In May 2025, 54,780 first-time asylum seekers (non-EU citizens) applied for asylum in EU countries, down 30% compared to May 2024, but up 12% compared to April 2025, Eurostat reported on 18 August.
The number of first-time applicants and new applicants rose again in May 2025.
The largest group of applicants in May 2025 was from Venezuela with 8,085 first-time applicants, followed by Afghans (4,575), Bangladeshis (3,095) and Syrians (2,935). Spain (12,755), Italy (11,760), France (9,490) and Germany (8,330) received the largest number of first-time asylum seekers, accounting for 77% of the total.
For its part, Frontex reported on 8 August that irregular border crossings into the EU had fallen by 18% to 95,200 in the first seven months of 2025.
The number of crossings on the Eastern Mediterranean route fell by 16% to 26,200. “However, a new migration corridor between Eastern Libya and Crete has emerged in recent months, highlighting how smugglers adapt to changing conditions. The number of irregular arrivals on Crete from Libya reached over 10,000 so far this year, more than four times the total from a year ago”.
The Central Mediterranean migration route also recorded almost 36,700 irregular crossings, up 9% on the same period in 2024. Libya is the main point of departure.
Links to statistics: https://aeur.eu/f/i41 ; https://aeur.eu/f/i43 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)