Less sadness, more frustration What a sweeping new survey reveals about how Russian emigrants are adjusting to life abroad
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth year, the independent research group OutRush has released a sweeping new study on the state of Russian emigration. Based on surveys with more than 8,500 respondents, the findings indicate that fewer than 10 percent of those who left have returned to Russia. Meanwhile, most emigrants report improved financial and emotional well-being. Many have already changed countries and begun the process of integration, becoming more rooted in their new communities. Meduza breaks down what the researchers at OutRush uncovered.
Most Russians who left don’t plan to go back
Between summer 2023 and summer 2024, roughly eight percent of Russian emigrants surveyed by the OutRush research project said they had returned to Russia. That figure aligns with a separate study by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), which found that 10 percent of those who left after the full-scale invasion are now living in Russia again. Both numbers, however, sharply contrast with figures published by Bloomberg in May 2024, which, citing data from the Moscow-based relocation firm Finion, reported that as many as 45 percent of those who left in 2022 had returned.
According to OutRush, only five percent of Russian emigrants say they intend to return within the next year. Around 54 percent would consider it if there were political changes in Russia. Roughly a third said they left primarily due to the risk of mobilization, suggesting that at least some might be willing to return if there were a peace agreement with Ukraine or the Kremlin guarantees an end to mobilization. For most of those surveyed, however, returning to Russia seems unlikely. Researchers noted a deep sense of opposition to the Russian government among respondents.
Most emigrants would only consider returning, OutRush says, in the event of “deep political transformations” — and only if those changes stand the test of time.
“It’s very difficult to study migrants,” a sociologist involved in the research told Meduza. “They’re hard to reach and often have strong incentives not to participate in surveys. It’s very difficult to build a random sample large enough to draw statistically sound conclusions.”
The study has one major limitation: the sample doesn’t represent all Russians in emigration.
The OutRush sociologists acknowledge this issue but emphasize that their respondent pool is far more diverse than in previous studies.
OutRush surveyed 8,590 people across more than 100 countries. The researchers used several methods to build their sample:
- A panel sample, surveying regular respondents to track changes over time — 2,290 participants
- A media sample, gathered through links to the survey shared by various media outlets — 1,026 respondents
- An advertising sample, gathered through survey links in promoted posts on Telegram, Facebook, and Instagram — 2,758 respondents
- A snowball sample, in which previous respondents invited friends and relatives to participate — 420 respondents
- An additional sample of emigrants who left Russia between 2014 and 2021, a period when the political regime grew more authoritarian after the annexation of Crimea — 2,096 respondents
The researchers believe that social media advertising helped attract “the most diverse possible audience of potential respondents around the world.” Compared to the media sample, they say, this approach reduced the skew toward politically active participants.
Serbia tops list for secondary emigration
According to OutRush researchers, many Russian emigrants end up moving again due to discrimination and difficulties securing legal status in their host countries. Those most likely to migrate a second time are men, people under 45, those without children, those without higher education, those lacking strong social ties in their current country of residence, and individuals in less stable financial situations.
Between 2023 and 2024, one in five Russian emigrants changed countries, and 28 percent say they plan to relocate again in the next year. During that time, about half of the Russians who emigrated to Georgia and Turkey — two of the most popular destinations for those fleeing Russia — left those countries.
In contrast, countries like Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United States have seen far less turnover. Only about one percent of Russian emigrants have left these countries, and few plan to: just four percent in the U.S., six percent in Germany, and 10 percent in Spain. Most of those surveyed say they trust the governments in these countries and don’t fear political persecution. Still, they report significant hurdles to legalizing their status and integrating into local society.
Other countries have seen higher departure rates. About 13 percent of Russians have left Israel, 16 percent have left Serbia, and 20 percent have moved on from Argentina. Still, Russian emigrants say these countries remain attractive precisely because of their clear and navigable legalization processes.
Turkey tops the list of countries that Russian emigrants have left for other destinations, followed by Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Montenegro. Researchers link this trend to legal uncertainty and fears of political persecution in these countries. Russian citizens who once lived there account for 10–15 percent of those who have returned to Russia. But the trend also goes the other way: about 11 percent of respondents chose Georgia or Armenia as their new destination for secondary emigration.
