Asylum Seekers in EU, 2019 – 612 700, up by 12% compared with 2018 (549 000)

In 2019, 612 700 first-time asylum seekers applied for international protection in the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU), up by 12% compared with 2018 (549 000), but around half of the number recorded in the peak year 2015 when 1 216 900 first-time asylum applicants were registered.

Syrian (74 400 first-time applicants) and Afghan (52 500) continued to be the main citizenship of people seeking international protection in the EU Member States in 2019, followed by Venezuelan (44 800), which moved up from fifth place in 2018 to third in 2019, together accounting for 28% of all first-time applicants.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story @  612 700 first-time asylum seekers registered in 2019, up by 12% compared with 2018