A survey conducted by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in January 2026 covered the whole of Ukraine (except for the temporarily occupied territories) and revealed the key demographic and social characteristics of residents in each region. The aim of the study was to assess the scale of internal displacement, the socio-economic situation of households and their needs, particularly during the winter period. The report analyses data on the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees in 16 regions of Ukraine and Kyiv.
iom_ukr_oblast_profiles_gps-r22_january-2026Cherkasy Region
There are about 121,000 IDPs (11% of the region’s population) and 52,000 returnees (5% of the population) living in the Cherkasy region. Most of the displaced persons are those who arrived from other regions of Ukraine (97% of IDPs). As for the plans of IDPs, 44% intend to settle in the region on a permanent basis, while 21% plan to return to their place of residence within six months. Many families are forced to economise: 26% of IDPs have already exhausted their savings, 51% have reduced their healthcare expenses, and 41% depend on humanitarian aid. The economic situation is also tense: 23% of households reported that they cannot cover their basic expenses, and among working-age IDPs, 17% are unemployed. At the same time, 76% of IDPs have incomes below the official subsistence minimum. Winter in the Cherkasy region is a difficult period: 83% of IDPs live in housing with problems that make heating difficult in winter, and 75% are in dire need of heating. At the same time, the majority of respondents (83% of IDPs) said that they can easily access administrative or social services when needed.
Chernihiv Region
Chernihiv region has accepted approximately 67,000 IDPs (6% of the population) and 202,000 returnees (18% of the population). Some of the displaced persons (43%) moved from local communities in the region, while the remaining 57% came from other regions of Ukraine. Over the past three months, approximately 7% of returnees have actually returned to Chernihiv region, but due to the small sample size, no data on return or integration plans were provided among IDPs. A significant proportion of returnees (20%) complain about the inability of households to cover basic expenses, although the unemployment rate among them is very low (only 2% among those of working age). Most households with returnees (70%) have incomes below the subsistence minimum. Pessimistic sentiments prevail among returnees: 56% of them are at high risk of depression. In addition, almost all returnee families (91%) have encountered housing problems that make heating difficult, and 71% are in need of winter equipment or heating. However, 81% of returnees reported that they can easily access administrative services or social assistance.
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Dnipropetrovsk region
Dnipropetrovsk region has 560,000 IDPs (16% of the population) and 262,000 returnees (8%). Only about a third of IDPs (31%) plan to integrate and stay in the region, while 14% are considering returning home. Almost a third of IDPs are forced to resort to extreme measures: 26% have exhausted their savings, 51% have reduced their health spending, and 17% are looking for high-risk sources of income. In economic terms, 33% of households cannot cover their basic needs, and among IDPs, about 16% of workers remain unemployed. A significant percentage of families — up to 80% of IDPs — live below the poverty line (earning less than the minimum subsistence level). The winter period is also a challenge: 76% of IDPs suffer from poor insulation in their homes, and 74% need heating or insulation. At the same time, 74% of IDPs reported easy access to social and administrative services.
Kharkiv region
There are 463,000 IDPs (19%) and 677,000 returnees (27%) registered in the Kharkiv region. Among the displaced persons, 47% intend to remain in the Kharkiv region, while 20% intend to return home. Against the backdrop of the ongoing war, economic difficulties are evident: 37% of households (with IDPs) are unable to meet their basic needs. In the labour market, 12% of returnees of retirement age are unemployed, but official unemployment is not reported among IDPs. More than 90% of IDPs (91%) and 74% of returnees experience serious problems with housing conditions in winter. At the same time, 61% of IDPs need help with heating or insulation, and 68% plan to take additional measures to survive the cold months. On a positive note, 79% of IDPs reported easy access to social and administrative services, although almost a third (56%) are at high risk of depression.
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Kherson Region
Kherson Oblast hosts 12% of IDPs from the region’s population (the exact estimate is not provided due to methodological limitations) and 32% of returnees. Information about IDPs’ plans for integration or return is currently unavailable. The social situation is complicated: among returnees, about 32% cannot meet their basic expenses (no data available for IDPs). Before the heating season begins, nearly 76% of IDPs are affected by unfavourable housing conditions (poor insulation, utility outages, etc.), and 77% are in dire need of heating. This can be explained by the difficult situation caused by ongoing hostilities. However, 79% of IDPs in the Kherson region have access to necessary social services. Additional figures on unemployment or income were not provided in detail due to the limited sample size.
Kirovohrad Region
Kirovohrad region has 101,000 IDPs (12%) and 29,000 returnees (3%). Among the displaced persons, 34% plan to settle in the region, while 17% intend to return home. There are not many IDPs in this region, but their need for support is significant: 53% have been forced to reduce their use of utilities, 17% resort to informal or risky sources of income, and 41% rely on humanitarian aid. As for employment, the unemployment rate among IDPs is about 17%. Almost all internally displaced persons (91%) have incomes below the subsistence level. In addition, 71% of IDPs live in dwellings with significant winter problems (e.g. poor insulation or heating interruptions), and 68% need heating. Almost 77% of IDPs reported easy access to social services.
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Kyiv
The capital is home to 341,000 IDPs (11% of Kyiv’s population) and 1,094 returnees (34% of the city’s population). Only 7% of IDPs in Kyiv intend to return to their places of permanent residence in the near future, while 36% plan to integrate into their new location. Most IDPs in Kyiv (46%) are unable to meet their basic needs, but the unemployment rate among them is very low – only 2%. Some of Kyiv’s IDPs live below the poverty line: 46% have incomes below the subsistence minimum. Winter conditions are also difficult: 59% of IDPs face housing problems that make heating difficult, and 65% need winter supplies or additional heating. On the other hand, as many as 79% of IDPs in Kyiv reported easy access to administrative services and social assistance.
