Germany Overtakes Poland as Top EU Destination for Ukrainians

Shifting Destinations for Ukrainians in the EU

According to ХВИЛЯ: Germany has now become the primary host country for Ukrainian citizens within the European Union, surpassing Poland. As of 2025, over 4.35 million people who fled Ukraine are under temporary protection in the EU. Germany hosts more than 1.2 million Ukrainians, accounting for 28.7% of the total. Poland now holds second place with fewer than one million, representing 22.3%. This shift reflects changing migration patterns within the bloc since the full-scale invasion.

The State of Ukrainian Business in Poland

The Czech Republic ranks third, hosting 9% of the Ukrainian population in the EU. In 2025, Ukrainian citizens registered approximately 34,000 new companies in Poland, constituting 10% of all new businesses in the country. The contribution of Ukrainian entrepreneurs to the Polish budget for the year was nearly 19 billion zloty, and their impact on Poland's GDP is estimated at 2-3%.

Analysts suggest that Polish society has shown itself more receptive to welcoming impoverished Ukrainians than successful ones. Experts note that Ukrainians who open firms and become competitors face greater difficulties. Observers emphasize that the partnership, which sounds promising at summits, is tested in practice at the level of tax offices, schools, and municipalities.

Thus, the changes in the distribution of Ukrainians across the EU point to new trends in their resettlement and adaptation, as well as the challenges they face in host countries.

The top three EU countries hosting Ukrainians are as follows:

• Germany
• Poland
• Czech Republic

This change in leadership in hosting Ukrainian refugees mirrors the evolving socio-economic conditions within EU nations, which may, in turn, influence migration and integration policies. With its larger Ukrainian population and their economic contribution, Germany may assume a greater role in shaping European refugee policy. Meanwhile, Poland, while remaining a key player, faces new challenges related to integrating more successful Ukrainian entrepreneurs, potentially requiring shifts in its approaches to business support and integration.