The statistics for May 2013 show the following trends:

• In May 2013, 1.202 asylum applications were lodged in Belgium, which is a decrease compared to previous month (April 2013: 1.246 applications) and a significant decrease compared to the same month of last year (May 2012: 1.785 applications).

• The main countries of origin for May 2013 were  DR Congo (8,8% of the total number of applications for May 2013), Afghanistan (8,5%), Russia (7,9%), Kosovo (6,5%), Syria (5%), and Kosovo (5,3%). Guinee, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and China complete the top 10 of countries of origin.

• In May 1.482 asylum decisions were taken by the CGRS, granting the refugee status in 238 cases. In 209 cases subsidairy protection was granted.

• The number of subsequent asylum applications remains high (420 cases, or 35% of the total for May).

• The total caseload of the CGRS is gradually declining since April 2012 and is now reduced to 9.636 cases.

Notes:

These CGRS-statistics reflect cases and not persons. (Eurostat = persons)
These statistics can also be consulted on the website of the CGRS, where the statistics of previous months and years are also available.