As of October 2023, 5,826,000 Ukrainians who left the country following the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, have refugee status in Europe, according to UNHCR.

The agency reports that the European countries hosting recipients of temporary protection from Ukraine are Germany (1,105,000 people), Poland (958,000 people) and the Czech Republic (363,160 people).

Other countries with more than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine with temporary protection status in Europe as of October this year were the United Kingdom (210,800), Spain (185,800), Italy (167,500), Moldova (113,000) and Slovakia (109,000).

Between 50,000 and 100,000 were in Ireland – 97,500, the Netherlands – 94,400, Romania – 83,800, Belgium – 73,000, France – 70,500, Austria – 68,700, Switzerland – 66,000, Montenegro – 62,000, Finland – 61,500, Portugal and Norway – almost 57,000.

The UN estimates that there are more than 1.3 million refugees from Ukraine in Russia and another 34,200 in Belarus. At the same time, there are 6,218,800 registered Ukrainians worldwide.

“Statistics are compiled mainly on the basis of information provided by the authorities. For statistical purposes, the UN Refugee Agency uses the term “refugees” in a broad sense, referring to all persons who have fled Ukraine because of the war. The UNHCR’s means of verification and the level of access to refugees from Ukraine vary from country to country. While every effort has been made to ensure that all statistical information is verified, the figures are estimates and potential further movements cannot be accounted for all countries at this time,” UN Agency added.

GWARA’S CHOICE

Ukrainian population can decrease to 24 million by 2030. Population decline is due to a reduced birth rate, a high premature mortality rate, and a massive migration [of the Ukrainian population] going abroad [as refugees]. At the beginning of 2022, the birth rate decreased to 1.2. A birth rate of 2.1 is needed to maintain the size of the Ukrainian population.