The asylumtrends for 2011 can be summarised as follows:

- Increased number of asylum applications

In 2011, 25,479 asylum applications were registered in Belgium, which is more then 30.000 persons who have applied for asylum in Belgium. This corresponds to an increase of 27.8 % compared to 2010 and the highest  figure since 2001.  The number of these subsequent applications has increased compared to 2010 and about 20% of the asylum applications is not a first application. 

In 2011, the main countries of origin of asylum applicants were the following: Afghanistan, Guinea, Iraq, Russia and Kosovo. The Balkans were also well represeted in the top 10 of countries of origin in 2011 with Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia and Albania .

- Decisions CGRS

The CGRS made 16,828 asylum decisions in 2011, which is a significant increase compared to previous years. For almost one out of four asylum applications (23.5%), the CGRS concluded that the applicant was in need of protection: 17% of decisions made in 2011 were decisions to grant refugee status and 6.5% were decisions to grant subsidiary protection.

The complete comments of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons on the asylum statistics for 2011 can be found on the website of the CGRS.