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Germany is no longer the most popular destination for asylum-seekers in Europe, according to new data from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). The first half of 2025 saw a sharp decline in asylum applications across the EU, Norway and Switzerland, reflecting changing migration trends and geopolitical developments.
Between January and June, 399,000 new asylum applications were lodged across EU+ countries, a 23% decrease compared to the same period last year. The drop is largely attributed to a two-thirds decline in applications from Syrians following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.
France received the highest number of applications with 78,000, narrowly ahead of Spain with 77,000. Germany followed with 70,000 applications, marking a significant drop of 43% year-over-year. Italy received 64,000 applications, while Greece registered 27,000, the highest per capita with one application for every 380 residents.
The profile of asylum-seekers is also shifting. Venezuelans have emerged as the largest nationality group, filing 49,000 applications, almost all in Spain, drawn by shared language and integration opportunities. Afghans accounted for 42,000 applications, while Syrians filed 25,000.
Applications from Ukrainians rose to 16,000, with France and Poland receiving the majority, although the figure remains small compared to the 4.3 million Ukrainians under temporary protection across Europe.
The EU+ recognition rate for asylum seekers reached a record low of 25% in the first half of 2025. This decline reflects procedural delays, particularly affecting Syrian applicants, rather than a stricter interpretation of protection needs. Recognition rates also vary significantly by nationality, with Malians seeing their approval rate rise to 79% and Haitians reaching 86%.
Meanwhile, applications from Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and Nigerians remained low, with recognition rates of 4%, 10% and 10%, respectively.
The EU continues to grapple with migration management, intensifying cooperation with North African countries to curb illegal crossings in the Mediterranean, where deadly incidents persist. New rules to accelerate the examination of applications from low-recognition nationalities are expected to take effect in mid-2026.
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