykas 24 mm 4.3 g stainless steel Reeded 1992–2015
75px 75px 10 kopiykas 16.3 mm 1.7 g brass (1992–1996),
aluminium bronze (2001–)
Reeded Value,
Ornaments
Ukrainian Trident 1992–2022 2 September 1996 10-kopiyka coins withdrew from general circulation on 1 October 2025.[18]
75px 75px 25 kopiykas 20.8 mm 2.9 g Reeded and plain sectors 1992–2016 Not issued since 1 July 2018.[17] 25-kopiyka coin ceased to be legal tender in Ukraine and gone out of circulation, effective 1 October 2020.[19][20]
75px 75px 50 kopiykas 23 mm 4.2 g 1992~present Current
65px 65px 1 hryvnia 26 mm 7.1 g (1995,1996)
6.9 g (2001–)
brass (1995, 1996),
aluminium bronze (2001–)
Inscription: "ОДНА ГРИВНЯ", minted year 1995~2013 12 March 1997 Current, but new design introduced in 2018
70px 70px 1 hryvnia 26 mm 6.8 g (2004–2016) Aluminium bronze (2004–2016) Plain with incuse lettering ("ОДНА · ГРИВНЯ · Date of issue") Inscription: Coat of arms of Ukraine; УКРАЇНА 1 ГРИВНЯ; date of issue inside a decorative wreath Half length figure of Volodymyr the Great holding a model church and staff with legend above 2004–2016 2004
47px 47px 1 hryvnia 18.9 mm 3.3 g Nickel-plated steel Reeded Coat of Arms
of Ukraine,
Value,
Ornaments
Volodymyr the Great 2018[17] Current
51px 51px 2 hryvnias 20.2 mm 4.0 g Yaroslav the Wise
55px 55px 5 hryvnias 22.1 mm 5.2 g Segmented (Plain and Reeded edges) Bohdan Khmelnytsky 2019
59px 59px 10 hryvnias 23.5 mm 6.4 g Nickel plated zinc alloy Reeded Ivan Mazepa 2020[17]
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Banknotes

Obverse of a 20 Ukrainian hryvnia banknote, 2018

In 1996, the first series of hryvnia banknotes was introduced into circulation by the National Bank of Ukraine. They were dated 1992 and were in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 hryvnias. The design of the banknotes was developed by Ukrainian artists Vasyl Lopata and Borys Maksymov.[21][22] The one hryvnia banknotes were printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company in 1992. The two, five and ten hryvnia banknotes were printed two years later. The banknotes were stored in Canada until they were put into circulation.[21]

Banknotes of the first series in denominations of 50 and 100 hryvnias also existed but were not introduced because these nominals were not needed in the economic crisis of the mid-1990s.

Also in 1996, the 1, 50, and 100 hryvnia notes of the second series were introduced, with 1 hryvnia dated 1994. The banknotes were designed and printed by Britain's De La Rue.[23] Since the opening of the Mint of the National Bank of Ukraine in cooperation with De La Rue in March 1994, all banknotes have been printed in Ukraine.[23]

Later, higher denominations were added. The 200 hryvnia notes of the second series were introduced in 2001, followed by the 500 hryvnia notes of the third series in 2006, and 1000 hryvnia notes of fourth series in 2019.

The 100 hryvnia denomination is quite common due to its moderately high value. Also common is the 200 and 500 hryvnia, as most Ukrainian ATMs dispense currency in these denominations.

In 2016, the NBU paper factory started producing banknote paper using flax instead of cotton.[24]

In 2019, the National Bank of Ukraine introduced a 1,000 hryvnia banknote and was issued into circulation on 25 October 2019.[25] The introduction of the new banknote was in response to the National Bank of Ukraine's efforts of streamlining the number of coins and banknotes already in circulation. The 1, 2, 5 and 10 hryvnia banknotes will continue to be legal tender alongside its equivalent coins in general circulation, while being withdrawn from circulation from repeated use in commerce.

In 2019, the National Bank of Ukraine introduced a revised 50 hryvnia banknote into circulation on 20 December 2019 and issued a revised 200 hryvnia banknote on 25 February 2020, thereby completing the family of notes which began with the issuance of the 100 hryvnia banknote in 2015.

