Number of asylum applications to the EU has fallen by a third

The number of initial asylum applications in the European Union has fallen by almost a third year-on-year. In May, 54,780 people applied for asylum in EU countries - 30 percent fewer than in the same month in 2024, the European statistical office Eurostat reported on Monday, according to Deutsche Welle.

Meanwhile, compared to April 2025, the number of applications from refugees increased for the first time in three months - in April, the figure was 48,935 applications, or 12% less than in May.

Venezuelans were the largest number of asylum seekers in May (8,085 initial applications), followed by those from Afghanistan (4,575), Bangladesh (3,095) and Syria (2,935). The highest number of applications was filed in Spain (12,755), Italy (11,760), France (9,490) and Germany (8,330). Thus, the number of initial asylum applications submitted in the Federal Republic of Germany decreased again.

As a ratio to the population, Greece (30.3 applications per 1,000 inhabitants), Spain (26.0), Cyprus and Luxembourg (25.8 each) had the highest number of initial asylum applications.