EUAA analysis sheds light on asylum trends in 2023
A strategic analysis by the European Agency for Asylum (EUAA), reveals that in 2023, 1.14 million applications for international protection were lodged in the EU+ countries (i.e. the 27 European Union Member States, plus Norway and Switzerland), marking the highest level in seven years. The analysis sheds light on the trends that were observed in 2023.
The main findings of the EUAA analysis are the following:
- In 2023, the EU+ countries experienced an 18% increase in asylum applications compared to 2022, reaching over 1.1 million.
- Syrians remained the predominant applicants in 2023, with a 38% increase compared to 2022.
- Germany remained the primary destination of asylum seekers in the EU+, receiving almost one-third of all applications.
- In 2023, the EU+ recognition rate rose to 43 % which is the highest level seen in 7 years.
- At the end of 2023, the number of pending cases at first instance reached 883.000, marking the highest point since 2015-2016 refugee crisis.
- At the end of 2023, approximately 4.4 million individuals in the EU+ benefited from temporary protection, having fled Ukraine due to Russia’s invasion. Notably, Czechia hosted the highest number of beneficiaries per capita, followed by Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland.
With regard more specifically to Belgium, it received around 35.000 applications for international protection in 2023, that is to say around 3,000 applications per million population. This is slightly above the average pressure per capita in the EU+ (2470 per million inhabitants).
For further details please read the press release from the EUAA and the strategic analysis.