According to the October World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund predicts the gradual return of refugees to Ukraine as early as 2024. The population of Ukraine in 2021 was 41 million people. In 2022, it decreased to 34.8 million, and in 2023 – to 33.2 million. The IMF predicts that in 2024, the number will increase to 33.7 million people, growth will continue, and in 2028 the population will reach 36.1 million.
It is worth noting that in August, the number of refugees from Ukraine with temporary protection status in the EU increased by 41,275. As of August 31, 4.155 million people had this status in an EU country (+1%). The largest growth was observed in Germany (21,830; +1.9%), the Czech Republic (7,545; +2.1%), and the Netherlands (2,635; +1.7%). The number of protection recipients in Poland continued to decrease in August – by 10,530, or 1.1%, and over five months – by 39,200.