76 695 asylum applications in April 2024 in EU

In April 2024, 76 695 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, a 12% increase compared with April 2023 (68 535). 

There were also 7 260 subsequent applicants, representing a 26% increase compared with April 2023 (5 750).

This information comes from the monthly asylum data published by Eurostat today. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article on monthly asylum statistics.

Syrians, Venezuelans and Afghans remain the largest groups of asylum seekers

In April 2024, Syrians remained the largest group of people seeking asylum (12 075 first-time applicants). They were followed by Venezuelans (6 125) and Afghans (5 610). 

Germany, Spain, Italy and France receive 76% of all first-time applicants

Germany (18 585), Spain (15 430), Italy (13 485) and France (10 505) continued to receive the highest number of first-time asylum applicants, accounting for 76% of all first-time applicants in the EU.

In April 2024, the EU total of first-time asylum applicants was 17.1 per hundred thousand people.

Compared with the population of each EU country (on 1 January 2024), the highest rates of first-time applicants were recorded in Cyprus (163.6), followed by Ireland (37.9), Greece (36) and Spain (31.7).

2 790 unaccompanied minors applying for asylum 

In April 2024, 2 790 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in the EU, with most of them coming from Syria (935) and Afghanistan (405).