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The number of asylum applications received in the EU+ decreased by over one tenth (11 %) in 2024, with applications from Syrians, Afghans and Turks all decreasing significantly. While Germany continued to receive the most applications in the EU+, these were down by one third last year. Cyprus continued to receive the most applications per capita. In 2024, almost half of all received applications (48 %) were from citizenships for which the recognition rate is low (≤ 20 %).

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has just published its annual analysis of asylum trends in 2024. Some 1 014 000 asylum applications were received in the EU+1, an 11 % decrease year-over-year. Several of the main citizenships of asylum applicants in the EU+ each recorded a significant decrease in 2024. Applications from Syrians (151 000), Afghans (87 000), and Turks (56 000), each decreased by 17 %, 24 % and 45 %, respectively, compared to 2023.

Latin American citizenships also recorded notable changes in protection requests in 2024. Venezuelans (74 000) lodged a record number of applications, up by around a tenth (9 %) compared to 2023; while applications from Colombians (52 000) decreased by almost a fifth (- 18 %) in 2024. Taken together, not only did these two nationalities account for a majority of all visa-free applicants in the EU+, they also represented over three fifths of applicants in Spain. After a surge of boat arrivals in the Canary Islands, Malians (17 000) and Senegalese (14 000) both lodged more than twice as many applications in the EU+, compared to 2023.

Changing trends in key receiving EU+ countries

In 2024, Germany (237 000) again received the most asylum applications in the EU+, though the number was a third lower (- 29 %), year-over-year. While Spain (166 000), Italy (159 000) and France (159 000) received rather similar numbers of asylum applications in 2024, at around 16 % of the EU+ total, each; these Member States were faced with new dynamics. For example, Peruvians (27 000), who continued to lodge significant numbers of applications in the EU+, shifted to applying mostly in Italy in 2024, where they became the 2nd most populous citizenship.

However, the number of asylum applications received does not convey the full measure of protection needs in the EU+. In December 2024, around 4.4 million persons displaced from the Russian invasion of Ukraine were receiving temporary protection. Ukrainians (27 000) lodged significantly more asylum applications in 2024 in the EU+, up by 90 % compared to 2023; half did so in France and one quarter in Poland. The number of Ukrainian applications received in 2024 was reminiscent of initial figures in 2022, after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began.

Evaluating which EU+ countries receive the most applications for asylum is important, but a simple like-for-like comparison is not always appropriate because their asylum and reception capacities can vary. Cyprus (6 800) has long been the recipient of the most applications per capita. By the end of 2024, Greece (74 000) received the 2nd most applications per capita. In 2024, both countries received around 1 application for every 140 residents.

State of decision-taking on international protection

In 2024, the EU+ recognition rate remained stable at 42 %, though this aggregate figure masks significant variations across nationalities and a tendency to grant subsidiary protection, rather than refugee status.

The Syrian recognition rate has been above 90% for most of the last two years. However, while recognition rates for Syrians remained relatively aligned among decision-making countries including Greece (90 %), Germany (92 %), and Austria (95 %), there was significant variation in the type of protection granted.

On the other hand, the Afghan recognition rate stood at 63 % at EU+ level, and there was significant variation across EU+ countries including Belgium (39 %), Germany (41 %), France (67 %), Austria (76%), Switzerland (90 %), and Greece (98 %). However, EU+ countries tended to grant refugee status more often than subsidiary protection.

The EUAA notes that in 2024 almost half of all applications received (48 %) were from citizenships for which the recognition rate is low (≤ 20 %).2 Citizenships in this group included Bangladeshi, Moroccan and Tunisian nationals. The future Asylum Procedure Regulation3 provides that applications from applicants from countries with a low recognition rate should be subjected to an accelerated examination procedure, and to an asylum border procedure when the relevant conditions are met.

• 1

  EUAA EPS data are preliminary andmight differ from validated official statistics submitted to Eurostat at a later stage. The total EPS numbers include an approximation for one EU+ country and may change after data updates.

• 2

  Nearly 200 citizenships were issued asylum decisions in 2024. Of these, 65 citizenships were issued at least 1 000 decisions and, among them, 37 had recognition rates of ≤ 20 %.

• 3

  Regulation (EU) 2024/1348, which becomes applicable on 12 June 2026, requires Member States to accelerate the examination of some cases including inter alia those from low recognition rate countries. Applications lodged before then will be examined under the rules of Directive 2013/32/EU.