**Fewer Ukrainians Plan to Return Home**
A recent study by the Center for Economic Strategy (CES) shows that fewer Ukrainian refugees plan to return home. By the end of 2024, only 43% of refugees wanted to go back, down from 74% in December 2022.
Around 5.2 million Ukrainians remain abroad, with most living in Germany or Poland. The study found that many are settling in European countries, rather than returning home. The CES projects that between 1.7 and 2.7 million Ukrainians may permanently stay abroad, which could reduce Ukraine’s annual GDP by 5.1% to 7.8%.
**Reasons for Not Returning**
The main reasons for not returning are security risks, destroyed housing, low living standards, and challenges finding employment in Ukraine. Women and children make up the majority of refugees, but there is a growing number of men among Ukrainians living abroad.
The study found that women are 31% more likely to want to return than men. Those who work remotely for Ukrainian companies are 67% more likely to return than unemployed refugees. Refugees with higher pre-war incomes are nearly three times more likely to return than those with the lowest incomes.
**Where Ukrainians Live Abroad**
Most Ukrainian refugees have settled in Germany (20%) and Poland (18%). The United States hosts only 5.4% of all refugees, while North American countries together take in less than 10%.
