The European Union (extended to include the Schengen associated states) received 1.14 million asylum applications in 2023, reaching their highest level in seven years, according to the latest figures published on Wednesday 28 February by the European Union Agency for Asylum.
Syrians continued to lodge the largest number of applications, with Afghans remaining the second largest group of applicants, although their number of applications was significantly lower than the previous year.
There was also an increase in Palestinian applications towards the end of the year. Over the year as a whole, this represents an increase of 18% compared with 2022. Germany (334,000) continued to receive by far the largest number of applications in absolute terms, says the Agency. Cyprus (12,000) came under the most pressure relative to the size of its population.
The three countries receiving the most asylum applications in 2023 were France (14% of all applications), Spain (13%) and Italy (12%).
In 2023, Syrians (181,000) made many more applications, up by 38% compared to 2022. Afghans (114,000), while remaining the second largest group of applicants, lodged far fewer applications than in 2022 (down by 11%).
Link to the data: https://aeur.eu/f/b1r (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)