The number of people applying for asylum for the first time in the European Union rose again in 2023, driven by higher inflows across several member states. Eurostat’s latest comparative release shows that governments in Europe registered more than one million international protection requests that year, totaling 1,048,900 and marking a 20% increase from 2022’s 873,700 applications. Spain emerged as the second-largest recipient of first-time asylum claims after Germany, reflecting a broader shift in destination preferences within the EU.
According to the new comparison, Germany remained the most sought-after destination and the country with the highest level of new asylum applications. In 2023, it accounted for a third of all applications in the EU, with 329,000 cases (31%). Close behind were Spain with 160,500 (15%), France with 145,100 (14%), and Italy with 130,600 (12%).
Cyprus, Greece, and Austria
The four major EU states together handled roughly 73% of the first-time asylum applications. On a per capita basis, Cyprus recorded the highest rate of applicants, with 13 asylum seekers per 1,000 people, followed by Greece and Austria (6 per 1,000 respectively), and Germany and Luxembourg (4 per 1,000).
The rise in asylum applications has strengthened in recent years. During the pandemic, requests fell sharply to about 417,100 but have since climbed back toward, and in some measures beyond, the peak seen during the 2015–2016 migration crisis, when Syria’s war pushed applications to around 1.21 million and 1.16 million respectively.
Syrians, Afghans, and Turks
Focusing on nationality among first-time asylum seekers in the EU for 2023, Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkey occupied the top positions. Eurostat’s figures show Syria has been the leading country of nationality for asylum applicants in the EU continuously since 2013, with 183,000 first-time applications in 2023 (18% of the total).
Afghanistan followed as the second-largest nationality, accounting for 100,900 applications or 10% of the EU total for the year, while Turkey stood third with 90,000 (9%). Venezuela and Colombia ranked next, each representing about 6% of the total, with 67,100 and 62,000 cases respectively. By continent, roughly 42% of applicants originated from Asia (including Syria, Afghanistan, and others), about 23% from Africa (examples include Morocco, Egypt, and Somalia), and 17% from Europe and the Americas combined (notably Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Venezuela, and Colombia).
Asylum trends reflect shifting global displacement dynamics, with humanitarian crises, conflict zones, and regional economic disruptions shaping where people seek protection. The EU’s asylum system continues to process large inflows, balancing humanitarian commitments with security and integration considerations across diverse member states.