Ukraine sees 10 million population loss due to war-driven exodus

Frontliner reported the information.

“At the start of 2022, over 40 million people lived in Ukraine (excluding Crimea). By mid-2024, that number had dropped to roughly 35.8 million, with only 31.1 million residing in government-controlled areas. In just two and a half years, the country has lost around 10 million residents,” the report states.

The main reason was mass emigration. Around 5 million Ukrainians are currently abroad, mostly in European countries such as Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain.

“Eastern and southern regions have emptied as millions fled Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv. Central and western regions absorbed millions of internally displaced persons but have also seen population losses due to emigration,” Frontliner emphasizes.

Mortality in Ukraine has also risen — in 2023, about 495,000 deaths were registered, a third more than before the full-scale war. At the same time, there were 280 deaths for every 100 newborns.

In 2023, Ukraine also recorded a historically low birth rate — around 180,000 children — due to danger, economic hardship, and uncertainty about the future. As a result, children under 18 make up only 15% of the population, while those aged 60 and older account for 27%.

“Government estimates suggest the population could decline to 29 million by 2041. Recovery is possible — but only under conditions of peace, economic stabilization, and reconstruction. The return of refugees, delayed family planning, and the creation of adequate living conditions could form the foundation for demographic growth,” the report emphasized.

• On March 3, Ukraine recorded the lowest birth rate per woman in the country’s history. The full-scale war has caused rapid population aging.