Poland’s response to the refugee crisis

When war broke out, over 2 million Ukrainians fled to Poland, where they were met with widespread generosity. At the height of the crisis, 70% of Polish households offered some form of assistance, and over 1.3 million families provided direct help—such as food, shelter, and financial support.

Today, official statistics state that nearly 1 million Ukrainian refugees remain in Poland, but researchers argue this number may be significantly inflated. The resulting discrepancy has been the cause of critical voices suggesting on the one hand low school enrolment among Ukrainian children and on the other low employment rates among adults. In reality, data suggests that the majority of Ukrainian refugees are working, and the great majority of children are attending school in Poland.

Key insights

• Questionable refugee statistics: The official count of Ukrainian refugees in Poland may be overstated, leading to false narratives about economic burden and low participation in Polish society.
• Declining public sentiment: While initial support for Ukrainian refugees was strong, public attitudes have cooled, and political parties are capitalizing on this shift ahead of Poland’s May 2025 presidential election.
• Economic contributions: Despite concerns about refugees draining resources, evidence shows that the majority of Ukrainians are working and contributing to the economy, including establishment of successful businesses in Poland.

Meet the authors

• Michał Myck: Director of the Centre for Economic Analysis (CenEA)
• Artur Król: Researcher, CenEA
• Monika Oczkowska: Senior Researcher, CenEA

Photo: Kotelnikov Andrii, Shutterstock