According to a report published by the World Bank on April 8, Ukraine remains the largest recipient of remittances in Europe and Central Asia, with $14.4 billion — 11.4 percent of Ukraine’s gross domestic product — coming from Ukrainians working outside the country in 2018.
The figures are up 19 percent from 2017.
The World Bank, through its Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development initiative, published a quarterly report on migration and remittance. According to the report, Ukraine remains the largest recipient of remittances in the region.
Ukraine is followed by Russia, which received $8.6 billion in remittances, with third place Poland receiving $7.4 billion. Ukraine was ranked 7th in the region in remittances compared to GDP, with lower GDP countries Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan leading the way. Both receiving remittances equal to more than 30 percent of the country’s GDP.
The World Bank cities higher wages in neighboring countries, as well as the rising labor demand, as the main reason for the ongoing trend. An average wage in Poland is three times higher than in neighboring Ukraine – $1,050 compared to $350.
Pavlo Klimkin, Ukraine’s foreign minister, on Sept. 3 stated that emigration from Ukraine is catastrophic for the country.
“Around 1 million Ukrainians leave the country each year and unfortunately the situation won’t change in the near future,” said the minister.
Kilimkin also stated that there are around 1.4 million Ukrainians living in Poland, with 30 percent of the population in cities like Wroclaw speaking Ukrainian.
Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, during a Ukrainian-Polish forum in Kyiv on Dec. 1, stated that there are around 2 million Ukrainians living in the country, additional 40,000 are studying in Polish universities.
Ukraine’s Minister of Social Policy Andriy Reva, stated in December, that there are 3.2 million Ukrainians working abroad on a regular bases, with a total of 7 to 9 million people working abroad from time to time.
