Brussels – In November 2023, 108,950 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, an 11% increase compared with November 2022, according to data released by Eurostat today (Feb. 20). Germany (36,495), Italy (14,160), Spain (14,105), France (14,070), and Greece (10,285) continued to receive the highest number of first-time asylum applicants, accounting for 82% of all first-time applicants in the EU.
Looking at asylum claims notified as of November 2023, Syrians continued to be the largest group of people seeking asylum (23,460 first-time applicants). They were followed by Turks (12,870), ahead of Afghans (7,930), Venezuelans (6,175) and Colombians (5,445).
There were 3,510 unaccompanied minors also seeking asylum, the European Statistical Institute continued, mostly from Syria (1,230) and Afghanistan (580), confirming a phenomenon that shows no sign of abating and in the face of which the EU is struggling. The EU countries that received the most asylum applications from unaccompanied minors were Germany (1,365), the Netherlands (615), Italy (315), Greece (305), and Bulgaria (265).
