Ukrainian refugees increasingly choose Lithuania: statistics data

The number of Ukrainians who received temporary protection in Lithuania due to the war continues to grow. In the past year, the number of refugees in the country increased by more than 10 thousand people. Visit Ukraine reports on this.

According to the Lithuanian Migration Department, as of March 5, 2026, there are 53,379 citizens of Ukraine with temporary protection status living in the country.

Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania: new statistics figures

Statistics indicate a steady increase in the number of Ukrainians remaining in the country.

Comparative data for recent years:

• March 2026 – 53,379 people

• March 2025 – 43,071 people

• March 2024 – 39,468 people

Thus, in just one year, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania increased by more than 10 thousand.

Temporary protection in the EU: what documents Ukrainians have

After the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia, the European Union introduced a temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians on March 4, 2022. This status has been extended multiple times.

Currently, digital residence permits in EU countries, including Lithuania, are valid until March 4, 2027. However, they need to be renewed annually.

According to migration services:

• more than 42.5 thousand Ukrainians exchanged digital permits in 2026

• about 37 thousand did this in 2025

Indrė Gasperė, the director of the Lithuanian Migration Department, notes that many Ukrainians who have lived in the country for over a year are actively integrating into society: learning the language, finding jobs, and starting their own businesses.

Let us remind you that Ukrainians continue to leave the country due to the war, but not to Poland.