Migration on rise: 800,000 Ukrainians plan to leave country

One way or another, we have already considered scenarios for the "after.” However, in any scenario, the basis for the development of the state has been, is and will be people. It is on them that Ukraine's development depends, especially its economic capacity. 

Today, we already have 7 million Ukrainians who have left the country to seek asylum abroad (statistics do not include those who returned home and left again). Just as uncertain as thinking about "after the victory" is trying to calculate how many people will eventually return to Ukraine. However, a sociological study conducted by the Ukrainian Institute for the Future showed that about half of the people will not return. 

In particular, a new sociological study shows that about 800,000 more of those who are currently in Ukraine are planning to emigrate. So, migration will only increase: 1 million Ukrainians are planning to leave the country.

Thus, 8% of the survey participants said they definitely or rather plan to change their place of residence, while another 8% did not have a clear answer to this question. 

Of these 8% who plan to change their place of residence, 38% plan to go abroad (the rest plan to move to neighboring settlements or other regions of Ukraine). So, if there are 27 million of us in Ukraine now, according to the most pessimistic forecasts, then about 800,000 are thinking of leaving. 

In fact, these figures should help us understand the scale of migration that awaits the country in the future and have constructive discussions about the policy of returning people home. The Ukrainian Institute for the Future is trying to put this topic back on the agenda and has a number of proposals for algorithms to combat the demographic problem. This topic should not disappear but rather become an occasion for working on building a post-war Ukraine. A stimulus for discussions with clear proposals for social and economic conditions that will encourage people to stay home and return home. 

Exclusively for Espreso

About the author: Valeria Piven, junior analyst and PR manager at the Ukrainian Institute for the Future

The editorial staff does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.