Kyiv region
There are 311,000 IDPs (13%) and 649,000 returnees (27%) in the Kyiv region. Among IDPs in the region, almost half (44%) plan to settle here permanently, while only 6% intend to return home. About 26% of households with IDPs cannot cover their basic expenses, although some of the respondents (9%) are unemployed. The population growth in the region, which is close to half a year, also reflects the return of people. In the Kyiv region, wages are significantly lower than average: 60% of IDPs have incomes below the subsistence level. As for winter conditions, 78% of IDPs feel that their homes are insufficiently insulated and 68% need heating. At the same time, 74% of IDPs in this region reported that it is easy to access social services.
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Lviv Region
Lviv region accepted 144,000 IDPs (8%) and 104,000 returnees (6%). Only a third of IDPs (34%) plan to stay in Lviv region, while 16% intend to return home. In households with IDPs, 51% have reduced their consumption of utilities, and 17% resort to risky ways of earning a living. The unemployment rate among IDPs is about 11%. In addition, half of the displaced persons (51%) live below the subsistence level. In winter, 78% of IDPs have problems in their homes that prevent normal heating, and 70% need help with heating. However, 74% of the displaced persons surveyed say that they can easily access social assistance or administrative services.
Mykolaiv region
There are 122,000 IDPs (11%) and 231,000 returnees (21%) in the Mykolaiv region. Among IDPs, 39% intend to integrate locally, while 14% intend to return home. An important feature of the Mykolaiv region is the high level of unemployment among IDPs: 25% of working-age displaced persons are unemployed. 26% of IDPs have exhausted their savings, 62% have reduced their spending on healthcare, and 77% live below the poverty line. During the winter months, most IDPs (78%) face poor housing conditions, and 73% need heating. At the same time, 73% of IDPs in the Mykolaiv region reported easy access to social services.
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Odessa region
There are 230,000 IDPs (11%) and 196,000 returnees (9%) living in the Odesa region. 43% of IDPs plan to stay in Odesa, while 14% intend to return home. Economic stress is high: 69% of IDP households have incomes below the subsistence level, and 15% of able-bodied IDPs are unemployed. At the same time, 80% of IDPs experience difficulties in winter due to poor housing conditions, and 70% need heating. Despite this, IDPs in Odesa very often receive assistance: 94% of respondents said that they can easily access administrative or social services.
Poltava region
There are 187,000 IDPs (15%) and 49,000 returnees (4%) in the Poltava region. Only 34% of IDPs in the region intend to stay, while 6% plan to return home. The economic situation appears challenging: 67% of IDP households have reduced their consumption of utilities. 13% of able-bodied IDPs are unemployed. Almost all IDPs (80%) live below the poverty line. The biggest challenge is winter: 90% of IDPs need heating or winter equipment due to significant housing problems (this figure is one of the highest among all regions). At the same time, 89% of IDPs reported easy access to social and administrative services.
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Sumy Region
There are 132,000 IDPs (13%) and 140,000 returnees (13%) living in Sumy region. Among the displaced persons, 43% intend to stay, while 13% plan to return to their homeland. The economy is dominated by difficulties: 30% of IDPs are unable to meet their basic needs, and 16% of those able to work are unemployed. Almost all IDPs in the region are poor – 94% of IDPs live on incomes below the subsistence level. More than 70% of IDPs (74% to be precise) face difficult housing conditions in winter, and 68% need heating. 77% of respondents said that they easily receive the necessary social services.
Vinnytsia region
Vinnytsia region hosts 117,000 IDPs (9%) and 58,000 returnees (5%). In this region, 36% of IDPs intend to settle permanently, while 17% plan to return home. According to the survey, 16% of working-age IDPs are unemployed, and 53% of households have limited their consumption of utilities. 60% of IDPs have incomes below the subsistence level. During the winter, most IDPs (74%) report poor heating in their homes, and 80% of respondents say they need winter heating. At the same time, 81% of IDPs in the Vinnytsia region say they can easily obtain assistance from the state or local services.
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Zaporizhzhia region
Zaporizhzhia hosts at least 20% of IDPs (precise estimates are cautiously omitted) and 13% of returnees from the region’s population. Among the available sample, 34% of IDPs intend to stay here, while 11% intend to return home. The poverty level among IDPs is very high: 79% have incomes below the subsistence minimum. As of winter 2025–2026, 13% of IDPs have already encountered problems paying for housing (paid irregularly), but 63% are forced to reduce their consumption of utilities. Currently, 71% of IDPs need heating. The burden on households is high, but 81% of IDPs reported that they can easily access public services when needed.
Zhytomyr Region
There are 67,000 IDPs (7%) and 117,000 returnees (12%) registered in Zhytomyr Oblast. According to available information, there is no statistically reliable data on the intentions of IDPs regarding integration or return. 12% of working-age IDPs in this region are unemployed, and 7% of IDPs face a shortage of basic income. However, no significant financial difficulties have been recorded: only 7% of households are unable to cover their expenses. At the same time, 67% of IDPs live below the poverty line. Needs in winter are very high: 74% of IDPs face housing problems with heating, and 68% need help with heating. However, 77% of IDPs said they have easy access to social services.
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