Ukrainian citizens living in Poland contributed approximately PLN 18.7 billion ($5 bn) to the Polish budget in 2024 through taxes and insurance contributions, according to an analysis by TVN24.
The contribution came as President Karol Nawrocki vetoed an extension of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees.
According to data from the Office for Foreigners, as of February 2025, 1.55 million Ukrainian citizens held valid residence permits in Poland, though the actual number including those with unregulated status may be higher. The majority – 993,000 people – benefit from temporary protection under the law that Nawrocki recently vetoed, meaning this protection will expire on 30 September 2025.
The Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) estimated that Ukrainian migrants increased Polish budget revenues by approximately PLN 15.1 billion ($4 bn) in 2024 alone through personal income tax, corporate income tax, VAT, and pension, disability, and health insurance contributions.
“15 billion ($4 bn) PLN and 2.7% GDP growth in 2024 – does that tell you anything, Mr. Karol Nawrocki? That’s how much the hard-working Ukrainian women and men contributed to our economy. We gave them PLN 2.8 billion in the form of 800 plus. I leave the math to you,” wrote Senate Deputy Speaker Magdalena Biejat on platform X.
The Ministry of Finance data shows that between 2022 and 2024, revenues from PIT and VAT taxes from Ukrainian citizens totaled almost PLN 5 billion. Corporate income tax from Ukrainian companies reached PLN 11.9 million ($3.2 bn) over the three-year period, according to estimates provided to Demagog portal.
The Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) reported that Ukrainians contributed PLN 12.8 billion ($3.4 bn) in social insurance contributions (pension, disability, sickness, accident) in 2024, plus PLN 3.5 billion ($950 mn) in health insurance contributions. As of the end of July 2025, 825,000 Ukrainian citizens were registered for pension and disability insurance.
BGK’s report notes significant differences between pre-war and post-2022 Ukrainian migration. Between 2014-2021, approximately 1.35 million Ukrainian immigrants came to Poland primarily seeking employment, with over 90% being working-age and employed. The post-2022 wave consists of war refugees with different demographics: 42% women over 18, 19% men over 18, and 39% children.
National Bank of Poland data indicates that 78% of adult Ukrainians living in Poland were employed between May and July 2024. Among pre-war migrants, this figure reaches 93%, while OECD data shows 71% employment among Ukrainian refugees in 2023.
Ukrainians work primarily in industry (22% of refugees, 25% of pre-war immigrants), trade (12 and 13% respectively), with refugees more commonly employed in hospitality, gastronomy, education and culture sectors.
According to the Central Registration and Information on Business Activity (CEIDG), Ukrainians established 77,700 sole proprietorships in Poland between 2022-2024. Deloitte analysts calculated that Ukrainians generated an additional 2.7% of Polish GDP in 2024, equivalent to nearly PLN 99 billion ($27 bn). Experts project this contribution will increase to 3.2% of GDP by 2030.