Asylum applications - annual statistics

Data extracted on 16 March 2026.

Planned article update: March 2027.

Highlights

In 2025, 669 365 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, down by 27% compared with 2024.

Venezuelan, Afghan and Syrian were the top citizenships of asylum seekers in the EU in 2025.

Spain, Italy, France and Germany were the main countries of destination for first-time asylum applicants in the EU in 2025.

This article outlines recent developments in relation to the number of asylum applicants in the European Union (EU). Asylum is a form of international protection given by a state on its territory. It is granted to a person who is unable to seek protection in their country of citizenship and/or residence, in particular for fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.

Main trends in the number of asylum applicants

In 2025, 669 365 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, down by 26.6% compared with 2024 (912 425) (Figure 1).

First-time asylum applicants accounted for a large majority (83.9%) of the total number of asylum applicants in the EU (797 760) recorded in 2025.

Additionally, there were 127 340 subsequent asylum applicants recorded across the EU countries in 2025, up 51.3% when compared with 2024 (84 160).

Figure 1

In 2025, more males than females sought asylum in EU countries (Figure 2).

Men aged 18-34 years accounted for 36.2% of the total number of first-time applicants. The proportions of boys and girls aged less than 14 years were similar (respectively 50.9% and 49.1%). By contrast, there were more boys (69.5%) than girls (30.5%) for children aged 14-17 years.

Figure 2

Where do asylum seekers make their application?

With 141 035 first-time asylum applicants registered in 2025, Spain was the EU country with the highest number of applicants, accounting for 21.1% of all first-time applicants in the EU. Italy came second (126 635, 18.9%), followed by France (116 370, 17.4%), Germany (113 170, 16.9%), and Greece (55 380, 8.3%). These 5 EU countries together accounted for 82.6% of all first-time asylum applicants in the EU last year.

Compared with 2024, the number of first-time asylum applicants decreased in 24 EU countries, with the 3 largest absolute decreases observed in Germany (-116 525 applicants, or 50.7% less), Italy (-24 485 applicants, or 16.2% less) and Spain (-24 400 applicants, or 14.7% less). Among the 3 EU countries that registered increases, the highest increase was observed in Latvia (+490 applicants, or 61.3% more).

Figure 3

Compared with the population of each EU country (as of 1 January 2025), the highest number of registered first-time asylum applicants in 2025 was recorded in Greece (5.3 first-time applicants per 1 000 people), followed by Cyprus and Spain (each 2.9), Luxembourg (2.6) and Ireland (2.4).

In 2025, there were 1.5 first-time asylum applicants per 1 000 people in the EU.

Where do asylum seekers come from?

In 2025, Venezuela overtook Syria, which was the main country of citizenship of asylum seekers in the EU since 2013. Venezuelans lodged 89 455 first-time applications (13.4% of the total number of first-time applications in the EU), followed by Afghanistan with 63 830 applications (9.5% of the EU total). Syria ranked third with 39 985 applications (6.0%), followed by applicants from Bangladesh (5.3%, 35 300 applications), and Türkiye (3.6%, 24 205 applications).

Among the 15 most common citizenships of first-time asylum applicants in the EU in 2025, the number of asylum seekers increased for 4 of them. The largest absolute increase compared with 2024 was observed for Venezuelans (+16 525, or 22.7% more). In contrast, the number of asylum seekers decreased the most for citizens of Syria (-108 175, or 73.0% less), Colombia (-29 480, or 58.6% less) and Türkiye (-22 625, or 48.3% less).

Figure 4

In 2025, Syrian was the main citizenship of asylum seekers in 6 EU countries (Table 1). The citizens of Ukraine and Afghanistan were the main group of asylum seekers in 4 EU countries.

The largest number of Venezuelans was registered in Spain (94.2% of all Venezuelan asylum seekers in the EU). For Bangladeshis, the vast majority was registered in Italy (77.8%). The largest numbers of Syrians and Afghans were registered in Germany (58.2% and 37.6% respectively).

For more information on first-time asylum applicants, by country of citizenship and by receiving countries, explore our interactive visualisation (First-time asylum applicants).

