Ukrainians are leaving more money abroad: remittances home have decreased to $7.9 billion

Ukrainian migrants are transferring less money home. In 2025, the volume of such remittances amounted to about $7.9 billion, a decrease of 16.3% over the year. This trend has been ongoing since the end of 2021. It has previously been recorded that Ukrainians in Poland are sending money less frequently. InPoland reports this citing the Polish Economic Institute.

How much money Ukrainians transferred home in 2025

According to the Polish Economic Institute (PIE), in 2025 Ukrainian migrants from around the world transferred about $7.9 billion to Ukraine. Compared to the previous year, the amount decreased by 16.3%.

The net earnings of short-term migrants, particularly seasonal and cross-border workers, decreased most significantly by 21.5% over the year. The share of this group in the total volume of remittances fell from over 68% in 2021 to 55.5% in 2025.

Private transfers from people living abroad for over a year proved to be more stable: they decreased by 8.7% in 2025. However, preliminary data for the first half of 2026 already show an increase of 13.3%.

Poland remains the largest source of such remittances. In 2025, it accounted for 29% of all remittances to Ukraine compared to 33.1% in 2021. Meanwhile, the number of employed Ukrainian citizens in the country continues to grow: in the spring, a record 784 thousand workers were recorded.

Why Ukrainians are sending less money home

PIE explains the trend by the change in the model of Ukrainian migration. Before the full-scale war, a significant portion of migrant workers were people who temporarily worked abroad, while families and main expenses remained in Ukraine.

After 2022, many Ukrainians left with their families or joined relatives who were already abroad. Accordingly, an increasing portion of the earned funds is spent directly in the host countries.

The structure of migration has also been influenced by restrictions on men's departure during martial law. Instead, the share of women among Ukrainian workers abroad has increased.

Therefore, the decrease in remittances does not necessarily mean only a drop in the incomes of Ukrainians abroad. PIE data indicate a gradual transition from short-term labor migration to long-term residence and economic integration in other countries.

Recall that earlier Inkorr reported that Ukrainians in Poland are becoming financially independent and are more often providing housing for themselves.