Decrease in Initial Asylum Applications Registered in First Half of the Year
In a significant development, Germany has witnessed a substantial drop in asylum applications in the first half of 2025. This decrease, amounting to nearly 50%, was first reported by the "Bild" newspaper and confirmed by the German Press Agency.
According to data, Germany received approximately 65,495 asylum applications from January to June 2025, a marked decline from the previous year. This reduction aligns with a broader trend seen across Europe, where many countries have reported decreased asylum claims due to stricter immigration policies and effective migration management.
The decrease in applications in Germany is primarily attributed to successful migration policy reforms implemented by the German government. Federal Interior Minister Volker Dobrindt has credited these reforms for the sharp decline and pledged ongoing efforts to further overhaul the asylum system.
The demographic composition of asylum seekers remains diverse, with Afghan nationals (22%), Syrians (20%), and Turkish citizens (11%) being the largest groups. However, even these numbers have fallen significantly overall in 2025. Syria, previously the main country of origin for asylum seekers in Germany, now ranks second with 15,127 applications, behind Afghanistan, which leads the list with 15,181 first applications.
The Federal Police ensures the smoothness of cross-border travel and goods traffic to the greatest extent possible, although controls on the A12 motorway have already caused some traffic disruptions. Solutions are being examined to prevent traffic jams on the A12 motorway in Brandenburg, where both René Wilke, Brandenburg's Interior Minister, and the Chambers of Industry and Commerce have voiced concerns about potential major traffic jams due to these controls.
The decrease in asylum applications may also be attributed to the introduction of stationary controls at all German land borders and measures taken by Balkan countries to reduce irregular migration. The changes in Syria's leadership, with Bashar al-Assad being toppled in December, may have also contributed to the decrease.
Alexander Dobrindt, the Federal Interior Minister, believes his migration policy is confirmed by the decrease in asylum applications, stating that they are consistently continuing the path of putting migration back on its feet. However, Germany has been a main target of so-called secondary migration within the EU, where migrants expect to find footholds or better conditions.
Poland plans to introduce temporary controls at its border with Germany on Monday, adding another layer to the ongoing discussion about migration policies in Europe. Structural changes on the A12 between Frankfurt (Oder) and Swiecko are also being discussed as part of the efforts to manage cross-border traffic effectively.
The figures on asylum applications were first reported by the "Bild" newspaper and are also available to the German Press Agency. The spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of the Interior stated these figures in Berlin.
- The declining trend in asylum applications across Europe, including Germany, can be linked to the stricter immigration policies and effective migration management that have been implemented.
- The decrease in asylum applications in Germany can be attributed to numerous factors such as successful policy reforms, stationary controls at borders, actions by Balkan countries to reduce irregular migration, and possibly changes in the political landscape of Syria.
