Ukraine: Country Report | 2024

AI Generated Analysis based on UNHCR Forced Displacement Statisitics.

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Executive Summary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Key Trends: Ukraine Displacement Crisis (2024)

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has unleashed a displacement crisis of historic scale and speed, a stark testament to a world in turmoil. Two years on, the humanitarian consequences continue to deepen, defined by immense internal upheaval, an unprecedented regional refugee situation, and a growing gap between immediate safety and long-term solutions.

The crisis has created a staggering dual reality. Within Ukraine’s borders, 3.7 million people remain internally displaced, shattering communities and placing immense strain on national systems that continue to show remarkable resilience. Beyond its borders, a massive refugee outflow is being shouldered overwhelmingly by neighboring states. This immense generosity has stretched services and infrastructure to their limits. Across all populations, women and children comprise the vast majority of the displaced, a demographic reality that demands a targeted and unwavering protection response.

The international response has been defined by the widespread use of temporary protection schemes. While these have been critical in providing immediate sanctuary and access to rights for millions, they are not a durable solution. The diminishing rate of returns, down significantly since its 2022 peak, signals a protracted crisis where pathways to long-term stability—such as resettlement or local integration—remain perilously narrow. We are transitioning from an acute emergency to a long-term reality for which these temporary frameworks were not designed.

This complex situation is compounded by Ukraine’s own role as a host country, its national asylum system now under unprecedented strain from the conflict. The initial, remarkable solidarity shown to the people of Ukraine must now evolve into a sustained international commitment. We must urgently work with host governments to bridge the gap from temporary safety to secure futures, ensuring that millions whose lives have been upended are not left in limbo.

Population Overview

Ukraine: A Crisis of Internal Displacement and Shifting Dynamics

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 precipitated a humanitarian crisis of immense scale and speed, fundamentally reshaping the displacement landscape in the region and globally. Data trends from 2019 to 2024 starkly illustrate this transformation, from a protracted situation with under one million people of concern to one of the world’s most significant displacement crises, dominated by massive and fluid population movements.

By the start of 2024, the situation remained predominantly a crisis of internal displacement. The data reveals that of the 4.5 million people of concern to UNHCR within Ukraine, a staggering 3.7 million—or 81 per cent—are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Behind these stark numbers is a story of shattered communities and immense strain on national systems and host communities that continue to show remarkable solidarity. While Ukraine also hosts a small refugee and asylum-seeker population, their numbers are dwarfed by the sheer scale of its own uprooted citizens.

The demographic profile of those affected by the war underscores the specific vulnerabilities created by the conflict. Across the more than 23 million people of concern, including those displaced inside and outside the country, there is a significant gender imbalance. Women and children constitute the vast majority of the displaced population. This disparity is most pronounced among adults aged 18 to 59, where women significantly outnumber men, a direct consequence of the conflict. This demographic reality has critical implications for the humanitarian response, heightening the need for targeted protection services, including prevention of gender-based violence, psychosocial support, and assistance for female-headed households.

While the number of IDPs within Ukraine registered a decrease between early 2023 and early 2024, this figure illustrates the highly volatile nature of the conflict rather than a widespread resolution. Such fluctuations reflect the complex and ongoing movement of people, some of whom may have returned to their areas of origin, while others may have moved onward or crossed an international border to seek safety, becoming refugees. This constant flux underscores the critical need for flexible and adaptive humanitarian programming to meet the evolving needs on the ground.

Demographics

AI Insight: Treemap chart of the Population of Concern in Ukraine by type, where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) constitute the vast majority at 3.7 million out of a total of 4.5 million., This treemap visualization illustrates the breakdown of UNHCR’s 4,530,000 persons of concern in Ukraine as of 2024. The chart uses proportionally sized rectangles to represent the size of each population group.

The data is dominated by a single category: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who number 3,665,000. This group’s rectangle occupies approximately 81% of the treemap’s total area, highlighting the immense scale of internal displacement within the country.

The remaining six population categories are significantly smaller, demonstrating a highly skewed distribution. The next largest group numbers 431,277 individuals, while the median size for a population category is only 2,389. This stark contrast emphasizes that while various populations require assistance, the humanitarian response is overwhelmingly focused on the needs of the internally displaced.

Data breakdown: - Total Population of Concern: 4,530,000 - Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): 3,665,000 - Other Population Groups (6 types): The combined total for these groups is 865,000, with individual group sizes ranging from 0 to 431,277.

