Cyprus received in May, 29.9 applications from first-time asylum applicants for every 100,000 people compared to its population, according to data published by Eurostat on Tuesday. Overall, in the EU, the number of first-time asylum seekers in May was 17.1 per 100,000 people. The decrease in first-time asylum applications in Cyprus between April and May 2024 exceeds 80%.

According to the same statistics, compared with the population of each EU country (on 1 January 2024), the highest number of first-time applicants per 100,000 people was recorded in Ireland (37.4), followed by Greece (33.2), Spain (31.7) and Cyprus (29.9).

In May 2024, 76,795 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, a 5% decrease compared with May 2023 (80,455). 

Germany, according to the data, continued to receive the highest number of first-time asylum applicants in May 2024 (18,175), accounting for 24% of all first-time applicants in the EU. 

Syrians remained the largest group of people seeking asylum (11,460 first-time applicants), followed by Venezuelans (6,170) and Afghans (5,535). 

Based on available data, the number of applicants in May 2024 increased in 12 EU countries and decreased in 13 EU countries compared with April 2024.

Cyprus is the country where the number of asylum applications has dropped more than any other EU member state, with the reduction in May 2024 exceeding 80%.

There were also 6,465 subsequent applicants, who made a further application for international protection, after a final decision (positive/negative/discontinuation) has been taken on a previous application, representing a 12% increase compared with May 2023 (5,755).

Also in May 2024, 2,565 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in the EU, with most of them coming from Syria (790) and Afghanistan (390).

The EU country that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors was Germany (1,010), followed by the Netherlands (360) and Greece with 270.

Cyprus received in May 35 applications from unaccompanied minors, while in March the applications were 125 and in April 160.

The number of asylum applications pending in Cyprus in May 2024 according to Eurostat data, was at 29,920 in total.