Current series

Denomination [1]
and dimensions
Image Main colour Description Date of issue Withdrawal
Obverse Reverse Watermark Obverse Reverse
₴1
118 × 63 mm
83px 83px Yellow-blue Volodymyr the Great of Kiev (c. 958–1015), Prince of Novgorod and Grand Prince of Kiev
Ruler of Kievan Rus' in (980–1015)
Volodymyr I's Fortress Wall in Kiev 22 May 2006 1 October 2020
₴2
118 × 63 mm
83px 83px Terracotta Yaroslav the Wise (c. 978 – 1054), Prince of Novgorod and Grand Prince of Kiev
Ruler of Kievan Rus' in (1019–1054)
Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv 24 September 2004
₴5
118 × 63 mm
83px 83px Blue Bohdan Khmelnytsky (c. 1595–1657), Hetman of Ukraine A church in the village of Subotiv 14 June 2004
₴10
124 × 66 mm
87px 87px Crimson Ivan Mazepa (1639–1709), Hetman of Ukraine The Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra 1 November 2004
₴20
130 × 69 mm
91px 91px Green Ivan Franko (1856–1916), writer and politician Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet 25 September 2018 Current
₴50
136 × 72 mm
95px 95px Violet Mykhailo Hrushevskyi (1866–1934), historian and politician. The Tsentralna Rada building ("House of the Teacher" in Kyiv) 20 December 2019
₴100
142 × 75 mm
99px 99px Olive Taras Shevchenko (1814–1861), poet and artist Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv 9 March 2015
₴200
148 × 75 mm
104px 104px Pink Lesya Ukrainka (1871–1913), poet and writer Entrance Tower of Lutsk Castle 25 February 2020
₴500
154 × 75 mm
108px 108px Brown Hryhorii Skovoroda (1722–1794), philosopher and poet National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy 11 April 2016
₴1,000
160 × 75 mm
112px 112px Blue Volodymyr Vernadskyi (1863–1945), historian, philosopher, naturalist and scientist National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 25 October 2019
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre (18 pixel per inch). For table standards, see the banknote specification table.

Translate all languages texts words qr codes and money units to English always

Exchange rates

Official NBU exchange rate at moment of introduction was UAH 1.76 per 1 US dollar.[26]

Following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the currency was devalued to UAH 5.6 = USD 1.00 in February 2000. The exchange rate then remained relatively stable at around 5.4 hryvnias for 1 US dollar and was fixed to 5.05 hryvnias for 1 US dollar from 21 April 2005 until 21 May 2008. In mid-October 2008 rapid devaluation began, as a result of the 2008 financial crisis that led to the 2008–09 Ukrainian financial crisis, with the hryvnia dropping 38.4% from UAH 4.85 for 1 US dollar on 23 September 2008 to UAH 7.88 for 1 US dollar on 19 December 2008.[27] After a period of instability, a new peg of 8 hryvnias per US dollar was established, remaining for several years. In 2012, the peg was changed to a managed float (much like that of the Chinese yuan) as the euro and other European countries' currencies weakened against the dollar due to the European debt crisis, and the value in mid-2012 was about ₴8.14 per dollar. As from 7 February 2014, following political instability in Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine changed the hryvnia into a fluctuating/floating currency in an attempt to meet IMF requirements and to try to enforce a stable price for the currency in the Forex market.[28] In 2014 and 2015, the hryvnia lost about 70% of its value against the U.S. dollar, with the currency reaching a record low of ₴33 per dollar in February 2015.[29]

On 31 July 2019, the hryvnia to U.S. dollar exchange rate in the interbank foreign exchange market strengthened to ₴24.98 — the highest level in 3 years.[30]

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the official exchange rate of hryvnia was fixed at ₴29.25 per U.S. dollar and ₴33.17 per euro. On 21 July 2022, it was devalued to ₴36.5686 per US dollar,[31] to bring it into alignment with the black market.[32]

The international mid-market exchange rate fluctuates, but values the hryvnia slightly lower than the official rate.[33]