Applications by unaccompanied minors

In 2025, 21 125 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in the EU, a decrease of 38.9% compared to 2024 (34 595) (Figure 5).

The EU countries that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors were Germany (4 925, 23.3% of the total), the Netherlands (3 615, 17.1%), Spain (3 210, 15.2%), Greece (3 030, 14.3%) and Belgium (1 615, 7.6%).

Compared with 2024, the number of unaccompanied minors decreased in 18 EU countries, with the 3 largest absolute decreases observed in Germany (-8 420 applicants, or 63.1% less), Bulgaria (-2 030 applicants, or 78.1% less) and Greece (-1 640 applicants, or 35.1% less). Among the 5 EU countries that registered increases, the highest increase was observed in Spain (+21 300 applicants, or 252.7% more).

Figure 5

In 2025, Afghans were the largest group of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the EU (2 690 applicants, 12.7% of the total number). They were followed by Eritreans (2 345, 11.1%), ahead of applicants from Syria (2 330, 11.0%), Egypt (2 295, 10.9%) and Somalia (2 290, 10.8%) (Figure 6).

Figure 6

Applications under the accelerated procedure

In 2025, there were 124 150 asylum applications under the accelerated procedure in EU countries, an increase of 21.1% compared with 2024 (102 535) (Figure 7).

The largest number of asylum applications under an accelerated procedure in 2025 was recorded in France (56 790), followed by Italy (43 755) and, at a distance, Greece (13 200).

Figure 7

Applicants receiving material reception conditions at the end of the year

According to the latest available data, there were 573 890 applicants receiving material reception conditions at the end of 2024 in the EU.

Among the EU countries, the largest number of applicants receiving material reception conditions was registered in France (137 445) and Italy (129 635) (Figure 8).

Figure 8

Pending applications at the end of the year

At the end of December 2025, 1 219 390 applications for international protection in EU countries were under consideration by national authorities, a decrease of 2.2% compared to December 2024 (1 247 100) (Figure 9).

Germany continued to have the highest number of pending applications (306 590, or 25.1% of the EU total), ahead of Spain (248 740, or 20.4%), Italy (234 165, or 19.2%) and France (153 090, or 12.6%). These 4 EU countries together accounted for 77.3% of all pending applications in the EU at the end of 2025.

Figure 9

Withdrawn asylum applications

In 2025, 103 595 asylum applications were withdrawn across the EU countries (Figure 10). The largest number of withdrawals was registered in Germany (20 175), followed by Spain (17 590) and Croatia (17 330).

A distinction is made between explicit withdrawal, when the applicant formally withdraws their application and informs the authorities, and implicit withdrawal, when the authorities close the case because the application is considered abandoned.

In most EU countries, the majority of withdrawals were implicit, with the highest shares observed in Austria and Hungary (each 100.0%), Spain (99.1%), Croatia (98.5%), Slovenia (97.6%) and Greece (94.2%). In contrast, most explicit withdrawals were observed in Estonia (100.0%), Ireland (90.5%) and France (87.0%).

Figure 10

Source data for tables

Asylum applications - annual statistics: Table 1

Data sources

Eurostat produces statistics on a range of issues relating to international migration. Between 1986 and 2007, data on asylum was collected on the basis of a gentlemen’s agreement. Since 2008 data have been provided to Eurostat under the provisions of Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007.

Data for statistics on asylum applications, including applications by unaccompanied minors are provided to Eurostat with a monthly frequency. The statistics are based on administrative sources and are provided to Eurostat by statistical authorities, ministries of the interior or related immigration agencies in the EU countries.

Asylum applicants mean asylum seekers who have lodged a claim (asylum application) and whose claim is under consideration by the relevant authority.

Annual aggregated data on asylum applicants are computed from monthly data. Annual aggregated data on first-time unaccompanied minor asylum applicants are computed from monthly data and refer to minors according to the age claimed by applicant at the time of application. This number is different from the statistics on asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors after the age assessment procedure has been completed.

