Asylum applications in the EU

1 129 795 non-EU citizens applied for asylum in the EU in 2023. On this page you will find information about:

• trends in the numbers of asylum seekers in the EU 
• countries of origin of asylum applicants
• number of applications per EU country

The figures include both first-time asylum applicants and subsequent applications.

Trend in asylum applications (1990-2023)

Asylum applications in the EU reached a peak in 2015 and 2016 and dropped thereafter. Between 2021 and 2023 there was a X% increase. 

Figures as of 2020 do not include applications made in the UK (following its withdrawal from the EU).

Countries of origin of asylum applicants (2023)

Syrians, Afghans, Turks and Venezuelans lodged the most applications for asylum, together accounting for almost xx% of all applications in the EU member states in 2023.

Since 2013, Syria has been the country of citizenship of the largest number of asylum seekers in the EU. In 2023, Syrians lodged xxx applications.

This chart shows only the countries with the highest numbers of applications (1 000 or more).

Number of first-time applications per EU country (2023)

In 2023, Germany received a quarter (25%) of asylum applications in the EU, followed by:

• France (16%)
• Spain (12%)
• Austria (11%)
• Italy (9%)

These five EU member states together received almost three quarters of all first-time asylum applications in the EU.

More information:

• Reform of EU asylum rules (background information)
• Asylum statistics (Eurostat)
• Latest asylum trends (EU agency for asylum)