Ukrainian Refugees Already Improving Slovakia, Says Sociologist Amid Demographic Crisis

Slovakia must accept that its birth rate will likely not increase significantly and consider migration as a solution to its demographic crisis, according to sociologist Elena Gallo Kriglerová, director of the Centre for Research of Ethnicity and Culture. Kriglerová argues that people from Ukraine are already contributing positively to Slovak society and that the country needs to seriously consider how to accept, receive, and manage migration effectively. Slovakia, like many Central European nations, faces an aging population and declining birth rates that threaten long-term economic sustainability. The arrival of Ukrainian refugees following Russia's invasion has brought this demographic challenge into sharper focus, with experts suggesting that well-managed integration of migrants could help offset Slovakia's shrinking workforce and support its social security system.