In August 2023, Cyprus experienced a 33% decrease in asylum applications, with only 895 new applications, a drop from the previous year’s 1,340. In contrast, the EU saw a 19% increase, receiving 91,735 applications. Germany, Spain, France, and Italy accounted for 68% of the EU’s new applications, while Syria was the leading country of origin for asylum seekers in the EU.
What are the recent trends in asylum applications in Cyprus compared to the EU?
In August 2023, Cyprus experienced a 33% decrease in asylum applications, with only 895 new applications, a drop from the previous year’s 1,340. In contrast, the EU saw a 19% increase, receiving 91,735 applications. Notably, Germany, Spain, France, and Italy accounted for 68% of the EU’s new applications, while Syria was the leading country of origin for asylum seekers in the EU.
Cyprus Sees Decrease While EU Faces Increase
In a surprising turn of events, the small island nation of Cyprus reported a significant drop in the arrival of new asylum seekers in August 2023. The figures revealed a 33% reduction compared to August of the previous year. This stark contrast is even more apparent when juxtaposed with the broader European Union (EU) trend, where there was an overall increase of 19% in asylum applications.
The Numbers at a Glance
To put it into perspective, Cyprus received 895 new applications for international protection in the month of August 2023, which marks a notable decrease from the 1,340 applications lodged in August 2022. On the other end of the spectrum, the EU as a whole saw 91,735 applications in August 2023, up from 77,145 during the same period the previous year.
Subsequent Applications in the EU
Delving deeper into the statistics, there’s a particular subset of applications known as subsequent applications—these are filed by individuals who had previously sought asylum but were rejected. The EU witnessed a slight decrease of 8% in such cases.
A Closer Look at the Member States
Germany continues to lead among EU countries with the highest number of new asylum seekers, followed by Spain, France, and Italy. Combined, these nations accounted for an overwhelming 68% of the new applications within the EU.
When assessing the situation relative to the population size, Cyprus had the highest ratio of new asylum seekers in August 2023, with 97 applicants per 100,000 people, surpassing even Austria, which had 72.4 applicants per 100,000 people.
The Main Countries of Origin
The majority of asylum seekers in the EU in August 2023 were from Syria, with a substantial 18,170 first-time applicants. They were closely followed by individuals from Afghanistan, Turkey, Venezuela, and Colombia, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical situations influencing these movements.
Unaccompanied Minors Seeking Asylum
A particularly vulnerable group within these statistics are unaccompanied minors. In August, the EU saw 4,465 unaccompanied minors applying for asylum, predominantly from Syria and Afghanistan. The highest numbers of these applications were registered in Germany, Austria, and Bulgaria.
Reporting Gaps
It is important to note that for certain data, such as subsequent applications and unaccompanied minors, Cyprus, along with a few other countries, did not provide detailed information due to a temporary exemption from the reporting obligation.
The trends in asylum applications bring to light the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of global migration. While Cyprus has seen a decrease in recent asylum applications, the broader EU context reflects a different picture, with overall numbers on the rise. These statistics not only inform about current events but also influence policy-making and international cooperation efforts to manage asylum and migration effectively.
Quick Recap
- In August 2023, Cyprus experienced a 33% decrease in asylum applications compared to the previous year, with only 895 new applications.
- In contrast, the EU saw a 19% increase in asylum applications, receiving 91,735 applications.
- Germany, Spain, France, and Italy accounted for 68% of the EU’s new asylum applications.
- Syria was the leading country of origin for asylum seekers in the EU.
- Unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the EU mainly came from Syria and Afghanistan.
