After the start of the full-scale war, poverty in Ukraine increased to 30% - Director of the Institute of Demography

As a result of the full-scale war, the poverty level in Ukraine has risen to approximately 30% of the population, whereas before the COVID-19 pandemic, this figure was estimated at 22-23%. This was stated by Ella Libanova, Director of the M. V. Ptukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, in the podcast of the Center for Economic Strategy "What about the economy?", reports UNN.

Details

According to Libanova, during the war, there were more poor people in Ukraine.

Poverty has increased. If before "covid" we were talking about 22%, 23%, now we are talking about 30%

However, due to the lack of complete information, it is currently difficult to determine exactly whether this refers to the entire population or to specific groups. She noted that researchers are trying to fill information gaps, but not all data is currently available.

I don't know (whether all Ukrainians in general or specific population groups have become poor. - ed.), because, again, there is a lack of information. We are trying to fill information gaps as much as possible, but, well, we cannot fill everything

International financial aid and overcoming poverty in Ukraine: expert opinion

Separately, Ella Libanova emphasized the critical role of international financial assistance.

She stated that without support from Europe, the economic situation in Ukraine could become catastrophic, and the state budget would not withstand such a burden.

If we hadn't received help from Europe... We wouldn't be talking here now. We would most likely just not be talking here

Libanova focused on the historical example of Germany, which lost the First World War not due to actual occupation by enemy troops, but due to an economic crisis when the state budget simply could not withstand the burden.

The expert believes that without financial assistance from allied countries, Ukraine faces a similar fate.

Recall

As UNN previously wrote, in August 2025, the unemployment rate in the eurozone reached 6.3%, while in the EU it remained stable at 5.9%. In Ukraine, unemployment is gradually decreasing, but poverty is growing, experts note.