4.13.2. Data on statelessness

According to UNHCR’s Global Appeal 2022 Update, there are an estimated 483,000 stateless persons in Europe.1042 Based on Eurostat data, EU+ countries^xliii have received approximately 78,500 applications for international protection by stateless persons over the last decade, from 2012 to 2021 (see Figure 4.22).

The share of applications by stateless persons in the overall total number increased in EU+ countries from 2012 to 2014, representing approximately 1% to 2.6% of all applications. Since 2015, the trend reversed and the share continued to decline, with stateless persons accounting for 0.4% of all applications in 2021.

The share of positive decisions^xliv on asylum applications at first instance, or the recognition rate, for stateless persons in EU+ countries is generally high. But there has been a decreasing trend since 2014, with an 86% recognition rate in 2014 compared to 55% in 2021.

In addition, the recognition rate for applicants registered as of ‘unknown’ nationality was consistently and significantly lower than for applicants registered as ‘stateless’ from 2012 to 2019, while for 2020 and 2021 it was higher (62% for ‘unknown’ compared to 56% for ‘stateless’ in 2020; and 60% compared to 55% in 2021).

Approximately 78,500 applications for international protection were lodged by stateless persons in EU+ countries over the last decade

Figure 4.22. Number of applications lodged by stateless persons in EU+ countries, 2012-2021 — Source: Eurostat [migr_asyappctza] as of 22 April 2022.

1042United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2022). Global Appeal 2022.https://reporting.unhcr.org/globalappeal2022#_ga=2.263552974.355882060…

_{____}

_{Footnotes
xliii EU 27 and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
xliv Only EU-harmonised statuses (i.e. refugee and subsidiary protection) are included as positive decisions. For more information on how recognition rates are calculated see Section 4.14.1}