Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
In 2024, EU countries granted protection status to 437,900 asylum seekers, a 7% increase compared to 2023 (409,530).
Of these individuals, 42% received refugee status, 39% received subsidiary protection, and 19% received humanitarian status. Compared to 2023, the number of people granted refugee status increased by 6%, subsidiary protection increased by 19%, and the number of people granted humanitarian status decreased by 9%.
Germany recorded the highest number of people granted protection status (150,500, 34% of the total number of people granted protection status in the EU), ahead of France (65,230, 15%) and Spain (50,915, 12%). Together, these three countries granted 61% of the total protection cases across the EU. This information comes from data on asylum decisions published by Eurostat, the European Statistical Office in Brussels, on Friday.
Syrians, Afghans, and Venezuelans: The Main Beneficiaries of Protection Status
In 2024, Syrians constituted the majority of beneficiaries of protection status in the EU (32% of the total number of people granted protection status in the EU). They were followed by Afghans (17%) and Venezuelans (8%).
51% of first instance court decisions resulted in protection status.
In 2024, 754,525 first instance decisions were issued on asylum applications in the EU, and 185,455 final decisions were issued after appeal or review. Decisions taken in first instance courts resulted in 387,635 protection status being granted, while another 50,265 people received protection status after appeal or review.
The EU-wide recognition rate, i.e. the proportion of all positive decisions out of the total number of decisions, was 51% for first instance court decisions. For final decisions after appeal or review, the recognition rate was 27%. These rates include both international refugee status (i.e., refugee status and subsidiary protection) and national protection status (humanitarian status based on national legislation).
Among the five nationalities with the highest number of first instance decisions in 2024, Syrians (92%), Venezuelans (89%), and Afghans (81%) achieved the highest recognition rates.
For final instance decisions after appeal or review, Syrians (72%), Afghans (42%), and Nigerians (30%) achieved the highest recognition rates.