EU received over 80 600 asylum applications in July 2023

In July 2023, 80 665 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, indicating a 20% increase compared with July 2022 (67 315). 

There were also 5 225 subsequent applicants, representing an 11% decrease compared with July 2022 (5 900).

This information comes from the monthly asylum data published by Eurostat today. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article on monthly asylum statistics.
 

Source dataset: migr_asyappctzm 

Syrian nationals: largest group of asylum-seekers

As in previous months, in July 2023, Syrians were the largest group of people seeking asylum (14 835 first-time applicants). They were followed by Afghans (8 105), ahead of Turks (5 905), Venezuelans (4 950) and Colombians (4 600). 

Germany, Spain and France received 59% of all first-time asylum applicants

Similarly to previous months, in July 2023, Germany (25 105), Spain (11 945) and France (10 605) continued to receive the highest number of first-time asylum applicants, accounting for 59% of all first-time applicants in the EU.

In July 2023, the EU total of first-time asylum applicants was 18.0 per hundred thousand people. Compared with the population of each EU country (on 1 January 2023), the highest rate of registered first-time applicants in July 2023 was recorded in Cyprus (99.7 applicants per hundred thousand people), ahead of Austria (57.4). By contrast, the lowest rate was observed in Hungary (0.0).

3 790 unaccompanied minors applying for asylum in EU countries
 

Source dataset: migr_asyumactm

In July 2023, 3 790 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in the EU, mostly from Afghanistan (1 205) and Syria (1 190).

The EU countries which received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors in July 2023 were Germany (1 065), ahead of Austria (755), the Netherlands (575) and Bulgaria (470).