Ukrainian Refugees Significantly Strengthen the Economy of Poland and Europe

According to the latest data from Eurostat, as of the end of March 2025, there were 4.26 million Ukrainian citizens residing in European Union countries. Interestingly, nearly half of this number lives in just two EU countries: Germany and Poland. Germany remains the leader in the number of Ukrainian refugees, currently hosting 1.15 million Ukrainians, while Poland is gradually catching up with a figure of 992 thousand people.

This is reported by AgroReview

Change in Migration Trends and Impact on the Polish Economy

Since the onset of the full-scale war, many Ukrainians initially chose Poland as a temporary residence, but later a significant portion moved further west, primarily to Germany. The situation has now changed: over the past year, the number of Ukrainians in Poland has increased by more than 40 thousand, while in Germany, this figure has decreased by over 100 thousand.

The National Bank of Poland notes that immigrants, primarily Ukrainian citizens, are playing an increasingly important role in the country’s economic development. From 2021 to 2023, the average annual contribution of foreign labor to GDP growth was 0.5 percentage points. Ukrainians who arrived in Poland in 2022–2023 accounted for a contribution of 0.8 percentage points, meaning they are responsible for nearly a third of Poland’s economic growth during this period.

Data from the Polish Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) also shows that Ukrainians do not create an excessive burden on the labor market. In 2023, only 0.33% of them were registered as unemployed, indicating their high involvement in economic processes.

Contribution to the State Budget and the Need for Immigrants

According to estimates by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, in 2024, Ukrainian citizens contributed over 15 billion zlotys in additional revenue to the Polish budget. For every zloty spent by the government on supporting refugees, there are 5.40 zlotys in taxes and contributions. This result significantly reduces the level of social tension surrounding the costs of supporting this group.

The positive economic impact is not limited to Ukrainians. As evidenced by the latest report from the Polish Economic Institute, Polish companies need foreign workers regardless of their origin. In particular, the largest number of foreigners are employed in the fields of transport, forwarding, logistics, as well as in industry and construction.

“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,” reads the PIE report.