Czechia has highest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita in the EU, report finds

According to new Eurostat data, Czechia is host to the most Ukrainian refugees per capita in the EU. Around 4 million refugees have migrated to EU countries since late February 2022, including about 350,000 to Czechia.

As of the end of June, Germany has the highest number of Ukrainian refugees, namely 1.1 million, followed by Poland with 977,740, and the Czech Republic with 349,140. According to data from the Ministry of Interior, Czechia has granted asylum to over half a million Ukrainian refugees, but a significant proportion of these have either returned to Ukraine or moved to another EU country.

Comparing the numbers to the end of May, there has been a 1.1-percent rise in the Ukrainian refugee population across the EU, signifying an increase of 45,800 people. Germany, Czechia, and Ireland have seen the most significant growth. In particular, the Czech Republic saw a 2.7-percent uptick, equivalent to 9,050 individuals.

According to the Interior Ministry, about 2,500 Ukrainian refugees are entering Czechia on average every week. Of all Ukrainian refugees seeking temporary protection, 46.6 percent are adult women, 34.4 percent are children, and 19 percent are adult men.

According to April statistics, Prague has by far the greatest share of people coming in from the war-torn country, numbering 79,000 people; at 24 percent, this is also the largest percentage of Ukrainian holders of temporary protection per number of inhabitants among Czech regions. Almost 45,000 refugees have settled in the surrounding Central Bohemia region, which has the second-highest percentage of temporary protection holders from Ukraine.

A report from earlier this year found that about 30,000 Ukrainian teenagers under 18 were unaccompanied by a parent or guardian, and less than half of children of secondary-school age were enrolled in the Czech education system.

A change in state support for Ukrainian refugees from July this year – ultimately seeing refugees receive fewer benefits – may potentially reduce the number of refugees coming to Czechia, although the Czech government vowed to continue supporting Ukrainians.