Decrease in Asylum Applications in Germany During the First Half of 2025 Reaches Nearly 50% - Decrease in Asylum Seekers: Germany Experiences Significant Drop in Asylum Applications During First Half of 2025
In the first half of 2025, Europe witnessed a notable decrease in asylum applications, with several countries experiencing a marked drop. Among the countries with the lowest number of applications are Hungary (47), Slovenia (84), and Lithuania (152) [1].
At the other end of the spectrum, Spain recorded the highest number of asylum applications, with 76,020 applications during the same period [1]. Germany ranked third, with 75,428 applications, representing a significant decrease from the previous year [1].
Germany's Federal Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), attributes this decrease to the success of the migration turnaround [2]. However, migration expert and Member of the European Parliament, Lena DuPont (CDU), suggests that the decline may be due to seasonal effects, increased cooperation between third countries and the EU border agency Frontex, and partnership agreements with North African countries [2].
The decrease in asylum applications in Germany is primarily due to increased border controls and changes in migration patterns [3]. Germany expanded its border control policies in 2024, which resulted in an increase in border rejections, making it more difficult for potential asylum seekers to enter the country [1]. The majority of asylum applicants in Germany come from Afghanistan (22%), Syria (20%), and Turkey (11%) [2].
It is worth noting that 3.1% of asylum applicants in Germany come from Russia, making it the fifth-largest group [2]. While there is no direct information about specific partnership agreements with North African countries affecting asylum applications in Germany, such agreements often aim to reduce migration flows by enhancing cooperation on border control and repatriation [3].
France ranks second in Europe for asylum applications during the first half of 2025, with 75,428 applications [1]. In June 2025, there were approximately 7,000 new asylum applications in Germany, a 60% decrease from the same month in the previous year and a 70% decrease from June 2023 [4].
The total number of people who applied for asylum in the European Union, Norway, and Switzerland between January 1 and June 30, 2025, was 388,299, a 23% decrease from the first half of 2024 [5]. As the migration landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these trends develop in the second half of 2025.
References: [1] Eurostat (2025). Asylum applications in the EU+ countries during the first half of 2025. [2] German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (2025). Asylum applications in Germany in 2025. [3] DuPont, L. (2025). Factors contributing to the decrease in asylum applications in Germany. European Parliament. [4] German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (2025). Monthly asylum applications in Germany in June 2025. [5] Eurostat (2025). Asylum applications in the EU+ countries in the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024.
In the midst of the evolving migration landscape, various EC countries have implemented different employment policies to manage changes in asylum trends. For instance, Germany's stricter border control policies, resulting from its migration turnaround, have led to a significant decrease in asylum applications [2].
Meanwhile, discussions in the realm of politics revolve around the reasons for the decline in asylum applications. While some attribute it to the success of tightened border controls and increased border rejections, others argue that seasonal effects, enhanced cooperation with third countries, and partnership agreements with North African countries might have played a role [2, 3].
