Lithuania — Social Integration of Refugees from Ukraine (January - March 2024)

The IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix collected data through Surveys with Refugees in the Ukraine Response region from January to March 2024. In Lithuania, a total of 485 surveys were collected. This report explores different aspects of their social integration, focusing on the profiles of adult respondents, specifically those who intend to stay or have already established themselves in the country. Notably, the report highlights the interactions between Ukrainian refugees and local population in daily life, such as through sharing meals, engaging in conversations, and participating in common groups and activities. It also examines factors related to social integration, such as experiences of discrimination, challenges to inclusion, childcare and school enrollment, migration status, and access to legal support.

Key findings:

• 79% of respondents had conversations with locals via phone, online messaging apps, or text messages in the last four weeks. 20% did not engage in any conversations with locals, and 1% preferred not to answer.
• For over a quarter of respondents (29%), sharing meals with locals was an everyday activity, while another quarter (25%) did so monthly. 17% shared meals weekly, and only 4% did so annually. Almost a quarter (23%) never shared meals with locals, and 2% were unsure.
• 45% of respondents were engaged in hobby-related groups. 31% participated in work-related groups, and 27% were involved in migrant resource and information centers. 17% participated in religious groups, while 7% were involved in social or political cause groups.
• 73% of respondents did not experience unequal treatment, while 26% reported being discriminated against. 1% was unsure.
• 20% of respondents identified unequal treatment as the most significant inclusion challenge in their destination country. Other major challenges included financial issues (15%), housing (14%), homesickness (14%), language (12%), and lack of employment (11%). 36% did not face any inclusion challenges.
• Among respondents with children under five, 83% had enrolled them in childcare institutions, while 17% were planning to do so in the future or faced difficulties finding available places.
• 31% of respondents found it somewhat or very easy to access legal assistance for documentation, eviction, and similar issues. 18% found it somewhat or very difficult, 17% found it neither difficult nor easy, and 34% were unsure.