The European Union’s asylum agency released its yearly report on asylum statistics within the 27-member bloc, along with Norway and Switzerland. According to international law, individuals fleeing conflict or persecution are entitled to seek asylum. However, those escaping poverty or seeking better job opportunities typically face rejected applications.
In 2024, over 1 million asylum applications were submitted across the EU, Norway, and Switzerland. While this figure was 11% lower than the year prior, Germany remained the top destination, receiving 237,000 requests, despite a 29% decline in applications from the previous year. Migration was a significant issue in Germany’s recent elections, leading to notable successes for the far-right and public demonstrations against stricter border policies. Following Germany in application numbers were Spain, Italy, and France, each with around 160,000 requests. Cyprus and Greece saw the highest applications per capita, with one application per 140 residents.
Syrians represented the largest group of asylum seekers, submitting 151,000 applications, making up 15% of the total. Despite this, Syrian application numbers dipped as the country saw political shifts with the fall of former President Bashar Assad in late 2024, which allowed millions who had fled to begin returning. While some Syrians have returned from neighboring areas and withdrawn their asylum claims, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees cautioned that continued poor conditions might prevent many from staying in Syria. Afghans and Venezuelans were also predominant groups among asylum seekers, filing approximately 87,000 and 74,000 applications, respectively.
Additionally, 4.4 million Ukrainians remain under the EU’s “temporary protection” program, outside of regular asylum figures. Most are residing in Germany and Poland. This special mechanism was first deployed in 2022 in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, marking its third anniversary now with continued extensions. Under this directive, Ukrainians can live, work, study, and access medical care in the EU for limited durations without the need for asylum applications. Last year, around 27,000 Ukrainians sought permanent refugee status, a 90% increase from 2023, with half of these applications submitted in France.
Overall, 42% of first-time asylum applicants were granted status or protection, a stable rate compared to the previous year but one that varied significantly between nationalities. For instance, 90% of Syrian claims were approved, whereas 96% of Bangladeshi asylum seekers faced rejection. Nearly 981,000 cases await an initial decision, marking the most significant backlog since the 2016 refugee crisis when systems were severely strained.