AI Insight: Population pyramid of over 23.1 million people of concern in Ukraine by age and gender, where females significantly outnumber males across most age groups, particularly within the largest cohort of adults aged 18-59., This population pyramid provides a gender and age breakdown for the 23,100,414 individuals of concern in Ukraine as of 2024, including refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, and stateless people. The data reveals a demographic structure heavily impacted by conflict.

The most prominent feature is the significant gender imbalance. Females constitute a larger portion of the population in nearly every age category. This disparity is most pronounced in the adult age group of 18-59, which is the largest single cohort for both genders. Within this group, females account for approximately 32.5% of the total, while males account for only 22.5%.

Across all age groups, the distribution is as follows: - Children (0-17): This group is substantial, but smaller than the adult cohort. Within these younger age groups, the gender balance is closer, though females generally still represent a slightly larger population. - Adults (18-59): This is the largest demographic segment, highlighting a large working-age population that has been displaced or affected by the crisis. The significant surplus of females points to the effects of conflict, where adult males are often separated from their families. - Elderly (60+): This group also shows a higher proportion of females, a common demographic trend amplified by conflict-related mortality among men.

Overall, the demographic profile—characterized by a high proportion of women, children, and elderly—is typical of a population affected by large-scale displacement and armed conflict. This has critical implications for humanitarian response, indicating a heightened need for services related to gender-based violence prevention, maternal and child health, and support for single-parent households.

Geography & Movements

Geography and Movements: The Ukraine Situation

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered one of the fastest and largest forced displacement crises since the Second World War, fundamentally reshaping displacement patterns within Europe and globally. The data reveals a crisis with two primary dimensions: massive internal displacement and a vast, regionally concentrated refugee outflow.

Within Ukraine’s borders, the humanitarian impact has been catastrophic. An analysis of displacement dynamics from 2019 to 2025 shows a dramatic surge in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) following the events of 2022. The number of displaced Ukrainian nationals swelled from relatively low pre-invasion figures to a peak of over 6.4 million, underscoring the immense scale of the internal crisis. This flow of Ukrainian IDPs constitutes the overwhelming majority of forced displacement within the country.

Beyond its borders, the crisis is overwhelmingly regional in character. As of 2024, European nations host the vast majority of refugees and other people from Ukraine in need of international protection. Behind these stark numbers lies a story of concentrated responsibility. The distribution is heavily skewed, with a small number of countries shouldering a disproportionate share of the response. While the median number of displaced persons per host country stood at just under 4,000, the data reveals the profound impact on key receiving nations, with one country hosting over 4.5 million people. This highlights both the immense generosity of neighbouring states and the significant strain placed upon their services and infrastructure.

An analysis of the top ten destination countries further illustrates these complex movements. Data indicates that the Russian Federation hosts the largest number of people forcibly displaced from Ukraine, at an estimated 34.2 million, an order of magnitude greater than other leading host countries. Adding a layer of complexity to this landscape, Ukraine itself continues to be a host country for refugees and asylum-seekers from other nations, demonstrating its dual role even amidst profound crisis. Together, these movements paint a picture of a multi-faceted emergency defined by immense internal upheaval and unprecedented regional and international displacement.

AI Insight: Choropleth map of destination countries for people displaced from Ukraine as of 2024, where European nations, particularly those geographically close to Ukraine, host the vast majority of individuals., This choropleth map illustrates the global distribution of displaced persons from Ukraine as of 2024, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and other people in need of international protection. The visualization highlights the primary destination countries for this population.

Statistical Analysis: The dataset contains information for 241 countries and territories, but population data is available for 80 of them. The number of displaced people per country varies dramatically, ranging from a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 4,516,644. The distribution is heavily right-skewed, indicating that a small number of countries host a disproportionately large share of the population.

Key statistics for the ‘value’ variable (number of displaced persons): - Mean: 119,000 displaced persons per host country. - Median (50th percentile): 3,922, which is significantly lower than the mean and provides a more typical value for a host country. - Interquartile Range (IQR): 50% of host countries have between 45 (25th percentile) and 52,278 (75th percentile) people from Ukraine. - Standard Deviation: 530,000, confirming the extreme variability and the impact of a few host countries with very large populations.

Context and Interpretation: The map visually represents this statistical skew, with the darkest shades concentrated in Europe. This geographic pattern underscores the regional nature of the displacement crisis, where neighboring countries and other European nations have received the largest numbers of people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. The maximum value of over 4.5 million in a single country points to an unprecedented scale of displacement hosted by one nation. The data provides a comprehensive snapshot of the situation in 2024, reflecting the ongoing humanitarian needs and the significant international response, primarily within the European continent.

