The number of first-time asylum applicants in August 2023 dropped by 33% in Cyprus, and increased by 19% in the EU, according to monthly asylum data published by Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union.
In absolute numbers, in August 2023 there were 895 new applications recorded in Cyprus, while in August 2022 there were 1,340. In the EU there were 91,735 first-time asylum applicants in August 2023, compared to 77,145 in August 2022.
There were also 5,660 subsequent applicants in the EU, representing an 8% decrease compared with August 2022 (6,165).
Due to temporary reporting derogations, data on subsequent applications in Cyprus (and Sweden) are not available.
Similarly to previous months, in August 2023, Germany (29,110), Spain (12,075), France (11,495) and Italy (10,005) continued to receive the highest number of first-time asylum applicants, accounting for 68% of all first-time applicants in the EU.
In August 2023, the EU total of first-time asylum applicants was 20.5 per hundred tho
usand people. Compared with the population of each EU country (on 1 January 2023), the highest rate of registered first-time applicants in August 2023 was recorded in Cyprus (97.0 applicants per hundred thousand people), ahead of Austria (72.4). By contrast, the lowest rate was observed in Hungary (0.0).
Also in August 2023, Syrians continued to be the largest group of people seeking asylum in the EU (18,170 first-time applicants). They were followed by Afghans (9,785), ahead of Turks (7,970), Venezuelans (4,805) and Colombians (4,665).
When it comes to unaccompanied minors applying for asylum, in August 2023 there were 4,465 new applications, mostly from Syria (1 540) and Afghanistan (1 420).
The EU countries which received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors in August 2023 were Germany (1 250), followed by Austria (795), and Bulgaria (735).
Due to temporary derogations, data on unaccompanied minor asylum applicants for Cyprus and Poland are not available.
Source: Cypru
s News Agency