Russians do not want to return to their homeland: eloquent statistics.

The relocation program for Russians has almost failed

The relocation program for Russians, under which Russian citizenship is offered to expatriates from the aggressor country living abroad, as well as their descendants, has almost failed. As reported by Russian media, in the first three quarters of 2023, within the framework of the program whose goal declared the "stabilization of the population of Russia," only 34,400 people were registered, according to a review by the Gaidar Institute citing data from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Who can become a participant in the relocation program

Participants of the program, which has been in effect since 2006, can be Russian citizens living abroad or their descendants ("who have made a free choice in favor of spiritual, cultural and legal connection with the Russian Federation, whose relatives in the direct ascending line previously lived on the territory of the Russian Federation"). The state provides them with tax benefits, as well as a free plot of land in the Far North, Siberia, and the Far East.

Fewer migrants from almost all countries

However, resettlement is possible not only in remote areas. In the past, program participants constituted a significant portion of the migration growth of Russia's permanent population, notes demographer Igor Efremov from the Gaidar Institute. But now the influx of migrants has decreased from almost all countries - Russia's main migration partners, he notes.

According to Rosstat, in three quarters, the net migration growth of Russia's population amounted to 88,600 people, which is 20% lower than in the same period a year earlier. "In the years preceding the Covid-19 pandemic, registered migration growth (calculated by a comparable methodology) for the same period averaged about 180,000 people. Thus, migration growth in the first half of 2023 decreased by about half compared to recent years," explained Efremov.

Increase in Russians traveling abroad

Recall that Russian citizens made 20% more trips abroad in the first nine months of 2023 than a year earlier. According to the statistics of the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia, 21 million trips abroad were recorded from January to September, whereas last year this figure did not exceed 17.4 million.

According to statistics, Russians most often prefer to travel to neighboring countries, as well as to Egypt, Turkey, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. This includes trips abroad for various purposes, such as tourism, business, private reasons, etc. Among European countries, only Finland remains a popular destination. Abkhazia also leads in the number of trips: in the first three quarters of 2023, 4.6 million Russians crossed the border with this country. China, which was not in the top ten last year, also entered the list of the most visited countries.