POLAND

Though Poland is the sixth-largest economy in the European Union, there are significant regional disparities, with eastern parts of the country experiencing higher rates of poverty and unemployment. Home to several minorities, including the Roma, Poland remains a homogenous country where 96.2% of the population speak only Polish at home.

Ukrainian refugees were granted temporary residence in the country and equal access to the labour market as well as health, education, social assistance and housing. Many refugees were hosted privately by Polish families who received roughly USD$9 per day under a government housing assistance scheme. When this largely came to an end in July 2022, DEC member charities noted a rise in refugees’ needs for shelter, food and other assistance.

Roma community members fleeing Ukraine are reported to have faced discrimination when trying to access to services, especially housing. Individuals from third countries, particularly those from outside Europe, have also experienced differential treatment, particularly at the Poland–Belarusian border, where there have been reports of pushbacks and other human rights violations of refugees seeking to enter Poland.

Many organisations have now closed their border assistance points as the influx of refugees into Poland has slowed significantly since April/May. Fewer than 1.5 million refugees remain in Poland as many people have returned to Ukraine or moved to other countries in Europe. However, within the context of global rising prices and the energy crisis, it is anticipated that arrivals may increase again as Ukrainians seek better living conditions during the cold winter months.

POPULATION: 37.7 MILLION

7.5 MILLION

Border Crossings

(as of 15 November 2022)

1.4 MILLION REFUGEES

from Ukraine currently registered in Poland (as of 15 November 2022)

Male: 29%; female: 71%; children: 42%; older people: 8%

40% REFUGEES

41% REFUGEES