Due to bureaucratic difficulties, trust in host governments has declined since the start of the war, with 63 percent of Russian emigrants expressing trust in March 2022, compared to just 52 percent between July and November 2024. Yet reported experiences of discrimination have dropped significantly — from 24 percent in 2022 to 14 percent in 2024.
Among those who relocated again, 22 percent chose Serbia. Researchers attribute Serbia’s popularity to its low levels of discrimination against Russian citizens, its straightforward immigration system, and its growing Russian-speaking community. Only 16 percent of Russian emigrants left Serbia between 2023 and 2024, and just 20 percent say they plan to move elsewhere in the near future.
“I spent a long time searching for a good job in Europe that matched my skills, and I found it in Serbia,” one respondent told researchers. “I invested a lot of effort into my emigration, and I would only return to Russia if I lost my job, ran out of money, and exhausted all legal options to stay here.”
Financial footing improves, legal status remains a hurdle
More Russians living abroad can now afford major purchases, according to data from OutRush. Since summer 2023, the share of emigrants reporting that they’re financially secure enough to make large purchases has risen by seven percentage points, reaching 62 percent. The first notable improvement in emigrants’ economic well-being came in 2024, as many gained a foothold in the job market — especially those working in IT. Researchers say it’s possible that some of those who returned to Russia were people who struggled to maintain financial stability abroad.
Still, legal status remains a pressing issue for many. More than half (54 percent) of Russian emigrants say they’re concerned about their ability to legalize their stay in their current country. The problem is especially acute in Turkey and Georgia, where 80 percent of Russian emigrants report facing legal uncertainty.
Starting a business is a common path for Russians abroad, with Argentina, Brazil, Spain, the U.S., Serbia, Montenegro, and Georgia emerging as the most popular destinations for entrepreneurship. In these countries, between eight and 15 percent of Russian emigrants have launched businesses, and another 21 to 45 percent say they would like to, according to OutRush. But newcomers often face steep barriers, including high taxes, customs duties, bureaucracy, opaque regulations, economic volatility, and currency restrictions.
The largest professional group among Russian emigrants is IT workers, who make up 43 percent of those who have left the country. According to OutRush, 80 percent of them cited political disagreement with the Russian government as their reason for leaving, while 37 percent said they left due to the risk of being drafted. Most have relocated to Cyprus, Spain, Serbia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Others working in culture, academia, the arts, education, and media also make up a sizable share of Russian emigrants — about 21 percent. Scientists and educators have primarily settled in France, Israel, Germany, and Turkey, while artists and cultural professionals have most often moved to France and the U.K.
“Those who emigrated in 2023–2024 had fewer financial resources than those who left in 2022,” a sociologist from the OutRush project told Meduza. Just 16 percent of those who left in 2023–2024 said they could afford to buy a car, compared to 26 percent of those who left earlier. Income level is also a key indicator among those who returned to Russia. “Only 10 percent of returnees said they could afford a car, compared to 18 percent of those still living abroad,” the researcher noted.
Emotional well-being on the rise
Russian emigrants are increasingly satisfied with their lives. In 2024, 45.7 percent of respondents described themselves as content, up from 40.5 percent the year before. The share of those who said they often or regularly feel happy also rose — from 48 percent to 53 percent. The difference is even more striking when compared to September 2022, at the start of Russia’s mobilization and the resulting wave of mass emigration. At that time, just 37 percent of respondents said they felt happy most of the time.
Rates of sadness and loneliness have also declined. In 2024, 34 percent of respondents said they frequently felt sad (down from 41 percent), while 29 percent reported feeling lonely (down from 33 percent). According to researchers, this shift may reflect successful integration, adaptation to new countries, and growing stability in the labor market. “The initial shock of emigration has gradually been replaced by stabilization and a search for new meaning in life abroad,” OutRush researchers wrote.
“A successful adaptation often depends on whether someone has managed to gain a foothold in the local or international job market, and what their prospects are for legal residency,” a sociologist with the project told Meduza. Those working in IT or academia tend to adapt more easily. In these sectors, emigrants are more likely to secure formal employment and navigate residency paperwork. “People with in-demand skills are better positioned to invest in integration — learning the local language, engaging with the culture,” the researcher explained. “By contrast, others often report that they’re focused on acquiring marketable skills rather than immersing themselves in language learning.”
