Massive Displacement and Returnee Dynamics in Ukraine 2022–2025

The Fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA 4) confirms that displacement remains one of Ukraine’s gravest humanitarian challenges. Millions remain internally displaced or abroad as refugees, while significant numbers have returned home amid continued uncertainty regarding long-term residency intentions.

[Mirek Pruchnicki] / [Wikimedia Commons] / CC BY 2.0

Key Findings:
Registered IDPs: 4,642,735 people officially registered with the Ministry of Social Policy as of December 31, 2024.

Refugee population: ≈ 6.79 million Ukrainians remain abroad.

De facto displacement*: ≈ 3.6 million people identified as de facto internally displaced (IOM).

Returnees: ≈ 4.29 million individuals have returned to their habitual residence, including:
26 % returning from abroad.
74 % returning from internal displacement.
Future intentions of IDPs:
73 % hope to return home eventually.
16 % do not plan to return, preferring local integration.
Future intentions of refugees:
61 % plan or hope to return.
12 % report no intention to return.

Conclusion:

Despite increasing returns, large-scale displacement continues to shape Ukraine’s demographic and economic recovery, with uncertainty over permanent resettlement posing long-term policy challenges.

Source: RDNA 4 (World Bank, the Government of Ukraine, the European Union, the United Nations)

* People who live in displacement-like conditions (away from their normal homes) but are not officially registered as internally displaced persons (IDPs) by the government.

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