Limitations on data availability affecting the information presented in this article:

2021 to 2023 data on subsequent applicants for Cyprus not available due to derogations.
2025 data on first-time and subsequent asylum applicants are provisional for Spain and not available for Iceland.
2024 and 2025 data on unaccompanied minors are not available for Poland and Switzerland and provisional for Spain.
2025 data on asylum applications under the accelerated procedure are provisional for Spain and not available for Iceland.
2023 data on asylum applicants having benefited from material reception conditions at the end of the reference year are not available for Germany and Romania not available due to derogations. 2023 and 2024 data are of low reliability for Switzerland. 2024 data not available for Germany and are provisional for Spain.
2025 data on pending applications are provisional for Spain, of low reliability for Italy and not available for Iceland.
2025 data on asylum applications withdrawn by type of withdrawal are provisional for Spain and not available for Iceland.

The article presents statistical information on third-country nationals, meaning non-EU citizens (including stateless persons), seeking asylum in the EU and other European countries. Data presented in this publication are rounded to the nearest five. Calculations were performed using rounded numbers.

Context

The 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the status of refugees (as amended by the 1967 New York Protocol) has, for over 70 years, defined who is a refugee, and laid down a common approach towards refugees, which has been one of the cornerstones for the development of a common asylum system within the EU. Since 1999, the EU has worked towards creating a common European asylum regime in accordance with the Geneva Convention and other applicable international instruments. The Directorate-General Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) is responsible for developing EU policies on asylum.

The Pact on Migration and Asylum was adopted by the European Parliament in April 2024 and by the Council in May 2024. This Pact provides a comprehensive approach that delivers a common European response to migration. It allows the EU to manage migration in a fair and sustainable way, ensuring solidarity between countries while also providing certainty and clarity for people arriving in the EU and protecting their fundamental rights. The Pact on Migration and Asylum will ensure that countries share the effort responsibly, showing solidarity with the ones that protect our external borders and with those facing particular migratory pressure, while preventing irregular migration to the EU. The Pact also gives the EU and its countries the tools to react rapidly in situations of crisis, when countries are faced with large numbers of arrivals or when a third-country or non-State entity tries to instrumentalise migrants in order to destabilise our Union.

The main legal instruments on asylum are:

Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 (AMMR) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on asylum and migration management, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1147 and (EU) 2021/1060 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 604/2013;

Asylum Procedure Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a common procedure for international protection in the Union and repealing Directive 2013/32/EU;

Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation (EU) 2024/1359 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 addressing situations of crisis and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147;

Eurodac Regulation (EU) 2024/1358 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on the establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of biometric data in order to effectively apply Regulations (EU) 2024/1351 and (EU) 2024/1350 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 2001/55/EC and to identify illegally staying third-country nationals and stateless persons and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by EU countries’ law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes, amending Regulations (EU) 2018/1240 and (EU) 2019/818 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council;

Screening Regulation (EU) 2024/1356 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 introducing the screening of third-country nationals at the external borders and amending Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240 and (EU) 2019/817;

Qualification Regulation (EU) 2024/1347 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection and for the content of the protection granted, amending Council Directive 2003/109/EC and repealing Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council;

Reception Conditions Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection;

Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation (EU) 2024/1350 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147.

In May 2010, the European Commission presented an action plan for unaccompanied minors (COM(2010) 213 final), who are regarded as the most exposed and vulnerable victims of migration. This plan aims to set up a coordinated approach and commits all EU countries to grant high standards of reception, protection and integration for unaccompanied minors. In December 2011, the European Commission adopted a Communication on 'Enhanced intra-EU solidarity in the field of asylum' (COM(2011) 835 final). This provided proposals to reinforce practical, technical and financial cooperation, moving towards a better allocation of responsibilities and improved governance of the asylum system in the EU, namely through:

introducing an evaluation and early warning mechanism to detect and address emerging problems;
making the supporting role of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) more effective;
increasing the amount of funds available and making these more flexible, taking into account significant fluctuations in the number of asylum seekers;
developing and encouraging the relocation of beneficiaries of international protection between different EU countries.