As of the end of November 2024, the number of Ukrainian war refugees abroad reached 5.2 million. This is 300,000 more than in January of the same year. Most of the displaced persons are women, mostly aged 35-44, as well as children.
According to the study, most Ukrainian refugees now live in Germany (27%) and Poland (23%). Despite the gradual reduction in spending on refugee support and harsher conditions of stay in different countries, Ukrainians can count on legal status in the EU at least until March 2026.
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The financial situation of some refugees has improved: 31.4% of respondents said they had enough money to cover both basic needs and more expensive items. This is significantly more than in May 2023, when the number was only 6%, and almost equal to the pre-war level (34.7%).
At the same time, Ukrainians’ intentions to return home have reached their lowest level since the start of the full-scale invasion. Only 43% of respondents plan to return, and only 20% are fully confident in their decision. Most of them have not decided on the timing of their return. Among the key factors that may influence the decision to return, respondents named the end of the war (53%), an increase in living standards in Ukraine (46%), the opportunity to find a well-paid job (33%). They also mentioned the cessation of hostilities in the place they plan to return to (31%).
The research was conducted by Info Sapiens agency on behalf of the Centre for Economic Strategy. In November-December 2024, 1,000 Ukrainian refugees were interviewed via an online survey via SMS. The representativeness of the sample was ensured by geographical quotas according to the European Statistics Service.
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