EU temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees reaches 4.38 million

The number of non-EU citizens fleeing Ukraine who held temporary protection status in the European Union reached 4.38 million at the end of January 2026, according to Eurostat data released Tuesday. The total figure increased by 23,110 people, or 0.5%, compared to December 2025, reflecting continued displacement from the ongoing conflict.

Host countries

Germany hosted the largest number of beneficiaries with 1.26 million people, accounting for 28.8% of the EU total. Poland followed with 965,990 people (22.1%), and Czechia with 397,185 (9.1%). The highest ratios of protection beneficiaries per thousand residents were found in Czechia (36.4), Poland (26.5), and Slovakia (25.8), significantly above the EU average of 9.7 per thousand people.

Demographic breakdown

Ukrainian citizens made up 98.4% of the total beneficiaries in the EU. Adult women represented 43.5% of the group, reflecting the wartime mobilization of men in Ukraine, while minors accounted for 30.3% and adult men comprised 26.1%. The demographic distribution highlights the continued humanitarian impact of the war, which has now entered its third year.

Context

The temporary protection mechanism, activated by the EU in March 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion, provides immediate protection and access to housing, education, healthcare and employment for displaced persons. The latest figures show that while the rate of new arrivals has slowed, the overall number of beneficiaries remains substantial, with host countries continuing to integrate large populations of displaced Ukrainians.