Friday, 22 August 2025
The European Union recorded 54,780 first-time asylum applications from non-EU citizens in May 2025, according to the latest data published by Eurostat. This figure represents a 30% decrease compared with May 2024, when 77,945 applications were filed, but a 12% increase compared with April 2025, which saw 48,935 applications.
In addition to first-time applicants, there were 7,585 subsequent applications in May, up 20% year-on-year and 4% month-on-month. The increase follows three consecutive months of decline in overall asylum applications between February and April this year.
Venezuelans remained the largest group seeking protection, with 8,085 first-time applicants, followed by Afghans (4,575), Bangladeshis (3,095) and Syrians (2,935). Spain, Italy, France and Germany together accounted for 77% of all first-time applicants, with Spain receiving the largest share at 12,755, followed by Italy with 11,760, France with 9,490 and Germany with 8,330.
When measured against population size, Greece recorded the highest rate of first-time applicants at 30.3 per 100,000 people. It was followed by Spain at 26.0, and both Cyprus and Luxembourg at 25.8 each. The EU average stood at 12.2 first-time applicants per 100,000 people.
The number of unaccompanied minors applying for asylum also remained significant. In May 2025, 1,960 such applications were filed, with the largest groups coming from Eritrea (410), Afghanistan (240) and Syria (215). The Netherlands received the highest number of these applications at 430, followed by Germany with 355 and Spain with 280.
The Eurostat data highlight both the persistence of humanitarian pressures at Europe’s borders and the uneven distribution of asylum seekers across member states.
Source: eurostat
