Poverty Surge and Deepening Inequality Amid Conflict — Ukraine 2021–2024

RDNA4 confirms a massive rise in poverty across Ukraine since the 2022 invasion. Poverty rates rose 1.7× between 2021 and 2023, driven by job and income loss, inflation, and prolonged economic disruption—especially affecting families with children and female-headed households.

Alexander Ermochenko / REUTERS / File Photo (March 15, 2022)

Key Findings:

National rate: 20.6 % → 35.5 % (2021–2023); projected 35.8 % in 2024.
Poverty in family groups:
- Large families: 84.7 % below the poverty line (2023).
- Households with children: 43.2 % → 65.6 % (2021–2023); > 80 % if a member is unemployed.
- Women-only households: 35 % below subsistence level.
Income erosion: ≈ $73 billion in household income losses; median income down 29 % vs pre-war.
Food insecurity: ≈ 15 % of population (~ 5 million people) affected as of January 2025.
Regional gap: Rural and non-government-controlled areas – 66.8 % poverty; Kyiv – 14.1 %.

Conclusion:

Deepening poverty threatens long-term recovery. Ukraine needs strong social protection, jobs, and housing programs to support families, women, and displaced populations, alongside structural reforms to prevent further socioeconomic decline.

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

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