Eurostat figures show 165,000 first time asylum seekers applied for international protection in the EU-28 during the first quarter of 2017 down by 20% compared with the fourth quarter of 2016 (when 207,000 first time applicants were registered).
The largest numbers of first time applicants in the EU-28 (from January to March 2017), were recorded in:
- Germany: 49,000 (30% of overall applicants)
- Italy: 36,900 (22%)
- France: 22,000 (13%)
- Greece: 16,500 (10%)
- United Kingdom: 8,400 (5%)
The five main countries of citizenship of asylum applicants during the first quarter of 2017 were:
- Syria: 22,500 (14%)
- Afghanistan: 12,500 (8%)
- Nigeria: 11,500 (7%)
- Iraq: 10,400 (6%)
- Pakistan: 7,900 (5%)
Key figures for Ireland
Ireland received 600 asylum applications from January to March 2017 compared to 670 in fourth quarter of 2016.
The main countries of citizenship of applicants in Ireland were:
- Syria: 135 (23%)
- Albania: 75 (13%)
- Nigeria: 55 (9%)
- Zimbabwe: 55 (9%)
- South Africa: 30 (5%)
For more information:
See Eurostat news release (20 June 2017) and Eurostat Asylum quarterly report (first quarter 2017).