Origin of Displaced Populations

AI Insight: * Horizontal bar chart of the number of refugees in Ukraine by their top 9 countries of origin for 2024, where the leading country of origin contributes a disproportionately high number of refugees compared to the other nations.*, This horizontal bar chart details the top nine countries of origin for refugees residing in Ukraine in 2024, with an additional category for ‘Other’ origins. The data shows a significant concentration from a single country of origin, which accounts for 912 refugees. This number represents a major outlier in the dataset and heavily skews the distribution. In contrast, the other origin countries contribute far fewer individuals. The median number of refugees per origin country is 80, with 50% of the countries having between 62 and 323 refugees. The country with the fewest refugees in this dataset accounts for 43 individuals. The overall average of 239 refugees per origin is inflated by the one high value, and the large standard deviation of 283 further illustrates the substantial disparity between the primary source country and all others.

AI Insight: Alluvial chart of the forcibly displaced population in Ukraine by origin from 2019 to 2025, where the number of internally displaced Ukrainians increased dramatically after 2021., This alluvial chart illustrates the evolution of the forcibly displaced population within Ukraine from 2019 to 2025, with figures presented in thousands. The data is disaggregated into two origin categories: Ukrainian nationals (‘Ukr’) and other nationalities (‘Oth’).

The chart shows two primary flows over the seven-year period. Prior to 2022, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) was relatively low. However, the data reveals a catastrophic shift starting in 2022, corresponding with the full-scale invasion. The flow representing Ukrainian nationals expands massively, indicating a surge in internal displacement.

Statistically, the dataset’s values range from approximately 14,000 to over 6.4 million. The dramatic increase is highlighted by the high mean (1.9 million) and standard deviation (2.2 million), with the 75th percentile at 3.6 million, reflecting the post-2022 reality. The flow for ‘Oth’ origins remains consistently small throughout the entire period, emphasizing that the crisis is predominantly one of internal displacement of Ukrainian citizens.

Destination

AI Insight: Bar chart of the top 10 destination countries for forcibly displaced people from Ukraine as of 2024, where the Russian Federation hosts a significantly higher number of people than all other countries., This vertical bar chart presents the top ten destination countries for individuals forcibly displaced from Ukraine, based on 2024 data. The analysis reveals a highly skewed distribution of this population. The Russian Federation is the primary destination, hosting an exceptionally large number of approximately 34.2 million people. This is an order of magnitude greater than the next leading country. The other nine countries in the top ten host populations ranging from a minimum of 506,457 to a 75th percentile value of 3,830,423. The median value for the top ten countries is 1,262,990, indicating that half of these nations host fewer than 1.3 million people. The overall mean of 5.17 million is heavily inflated by the outlier value of the Russian Federation, underscoring its unique role as the main destination country.

Asylum System

Asylum Systems Under Pressure

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 continued to reverberate through global asylum systems, generating one of the largest forced displacement crises in recent history. The data reveals a massive surge in asylum-related activities for Ukrainians following the invasion, a stark contrast to the stable, lower numbers recorded in preceding years. In 2024 alone, national systems processed at least 43,507 decisions for individuals from Ukraine, navigating a complex array of outcomes and statuses.

Behind these stark numbers lies a crucial distinction in the protection response. While many displaced Ukrainians entered formal asylum procedures, the primary international response has been the activation of temporary and complementary protection schemes. This is clearly reflected in the 2024 data for the top 10 host countries, where the average formal Refugee Recognition Rate for Ukrainians stood at 6.2 per cent. However, the Total Recognition Rate—which includes other forms of international protection—was significantly higher, averaging 27.7 per cent and reaching as high as 94.4 per cent in some States. This highlights that while formal refugee status was granted sparingly, a broader commitment to providing sanctuary remained.

In a powerful illustration of the multifaceted nature of modern displacement, Ukraine itself remains a country of asylum, though its national system faces unprecedented strain. The cumulative gap between new asylum applications lodged in the country and first-instance decisions rendered has widened significantly. By 2024, this growing backlog translated into an average processing time of 268 days, indicating a system under severe pressure. This strain is further evidenced by the low recognition rates for asylum seekers in Ukraine; for the top 10 countries of origin, the average refugee recognition rate was just 8.5 per cent. This dual reality—of a nation simultaneously generating a massive refugee population while struggling to maintain its own asylum responsibilities—underscores the profound and complex impact of the conflict on protection systems both within Ukraine and across the globe.

AI Insight: Bar chart of asylum applications and decisions for Ukraine from 2019 to 2024, where the number of cases shows a dramatic increase after 2021., This bar chart illustrates the volume of asylum applications and decisions for Ukrainian nationals from 2019 through 2024. The data is broken down by the stage of the asylum process for each year.

