The numbers
Estimates of how many people have left Russia since February 2022 vary widely — from 500,000 to over a million, depending on the source and methodology. What is clear is that it represents the largest wave of Russian emigration since the 1917 revolution.
Top destinations (estimated, cumulative 2022–2026)
| Country | Estimated arrivals | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 80,000–120,000 | Visa-free entry; many have since moved on |
| Armenia | 60,000–100,000 | Strong IT sector draw; visa-free |
| Turkey | 70,000–90,000 | Visa-free; Istanbul and Antalya hubs |
| Germany | 40,000–60,000 | Berlin largest single-city concentration in EU |
| Israel | 30,000–50,000 | Right of return for eligible emigrants |
| UAE | 25,000–40,000 | Dubai as business relocation hub |
| UK | 15,000–25,000 | Visa restrictions limit numbers |
| USA | 15,000–20,000 | Concentrated in NYC and Bay Area |
Who left?
The emigration is not representative of Russian society as a whole. It skews heavily toward:
- Age: 25–45 (working age, mobile, digitally connected)
- Education: Disproportionately university-educated
- Sector: IT, media, academia, creative industries
- Politics: Overwhelmingly anti-war, though not necessarily politically active before 2022
The people who left are not Russia's poor or its pensioners. They are its middle class, its entrepreneurs, its future. That is the regime's real loss.
What the numbers miss
The map of the diaspora is not static. Many people have moved two or three times since leaving — from Georgia to Germany, from Turkey to Portugal, from Armenia to the UK. Each move changes the community, the support networks, and the sense of belonging.