The issue of disclosing the historical foundations of state formation and development constantly needs attention from domestic researchers, which is the purpose of this article.The article is devoted to explaining the historical foundations of state formation and development. The basic theories of the origin of the state, including patriarchal, theological, contractual, organic, theory of violence and materialistic (class) theory, are presented. Based on the analysis of all theories of the origin of the state, it becomes clear that the emergence and development of the state are based on human needs, and its main purpose as a socio-political institute and public administration as an activity is precisely to meet the needs of people. It is found that common to all theories of the origin of the state is that they all recognize the existence of a powerful, organizing power, only different in origin: parental, divine, contractual, organic, violent, power of private property. The main purpose of the state, as a socio-political institute and public administration as an activity that is precisely to meet people's needs, is outlined. The class and general social nature of the state are revealed.The article describes the theory of "stages of economic growth" by Rostow, according to which it can be argued that at the present stage of development, Ukraine is at the third stage of a society that is undergoing a process of shifts and will become a maturing society in the future.The main features of the state as the central institute of the political system are given. It is established that the concept of "state" should be understood as a sovereign political organization that officially represents and covers all the population within a certain territory, has its own tax and monetary system, national legislation, official symbols and has a special apparatus of management and coercion.