France overtakes Germany: new leaders in the number of asylum applications in the EU

Migration priorities in the world have changed. In particular, France has become the main refugee-receiving country in the EU, overtaking Germany. Find out which countries remain the leaders in terms of the number of asylum applications and where they are almost non-existent

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For the first time in many years, Germany has lost its leadership among the European Union countries in terms of the number of asylum applications. France has become the new leader in this area, Deutsche Welle reports, citing official statistics for the first quarter of 2025.

France is a new center of migration in Europe

In the first three months of 2025, France accepted 40,871 asylum applications, overtaking Germany, which for many years has remained the main refugee receiving country. The main applicants in France were citizens of Ukraine, indicating a change in migration dynamics caused by the ongoing war and instability in the region.

Germany - a decrease of 41%

In Germany, 37,387 applications were filed during the same period, which is 41% less than in the first quarter of 2024. This significant decline is attributed to both policy changes at the federal level and stricter border measures. In Germany, the majority of asylum seekers are citizens of Syria (24%), Afghanistan (16%) and Turkey (11%).

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Spain - a steady increase

Spain took the second place with 39,318 applications, indicating a consistent increase in its role in the refugee protection system in Europe. This is due to both its geographical location and traditional ties with Latin American countries.

Who is at the bottom of the list?

Among the EU countries, the lowest number of asylum applications was received by:

Slovakia - only 37 applications

Hungary - 22 applications

Both countries are known for their tough migration policies, which has certainly affected refugee flows.

General trends in Europe

In general, in the EU countries, as well as in Switzerland and Norway, the number of asylum applications decreased by 19% compared to the previous year. However, there has been an increase in the number of applicants from certain countries:

Venezuela - 25,375 applications (+44%)

Afghanistan and Syria - traditionally high numbers

Ukraine - increase by 84%

China - +87% increase

India - +56%

These figures demonstrate the growth of global migration challenges, where wars and political or economic instability in the countries of origin play a key role.

If you want to find out what legalization options are available to you, get advice on obtaining a residence permit, employment or family reunification, please contact Visit Ukraine lawyers.

Our experts will help you understand current migration programs, prepare the necessary documents and do everything to ensure that you can stay in the EU legally. Do not put off important issues for later, get professional legal support today!

We remind you! For the first time, Germany approved the extradition of a Ukrainian who refused military service. Read about the circumstances of the case, the court's decision and its implications for future extradition proceedings in our previous article.

Photo: © EPA-EFE/Wojtek Jargilo

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