Asylum and temporary protection trends: 2014 - 2025

In 2025, the EU recorded 669 710 first-time asylum applications, 325 955 positive first-instance decisions and 49 025 positive decisions on appeal or review.

The number of asylum applicants and protections granted varied considerably between 2014 and 2025. The highest number of applicants was recorded in 2015 (1 216 860), leading to the highest number of positive first-instance decisions in 2016 (662 955) and the highest number of positive decisions on appeal or review in 2018 (103 365).

Venezuelans became the largest group of first-time asylum applicants in 2025, with 89 455 applications, representing 13.4% of the EU total. They were followed by Afghans (63 900, 9.5%), who have consistently ranked among the largest groups of asylum seekers. Syrians came third, with 40 405 applications (6.0%), marking the first time since 2014 that they were not the largest group of asylum seekers.

Source dataset: migr_asyappctza

In 2025, the EU also granted new temporary protection status to 683 475 people fleeing Ukraine. The highest number of temporary protection decisions was granted in 2022 - the year the mechanism was activated - when a total of 4 330 980 people received protection in the EU.

This article marks World Refugee Day taking place on 20 June to draw attention to people fleeing their home country to escape conflict or persecution.