Almost 1 million asylum applications in the EU+ in 2022
New analysis released by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) estimates that, in 2022, around 966 000 applications for asylum were lodged in EU+ countries. The largest applicant groups were Syrians, Afghans and Turks, but applications were also high for a wide range of other nationalities.
In a press release published today, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) highlighted the following key findings:
- EU+ countries received some 966 000 asylum applications in 2022, up by around half from 2021 and the most since 2016.
- Around 4 million persons fleeing Ukraine registered for temporary protection in EU+ countries, without having to undergo an asylum procedure.
- The largest groups of asylum applicants were Syrians, Afghans, Turks, Venezuelans and Colombians. The latter three, as for many other citizenships, applied in record numbers.
- Some 43 000 applicants claimed to be unaccompanied minors, the most since 2015.
- EU+ asylum authorities issued some 632 000 first instance decisions in 2022. The gap between decisions issued and applications lodged was the widest since 2015.
- As a result, cases pending at first instance increased by 44 % to 636 000 at the end of 2022.
- The EU+ recognition rate was 40 % in 2022. Recognition rates were especially high for Syrians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Eritreans, Yemenis and Malians.
For further details, please read the full UEAA press release here.