Initial asylum applications within the European Union totaled 54,780 in May 2025, according to data released Monday by the EU’s statistics agency, Eurostat. This represents a 30 percent decrease compared to the 77,945 applications registered in May 2024.
However, the number of applications saw a 12 percent increase when compared to April 2025, which recorded 48,935 initial requests. Eurostat also reported 7,585 subsequent applications in May, a 20 percent rise from the 6,300 recorded in May 2024 and a 4 percent increase from April 2025’s 7,275.
Venezuelan citizens constituted the largest group of first-time applicants with 8,085 requests, followed by those from Afghanistan (4,575), Bangladesh (3,095) and Syria (2,935). Spain, Italy, France and Germany collectively received 77 percent of all initial applications, with Spain registering 12,755, Italy 11,760, France 9,490 and Germany 8,330.
Greece recorded the highest rate of initial applications relative to its population, followed by Spain, Cyprus and Luxembourg. A total of 1,960 unaccompanied minors submitted asylum claims in May 2025, with the majority originating from Eritrea, Afghanistan and Syria. The Netherlands received the most applications from unaccompanied minors, followed by Germany and Spain.
