New asylum applications in Cyprus on same levels with 2023
22/5/2024 9:01
The number of first-time asylum applications in Cyprus in February 2024 remained at the same level as in February 2023, while there was a small increase on the EU level, according to the latest monthly asylum data published by Eurostat.
Meanwhile, Cyprus remained the country with the highest rates of first time applicants compared with its population.
Overall in the EU in February 2024, there were 75,445 first-time asylum applicants, an increase of less than 2% compared with February 2023 (74,295).
There were also 7,000 subsequent applicants, representing a 7% increase compared with February 2023 (6,540).
In Cyprus there were 800 first time asylum applications in February this year, compared to 800 during the same month last year. There were also 265 subsequent applications in February this year. There was no data regarding subsequent applications in February last year, due to a temporary derogation on reporting that expired in December.
In February 2024, the EU total for first-time asylum applicants was 16.8 per hundred thousand people. Compared with the population of each EU country (on 1 January 2023), the highest rates of first-time applicants were recorded in Cyprus (87.1) and Greece (52.5).
Across the EU, Syrians (10,465 first-time applicants), Afghans (6,950) and Venezuelans (5,800) remained the largest groups of asylum seekers on the EU level.
In Cyprus the first three nationalities were Syrians (585), Afghans (35) and Somalians (25), followed by 20 each for DR Congo, Nigeria and Iran.
Germany (19,490), Spain (13,600), Italy (13,345) and France (10,205) continued to receive the highest number of first-time asylum applicants, accounting for 75% of all first-time applicants in the EU.
Regarding unaccompanied minors, in February 2024 there were 2,555 that applied for asylum for the first time in the EU, with most coming from Syria (710), Afghanistan (470), Egypt (145), Somalia (135) and Guinea (110).
The EU countries that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors were Germany (1,025), the Netherlands (385), Spain (240), Greece (215) and Italy (190).
There is no data on unaccompanied minors for Cyprus due to a derogation on reporting.
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