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4.14.1.2. Recognition rates for specific nationalities

4.14.1.2. Recognition rates for specific nationalities

icon for recognition rates on specific nationalities

Among the 20 nationalities receiving the most first instance decisions in 2021, Eritreans had the highest recognition rate at 81%. The high rates of acceptance have been the case for this group of applicants since 2015, ranging from 79% to 89%. This was followed by Syrians (71%), Afghans (64%) and Somalis (55%) (see Figure 4.23). For the remainder of the top nationalities, recognition rates remained relatively low. For example, nationals of Albania, Bangladesh, Colombia, Georgia, Morocco and Venezuela had recognition rates ranging from only 3%
to 8%.

Eritreans, Syrians and Afghans had the highest recognition rates  

Figure 4.23. First instance recognition rates in EU+ countries by nationality and status granted, 2021

Figure 4.13. Recognition rates

Note: These 20 nationalities received the highest number of first instance decisions issued in 2021 in EU+ countries. 
Source: Eurostat [migr_asydcfstq] as of 22 April 2022.

Among the top 20 nationalities, more than one-half of all positive decisions granted subsidiary protection to nationals of Albania, Pakistan, Ukraine and Venezuela. 

Outside the top 20 nationalities, recognition rates were notably high for nationals of Belarus (80%), Yemen (77%), Burundi (65%), Palestine (64%), China (51%), South Africa (50%), as well as stateless persons (55%). However, low recognition rates were more common, particularly for citizens of countries which are exempt from visa requirements to enter the EU. These comprised applicants from the vicinity of the EU, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as some Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.

In the specific case of Venezuelans, seven in every ten decisions granted humanitarian status, which permits them to remain in the EU but is not counted towards positive decisions in the recognition rate. Venezuelans in Spain alone accounted for over two-fifths (12,865) of all cases in which humanitarian status was granted in 2021 in EU+ countries.

Recognition rates have remained high for nationals of Yemen, although their rate has declined from a 92% peak in 2017. The share of positive decisions has also remained high for Syrian applicants, although the 71% recognition rate in 2021 was the lowest value in a decade. This may have been partially related to the unprecedented number of repeated applications lodged by Syrians in Germany, which are rejected as inadmissible if there is a lack of grounds for reopening the case.1084

Recognition rates have been increasing for Afghan nationals, from 31% in 2017 to 64% in 2021. If humanitarian protection were included in the calculation, the overall recognition rate for Afghans would increase to 72%. The climb was partially triggered by the fact that some EU+ countries temporarily suspended issuing negative decisions to Afghans in the context of the Taliban takeover (see In focus 3 on Afghanistan).1085  The political background also prompted the rise in recognition rates for Belarusian applicants, from 25% in 2020 to 80% in 2021. Afghans and Belarusians had the highest recognition rates in EU+ countries since at least 2008.