RIGA, Feb 23 (LETA) - The integration of Ukrainian refugees in Latvia is gradually improving, but significant challenges remain, especially in the areas of healthcare and employment, according to the UN Refugee Agency's (UNHCR) 2025 Socio-Economic Insights Survey (SEIS).

Almost 32,000 Ukrainian civilians have received temporary protection in Latvia, most of them women and children. The survey shows that the refugees are gradually integrating: employment rates are improving, children's participation in the education system is increasing, and more and more refugees are learning Latvian at a level that allows them to communicate more freely.

At the same time, the study also highlights challenges, particularly in access to healthcare. While two years ago 96 percent of refugees who needed health services received them, last year this figure dropped to 88 percent. Long queues and limited access to services were cited as the main obstacles.

UNHCR's government liaison officer Dace Meilija noted that Latvia has provided comprehensive and sustainable support to Ukrainian refugees since 2022, creating a safe environment and opportunities to integrate into society. At the same time, the results of the survey point to areas that require additional attention in the long term, especially given that 72 percent of the surveyed refugees have expressed their intention to stay in Latvia.

The employment rate among working-age refugees has increased from 56 percent to 62 percent over the year. However, employment remains one of the most frequently unresolved issues in refugee households, alongside health care and access to housing. In both 2024 and 2025, 76 percent of refugee households faced at least one major problem.

The participation of school-age children in the Latvian education system increased from 65 percent in 2024 to 80 percent in 2025. Latvian language skills are also improving, with 41 percent of refugees indicating that their language skills enable them to communicate effectively in everyday life.

The proportion of households living in dormitories dropped to around 5 percent in 2025 from 15 percent a year earlier. A majority of respondents, or 76 percent, live in the private sector, whereas almost half still rely on partial or full support for housing costs.

The survey also points to increasing mental and psycho-emotional health problems, reported by 24 percent of respondents last year compared to 17 percent the year before. Although almost half of those in need received support, it was mostly informal support outside the professional healthcare system.

Respondents continue to view their relations with the host society as generally good, but there has been a slight increase in the number of refugees who have experienced hostility, from 25 percent in 2024 to 27 percent in 2025.

The socio-economic survey in Latvia was carried out by UNHCR in cooperation with the International Organisation for Migration and the Latvian NGO I Want to Help Refugees. The survey is based on data provided by Ukrainian civilians who have found refuge in Latvia since Russia's full-scale invasion of their country.