EU Sees Significant Drop in Asylum Seekers in 2024
EU Sees Drop in Asylum Applications and Temporary Protection in 2024 and Early 2025
Recent data from Eurostat reveals a significant decline in asylum applications across the European Union. In 2024, the EU recorded a notably lower number of people seeking international protection compared to previous years, reflecting a broader trend of reduced migration pressure.
Drop in Temporary Protection for Ukrainians
While asylum figures declined, temporary protection was still extended to a substantial number of individuals fleeing the war in Ukraine. In total, 780,280 Ukrainians were granted temporary protection in 2024. However, this marks a 26.1% decrease from the previous year.
Countries with the Highest Asylum Application Rates in 2024
In terms of asylum applications per 1,000 inhabitants, Cyprus topped the list in 2024 with 7.2 applications, followed by Greece (6.6), Ireland (3.4), and Spain (3.4). These countries experienced the highest relative influx of asylum seekers within their populations.
On the temporary protection front, Czechia (7.1) and Slovakia (4.8) had the highest rates per 1,000 people, with Poland close behind at 4.5.
Top Nationalities Seeking Asylum in 2024
The leading nationality among asylum seekers in 2024 was Syrians, accounting for 148,185 first-time applications, or 16.2% of all EU applicants. Other major nationalities included:
- Venezuelans – 72,790 applicants (8%)
- Afghans – 72,240 (7.9%)
- Colombians – 50,320 (5.5%)
- Turkish citizens – 46,840 (5.1%)
Asylum Approval Rates by Nationality
Approval rates varied significantly by country of origin. Applicants from Colombia had the lowest first-instance protection rate, with only 7% receiving a positive decision. Other countries with low recognition rates included Georgia, Morocco, and Egypt (all under 20%).
In contrast, applicants from Palestine, Venezuela, Mali, and Ukraine saw much higher success rates, with recognition rates exceeding 50%.
Asylum and Protection Trends in Q1 2025
In the first quarter of 2025, EU countries registered a total of 183,809 first-time asylum seekers, marking a 23.5% drop from Q4 2024. Meanwhile, 136,113 people were granted temporary protection, showing a 30.9% increase in this category compared to the previous quarter.
Across the EU in 2024, there were 2.0 asylum applicants and 1.7 temporary protection decisions per 1,000 people—highlighting the shifting dynamics of migration and international protection in the region.
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