A significant decline in asylum applications in the European Union in 2025
A new report from the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA) states that the number of asylum applications submitted in Europe in 2025 saw a significant decrease, with approximately 822,000 applications registered in the 27 EU countries plus Norway and Switzerland, representing a decrease of about 19% compared to 2024.
The agency explained that this significant decline is primarily due to a decrease in applications from citizens of several countries, such as Syria (which fell to approximately 42,000 applications compared to 151,000 in 2024), as well as a drop in applications from Bangladesh and Turkey. The figures also showed an increase in applications from Afghanistan (117,000) and Venezuela (91,000), partly attributed to changes in immigration policies and restrictions imposed by countries such as the United States and neighboring Latin American nations.
At the country level, Germany ranked first in terms of the number of asylum applications, with approximately 163,000, despite a decrease of about 31% compared to the previous year. Spain, Italy, Greece, and France followed, maintaining relatively stable numbers. These five countries together account for roughly 80% of all asylum applications in Europe.
According to the report, Austria ranked ninth among EU countries in terms of the number of asylum applications, with a total of 16,294 applications. Afghan and Syrian nationals comprised the largest group of asylum seekers in Austria. The report also noted that the number of people granted temporary protection is sometimes used as a benchmark for comparing countries, placing Austria fourteenth in terms of the number of people granted temporary protection per million inhabitants.
EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner confirmed that this decrease demonstrates that changes in European migration and asylum policies are having a tangible impact, stressing the importance of strengthening the unified European asylum system and ensuring that those who actually deserve protection receive it.