EU received more than 83,000 asylum applications in June 2023, up 25% compared to June 2022 (66,845 applications), according to Eurostat figures released today.

The largest group of asylum seekers was in June 2023, as in previous months, Syrian nationals (13,150 first-time applicants). Followed by Afghans (7,775), Venezuelans (6,925) and Colombians (6,165).

After Russia’s military attack against Ukraine, there was a significant increase in Ukrainian first-time asylum seekers (from 2,100 in February 2022 to 12,185 in March 2022), but the numbers were decreasing monthly, to 1,065 in June 2023. This is also because people leaving Ukraine benefit from temporary protection.

Germany, Spain, France and Italy accepted 75% of new asylum applications in June 2023, similarly to previous months. Specifically, Germany received the most applications (23,190), followed by Spain (16,075), France (12,475) and Italy (10,730).

In June 2023, the total number of first-time asylum seekers in the EU was 0.186 per thousand people.

Compared to the population of each EU country (on 1 January 2023), the highest proportion of registered applicants for the first time in June 2023 was recorded in Cyprus (0.799 applicants per thousand people) and Austria (0.519). In contrast, the lowest rate was observed in Hungary (0.0004).

Unaccompanied minors applying for asylum for the first time in EU countries were 2,975 in June 2023 and they came mainly from Syria (980) and Afghanistan (910). The EU countries that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors in June 2023 were Germany (805), Austria (570) and the Netherlands (445).