New research reveals that Ukrainian refugees are adapting to life in Germany more quickly than previous refugee groups. Given the upheaval and loss experienced by so many since Russia’s illegal invasion, this fact is a testament to their resilience.
A new study by Germany’s Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) suggests that a number of structural advantages have also combined to give refugees from Ukraine a head start in the integration process, including the right to seek employment immediately upon arrival in Germany.
Surveying over 11,000 individuals who arrived between February and June 2022, the study – unique in its scale and depth – was designed to give policymakers and stakeholders insights into the evolving lives of Ukrainian refugees in Germany.
More than half of Ukrainian refugees in Germany plan to stay
The BiB study reveals a significant shift in the outlook of Ukrainian refugees. While many initially saw Germany as a temporary refuge, nearly six out of ten now plan to stay for the long term.
Specifically, 59 percent of respondents intend to live in Germany permanently or for several years, with 49 percent of adults expressing a desire to remain “forever.”
Among children and young people, the figure stands at 34 percent. The intention to stay is closely linked to German language proficiency and the formation of close friendships in Germany.
Children who continue to participate in Ukrainian online lessons alongside German schooling are less likely to see their future in Germany, as opposed to those who are fully integrated into the German school system.
Government figures reveal that roughly 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees currently live in Germany, with the population distributed relatively evenly across the federal states.
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The importance of learning German
Language acquisition has been a key area of progress. In 2022, 92 percent of Ukrainian children and young people described their German skills as “not at all” or “rather poor.”
By 2025, this figure had dropped to just 13 percent, with almost half now rating their skills as good to very good.
Adults have also improved, though at a slower pace: the proportion with little or no German fell from 89 percent in 2022 to 59 percent in 2025, and eight percent now describe their skills as good to very good.
According to BiB director Katharina Spieß, “We know that language is absolutely essential for participation in society.”
The study found that the language skills of parents and children are closely linked.
If parents speak little German, their children’s skills also tend to be weaker – a pattern that differs from other migrant groups, where children often learn German more quickly to help their families navigate daily life.
READ ALSO: Who are the happiest immigrants in Germany?
A boon for Germany’s labour marketÂ
The employment rate among Ukrainians aged 20 to 50 rose from 18 percent in autumn 2022 to 53 percent by the early summer of 2025.
This rate of labour market integration is significantly faster than the rate observed in Germany among asylum seekers from other regions – a fact which the study attributes to immediate access to the labour market as well as the relatively high level of education among Ukrainian arrivals.
Germany’s ongoing shortage of skilled workers means that the rapid integration of Ukrainian refugees is a welcome development.
According to the BiB study, many Ukrainian refugees are younger, better educated and wealthier than the average population in Ukraine, with 60 percent holding a tertiary education qualification such as a university degree or specialist certificate.
But the study also notes that among those arriving after January 2023, the proportion of refugees with a university degree or specialist qualification fell by eight percentage points.
The authors suggest this demographic shift may lead to additional challenges for integration in the future. Â
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A case study in successful integration?
Many refugees from Ukraine have faced the trauma of losing or leaving behind family members and friends as well as their homes and jobs.
Their rapid adaptation to life in a new society – finding employment, enrolling in language courses and participating in local communities – highlights their resilience and determination.
At the same time, it is important to recognise that Ukrainian refugees have benefited from several policy advantages not accessible to others, such as immediate legal protection, direct access to the labour market, the ability to reunite with family members in Germany and robust welfare support under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive.
These factors have undoubtedly played a role in helping their integration and could serve as valuable insights for shaping future immigration policies in Germany.
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