Recent data from Eurostat indicates that by the end of March 2025, there were 4.26 million citizens of Ukraine residing in all European Union countries. It is striking that nearly half of them have settled in two countries. Germany is the leader, hosting 1.15 million Ukrainian refugees, while Poland is close behind with 992,000 individuals.
This is reported by Finway
It is worth noting that after the initial influx of refugees from Ukraine at the beginning of the large-scale war, many Ukrainians continued their journey westward, primarily to Germany. However, trends have shifted: over the past 12 months, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Poland has increased by more than 40,000, while Germany has seen a decrease of over 100,000.
The Contribution of Ukrainians to Poland’s Economic Growth
The National Bank of Poland emphasizes that immigrants, particularly Ukrainians, are becoming increasingly important for the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP). From 2021 to 2023, the average annual contribution of foreign labor to economic growth was 0.5 percentage points. For Ukrainians who arrived in Poland in 2022–2023, this figure stands at 0.8 percentage points, meaning they are responsible for nearly a third of the country’s total economic growth during this period.
Data from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) also confirms that Ukrainians are not a significant burden on the labor market. Specifically, only 0.33% of them were registered as unemployed in 2023, indicating active participation of immigrants in supporting the economy.
The Financial Contribution of Refugees
According to estimates by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, in 2024, Ukrainians increased revenue to the Polish budget by over 15 billion zlotys. Every zloty spent on assistance for this population group generated 5.40 zlotys in taxes and contributions for the budget. This is a significant argument that reduces social tension related to the costs of supporting refugees.
“In our survey, we asked entrepreneurs about a hypothetical situation where foreigners disappear from the Polish labor market. It turns out that the lack of foreigners as workers would have consequences for every fifth company.”
In addition to Ukrainians, other immigrants also have a positive impact on Poland’s economy. The latest report from the Polish Economic Institute confirms that Polish companies need immigrants regardless of their country of origin, particularly in the sectors of transport, forwarding, logistics, industry, and construction.