Migrants: EU asylum applications in November drop 26 per cent year‑on‑year

Brussels – The number of asylum seekers in the European Union is decreasing, both for first-time applications and subsequent ones, according to data released by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office. In November 2025, 54,925 people submitted an asylum application for the first time, a decrease of 26 per cent compared to November 2024 (74,495) and down 12 per cent compared with  October 2025 (62,375). For comparison, it is worth noting that the peak number of first-time asylum seekers was reached in October 2023, when 114,805 people applied for international protection. Since then, Eurostat reports, “a decreasing trend in the numbers of first-time asylum applicants has been observed at the EU level.” 

In November 2025, 76 per cent of all first-time applications in the European Union were concentrated in four countries: Italy (12,195), Spain (11,875), France (8,845), and Germany (8,740). In particular, in November 2025, there were 12.2 first-time asylum seekers per 100,000 inhabitants in the EU. This means that, relative to the national populations of EU countries, the highest rates of first-time applicants were recorded in Greece (42.4), Spain (24.2), and Italy (20.7). By nationality, Venezuelans represent the largest group seeking international protection, with 8,060 first-time applications. They are followed by Afghans (5,125), Bangladeshis (3,585), and Syrians (2,365). 

In November 2025, there were 11,455 subsequent applications – i.e., those submitted by persons who have lodged a new application for international protection after a final decision on a previous application in the same Member State. This represents an increase of 62 per cent compared to the same month in 2024 (7,090), but a decrease of 12 per cent compared to October 2025 (14,900). The number of repeat applicants rose significantly in the summer months of 2025, from 11,990 in July to 14,185 in August, peaking at 16,465 in September. 

Finally, of the nearly 55,000 first-time applicants, 1,370 were unaccompanied minors, mainly from Somalia (245), Eritrea (160), Afghanistan and Venezuela (each 135), and Egypt (130). The EU countries that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors were the Netherlands (375), Germany (265), Greece (185), Spain (155), and Belgium (95).