EU asylum applications fall significantly but Cyprus remains third highest per capita
Source: in-cyprus.com
European Union asylum applications fell significantly in June 2025, but Cyprus remains among the countries with the highest proportion of applications per capita, according to Eurostat data.
Cyprus ranks third for asylum applications per 100,000 residents with an index of 24.3, behind Greece at 39.4 and Spain at 25.8. Despite the overall EU decline, the data shows pressure on Cyprus’s asylum system remains intense.
Across the EU, new asylum applications decreased by 27% year-on-year, falling to 52,265 in June 2025 from 71,455 in June 2024, and by 5% compared to May’s 54,780 applications.
Venezuela leads countries of origin with 7,615 applications
Most applications came from Venezuelan citizens with 7,615 submissions, followed by Afghanistan with 4,085, Bangladesh with 2,735 and Syria with 2,315 applications.
Repeat applications bucked the downward trend, increasing by 24% to reach 8,140 cases. The rise in repeat applications suggests ongoing challenges in processing asylum claims effectively across member states.
Spain receives most applications despite EU-wide decline
Spain received the most applications with 12,645, followed by Italy with 9,765, France with 9,510 and Germany with 6,860. These four countries accounted for 74% of all new asylum applications submitted across the European Union.
The concentration of applications in southern European countries reflects ongoing migration patterns through Mediterranean routes. Spain’s position as the top recipient represents a shift from traditional patterns where Germany typically received the most applications.
Unaccompanied minors account for 1,835 applications
Unaccompanied minor asylum seekers submitted 1,835 applications, primarily from Eritrea with 460 cases, Afghanistan with 205 and Mali with 190 applications.
EU member states issued 194,730 first-instance decisions in the second quarter of 2025, with a positive decision rate of 34%, representing 65,735 successful applications.
Spain granted the most positive decisions with 16,060, followed by France with 14,220 and Germany with 13,450. The main beneficiaries were citizens from Afghanistan with 13,170 positive decisions, Venezuela with 12,340 and Somalia with 3,215.
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