Hryvnia exchange rate to US dollar (from 1996) and Euro (from 1999)
Year USD EUR RUB CHF BTC
2000 5.3345 4.9415 3.2246
2001 5.4125 4.4860 3.1871
2002 5.3304 5.0023 3.4288
2003 5.3318 6.1980 3.9614
2004 5.3072 6.9395 0.1986 4.2818
2005 5.2799 6.1312 0.1805 4.1275
2006 5.0500 6.3620 0.1843 4.0278
2007 5.0500 7.0010 0.1943 4.2116
2008 6.8777 8.9879 0.2433 4.8609
2009 7.7038 11.2046 0.2619 7.1950 0.0000
2010 7.9356 10.5329 0.2610 7.6261 3.2992
2011 7.9930 11.0921 0.2720 9.0141 105.3409
2012 7.9880 10.2706 0.2570 8.5208 38.6018
2013 7.9930 10.6122 0.2510 8.6233 1,573.15
2014 12.2967 15.7159 0.3110 12.9501 5,428.19
2015 21.5751 24.2287 0.3620 22.6973 7,956.56
2016 25.2860 28.2919 0.3830 25.9546 13,427.58
2017 27.1194 30.0042 0.4560 26.9990 115,302.94
2018 27.4550 32.1429 0.4360 27.8305 219,979.42
2019 24.4558 28.9518 0.3990 26.0025 189,893.73
2020 25.4555 30.7900 0.3740 28.7600 313,830.20
2021 27.7235 32.3100 0.3700 29.8600 1,304,733.15
2022 34.5886 35.9210 0.4476 35.5610 815,943.77
2023 36.4136 38.3263 0.4054 40.1478 1,052,340.81
2024 38.3109 41.5476 0.4189 43.6031 1,818,454.39
Current UAH exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF CNY EUR GBP HKD JPY USD

See also

  • Economy of Ukraine
  • List of commemorative coins of Ukraine
  • List of currencies in Europe
  • Hryvnia

