Asylum Applications in EU Drop by Nearly 25% in August 2024

In August 2024, the European Union recorded 69,270 first-time asylum applications from non-EU citizens, marking a significant 24.8% decrease compared to August 2023, when 92,055 applications were filed. Additionally, there were 6,285 subsequent applications, showing a slight 4.6% increase from the 6,010 recorded in the same period last year, according to Eurostat's latest data.

Syrians, Afghans, and Venezuelans continued to make up the majority of applicants, with 13,340, 5,605, and 4,690 first-time applications respectively. Germany received the largest share of applications, with 18,425 individuals seeking asylum, followed by Spain (10,580), France (10,035), and Italy (9,620). Together, these four countries accounted for 70% of all first-time asylum applications in the EU.

On a per capita basis, Greece saw the highest rate of first-time asylum seekers, with 59.9 applicants per 100,000 people, followed by Ireland at 31.5 per 100,000.

Among unaccompanied minors, 2,980 first-time applications were filed in August, with the majority coming from Syria (1,090), Afghanistan (360), Egypt (275), and Somalia (225). Germany led in receiving asylum applications from unaccompanied minors, with 715 applicants, followed by Bulgaria (480), the Netherlands (440), Greece (365), and Belgium (230).