Statistically, the data reveals a period of relatively low and stable numbers prior to 2022, with a median of 181 cases per category/year. However, the overall dataset is heavily skewed by a sharp increase in later years, evidenced by a mean of 748 and a maximum value reaching 5,557. The high standard deviation (1302) further confirms this volatility.

The most significant trend is the massive surge in asylum-related activities following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This event triggered one of the largest forced displacement crises in recent history, and the chart’s data directly reflects this humanitarian impact. While many displaced Ukrainians received temporary protection, this visualization captures those who entered the formal asylum system. The subtitle notes that a single individual may have multiple applications, which can occur if they apply in different countries or if a case is reopened.

AI Insight: Parallel sets plot of Refugee Status Determination decisions for Ukraine in 2024, where the total 43,507 decisions are broken down into various final outcomes and statuses., This parallel sets plot visualizes the flow and outcomes of 43,507 Refugee Status Determination (RSD) decisions for individuals from Ukraine recorded in 2024. The chart functions like a Sankey diagram, using flowing bands to illustrate how the total number of decisions are distributed through various stages and into final categories. The width of each band is directly proportional to the number of decisions it represents.

Statistically, the data is comprised of 156 distinct pathways or flows. The number of decisions within any single pathway varies significantly, with a maximum of 5,515 cases following one specific route. The distribution of cases is heavily skewed, with a mean of 837 decisions per pathway but a median of only 450. This indicates that a few primary outcomes account for the vast majority of decisions, while many other outcomes are less common. The visualization effectively breaks down the complex RSD process, allowing for a clear understanding of the most prevalent final statuses granted to Ukrainian applicants in 2024.

AI Insight: Cumulative area chart of asylum applications versus decisions in Ukraine from 2020 to 2024, where the widening gap between applications and decisions results in an average processing time of 268 days as of 2024., This cumulative area chart illustrates the trend of asylum applications compared to first-instance decisions in Ukraine for the period 2020 to 2024. The y-axis represents the cumulative total of cases, and the x-axis denotes the years.

The chart displays two areas: the top line shows the cumulative number of asylum applications received, and the bottom line shows the cumulative number of decisions made. The shaded area between these two lines visually represents the backlog of pending cases.

The primary trend shown is a consistent and growing gap between the number of applications filed and the decisions processed. While both metrics increase over time, applications accumulate at a faster rate than decisions are rendered. This divergence is explicitly highlighted in 2024, where the difference between cumulative applications and decisions corresponds to an average processing time of 268 days. This indicates a significant delay and a growing strain on Ukraine’s asylum processing system.

Recognition Rates

AI Insight: Bar chart of the 2024 refugee recognition rate in Ukraine by the top 10 countries of origin, where the rates are consistently low, with the highest being 14.6%., This vertical bar chart displays the 2024 refugee recognition rates in Ukraine for asylum seekers from the top 10 countries of origin, ranked by the total number of decisions made. Each bar represents a country, and its height corresponds to the percentage of positive refugee status decisions relative to the total number of substantive decisions.

Statistically, the analysis covers 10 countries. The refugee recognition rate averages 8.46% across these nations, with a median of 9.22%. The rates show limited variability, ranging from a low of 0.26% to a high of 14.6%. The interquartile range lies between 4.78% and 13.7%, indicating that the majority of these countries have recognition rates within this narrow band.

It is important to note that this chart specifically visualizes the ‘Refugee Recognition Rate’. A broader metric, the ‘Total Recognition Rate’, which includes complementary protection, is higher, averaging 12.4% and reaching up to 30.8%. This suggests that while formal refugee status is granted to a small percentage, a larger group receives some form of international protection. The countries are ordered by the total volume of asylum decisions processed, which ranges from 1,047 to 10,787, not by the recognition rate itself.

AI Insight: Column chart of the 2024 Refugee Recognition Rate for Ukrainian nationals by the top 10 countries of asylum, where the rates are generally low and vary significantly across countries., This column chart presents the 2024 Refugee Recognition Rate for nationals from Ukraine across the 10 countries of asylum that have processed the highest number of applications. The chart is ordered by the total number of decisions made, not by the recognition rate itself.

The data reveals that the formal Refugee Recognition Rate (the percentage of applicants granted refugee status) is relatively low on average. The mean rate across these 10 countries is 6.2%, with a median of just 1.2%. There is considerable variation, with rates ranging from 0% to a maximum of 28%.

