Ukrainian refugee numbers increase by nearly double national average in Donegal

New figures have revealed the number of Ukrainian refugees in Donegal has increased by 13.9% in the previous 14 months, nearly double the national percentage increase, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

CSO data revealed 9,044 Ukrainian refugees resided in Donegal in November 2025, up from 7,942 in September 2024. Nationally, the number of Ukrainian refugees increased from 104,543 to 112,525, an increase of 7.6%.

Donegal is the county that has the fourth highest amount of Ukrainian refugees in the country, with only Dublin, Cork, and Kerry providing refuge to more refugees. 

The Local Electoral Authorities of Buncrana, Carndonagh, and Lifford-Stranorlar saw percentage increases of Ukrainian refugees from September 2024 to November 2025, ranging from 27% to 33%. 

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Donegal’s Local Electoral Authority had the highest number of Ukrainian refugees in November 2025, at 2,093, and Donegal is also the Local Electoral Authority with the highest percentage of Ukrainian refugees within the district, compared to the population at 7.5%.

Compared to Local Electoral Authorities across the nation, Donegal has the fifth-highest percentage of Ukrainian refugees compared to the population, with Glenties and Carndonagh also placed in the top 10.

Kenmare in Kerry, followed by Ennistimon in Clare, Carrick-on-Shannon in Leitrim, and Killarney in Kerry had a higher percentage of Ukrainian refugees than Donegal. 

Buncrana, despite its high increase of Ukrainian refugees, had the lowest percentage of Ukrainian refugees within the district, compared to the population at 2.88%. 

Rathfarnham-Templeogue in South Dublin had the lowest percentage of Ukrainian refugees compared to the population in the country, at 0.27%, followed by Newport in Tipperary, Leixlip in Kildare, and Carrigaline in Cork.