CSO data reveals Ukrainian refugee population in Donegal increases by 10%

The number of Ukrainian refugees living in Donegal has increased by more than 10% in the last 12 months, according to the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures.

Data released by the CSO revealed that there were 8,604 arrivals from Ukraine in Donegal in June 2025, a rise of 10.3% compared to June 2024, when there were 7,802 Ukrainian refugees in Donegal.

In the wake of the Ukraine invasion by Russia in 2022, the CSO has created insights into Ireland’s response to the Ukrainian crisis, including an analysis of Ukrainian arrivals and school enrolments. 

Only three counties in the state homes more Ukrainian refugees than Donegal. Dublin tops the list with 15,312, followed by Cork and Kerry, which both host over 9,000 Ukrainian refugeesglenti.

A total of 1,548 Ukrainian students were enrolled in Donegal schools for the 2024-25 academic year, with 930 students enrolled in primary education and 618 students enrolled in secondary school. 

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Within Donegal electoral areas, Buncrana and Lifford-Stranorlar saw big increases in Ukrainian refugees within their boundaries. There was a 40.7% increase seen in Buncrana, and and 36.6% rise of Ukrainian refugees in Lifford-Stranorlar, whilst Letterkenny and Carndonagh both saw increases of more than 20%. 

Glenties saw a minimal increase of Ukrainian refugees, of 1.5% whilst Milford saw a decrease of 5.1%. 

Donegal electoral area’s Ukrainian refugee population fell by 2.4%, however, the population of 2,022 makes it the fourth largest Ukrainian refugee population in local electoral areas in the country. The three electoral areas with the most Ukrainian refugees are located in Kerry, whilst Letterkenny and Glenties are in the top ten of electoral areas with the most amount of Ukrainian refugees in the country.