EU Hosts 4.3M Ukrainians as Youth Suicide Remains a Challenge

The European Union continues to provide temporary protection to millions of Ukrainians displaced by the war, while new figures also highlight the ongoing challenge of suicide among young people across member states.

Eurostat reported that as of July 31, approximately 4.34 million non-EU citizens fleeing Ukraine were registered under temporary protection in the EU, up slightly from 4.31 million in June and 4.28 million in May. Since February 2022, EU countries have granted such protection to more than 6.5 million individuals. June alone saw 62,400 new protection decisions, the highest monthly figure since October 2024. Germany, Poland, and Czechia host the largest absolute numbers, but in relative terms Czechia continues to have the highest share of beneficiaries, followed by Poland and Estonia. On average, there are 9.6 people under temporary protection per 1,000 EU inhabitants, compared to 34.7 in Czechia. Women make up nearly half of those protected, while men account for about a quarter and minors roughly a third, a distribution that has remained stable in recent months.

Alongside these humanitarian statistics, Eurostat also released figures marking World Suicide Prevention Day that point to troubling health trends among Europe’s youth. In 2022, more than 5,000 people aged 15 to 29 died from intentional self-harm, making suicide the second leading cause of death in this age group after accidents. The number equates to one in six deaths among young people, a stark contrast to the general population where suicide accounts for about one in 100 deaths. The highest rates were recorded among men aged 25 to 29, with levels around four times higher than those for women.

Despite these figures, youth suicide in the EU has declined over the past decade, falling by nearly 20 percent since 2011. Nonetheless, suicide remains a widespread issue, with 49,042 deaths across all ages in 2022, equal to 10.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. While the overall trend is downward, sharp differences persist between member states. Slovenia, Lithuania, and Hungary recorded the highest suicide rates, while Cyprus, Greece, and Malta had the lowest. Lithuania presents a striking paradox, as it has been ranked the happiest country in the world for people under 30, yet continues to experience some of the highest suicide levels in Europe, especially among older populations.

The two sets of statistics underscore distinct but pressing challenges for the EU. On one side, the bloc continues to accommodate millions of displaced Ukrainians, requiring ongoing adaptation of protection and integration systems. On the other, it faces persistent mental health risks among its youth, which vary widely across member states and demand targeted intervention. Together, they highlight the extent to which humanitarian policy and social resilience remain central to the EU’s agenda.