National and international migratory flows in Russia 1990-2023

In every year of the observed period, the sum of internal and international immigrants exceeded that of emigrants in Russia. In 2023, the emigrant count saw a decrease from the previous year. In aggregate terms, migration flows steadily decreased from 1990 to 2009. After 2010, the figures for in- and outflows started to recover. 

Why do Russians emigrate?

A year after the Russia-Ukraine war began, more than one in ten Russians expressed their willingness to emigrate. The desire to provide children with a decent future was the leading reason for emigration, as cited by 45 percent of respondents who were willing to leave the country. The allegedly worsening economic situation in Russia and high-quality medicine abroad also ranked high. Among those who emigrated in 2022, the majority chose the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries or countries near the CIS region.

Incentives to migrate to Russia

One of the countries with the largest gross domestic product (GDP) worldwide, Russia remains a popular immigration destination. In 2023, nearly 171,000 people came to Russia from Tajikistan. Further 54,160 and 50,930 arrived from Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine, respectively. Russia’s visa-free regime with most post-Soviet states eases the entry into the country. For example, citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan have the right to employment in Russia without obtaining a work permit. Citizens of Azerbaijan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan can enter Russia visa-free and obtain a work patent upon arrival.