In 2025, European Union countries granted protection status to just over 360,000 asylum seekers. According to Eurostat, the European statistics agency, this represents a fall of 18 per cent.
The previous year, the figure stood at almost 438,000. 51 per cent were granted refugee status, 25 per cent humanitarian status and 24 per cent subsidiary protection. Of these, Germany granted the most asylum (103,360), ahead of Spain and France, together accounting for around 70 per cent of the total in the EU. Afghans made up the largest group at 27 per cent, followed by people from Venezuela (16 per cent), Syria and Ukraine (5 per cent each).
Appeals by Syrians often successful
In 2025, 832,360 first-instance decisions on asylum applications and a further 170,175 final decisions following an appeal or review were made in the EU. According to Eurostat, the recognition rate for asylum applications at first instance was 39 per cent. A further 21 per cent were added in final decisions. Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis were particularly successful.
Further information:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20260424-1?etrans=de
https://www.integrationsbeauftragte.de/ib-de/ich-moechte-mehr-wissen-ueber/flucht-und-asyl/formen-des-fluechtlingsschutzes-1865022
https://tuenews.de/schutzquote-fuer-asylsuchende-2025-gesunken/
https://tuenews.de/asylverfahren-an-gerichten-in-baden-wuerttemberg-stark-angestiegen/
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