Even while adapting to life abroad, Russian emigrants remain closely engaged with events back home. Eighty-two percent get their news from independent Russian media. Thirty-nine percent follow English-language outlets, and 24 percent consume media in the language of their host country. Just five percent said they don’t follow the news at all, while the same percentage said they rely on Russian state media.
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This strong interest in news has been accompanied by continued political engagement — though levels of protest activity have declined. In March 2024, 41 percent of Russian emigrants voted in the presidential election, despite long lines and, in many cases, having to travel to another city to cast their ballot.
Compared to the May–July 2023 period, overall civic engagement among Russians abroad has decreased. This includes volunteering, signing petitions, donating to NGOs, and taking part in protests — all of which became less common by the July–November 2024 period. For instance, the share of respondents who signed petitions or public statements dropped by more than half, from 34.4 percent to 15.9 percent. Participation in protests also fell. But researchers offered an important caveat: a significant share of Russian emigrants continue to live in countries where political activity may carry serious risks.
Settling in, but language learning lags in certain countries
Sixty-one percent of Russians surveyed say they are learning the language of their host country — particularly those living in Europe and Latin America. Knowledge of local languages remains lowest in Serbia, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.
Trust in local residents is relatively high: 80 percent of Russian emigrants say they trust people in their host country. Nearly half (46 percent) report having at least three close local acquaintances. Still, most Russian emigrants remain socially embedded in Russian-speaking circles. Seventy-seven percent said they primarily communicate with fellow Russian speakers. Just 15.5 percent mainly communicate with locals, and only 7.5 percent mostly with migrants from other countries.
Sociologists at OutRush suggest that Russian-speaking communities can help migrants cope with stress, build social capital among compatriots, and gradually ease into new social structures. These tight-knit networks, researchers note, are also a sign of mutual solidarity among Russian emigrants.
Only 13 percent of Russian emigrants say they speak the local language fluently. Twenty percent are studying it intensively, while another 14 percent are learning it intermittently. In general, emigrants tend to prioritize learning English over the language of their host country.
Meanwhile, concerns over legal status have slightly declined. The share of respondents who consider their residency status unstable fell by five percentage points — from 59 percent to 54 percent.
Even as they settle into new countries, Russian emigrants continue to maintain strong ties to home. Ninety percent stay in regular contact with relatives in Russia, although there’s been a slight decline in the number who say they discuss politics with their families. Travel back to Russia is also becoming more common: nearly one in four emigrants visited the country in 2024, up from 13 percent in 2023. Another 24 percent say they plan to visit in the future. Men are significantly less likely to travel to Russia, likely due to the risk of mobilization.
Environmental issues weigh on emigrants’ minds
Fifty-nine percent of OutRush respondents say they’re worried about global environmental issues. Thirty-five percent report concern about environmental problems in their host countries, and 23 percent are concerned about conditions in Russia.
Among all respondents, those living in Serbia were the most concerned about local environmental problems — nearly half said the situation worried them. OutRush researchers suggest this may be linked to emigrants’ long-term plans to stay in the country.
“The situation [in Serbia] is very difficult,” said one Russian living there. “I’m not even talking about landfills or the lack of recycling, but about household heating — people burn anything they can: coal at best, but often plastic and bottles. [...] On top of that, several huge factories operate with outdated equipment, violating safety standards.”
Russian emigrants in Germany and Spain are the most worried about the global environment, with 65 percent and 64 percent, respectively, expressing concern — levels comparable to those of local populations. Women were more likely than men to report concern about the environment: 66 percent of women surveyed versus 54 percent of men.
Despite generally high approval ratings for host country governments, just seven percent of respondents said they trust those governments on environmental issues.
Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of respondents said environmental protection should take precedence over economic growth. Here too, researchers noted a gender gap: 71 percent of women agreed with that view, compared to 57 percent of men. Just 17 percent supported prioritizing the economy. Researchers believe that Russian emigrants show levels of environmental awareness on par with people in many other countries.
