Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
In May 2024, 76,795 first-time asylum seekers (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, down 5% compared to May 2023 (80,455).
There were also 6,465 subsequent applicants, representing a 12% increase compared to May 2023 (5,755).
This information comes from the monthly asylum data published by Eurostat, the European Statistical Office.
Syrians, Venezuelans and Afghans remain the largest groups of asylum seekers
In May 2024, Syrians remained the largest group of asylum seekers (11,460 first-time applicants). They were followed by Venezuelans (6,170) and Afghans (5,535).
Germany received the highest number of first-time applicants
Germany (18,175) continued to receive the highest number of first-time applicants for asylum in May 2024, accounting for 24% of all first-time applicants in the EU.
In May 2024, the total number of first-time applicants for asylum in the EU was 17.1 per 100,000 people. In relation to the population of each EU country (as of 1 January 2024), the highest rates of first-time applicants were recorded in Ireland (37.4), followed by Greece (33.2), Spain (31.7) and Cyprus (29.9).
2,565 unaccompanied minors apply for asylum
In May 2024, 2,565 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in the EU, most of them from Syria (790) and Afghanistan (390).