Ukrainian refugees generated 2.4% of Polish GDP and 1.8 billion PLN healthcare surplus in 2025

Macroeconomic contribution to GDP

A joint study by UNHCR and Deloitte, titled "Analysis of the Impact of Refugees from Ukraine on the Polish Economy", was presented on Thursday at the PAP Press Centre in Warsaw. The document assessed the overall economic and budgetary role of displaced Ukrainians living in Poland. The report calculated that Ukrainian refugees generated 2.4% of Polish gross domestic product in 2025, representing 94 billion PLN in added value. This economic share expanded over successive years as employment levels among refugees steadily rose. The contribution measured 2.0% of GDP in 2023, climbed to 2.3% in 2024, and reached 2.4% in 2025. Projections in the report estimate that this figure will reach 2.8% of Poland's GDP by 2035. Authors of the study noted that 94 billion PLN is the economic value Poland would lose if refugees suddenly departed the country. Juna Shirato, the acting representative of the UNHCR office in Poland, presented the findings in Warsaw.

This report provides clear evidence that when refugees have access to protection, education, and decent work, they contribute to the development of the countries that host them. In Poland, this contribution is estimated at 2.4% of GDP.

Public health fund surplus

The analysis detailed the financial balance of Poland's National Health Fund (NFZ) regarding healthcare services for Ukrainian citizens. In 2025, total payments into the NFZ associated with Ukrainian citizens exceeded the cost of their medical treatment and health benefits by 1.8 billion PLN. Data from the fund showed that the average annual healthcare cost per Ukrainian refugee was 694 PLN, compared to 4,640 PLN allocated per Polish citizen. Analysts noted that sixfold lower per-capita costs and growing health insurance receipts drove this 1.8 billion PLN surplus in the public healthcare fund. The fiscal balance reflects higher labor participation among working-age refugees combined with lower average utilization of hospital and specialized medical services.

Healthcare workforce and insurance rules

In addition to budgetary contributions, the report documented the direct participation of Ukrainian professionals within Poland's domestic healthcare system. At the end of 2025, Ukrainian medical personnel accounted for 2.4% of all doctors and 0.8% of all nurses working in Poland. Dr. Aleksander Łaszek, an expert in the economic analysis team at Deloitte, pointed to this growing presence of Ukrainian medics across healthcare facilities. The economic data follows statutory changes governing healthcare entitlements for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Since 5 March, free medical treatment is reserved strictly for victims of torture, children, and pregnant women. All other Ukrainian citizens who fled the war must pay regular health insurance contributions to access Poland's public health system.