A quarter of Ukrainian teenagers aged 13-16 are thinking about their future abroad. Another 20% are undecided. This is according to the results of the Future Index: Professional Expectations and Development of Adolescents in Ukraine study conducted in March 2025 at the initiative of the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
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Among the main reasons that motivate young people to do so are the desire for more opportunities (79%), the desire to travel and see the world (63%), and to get a better education (39%). The security factor ranks only fourth among the motivations.
The study found that adolescents from urban families are more likely to emigrate, especially if their parents have higher education. There is no gender difference in such sentiments, but there are differences by region of residence and social context.
Parents mostly do not support the idea of leaving the country: only 13% consider it desirable for their children. For them, the main argument in favour of migration is safety, which is not a priority for adolescents.
Interestingly, among young people who do not plan to leave Ukraine, there is a higher level of involvement in volunteer activities.
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