It is crucial to distinguish this from the Total Recognition Rate, which includes complementary forms of protection. The data shows a much higher average Total Recognition Rate of 27.7%, with some countries providing protection to as many as 94.4% of applicants. This indicates that while few Ukrainians are granted formal refugee status, a significantly larger number receive other forms of international protection, such as temporary protection schemes widely activated in response to the conflict.

Solutions

Solutions for Displaced People from Ukraine

The pursuit of solutions for those displaced by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine presents a complex and evolving picture, marked by an unprecedented initial response followed by growing uncertainty regarding long-term prospects. The data reveals a dramatic surge in solutions—primarily comprising returns—in 2022, when an estimated 654,000 were recorded. This figure stands in stark contrast to the pre-conflict baseline, where solutions averaged fewer than 20 per year between 2019 and 2021. However, following this peak, the trend has declined, with figures falling to 329,675 in 2023 and 195,503 in 2024. This downward trajectory suggests that while many were able to return in the first year of the conflict, the conditions for safe and sustainable return are becoming more challenging over time.

Behind these stark numbers lies a more nuanced reality regarding the nature of protection and durable solutions. A deeper analysis comparing formal refugee recognitions with durable solutions such as resettlement and local integration shows that the pathways to long-term stability remain extremely limited. Even before the full-scale invasion, a protection gap was evident; in 2021, individual refugee recognitions peaked at 109, while durable solutions dropped to just 27.

This gap was fundamentally altered by the post-2022 response. The sharp decline in formal refugee recognitions—from 20 in 2022 to nearly zero by 2024—does not reflect a decrease in need. Instead, it is a direct consequence of the widespread implementation of temporary protection schemes by host countries. While these schemes have been critical in providing immediate access to safety, rights, and services for millions, they are not a durable solution. The number of durable solutions for Ukrainian refugees has remained consistently low throughout the crisis, underscoring a critical challenge for the international community: how to transition from an emergency temporary response to providing secure, long-term futures for millions whose prospects of returning home remain uncertain.

AI Insight: Column chart of solutions for forcibly displaced people from Ukraine by year, where there is a dramatic spike in 2022, followed by a decline in subsequent years., This column chart displays the annual trend of solutions for forcibly displaced people from Ukraine, from 2019 to a projected 2025. The vertical axis represents the number of solutions, and the horizontal axis represents the year.

The data shows minimal activity prior to 2022, with the average number of solutions being extremely low: approximately 21 in 2019, 10 in 2020, and 7 in 2021. This establishes a pre-conflict baseline.

A dramatic and unprecedented surge occurred in 2022, with the average number of solutions rising to approximately 654,000. This spike directly corresponds to the mass displacement following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Following the 2022 peak, the number of solutions shows a declining trend, although the figures remain significantly elevated compared to pre-2022 levels. The average number of solutions was approximately 329,675 in 2023 and 195,503 in 2024. The data for 2025 indicates a projected further decrease to around 52,000 solutions.

AI Insight: Line chart of refugee recognitions and durable solutions from 2019 to 2024, where recognitions peaked sharply in 2021 while solutions remained low, creating a significant gap., This time-series line chart compares the number of refugee recognitions with the number of available durable solutions for refugees from Ukraine, annually from 2019 to 2024.

Footnote ‘a’ defines ‘refugee recognitions’ as positive decisions on individual asylum applications. Footnote ‘b’ defines ‘solutions’ as durable solutions such as resettlement, voluntary repatriation, or local integration.

The chart displays two lines: - A blue line for ‘Refugee Recognitions’. - A teal line for ‘Solutions’.

A shaded area between the lines visually represents the gap between the two metrics.

Statistical Breakdown by Year:

  • 2019: Solutions (85) outnumbered recognitions (57).
  • 2020: The numbers converged, with both recognitions and solutions at 39.
  • 2021: A significant divergence occurred. Recognitions peaked at 109, while solutions dropped to 27, creating the largest gap in the period.
  • 2022: Following the full-scale invasion, both metrics decreased sharply. Recognitions fell to 20 and solutions to 10. The sharp drop in formal recognitions is largely due to host countries implementing temporary protection schemes, which grant access to rights without requiring individual asylum procedures.
  • 2023: Recognitions continued to decline to just 5, while solutions increased slightly to 21.
  • 2024: Recognitions are recorded as 0, while solutions stand at 13.

Analysis:

The data illustrates a volatile relationship between the granting of refugee status and the provision of long-term solutions. The peak in recognitions in 2021 was not matched by an increase in solutions, highlighting a growing protection gap. The subsequent decline in recognitions from 2022 onwards reflects a fundamental shift in the protection response for Ukrainians towards temporary protection mechanisms rather than a decrease in need. Throughout the entire period, the number of durable solutions remained consistently low.