Germany ranks third globally in terms of the number of asylum applications received

In a significant change of events, Venezuela has emerged as the leading source of new asylum applications within the European Union (EU) and the non-member countries of Norway and Switzerland. This marks the first time in a decade that Germany is no longer at the top in terms of new asylum applications.

According to recent data, more than 9.1 million Venezuelans now live outside their home country, a direct consequence of the authoritarian rule of President Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power since 2013. The mass emigration from Venezuela is reflected in the shrinking population of the country, which has decreased from around 30 million to approximately 28 million since 2017 due to migration.

Spain, with its growing economy and welcoming government, has become an attractive destination for Venezuelan asylum seekers. In contrast, Germany, which has tightened its migration policies, is now a less attractive or more difficult destination for many. As a result, many asylum seekers submit their applications in France rather than Germany.

The number of new asylum seekers within the EU decreased overall. In the first eight months of this year, 1,271 people from Venezuela applied for asylum in Germany for the first time, a significant drop compared to previous years. This is reflected in the total number of asylum applications in Germany, with 78,246 people applying for protection from January to August, which is about half the number of applications compared to the same period last year.

Italy now ranks fourth in terms of new asylum applications, with 64,000 applications. Among the asylum seekers in France, there are relatively many people from Ukraine, who are automatically granted protection under the EU Mass Influx Directive.

The recognition rate for initial asylum applications has fallen to its lowest level ever recorded, with only one in four applications (25 percent) being approved. The overall protection rate for Venezuelans was last reported at 10.9 percent by Bamf.

The decrease in asylum applications in Germany has also been accompanied by a significant increase in asylum appeals in German administrative courts. In the first half of the year, there were 76,646 cases from January to June 30.

This shift in asylum trends underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Venezuelan refugees and the complex issues surrounding migration in the EU.

Germany ranks third globally in terms of the number of asylum applications received