References

  1. "Ukrania Hryvnia". https://www.statista.com/statistics/296164/ukraine-inflation-rate/. 
  2. "Archived". http://www.bank.gov.ua/doccatalog/document?id=30350021. 
  3. Langer, Lawrence N. (2002). "Grivna". Historical Dictionary of Medieval Russia. Scarecrow Press. pp. 56–57. ISBN 9780810866188. https://books.google.com/books?id=DlWPEH3dF38C&pg=PA56. Retrieved 2022-03-02. 
  4. * Michael Everson's "Proposal to encode the HYRVNIA SIGN and CEDI SIGN in the UCS". 23 April 2004. http://std.dkuug.dk/jtc1/sc2/wg2/docs/n2743.pdf. 
  5. "365 днів: наша історія. 13 листопада. Купоно-карбованці і українці-мільйонери" (in uk). poltava365.com. 2025-11-13. https://poltava365.com/365-dnivx-nasha-istoriyax-13-listopada.html. Retrieved 2025-11-22. 
  6. "National Bank of Ukraine". http://www.bank.gov.ua/control/en/publish/printable_article;jsessionid=15111854B1ABFB8B3B2073ED5CB1BD7F?art_id=37482&showTitle=true. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Volodymyr Matvienko. Autograph on Hryvnia" (in uk). http://www.obriy.pib.com.ua/2002/04_02/01.htm. 
  8. "Ukrainian hryvnia to be dropped in April: Crimean gov't official". CCTV News America. 18 March 2014. http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20140318/104543.shtml. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 Crimea enters the rouble zone , ITAR-TASS (1 June 2014)
  10. ""In theory, it is possible to pay with Ukrainian hryvnias, Russian rubles, US dollars, and euros in the DPR and the LPR. However, only the two former currencies are in common use. Their exchange rate has been fixed by the governments, and is 1:2 (one hryvnia is the equivalent of two rubles). However, there is a shortage of low denomination rubles, so the Ukrainian hryvnia is still the most popular means of payment."". 17 June 2015. http://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2015-06-17/war-republics-donbas-one-year-after-outbreak-conflict. 
  11. "НБУ в ближайшие месяцы рассмотрит вопрос о целесообразности использования 1-2-копеечных монет". https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/nbu-v-blizhayshie-mesyatsy-rassmotrit-vopros-o-tselesoobraznosti-04102012121300. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 "NBU Streamlines Hryvnia Banknote and Coin Denominations". 25 June 2019. https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-uporyadkovuye-nominalniy-ryad-banknot-i-monet-grivni. 
  13. "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ru). RBK Ukraina. 26 October 2012. http://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/economic/nbu-rassmotrit-vopros-vvedeniya-v-obrashchenie-2-grivnevoy-26102012163200. 
  14. "Cash_Circulation". October 28, 2019. https://www.bank.gov.ua/admin_uploads/article/Cash_Circulation_eng_2019-10-01.jpg. 
  15. "Монетами 1, 2 та 5 копійок не можна розраховуватися з 1 жовтня 2019 року". https://bank.gov.ua/ua/news/all/monetami-1-2-ta-5-kopiiok-ne-mojna-rozrahovuvatisya-z-1-jovtnya-2019-roku. 
  16. "Розмінні й обігові монети". https://www.bank.gov.ua/control/uk/currentmoney/chcoin/list. 
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "Національний банк презентував нові обігові монети". https://bank.gov.ua/control/uk/publish/article?art_id=65870072&cat_id=55838. 
  18. Монети номіналом 10 копійок поступово вилучатимуться з готівкового обігу // Сайт НБУ, 17 вересня 2025 р.
  19. "25-Kopiyka Coins and Old Series Hryvnia Banknotes to Cease Being Legal Ten-der from 1 October 2020". 2 Sep 2020. https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/moneti-nominalom-25-kopiiok-ta-banknoti-grivni-starih-zrazkiv-do-2003-roku-perestayut-buti-zasobom-plateju-z-01-jovtnya-2020-roku. 
  20. "NBU to Withdraw 25.Kopiyka Coins and Hryvnia Banknotes 01 Designed before 2003 from Circulation, Effective 1 October 2020". 30 Sep 2020. https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/z-01-jovtnya-2020-roku-natsionalniy-bank-viluchaye-z-obigu-moneti-25-kopiiok-ta--banknoti-grivni-starih-zrazkiv-do-2003-roku. 
  21. 21.0 21.1 "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ru). Podrobnosti. 4 September 2006. http://www.podrobnosti.ua/economy/2006/09/04/344955.html. 
  22. "The man who designed Hryvnia" (in ru). Zerkalo Nedeli. http://www.zn.ua/3000/3150/22377/. 
  23. 23.0 23.1 "Hryvnia-Immigrant" (in uk). http://www.dt.ua/2000/2040/54365/. 
  24. "NBU Starts Printing Money from Flax – Незалежний АУДИТОР". http://n-auditor.com.ua/en/novini-2/item/36966-nbu-starts-printing-money-from-flax.html. 
  25. Brand new 1,000-hryvnia banknote put into circulation on Oct 25 , UNIAN (25 October 2019)
  26. "Результати пошуку". http://bank.gov.ua/control/uk/curmetal/currency/search?formType=searchFormDate&time_step=daily&date=17.09.1996&execute=%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8. 
  27. National Bank of Ukraine , historical exchange rates
  28. "7 лютого 2014 року Національний банк України вводить в обіг пам'ятну монету "Визволення Нікополя від фашистських загарбників"". 7 February 2014. http://www.bank.gov.ua/control/uk/publish/article?art_id=5454079&cat_id=55838. 
  29. Ukraine teeters a few steps from chaos , BBC News (5 February 2016)
  30. US dollar in Ukraine costs less than Hr 25 for the first time in 3 years Kyiv Post, July 31, 2019
  31. Ukraine Devalues Hryvnia to Adjust to War-Time Economic Reality bloomberg.com, July 21, 2022
  32. Culverwell, Dominic (21 July 2022). "Ukraine's central bank devalues hryvnia rate to 36.5686 to the dollar". Berlin. https://www.intellinews.com/ukraine-s-central-bank-devalues-hryvnia-rate-to-36-5686-to-the-dollar-251219/. 
  33. "Best USD to UAH Exchange Rates Compared Live". https://www.monito.com/best-exchange-rates/usd/uah.  Current mid-market rate, updated frequently.

Bibliography

Preceded by:
Various
Currency of Kievan Rus'
11th century – 15th century
Succeeded by:
Various
Preceded by:
Ukrainian karbovanets
Currency of Ukrainian People's Republic
1 March 1918 – April 1918
Succeeded by:
Ukrainian karbovanets
Reason: coup d'état
(on 29 April 1918)
Preceded by:
Ukrainian karbovanets
Reason: coup d'état
(on 14 December 1918)
Currency of Ukrainian People's Republic
December 1918 – November 1920
Succeeded by:
Soviet karbovanets
Reason: Soviet reintegration
Preceded by:
Ukrainian karbovanets
Reason: inflation
(on 2 September 1996)

Ratio: 1 hryvnia = 100,000 karbovanets
Currency of Ukraine
2 September 1996 –
Succeeded by:
Current




Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Source: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Finance:Ukrainian_hryvnia
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