How many refugees from Ukraine want to stay in Poland?

21% of refugees from Ukraine and 48% of pre-war immigrants from this country declare their intention to stay in Poland on a permanent basis. 18% of refugees and 13% of pre-war immigrants want to stay in Poland for more than a year.

21% of refugees from Ukraine and 48% of pre-war immigrants from this country declare their intention to stay in Poland on a permanent basis. 18% of refugees and 13% of pre-war immigrants want to stay in Poland for more than a year.

For pre-war migrants, declarations of permanent residence decreased by 7%, while among refugees they increased slightly.

There is a difference in strategies for future stay in Poland between pre-war migrants and refugees, although among the latter there has been a slight increase in the percentage of those who report a longer stay in Poland. In the case of pre-war migrants, one can largely speak of resettlement migration. 61% of pre-war migrants and 39% of refugees say they will stay in Poland permanently or for more than a year.

The percentage of people who want to leave Poland for a country other than Ukraine remains at a very low level. The percentage of people who want to quickly return to Ukraine is also decreasing. Among refugees, there remains great uncertainty about the future, expressed in the difficulty of determining how long their stay in Poland will last,” says the report “The Living and Economic Situation of Migrants from Ukraine in Poland in 2023” by the National Bank of Poland (NBP).

Families with children are much more likely than other groups to declare their intention to stay in Poland permanently or for more than a year. In turn, older people (especially those over 60) are more likely to consider leaving Poland.

"Forecasts about the end of the war are a key factor influencing refugees' statements about their future. Less important are economic factors, such as the situation on the labor market and the housing situation. Next to them, family situation and age determine the attitude of migrants," the report says.

The survey showed that 51% of refugees say that if the war ends soon, they will return to Ukraine within 3 months, which is slightly lower than what was stated in 2022 (56%). For pre-war migrants, 25% of respondents made such statements, the same percentage as in November 2022.

“An analysis of the plans of migrants from Ukraine depending on their marital status in Poland in the event of an early end of the war confirms the thesis that families with children are least likely to think about returning to Ukraine (10% of pre-war migrants and 40% of refugees). Also most often in In both groups of migrants, respondents without families declared their intention to return to Ukraine as soon as possible,” writes the NBP.

Source: National Bank of Poland