In 2023, more than one million applied for international protection in EU countries, up by 20% compared with 2022 (873 700), Eurostat said.

"After a considerable drop in 2020 (417 100), the numbers increased for three consecutive years almost reaching the peaks registered in 2015 and 2016 (1 216 900 and 1 166 800) following the war in Syria," it said. In 2023, there were 1 048 900 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens).

Syria has been the main country of citizenship of asylum seekers in the EU since 2013. In 2023, Syrians lodged 183 000 first-time applications (17% of the total number of first-time applications in the EU). 

Afghanistan was the second main country of citizenship for the six consecutive year (100 900, or 10% of the EU total). 

Applicants from Turkey accounted for 9% of the EU total with 90 000 applications and those from Venezuela and Columbia each represented 6% with 67 100 and 62 000 applications.

A third of EU asylum applications was made in Germany

With 329 000 first-time asylum applicants registered in 2023, Germany continued to be the EU country with the highest number of applicants, accounting for almost one third of all first-time applicants in the EU (31%). It was followed by Spain (160 500, 15%) and France (145 100, 14%), ahead Italy (130 600, 12%). These 4 EU members together accounted for almost three-quarters (73%) of all first-time asylum applicants in the EU last year.

Highest number of first-time asylum applicants relative to the population in Cyprus

Compared with the population of each EU country, the highest number of registered first-time asylum applicants in 2023 was recorded in Cyprus (13 first-time applicants per 1,000 people), ahead of Greece and Austria (each 6). In Malta, the figure stood at 1 first time applicant per 1,000 people, which is below the EU average.

In 2023, in the EU, there were 2 first-time asylum applicants per 1,000 people.