Slovakia's Income From Ukrainian Refugees Exceeds Expenses

• 8.05.2025, 18:32

The situation is similar in the Czech Republic.

Ukrainian refugees paid more money into Slovakia's budget than it spent on helping them, according to a document prepared by Deputy Prime Minister Petr Kmiec of the Hlas party, which is part of the ruling coalition, writes Denník N.

The government's Financial Policy Institute estimates that Ukrainian refugees in 2024 increased the state's revenue by €217 million through income tax, compulsory contributions and VAT. Compared to 2023, Ukrainians' contribution to the budget increased by more than a third.

In contrast, spending on refugee aid more than halved last year to €98 million.In total, the republic spent €509 million on refugee and humanitarian aid from 2022 to 2024, including spending on refugee accommodation and the education of Ukrainian children. Of the €98 million last year, most of it, €65 million, was covered by the EU.

Ukrainians make up two-fifths of the more than 122,000 foreigners working in Slovakia.

Analogous situation is in the Czech Republic. There Ukrainian refugees, according to the Ministry of Labor of the Republic, brought to the budget 23.5 billion crowns (€943.4 million) with expenditures of 15.5 billion (€622.2 million). In total, since the start of hostilities in Ukraine, the Czech Republic has spent 62.5 billion crowns (€2.5 billion) to help refugees and collected 55.5 billion (€2.2 billion) from them through contributions and taxes. In February 2023, almost 99 thousand Ukrainians worked in the country, in January last year - 114, 9 thousand, and in January this year - more than 150, 3 thousand.