Greece recorded the highest rates of first-time asylum applications in Europe at 79.5% according to data published by Eurostat.
In November 2024, 75 045 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, marking a 14% decrease compared with October 2024 (86 920) and a 31% decrease compared with November 2023 (108 895).
There were also 6 430 subsequent applicants, representing a 14% decrease compared with October 2024 (7 475) and a 5% decrease compared with November 2023 (6 740).
Syrians remain the largest group of asylum seekers
In November 2024, Syrians remained the largest group of people seeking asylum (11 565 first-time applicants), followed by Venezuelans (7 210) and Afghans (5 880).
Germany, Spain, Italy and France received 73% of first-time applicants
Germany (16 820), Spain (14 925), Italy (11 620) and France (11 345) continued to receive the highest number of first-time asylum applicants, accounting for 73% of all first-time applicants in the EU.
The EU total rate of first-time asylum applicants in November 2024 was 16.7 per hundred thousand people. Compared with the population of each EU country (on 1 January 2024), the highest rates of first-time applicants were recorded in Greece (79.5), ahead of Cyprus (42.4), Spain and Luxembourg (30.7 each).
2 820 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum
A total of 2 820 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in the EU, with most of them coming from Syria (860), Egypt (395) and Afghanistan (385).
The EU country that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors was Germany (875), followed by Greece (525) and Spain (320).