Germany recorded a notable surge in asylum applications in 2022 as more people sought protection from outside Ukraine. Data compiled from BAMF, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, and reported by a major German broadcaster, show a total of 244,132 asylum requests from non-Ukrainian nationals that year. This represented a substantial 27.9 percent rise from 2021, when 190,816 applications were filed, underscoring how global upheavals and regional crises continue to shape migration patterns across Europe. Germany remained a primary destination for international protection during the latter half of the 2010s and into the early 2020s.
BAMF data summarized by the same broadcaster indicate that the majority of 2022 asylum petitions originated from Syria and Afghanistan. Specifically, Syria accounted for 70,976 new requests, while Afghanistan contributed 36,358. The distribution highlights ongoing displacement from conflict zones in the Middle East and South-Central Asia and aligns with broader humanitarian trends observed across Europe in that period. In total, BAMF reviewed 228,673 cases, with roughly 56 percent of these applications receiving approval. This approval rate sheds light on the careful evaluation processes used to determine eligibility for asylum and the administrative challenges applicants face as they navigate complex procedures.
Beyond asylum, 2022 also saw Germany welcoming a very large wave of Ukrainian nationals under temporary protections created to address the war’s unique circumstances. More than 1,044,000 Ukrainian citizens arrived, registered, and sought safety in Germany. This influx formed part of a wider continental response to the Ukrainian crisis, influencing national policies, border controls, and support programs across several European nations.
Across Central Europe, related developments were reported as well. Czech lawmakers moved to extend visas for Ukrainian refugees, enabling a stay through the end of March 2024. The decision reflected ongoing humanitarian considerations and the need to provide predictable protection amid lingering displacement.
Public figures and officials in the region have discussed the trajectory of refugee flows. Polish President Andrzej Duda indicated that the number of Ukrainian refugees in Poland and Germany could still rise in the near term, signaling continued cross-border movement and the necessity for cooperative planning and resources to manage asylum and integration supports across borders. Taken together, these developments illustrate how 2022 represented a year of meaningful demographic shifts in Europe, driven by overlapping emergencies that tested national asylum systems and regional solidarity. [BAMF data]